Reggae Recommendations
Posted by: Sloop John B on 24 July 2015
Rather than have the ghost of Steve Jobs recommending what I should listen to next I thought I'd see if there is any life left in the Naim Collective from whom I have received so many good tips over the years.
So if you were to ask me reggae is a genre I'm into but in reality it consists almost exclusively of Bob Marley albums. Recently on holiday I bought Peter Tosh -Legalisze it, I'm listening to it as I type trying to convince myself it's summer, and it's wonderful stuff. I think the only other reggae album I have is Third World 96 degrees in the shade.
It it srikes me as like saying I'm into Jazz but exclusively having Miles Davis albums.
So what gems of albums from the reggae cannon have I been missing?
Posted on: 14 August 2015 by thebigfredc
Big Youth - Sky Juice and its reprise Not Long Ago.
Easily my favourite reggae tracks, the bass is so tuneful and his vocal toasting remarkable.
Posted on: 14 August 2015 by James L
Midnite's Ras Mek Peace recorded with love and care. It's naked and raw.
Mastered live to a two-track analog tape, this album was created with no mixing board, filtering, compression, equalization, noise reduction, multitracking or overdubbing of any kind.
Technical Notes: Mastered live to two-track analog tape at 15 ips, 18-42,000 hz (+3db). Digitized on the Mapleshade custom A/D converter at 2,823 K samples per second. Minimum miking and minimum-length cabling. Omega Mikro interconnect: microphone cables by Audioquest and Mapleshade. No mixing board, filtering, compression, equalization, noise reduction, multitracking or overdubbing.
Full liner notes here - http://www.vireggae.com/rasmekpeace.htm
Posted on: 15 August 2015 by Sloop John B
Thanks for all the suggestions, I've put the more realistic one's pricewise in my wish-list but some are retailing for £20 plus which is a bit steep nowadays.
I'm going through my purchases slowly, Just spent a week with Black Uhuru, seemed to even make the weather here better mid-week!
Does make me wonder what the hell it was I was doing with music choice in the past. How the hell did I miss all these tracks at the time? Really getting into this, although the songs from Anthem suffer from what I might call Simson drum syndrome there is some excellent reggae here.
Highlights for me Youth of Eglington, Whole World is Africa, Mondays/Killer Tuesdays, Party next door, Sponji Reggae and Utterance.
SJB
Posted on: 16 August 2015 by Kevin-W
Originally Posted by ChrisSU:
The influence of Lee 'Scratch' Perry on the entire genre is astonishing, both as a producer and an artist. He was involved in Bob Marley's early career, and his band, The Upsetters, are central to early Jamaican Dub. From later in his career, if 'From the Secret Laboratory' doesn't get you out of your chair, nothing will.
The influence/importance (and general all round musical brilliance) of King Tubby cannot be overestimated either.
Posted on: 16 August 2015 by ChrisSU
Kevin, I certainly wouldn't argue with that, although my preference, if pushed, would be for Lee Perry. King Tubby stayed closer to his Jamaican roots, where LSP pushed the boundaries in his own unique style. It's a shame King Tubby tragically came to a sticky end, who knows what direction his talents would have taken if he too had lived to a ripe old age.
Posted on: 31 August 2015 by northpole
Bunny Wailer's Blackheart Man was a present given to me by a very good friend when I left Kingston after over 4 years in Jamaica. More light hearted is the Bam Bam it's Murder compilation and I think Island Records 4 disc set 'The Story of Jamaican Music' covers such a lot of ground, each disc dedicated to a different genre from 1958 through to 1993. Buju Banton should not be ignored - impossible to ignore if you spin a disc!! Dennis Brown had such a sweet voice. Bob Marley still dominates for me - perhaps that very clever mix of guitar riffs which appeals to the likes of me brought up on UK rock music and which vanished as dance hall swept aside all before it; plus of course all the other elements of band, wailers, lyrics and his voice.....
Peter
Posted on: 04 September 2015 by Bertie Norman
What a great thread.
I would add I Jahman Levi - Jah Heavy Load - original 12" with the dub version on the b-side.
There was a reggae version of Dark of the Moon released a few years - Dub Side of the Moon - well worth a listen.
There are (or perhaps were as I haven't checked) plenty of compilation albums. Young Gifted and Black is a 2CD set that gives a good introduction to 'popular/chart' reggae.
The early reggae/ska is also worth investigating. Again there tend to be compilations of this. Rivers of Babylon by the Melodians is a classic.
Posted on: 05 September 2015 by Sneaky SNAIC
Originally Posted by Kevin-W:
...although this one comes close IMO:
Really fine...Black Vest is a masterpiece.
Posted on: 05 September 2015 by Sneaky SNAIC
Originally Posted by Sloop John B:
so Amazon finally got its act together, I've a lot of good stuff here to get through.
SJB
The motha load mon.
Posted on: 23 October 2015 by Sloop John B
Listening this evening to Blackheart Man, one of 3 albums released in 1976 by ex Wailers.
Yet to find a dud among the selection I bought.
SJB
Posted on: 05 November 2015 by Dreadatthecontrols
No quibble with any of the selections here, but Bunny Wailer Rock and Groove is a glaring oversight. Check out any of the Soul Jazz label Studio One compilations. Damien Marley Welcome To Jamrock, Stephen Marley and there is a great resurgence of conscious roots reggae happening now, check out Jah9,Chronixx,Protoje,Micah Shemiah. UK band Black Roots are back recording great music. Google these and check out
www.dubvendor.co.uk. Listen to David Rodigan on BBC 1xtra Sundays or iplayer
One Love
Posted on: 05 November 2015 by Dreadatthecontrols
Oh, and did anyone mention Hollie Cook...
Posted on: 05 November 2015 by Dreadatthecontrols
....for something further out almost anything from the On-U Sound label, Bim Sherman, Dub Syndicate, African Head Charge. Lee Perry & Dub Syndicate Time Boom X The Devil Dead...
Posted on: 05 November 2015 by Dreadatthecontrols
Sorry getting very carried away...do check out Easy Star All Stars who have done some unbelievably good reggae takes on classic rock albums, Radiodread OK Computer, Dub Side Of The Moon, Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Dub Band.
When buying reggae be aware that sound quality may often not be up to audiophile standards but the soul of the music usually shines through
Posted on: 13 December 2015 by Sloop John B
Trying to shake away these winter blues with this one
Once again really excellent music. Amazing value actually.
SJB
Posted on: 15 December 2015 by Borders Nick
Re-living my youth with this one - which was never off the (very poor quality) turntable for a long time in 1983. Especially "Rockers medley"
