Reggae is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broad sense to refer to most types of popular Jamaican dance music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that was strongly influenced by traditional mento and calypso music, as well as American jazz and rhythm and blues, and evolved out of the earlier genres ska and rocksteady.
Culture – “Black Starliner Must Come” from the album “Two Sevens Clash”
Culture (initially The African Disciples) formed in 1976 as the vocal trio of Joseph Hill, Albert Walker and Kenneth Dayes.
Two Sevens Clash
1) I’m Alone In The Wilderness; 2) Pirate Days; 3) Two Sevens Clash; 4) Calling Rastafari; 5) I’m Not Ashamed; 6) Get Ready To Ride The Lion To Zion; 7) Black Starliner Must Come; 8) Jah Pretty Face; 9) See Them A Come; 10) Natty Dread Taking Over; 11) See Dem A Come (12” Mix); 12) See Dem Dub; 13) Natty Dread Taking Over (12” Mix); 14) I’m Not Ashamed; 15) Not Ashamed Dub
Personnel
Joseph Hill – lead vocals; Albert Walker – harmony vocals; Kenneth Dayes – harmony vocals; Lloyd Parks – bass; Sly Dunbar – drums; Lennox Gordon – guitar; Robbie Shakespeare – guitar; Eric “Bingy Bunny” Lamont – guitar; Franklyn Waul – keyboards; Errol “Tarzan” Nelson – keyboards; Harold Butler – keyboards; Uziah “Sticky” Thompson – percussion; Herman Marquis – alto saxophone; Vin Gordon – trombone; Tommy McCook – tenor saxophone; Bobby Ellis – trumpet
U-Roy – “Runaway girl” from the album “Dread In A Babylon”
U-Roy was born Ewart Beckford on 21 September 1942 in Jones Town, Saint Andrews Parish, Kingston, Jamaica.
He started his professional career as a sound-system DJ in 1961 and in 1970 held the top three positions in the Jamaican charts for 12 weeks with “Wake The Town”, “Rule The Nation” and “Wear You To The Ball”.
“Dread In A Babylon”
1) Runaway Girl; 2) Chalice In The Palace; 3) I Can’t Love Another; 4) Dreadlocks Dread; 5) The Great Psalms; 6) Natty Don’t Fear; 7) African Message; 8) Silver Bird; 9) Listen To The Teacher; 10) Trench Town Rock
Backed by The Soul Syndicate and Skin, Flesh and Bones Band
Recorded at Joe Gibbs Studio
Mixed by Errol Thompson and Prince Tony
Engineered by Errol Thompson
Arranged and produced by Tony Robinson
Revolutionaries – “Death In The Arena” from the album “Reggae Anthology – The Channel One Story”
A chance visit to Dynamic Sound studio with John Holt inspired Joseph “Joe Joe” Hoo-kim to build Channel One Studio. It took 6 months to build and was housed in the Hoo-kim family’s two storey premises at 29 Maxfield Avenue. It opened for business in 1972 as a 4 track studio with the offer of free “try before you buy” sessions.
Between 1974 and 1984 the sound of Channel One dominated reggae and the studio’s house band was The Revolutionaries.
Disc 1
1) I Need A Roof – Mighty Diamonds; 2) Don’t Smoke The Seed – Frankie Jones; 3) Right Time – Mighty Diamonds; 4) Natty Dread Have Him Credential – Don Carlos; 5) Natty Burial – Lone Ranger; 6) Woman Is Like A Shadow – The Meditations; 7) Road Block – Sammy Dread; 8) Burial – The Revolutionaries; 9) Things And Time – The Wailing Souls; 10) Cocaine In My Brain – Dillinger; 11) Far East – Barry Brown; 12) CB 200 – Dillinger; 13) Welding – I Roy; 14) Worries In The Dance – Frankie Paul; 15) Herbman Smuggling – Yellowman; 16) Dances Are Changing – Barrington Levy; 17) Show Me That You Love Me Girl – Sugar Minott; 18) I Know Myself – Ernest Wilson; 19) Truly – Rankin Trevor
Disc 2
1) Truly – The Jays; 2) Hard To Confess – The Tamlins; 3) Ballistic Affair – Leroy Smart; 4) Satisfaction – John Holt; 5) Ragnampiza – Dillinger; 6) M.P.L.A. – The Revolutionaries; 7) Death In The Arena – The Revolutionaries; 8) Prema Ballerina – Clint Eastwood; 9) Sharing The Night Together – Delroy Wilson; 10) Babylon – Sugar Minott; 11) Smoke Ganja Hard – Little John; 12) Fade Away – Junior Byles; 13) Queen Majesty – The Jays & Ranking Trevor; 14) Without Love – Leroy Smart; 15) Up Park Camp – John Holt; 16) Yaho – The Jays; 17) Roach Killer – Super Chick; 18) M16 – Lone Ranger
Prince Jammy – “Out Of Order Dub” from the album “Trojan Presents Dub”
Born Lloyd James in 1947 in Montego Bay, Jamaica. He started his own sound system after earning money from building amplifiers and repairing electrical equipment.
After working in Canada for a few years he returned to Jamaica and set up his own studio. He then joined King Tubby’s team when Phillip Smart moved to New York City. By the late 70’s he was releasing his own productions, which included Black Uhuru’s debut album – “Love Crisis”.
His biggest hit came in 1985 with Wayne Smith’s “Under Me Sleng Teng” – a song that’s entirely-digital rhythm revolutionised reggae. He still works as a producer today, but is now known as King Jammy.
“Trojan Presents Dub”
Disc 1
1) Concentration Version 3 – The Crystalites; 2) Stalag 17 – The Techniques All Stars; 3) I’m Alright – Keith Hudson & King Tubby; 4) Butter Fe Fish – Skin Flesh & Bones; 5) One Train Load Of Dub – The Observers; 6) V/S Panta Rock – The Upsetters; 7) Buck Shot Dub – Rupie Edwards All Stars; 8) Tangle Locks – The Groovemaster; 9) Ashanti Ganja Dub – Leslie Butler; 10) Black Out – The Hardy Boys; 11) A Noisy Place – King Tubby & The Aggrovators; 12) Jestering Part 2 – Carl Malcolm & Skin, Flesh & Bones; 13) King Tubby Meets The Rockers Uptown – Augustus Pablo; 14) Seven Heaven Rock – Joe White; 15) Rebel Dance – The Observers & King Tubby; 16) A Ruffer Version – Johnny Clarke, King Tubby & The Aggrovators; 17) Callying Butt – The Upsetters; 18) White Bird Come Down – Thunderball; 19) Uptown Shuffle Dub – The Eccles All Stars; 20) Rockers Dub – Joe Gibbs & The Professionals
Disc 2
1) Sipple Dub – The Upsetters; 2) African Dub – The Silvertones; 3) Channel One Feel It – Leroy Smart & The Aggrovators; 4) Chapter 3 – The Mighty Two; 5) Keep On Moving Dub – The Upsetters; 6) Jamaican Colley – Linval Thompson & The Revolutionaries; 7) The Same Dub – Israel Vibration; 8) Leggo Beast – Gregory Isaacs’ All Stars; 9) Headache – The Revolutionaries; 10) Ball Of Fire – Bim Sherman & The Roots Radics; 11) Out Of Order Dub – Prince Jammy & The Aggrovators; 12) Hully Gully Rock – The Mighty Two; 13) Shine Eye Dub – Barrington Levy & The Roots Radics; 14) Fist Of Fury – Prince Jammy; 15) Thompson Sound Inc. – The Revolutionaries; 16) Time is Cold – Scientist & Roots Radics Band; 17) Blackboard Jungle – Morwell Unlimited; 18) Jammin’ For Survival – Prince Jammy; 19) Foundation Stepper – Prince Far I & The Arabs; 20) Pit Of Snakes – Burning Spear & The Taxi Gang
Gregory Isaacs – “Mr Cop” from the album “Extra Classic”
Born Gregory Anthony Isaacs on 15 July 1951 in Fletcher’s Land, Kingston, Jamaica. He and his younger brother were raised by their mother in the rough streets of nearby Denham Town. He died on 25 October 2010 aged just 59.
Gregory Isaacs – Extra Classic
1) Mr Cop; 2) Rasta Business; 3) Black Against Black; 4) Extra Classic; 5) My Religion; 6) Promise; 7) Dread Locks Love Affair; 8) Loving Pauper; 9) Something Nice; 10) Warriors; 11) Jailer Jailer; 12) Once Ago
The album is actually a collection of singles that surfaced on assorted labels during 1975/76.
Engineers; Errol Thompson, Lee Perry, Ossie Hibbert
Producers; Gregory Isaacs, Lee Perry, Pete Weston
Vocals; Gregory Isaacs
Backing Band; The Aggrovators, The Soul Syndicate, The Revolutionaries, The Upsetters
Studios; Black Ark, Channel One, Dynamic Sounds, Randy’s
Max Romeo – “Valley Of Jehosaphat” from the album “Open The Iron Gate”.
Born Maxwell Livingston Smith on 22 November 1944 in Alexandria in St. Ann, Jamaica.
In 2014 he released the album Father and Sons, a collaboration with his sons Ronaldo and Romario.
Open The Iron Gate
1) Every Man Ought To Know 2) Revelation Time – Hammer And Sickle 3) No Peace 4) Tacko 5) Blood Of The Prophets 6) Warning Warning – Version 7) A Quarter Pound Of I’cense 8) Three Blind Mice 9) Open The Iron Gates Parts 1 & 2 10) Valley Of Jehosaphat – Version 11) Fire Fe The Vatican 12) Melt Away
Musicians
Drums: Carlton Barrett & Santa Davis & Mikey Boo Richards & Derrick Stewart
Bass: Fully Fullwood & Aston Barrett & Clive Hunt & Geoffrey Chung
Guitar: Geoffrey Chung & Phil Callendar & Tony Chin & Chinna
Keyboards: Clive Hunt & Touter Harvey & Robert Lynn & Michael Murray & Tyrone Downie
Horns: Dirty Harry & Bobby Ellis & Tommy McCook
Percussions: Michael Murray & Lee Perry & Clive Hunt
Harmonica: Tyrone Downie
Upsetters – “Black Panta” from from the album “14 Dub Blackboard Jungle” (aka “Blackboard Jungle Dub (Version 1) from “Blackboard Jungle Dub”.
Upsetters – 14 Dub Blackboard Jungle
The album was released in 1973. 300 copies were pressed, of which 100 were brought to London.
Personnel as follows;
Drums – Lloyd “Tin Legs” Adams, Carly Barrett, Anthony “Benbow” Creary, Leroy “Horsemouth” Wallace
Bass – Family Man, Lloyd Parks, Errol “Bagga” Walker
Guitar – Alva Lewis, Valentine “Tony” Chin, Anthony “Sangie” Davis, Barrington Daley
Organ – Glen Adams, Winston Wright, Bernard “Touter” Harvey
Piano – Gladstone “Gladdy” Anderson, Tommy McCook
Melodica – Augustus Pablo
Trombone – Ron Wilson
Trumpet – Bobby Ellis
Percussion – Noel “Skully” Simms, Uziah “Sticky” Thompson, Lee Perry
Engineers – Lee Perry, King Tubby
The Twinkle Brothers were formed in 1962 as a hotel show band, which goes some way to explaining their name.
The band initially consisted of brothers Norman (vocals, drums) and Ralston Grant (vocals, rhythm guitar) , but soon expanded to include Eric Barnard (piano), Karl Hyatt (vocals, percussion), and Albert Green (congas, percussion).
After a few minor hits with other producers they started producing themselves. “Rasta Pon Top” was released in 1975 and viewed as a classic.
Front Line Presents Roots
Disc 1
House Of Dread Locks – Big Youth; Chalice In The Palace – U Roy; Crazy Bald Head – Johnny Clarke; Country Living – The Mighty Diamonds; Mix Up – The Gladiators; Tribute To Marcus Garvey – I Roy; Natty Dread A Take Over – U Brown; Rastaman Skank-Tapper Zukie; If You Don’t Love Jah -Althea & Donna; Natty And The Root Man – Ranking Trevor; Created By The Father – Gregory Isaacs; Daughters Of Zion – Prince Far I; Jah Son Of Africa-U Roy; Keep On Trying – The Twinkle Brothers; Exodus – I Roy; Bodyguard – The Mighty Diamonds; Back Yard Meditation – The Gladiators; Free Africa – The Twinkle Brothers
Disc 2
Satta A Massa Gana – Johnny Clarke; Satta – I Roy; Pocket Money – The Gladiators; Evil Doers – U Roy; Jah Will Work It Out – The Mighty Diamonds; M.P.L.A. – Tapper Zukie; Blackman Land – Prince Far I; Masculine Gender – Ranking Trevor; Stop The Fussing And Fighting – Culture; This Land Is For Everyone – The Abyssinians; Babylon River – U Roy; Struggle – The Gladiators; Set The Captives Free – I Roy; Jahoviah – The Twinkle Brothers; Universal Tribulation – Gregory Isaacs; Let Jah Be Praised – The Gladiators; International Herb – Culture ; Hill And Gully – I Roy; Jah Kingdom Come – The Twinkle Brothers
Born Roy Samuel Reid on 28 June 1944 in St Thomas Parish in Jamaica.
Along with U-Roy (whom he derived his name from), Dennis Alcapone, and Big Youth, he was one of a quartet of DJs that reigned supreme over the Jamaican music scene during the early to mid-’70s.
Sadly he died on 27 November 1999 from heart problems.
This track is from “The Observer Book Of I-Roy”; part of the “Deep Roots Observer Style” box set. All of the tracks are produced and arranged by Winston “Niney” Holness – Niney The Observer.
“The Observer Book Of I-Roy”
1) Jah Come Here
2) Step On The Dragon
3) Camp Road Skanking
4) Fresh And Clean
5) Native Land
6) Point Blank Observer Style
7) Sister Maggie Breast
8) Water Rate
9) Jamaican Girl/Observer In Fine Style
10) Jah Is My Light/Wicked Eat Dirt
11) Roots Man/Observer Mix Version
Classic early reggae from The Cables – “What Kind Of World” on Clement “Coxsone” Dodd’s legendary Studio One label. It’s from the album of the same name, but “Full Up (The Best of Studio One, Vol. 2)” is probably easier to get hold of.
The Cables were fronted by Keble (sometimes Keeble) Drummond whose first name provided the group with it’s name. Elbert Stewart (baritone) and Vince Stoddart (tenor) completed the vocal harmony group.
Studio One was one of Jamaica’s most renowned record labels and recording studios and was founded by Clement “Coxsone” Dodd in 1954. Dodd was also among the first to run his own sound system – Sir Coxsone the Downbeat – which became one of the largest and most reputable in Jamaica.
It’s safe to say that just about every big name in reggae music worked at Studio One at some stage in his or her career. The record label was involved with most of the major music movements in Jamaica during the 1960s and 1970s from ska to rocksteady, reggae, dub and dancehall. Incredibly Classic Studio One riddims are still being recycled today.
