snuh (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} snuh) wrote,@ 2007-04-01 02:04:00 |
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roots reggae sunday
eBay: King Tubby's Hometown Bass Speaker
When I ask people if they like reggae, most of the time they scrunch their face and say, "No". I say that's because they haven't heard the good stuff. For me, it's groove, personified.
It all started with Dub, which was the realm of King Tubby. These pages do a decent job explaining the hows and whys:
A Brief History of Dub Dub Music King Tubby's Sound System
Dub heavily influenced techno, electronica, among other genres of music. DJ Kool Herc took his sound system and toasting style along with him when he left Jamaica for the Bronx, New York, where he helped pioneer rapping and hip-hop.
Here's my pick of some top reggae and its other offshoots - Dub, Toasting and Dancehall.
This is where it begins - the King.
This Riddim song made the UK singles chart. Then Rupie Edwards sorta dissapeared.
Hit big with The Israelites, this is one of Desmond's more popular songs.
This is where reggae makes the bridge to what became rap - the extended version.
This is the same song Three Dog Night had a hit with. The lyrics were written by David Arkin, father and grandfather of actors Alan and Adam Arkin, respectively. He was inspired by the Brown versus the Board of Education decision and took it to pen. I love the sparseness of this song - simple, but a strong performance by The Maytones. An Alvin Ranglin production, one of the genre's more successful producers.
The Slickers were a band that were "a tangled mare's nest of rumors and contradiction". My favorite story (surely an PR person's invention) is they were all on death row awaiting execution. Either way, a reggae standard.
A cleaned up version was released by Musical Youth with much success as "Pass the Dutchie". "Kouchie" is Patois for ganja, which at the time was not suitable for most radio stations. This tune moves as steady as a freight train, the groove stays with you long after the song ends.
The Specials recorded a hit with their remake of Rudy, A Message to You. Dandy Livingstone, real name Robert Thompson, with a cautionary warning to all rude boys and girls of Jamaica.
Yet another reggae song remade into an international hit, this time by Blondie. Here's the original.
The Clash had fun with their attempt at this one, but it doesn't some close to the first. A Lee "Scratch" Perry production.
Toots & The Maytals have been described as three Otis Reddings singing at once. The Maytals are said to have been the first group to use the word "reggae" in a song with their Leslie Kong produced "Do the Reggay."
Boney M (the Milli Vanilli of their day, the same man created both "bands") had a huge international hit with a remake of this Melodians song. One reggae's essential tunes.
Bob Marley, what more can you say about this giant that hasn't already been said? This song contains one of the best lyrics ever - "A hungry man is an angry man".
Here's another covered by the Clash. Willie Williams' classic Apocalyptic forecast.
Dancehall King, Super Cat, singing about Boops, which in Patois refers to an older man having a kept woman. He's also known as "Wild Apache" and for enjoying his guns.
A good song to end with by another band that squeezed out an inspired classic before fading from view.
I hope you all enjoyed this trip down Reggae Road, truly a joyful music with much influence on most musical styles.
eBay: King Tubby's Hometown Bass Speaker
When I ask people if they like reggae, most of the time they scrunch their face and say, "No". I say that's because they haven't heard the good stuff. For me, it's groove, personified.
It all started with Dub, which was the realm of King Tubby. These pages do a decent job explaining the hows and whys:
A Brief History of Dub Dub Music King Tubby's Sound System
Dub heavily influenced techno, electronica, among other genres of music. DJ Kool Herc took his sound system and toasting style along with him when he left Jamaica for the Bronx, New York, where he helped pioneer rapping and hip-hop.
Here's my pick of some top reggae and its other offshoots - Dub, Toasting and Dancehall.
This is where it begins - the King.
King Tubby: Satta Dread Dub - 3.13MB
This Riddim song made the UK singles chart. Then Rupie Edwards sorta dissapeared.
Rupie Edwards: Ire Feelings - 6.90MB
Hit big with The Israelites, this is one of Desmond's more popular songs.
Desmond Dekker & The Aces: 007 (Shanty Town) - 4.65MB
This is where reggae makes the bridge to what became rap - the extended version.
Scotty: Draw Your Brakes - 5.98MB
This is the same song Three Dog Night had a hit with. The lyrics were written by David Arkin, father and grandfather of actors Alan and Adam Arkin, respectively. He was inspired by the Brown versus the Board of Education decision and took it to pen. I love the sparseness of this song - simple, but a strong performance by The Maytones. An Alvin Ranglin production, one of the genre's more successful producers.
The Maytones: Black And White - 5.11MB
The Slickers were a band that were "a tangled mare's nest of rumors and contradiction". My favorite story (surely an PR person's invention) is they were all on death row awaiting execution. Either way, a reggae standard.
The Slickers: Johnny Too Bad - 5.64MB
A cleaned up version was released by Musical Youth with much success as "Pass the Dutchie". "Kouchie" is Patois for ganja, which at the time was not suitable for most radio stations. This tune moves as steady as a freight train, the groove stays with you long after the song ends.
The Mighty Diamonds: Pass the Kouchie - 6.58MB
The Specials recorded a hit with their remake of Rudy, A Message to You. Dandy Livingstone, real name Robert Thompson, with a cautionary warning to all rude boys and girls of Jamaica.
Dandy Livingstone: Rudy, A Message to You - 4.77MB
Yet another reggae song remade into an international hit, this time by Blondie. Here's the original.
The Paragons: The Tide Is High - 4.87
The Clash had fun with their attempt at this one, but it doesn't some close to the first. A Lee "Scratch" Perry production.
Junior Murvin: Police & Thieves - 6.89MB
Toots & The Maytals have been described as three Otis Reddings singing at once. The Maytals are said to have been the first group to use the word "reggae" in a song with their Leslie Kong produced "Do the Reggay."
Toots & The Maytals: 54-46 That's My Number - 5.91MB
Boney M (the Milli Vanilli of their day, the same man created both "bands") had a huge international hit with a remake of this Melodians song. One reggae's essential tunes.
The Melodians: Rivers Of Babylon - 6.32MB
Bob Marley, what more can you say about this giant that hasn't already been said? This song contains one of the best lyrics ever - "A hungry man is an angry man".
Bob Marley & the Wailers: Them Belly Full (But We Hungry) - 5.98MB
Here's another covered by the Clash. Willie Williams' classic Apocalyptic forecast.
Willie Williams: Armagideon Time - 9.41MB
Dancehall King, Super Cat, singing about Boops, which in Patois refers to an older man having a kept woman. He's also known as "Wild Apache" and for enjoying his guns.
Super Cat: Boops - 7.29MB
A good song to end with by another band that squeezed out an inspired classic before fading from view.
The Charmers: Rasta Never Fails - 4.71MB
I hope you all enjoyed this trip down Reggae Road, truly a joyful music with much influence on most musical styles.
