World of Reggae Music: Roots and Culture

Rastaman

Red, gold, and green flags emblazoned with the Lion of Judah fly above swirling clouds of ganja smoke while pulsing bass and driving reggae riddims flow through sound systems stacked ten-feet high. This edition of the World of Reggae Music Collection is entitled Roots and Culture. This first volume of Roots and Culture features the Rastaman. The Rastaman is an integral part of Caribbean culture and the reggae movement.

Rita Marleyintroduced Robert Nesta Marley to the foundations of the Rastafarian religion or “way of life.” She had seen the Emperor of Ethiopia Haile Selassie I on his visit to Jamaica and had been struck by the spirit on seeing what she believed to be an incarnation of God, Jah Rastafari. Bob Marley and The Wailers later became a great messenger of the “king’s music.”

Bob Marley and The Wailers, the I-Threes (Rita Marley, Judy Mowatt, and Marcia Griffiths), Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailerall professed to the wisdom of Jah in their music. Not only did Marley and the Wailer family play roots and culture reggae, but so did the great rastaman icons Burning Spear, Dennis Brown, and Jacob Miller. The Rastafarian-inspired bands The Abyssinians, Black Uhuru, Aswad, Gladiators, The Melodians, The Mighty Diamonds, Steel Pulse, Culture,Wailing Souls, Third World, Israel Vibration, The Itals, and The Heptones rocked reggae for crowds of thousands of listeners and fired the souls and imaginations of millions of fans.

Not only the great reggae bands played tribute to the roots and culture of the rastaman, but so did the finest singjays from Dillinger, Barrington Levy, Ranking Joe, Sizzla, and Luciano to Buju Banton, Half Pint, Capleton, Anthony B, and Konshens. From the young to the old, from Tarrus Riley, Gyptian, Morgan Heritage, Alborosie, and Bushman to the old-school reggae originals of Jimmy Riley, Horace Andy, Johnny Clarke, and Cornell Campbell, Rastafarian culture and reggae still captures the pulse of an Island people.

1. The Abyssinians – Satta Massagana
2. Bob Marley & the Wailers – Rastaman Chant
3. Black Uhuru & the Revolutionaries – Dread In The Mountain
4. Aswad – Candles
5. The Melodians – Rivers Of Babylon
6. Steel Pulse – Not King James Version
7. Burning Spear – Marcus Garvey
8. Peter Tosh – Igziabeher (Let Jah Be Praised)
9. Barrington Levy – A Yah We Deh
10. Bunny Wailer, Toot & the Maytals – Take A Trip
11. The Heptones – Cool Rasta
12. The Shadows – Brother Noah
13. Gregory Isaacs – Thief a Man
14. Jacob Miller – Tenement Yard
15. Luciano – It’s Me Again Jah
16. Buju Banton – Untold Stories
17. Israel Vibration - Jericho
18. Morgan Heritage – Down By The River
19. Bob Marley & the Wailers – Positive Vibration
20. The Mighty Diamonds – Jah Jah Bless The Dreadlocks
21. Ini Kamoze – Ital
22. Devon Irons – When Jah Comes
23. Bob Marley & the Wailers – Jah Live
24. The Wailing Souls – Kingdom Rise Kingdom Fall
25. Johnny Clarke – Be Holy My Brothers And Sisters
26. Burning Spear – Jah No Dead
27. Horace Andy – Psalm 68
28. Horace Andy – Dub 68
29. Kiddus I – Graduation In Zion
30. Tony Rebel – Jah Is By My Side
31. Dennis Brown – To the Foundations
32. Max Romeo – Babylon’s Burning
33. Luciano & Sizzla – Jah Blessing
34. The Mighty Diamonds – I Need A Roof
35. Israel Vibration – We a De Rasta
36. The Gladiators – Roots Natty
37. Willie Williams – Armagideon Time
38. Bob Marley & the Wailers – Iron Lion Zion
39. Third World – Cool Meditation
40. Johnny Clarke – Enter Into His Gates
41. Ras Michael And The Sons Of Negus – Rise Jah Jah Children (The Lion Sleeps)
42. Aswad – Back To Africa
43. Steel Pulse – Babylon Makes The Rules
44. Burning Spear – Red, Gold & Green
45. Half Pint – Blessings
46. Luciano – Jah Live
47. Fred Locks – Black Star Liner
48. Morgan Heritage – Set Yourself Free
49. Bushman – What’s the Matter With the World
50. Beres Hammond & Flourgon – I Love Jah
51. Capleton – Raggy Road
52. Garnett Silk – Mama Africa
53. Burning Spear – I And I Survive (Slavery Days)
54. Steel Pulse – Biko’s Kindred Lament
55. Sugar Minott – Black Roots
56. The Wailing Souls – Jah Give Us Life
57. Culture – Humble African
58. Black Uhuru – Whole World Is Africa
59. Sizzla – Black Woman & Child
60. Anthony Cruz & Marlene Johnson – Africa
61. Tarrus Riley – Marcus Teaching
62. Edge, Michael– Mr Babylon
63. Winston Francis – Going to Zion
64. The Abyssinians – Declaration Of Rights
65. Third World – Dreamland
66. Alborosie – Rastafari Anthem
67. Burning Spear – Calling Rastafari
68. Black Uhuru – I Love King Selassie
69. Anthony B & Horace Andy – Enter The Kingdom of Zion
70. Sylford Walker – Jah Golden Pen
71. The Mighty Diamonds – Africa
72. Black Uhuru – Going To Zion
73. The Abyssinians – Y Mas Gan
74. Sizzla – Rastaman Chant
75. Hell & Fire – Show Us The Way
76. Little Roy – Bongo Nyah
77. Junior Byles – King Of Babylon
78. Konshens – Rasta Imposter
79. Irie Love – Put Jah First
80. Luciano & Candy Man – Dem No Know Jah
81. Third World – Satta Massagana
82. Alborosie – Call Up Jah
83. Burning Spear – Lion
84. Bob Marley & the Wailers – Natty Dread
85. Buju Banton – ‘Til I’m Laid To Rest
86. Max Roemo, Conrad Crystal, & Suga Roy – Chant Rasta
87. Peter Tosh – Mama Africa
88. Black Uhuru – Leaving to Zion
89. Buju Banton – Give I Strength
90. Culture – Get Ready To Ride The Lion To Zion
91. Alborosie – I Am
92. Frankie Paul – Red, Gold, and Green
93. Tarrus Riley – Love Created I
94. Cornell Campbell – I Heart Is Clean/Zinc Fence
95. Alborosie – I Rusalem
96. Ranking Joe & Michael Rose – Poor Man Struggle
97. Dillinger – Gate Number
98. The Itals – Roll River Jordan
99. Pancho Alphonso & the Revolutionaries – Never Give Up In Babylon
100. Burning Spear – Jah Is Real
101. Jimmy Riley – Tell The Youths The Truth
102. Dolphin Morris & Prince Far I – Su Su Pan Rasta / Heavy Manners
103. Gregory Isaacs – Babylon Too Rough
104. Culture – Jah Rastafari (2001 Digital Remaster)
105. The Wailing Souls – They Don’t Know Jah
106. Jacob Miller – I’m A Rastaman
107. Conrad Crystal, Suga Roy, & Gyptian – Jah Jah See Dem
108. Capleton & Luciano - Hail King Selassie
109. Horace Andy & Ashley Beedle - Babylon You Lose

I got to attend this year’s Reggae on the River Festival in Southern Humboldt County, California. The festival had a great local community feel and funds raised went to support the Mateel Community Center in Redway, California. The Eel River flowed through the picturesque venue located at Benbow State Recreational Area. Reggae on the River celebrated its 25th Anniversary in fine style. Positive vibrations flowed all day long. Soul Majestic played early in the day bringing their brand of soul-drenched reggae to the stage. The track “First Light“ set the vibe and songs like “Rough N’ Tuff ” displayed the musical prowess of this young group. Soul Majestic also played the single “Better World,” which dovetails nicely with their positive vibe and eco-friendly message.

Queen Omega ignited the stage with soul, dancehall, and roots reggae. A native of Trinidad and Tobago Queen Omega sang “Love Ya Color,” “Judgement,” “Warning,” and “Ganja Baby” to an appreciative crowd.  The Roots Revealers bought Jamaican dancehall to northern California playing the songs “Long Road” and “No More Killing.”

The crowd-pleasing crown princess of roots reggae Etana turned it up a notch dropping the killer hits “Roots” and “Blessing.” The lovely songstress covered some Bob Marley and the Wailers tunes creating a wonderful vibe with the classic “One Drop.” Etana played some tracks from her newest hit album The Strong One performing “Jah Chariot” and “Don’t Forget,” and “Caltariba System.” And I was pleasantly surprised by Etana’s cover of the Beatles “Don’t Let Me Down.” Etana finished her set singing “I Am Not Afraid,” which is from one of my favorite riddims: the “Rub-A-Dub” riddim. 

The legendary vocal group from Jamaica The Abyssinians took the stage under the afternoon sun. Roots reggae filled the air with classic tunes like “Y Mas Gan,” “African Race,” “Let My Days Be Long,”  ”Meditation,” and “Know Jah Today.” The Abyssinians took us to the Bible and the book of Daniel with “Abendigo,” turning the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendigo into a wonderful reggae and dub experience. And of course the reggae legends performed their megahits from the Satta Massagana album, including “Peculiar Number,” “Black Man’s Strain,” “Declaration Of Rights,” “Forward Unto Zion,” and “Satta Massagana.”

The Abyssinians at Reggae on the River 2009

The Abyssinians Dancing at Reggae on the River 2009

Tanya Stephens livened things up with a raunchy-rough riding performance that included plenty of references to “long ding dongs” with high-energy versions of “Boom Wuk” and “Good Ride.” The dancehall favorite “Yuh Nuh Ready Fi Dis Yet” set a playful vibe and then she played the killer singles “Can’t Breathe,” “It’s A Pity,” and “These Streets.” Stephens showed her soulful side too with songs like “What Ah Day” and ”Little White Lie.” But it seemed Stephens dominated with the playful tunes like ”Tek Him Back” and “To The Rescue.”

Tanya Stephens at Reggae on the River 2009

Tanya Stephens at Reggae on the River 2009, California

Then the Yellow Wall Dub Squad took the stage to warm it up for The Mighty Diamonds. The bassist sang the song “Overlaod” and then King David sang a reggae version of Michael Jackson’s “Human Nature.” The Mighty Diamonds entered the stage and played “Poor Marcus Garvey” and “Rise Up” from the album titled Rise Up. The roots reggae gems “Have Mercy,” “Right Time,” “Africa,” and “I Need A Roof” all made the set list. The “I Need A Roof” jam extended and transitioned into a cover of the Bob Marley’s anthem “Get Up, Stand Up.” An extended version of “Pass The Kutchie” and a sweet version of the Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions tune “It’s All Rightt” capped off the set. Etana, The Abyssinians, Soul Majestic, Queen Omega, and The Mighty Diamonds then returned to the stage and all performed together for a finale. The all-star group of reggae performers sang the Bob Marley and the Wailers classic hit “One Love / People Get Ready.”

The Eel River at Reggae on the River 2009

Dancin' Crowd at Reggae on the River 2009

As far as re-releases go, very frequently, the packaging is ignored. In the case of Satta that has been…(FULL ARTICLE)