World of Reggae Music Collection: Vintage Reggae

Classic Reggae

This second volume of the World of Reggae Music Collection digs deeper into Vintage Reggae exploring some of reggae’s most classic tracks. For example, the Tamlin’s “Baltimore“ is a classic cut that typifies the soul of reggae music. From the unique vocal stylings of Barrington Levy and Susan Cadogan to supergroups like The Heptones, Israel Vibration, and the Gladiators, this era of reggae music forces hearts to pulsate and feet to dance. Furthermore, this genre includes melodic tracks like Bob Marley & the Wailers‘ “Do It Twice” and Ernie Smith’s “Duppy Gunman.”

1. Barrington Levy – Don’t Fuss Nor Fight
2. Roman Stewart – Hit Song
3. Errol Dunkley – Sad To Know
4. Susan Cadogan – Hurt So Good
5. The Heptones – Country Boy
6. Leroy Smart – I Am the Don
7. The Gladiators – Small Axe
8. Toots & the Maytals – Peeping Tom
9. Reggie Antonie – So Many Ways
10. Lee “Scratch” Perry – So Many Skanks
11. Clancy Eccles – Fatty Fatty
12. Mallory Williams – She Boom
13. Johnny Ousborne – Water Pumping
14. Jimmy Sommerville – To Love Somebody
15. The Pioneers – Time Hard
16. Dennis Brown – Sitting And Watching
17. Bob Andy – Feeling
18. Peter Tosh – Ketchy Shuby
19. Horace Andy –I Feel Good All Over
20. Bob Marley & the Wailers – Bus Dem Shut
21. Joe Higgs – Burning Fire
22. Ernie Smith – Duppy Gunman
23. Junior Murvin – Cool Out son
24. Eric Donaldson – Stand Up
25. Lee “Scratch” Perry – Dub Fu Ye Rights
26. Horace Andy – Man To Man
27. Bob Marley & the Wailers – Do It Twice
28. Desmond Dekker – Generosity
29. Bob Marley & the Wailers – Guava Jelly
30. Message – Rum-Bum-A-Loo
31. The Viceroys – River To Cross
32. Israel Vibration – The Same Song
33. Bunny Wailer – Rockers
34. Junior Byles – Fade Away
35. Theo Beckford – Easy Snappin’
36. Max Romeo – Wet Dream
37. Freddie McGregor – Joggin’
38. The Viceroys – Ya Ho
39. Marcia Griffiths – Melody Life
40. The Wailing Souls – Row Fisherman
41. Rupie Edwards – Ire Feelings
42. Jacob Miller – Love Is A Message
43. Denzel D. Dennis – Women and Money
44. The Upsetters – Cent Skank
45. Jacob Miller – Baby I Love You So
46. Johnny Clarke – Top Ranking (I’m the Toughest)
47. The Heptones – I’ve Got the Handle (First Aid)
48. The Cables – Baby Why
49. Dave Barker & the Upsetters – Shock Of Mighty
50. The Maytones – Money Worries
51. Freddie McGregor – I Was Born A Winner
52. The Wailing Souls – Back Out
53. Glen Washington – One Of These Days
54. The Congos – At The Feast
55. Cornell Campbell & Sound Dimension – What Kind of World
56. Derrick Morgan –  Forward March
57. Black Uhuru – Sponji Reggae
58. Johnny Clarke -  Move Out Of Babylon
59. Bob Marley & the Wailers – Waiting In Vain
60. Carl Malcom – Fatty Bum Bum
61. Gregory Isaacs – Top Ten
62. Desmond Dekker – Shing A Ling
63. Barry Brown – Stand Firm
64. Trevor Byfield – Burning Bush
65. The Gladiators – On the Other Side
66. Black Uhuru – Great Train Robbery
67. Carl Malcom – No Jestering
68. Cornell Campbell – Stars
69. Dub Specialist – Starring Dub
70. Lloyd Parks – Ordinary Man
71. The Impact All Stars – Ordinary Man Version 3
72. Lord Creator – Such is Life
73. Keith Poppin – Righteous Man
74. The Heptones – My Guiding Star
75. Leroy Smart – Wish You Good Luck
76. Bob Marley & the Wailers – Lively Up Yourself
77. Black Uhuru – Sun Is Shining
78. The Mighty Diamonds – Back Whey
79. Little John – All Over Me
80. Ruddy Thomas – When I Think Of You
81. Don Carlos – Hog and Goat
82. Tyrone Taylor – Heavy Waist Line
83. Prince Alla – Poor Man Feel It
84. Cornell Campbell – Press Along
85. King Tubby – Press Along (King Tubby’s Dub)
86. Dennis Brown – Cassandra
87. The Tamlins – Baltimore
88. Dandy Livingstone – Suzanne Beware Of The Devil
89. Zap Pow - This Is Reggae Music
90. Johnny Clarke - None Shall Escape The Judgement
91. Pluto Shervington – Ram Goat Liver
92. Tingo Stewart – Play De Music
93. Denzel Dennis – Me Nah Worry

01. Ali Baba – Duke Reid & John Holt
02. Singer Man – The Kingstonians
03. Israelites [single version] – Desmond Dekker & The Aces
04. Gangsters [live] – The Specials
05. No Raise No Praise – Derrick Morgan
06. My Boy Lollipop – Millie
07. Whine & Grine [radio version] – Prince Buster
08. Tears Of A Clown, The – The Beat
09. Blam Blam Fever – Valentines
10. Double Barrel – Dave & Ansel Collins
11. Everyday (Time Hard) [live] – The Selecter
12. Long Shot Kick De Bucket – Leslie Kong & The Pioneers
13. Fattie Fattie – Clancy Eccles
14. Ire Feelings (Leggo Skanga) – Rupie Edwards

Tracklist:
01. Too Much Too Young [radio edit] – The Specials
02. Monkey Man – The Maytals
03. Train To Skaville – The Ethiopians
04. Red Red Wine – Tony Tribe
05. One Step Beyond [radio edit] – Madness
06. Miss Jamaica – Jimmy Cliff
07. Liquidator, The – Harry J. Allstars
08. Funky Kingston – Toots & The Maytals
09. Carry Go Bring Come – Justin Hinds & The Dominoes
10. Pressure Drop – Toots & The Maytals
11. John Jones – Derrick Hariott & Rudy Mills
12. Three Minute Hero – The Selecter
13. Skinhead Moonstomp – Symarip

Made in Jamaica DVD

Un DVD único, de excelente calidad fílmica “Made in Jamaica”, título alusivo a la fantástica isla no le queda para nada mal, un documental sobre la vida de los habitantes de aquel país, con presentaciones en vivo y entrevistas a fieles exponentes: Gregory Isaacs, Elephant Man, Bunny Wailer, Bounty Killer, Lady Saw, Toots y Capleton. Semejantes nombres dejan ya de por si satisfechos a quien vea el film. La vida del ghetto, la lucha de los que menos tienen y la salida que encuentran en la música, es lo que representa y viven estos artistas, que han logrado crecer a base de esfuerzo y talento. También aparecen una nueva escuela de dancehall/ragga, otros artistas y personajes, mostrando que el género está más vivo que nunca.
Los momentos en vivo son toda una joya: tocando en la calle, frente al mar, y jardines propios, realmente de lo mejor del DVD. Recomendable de principio a fin!

NOTA: El video está en inglés. Ahi van los subtítulos.

Ver en Megavideo

- Parte 1

- Parte 2

Descargar pelicula

- Parte 1

- Parte 2

Made in Jamaica Soundtrack

DISCO 1

1 400 Years / Bunny Wailer
2 Kingston 14 / Gregory Isaacs
3 96°/ Third World
4 That Day Will Come / Capleton
5 Love Is the Best / Toots And The Maytals
6 No Woman No Cry / Bunny Wailer
7 You Shattered My Life / Joseph Current
8 Temptation / Gregory Isaacs
9 54-46 / Toots And The Maytals
10 Old Man’s Soul / Shiah Coore And Cat Coore
11 Jah Is My Everything / Capleton
12 The Border / Gregory Isaacs
13 I Shot The Sheriff / Bunny Wailer
14 Rat Race / Koolant
15 Mr.Gunner Man / Joseph Current
16 Can’t Breathe / Tanya Stephen
17 Celebrate Life / Beres Hammond
18 So Excited / Toots And The Maytals

1 France / Lady Saw
2 Redemption Song / Elephant Man
3 Bootie Bounce / Elephant Man
4 Bad Gal / Lady Saw
5 Red Light Zone / Bounty Killer
6 We A Kill We / Vibz Kartel
7 No More Suffering / Bounty Killer
8 Emergency / Vibz Kartel
9 Talk To Dem / Bounty Killer
10 Realest Thing / Vibz Kartel
11 Gangsta Girl / Blessed Stephens
12 Deja Vu / Doc Marshall
13 Out Of My Mind / Brick And Lace
14 Girls / Doc Marshall & Koolant
15 We Can Go / Alaine Laughton
16 Jamaican National Anthem / Elephant Man

Descargar Soundtrack

- Disco 1

- Disco 2

One of my favorite things to do in the 21st century is burn CDs for people. Partly, it is the narcissistic belief that I listen to cooler music than anyone else on earth (Not true! My friends constantly surprise and delight me with new and wonderful music I have never heard before.)

Anywhatthehellhappenedtonapster, I made a CD for a friend and I’ve pretty much been listening to it on repeat for a week or so. (Eventually, I will give her the CD – just.not.yet.)

So I wanted to share it with yalls tonight because obviously, in my infinite wisdom narcissism, I have chosen songs that are ideal for a nice, leisurely jog in the park. Some of them are new, and some are pretty old, but all of them are awesome.

My morning jacket – one big holiday (live)
elbow – the bones of you
matisyahu – one day
Del tha funkee homosapien feat. dinosaur jr. – missing link
Toots & the Maytals – Take me home, country road
Devotchka – queen of the surface streets
Wilco – Jesus, Etc.
Jimmy eat world – bleed american
Raconteurs – steady as she goes
Them crooked vultures – mind eraser, no chaser
The Shins – Phantom Limb
Deadboy & the Elephantmen – Stop, I’m already dead
dangermouse & jemini – ghetto pop life
Dropkick Murphys – Shipping up to Boston
Them crooked vultures – new fang
social d – dear lover
XTC – Dear God
de la soul, teenage fanclub – Fallin’

I go through phases – sometimes I’ll go for weeks on end listening to nothing but death metal, then I’ll listen to ambient/electronic. Then bluegrass. This week, I appear to be on an alt rock kick.

Pay special attention to Them Crooked Vultures – Keith Buckley of Every Time I Die says this band just might save rock n roll…

I think he’s right.

World of Reggae Music Collection: Vintage Reggae

The Early Years

The Jam-Tex selector digs deeper into the reggae genre, focusing in on some of reggae’s earliest hits. Positive vibrations drip from songs like Dobby Dobson’s “Loving Pauper” and The Pioneers‘ “Let Your Yeah Be Yeah.”  Reggae legends Bob Marley & The Wailers, Toots & The Maytals, and Delroy Wilson all laid down foundational tracks during this early period of reggae music.

This particular collection features early vintage hits from the well-known male artists like John Holt, Alton Ellis, Desmond Dekker, Johnny Clarke, Ken Boothe, and Bob Andyand female artists Marcia Griffiths, Susan Cadogan, and my favorite Phyllis Dillon. Many of the musicians from the rock steady era like Derrick Morgan and Stranger Colerecorded early reggae hits. Alongside the more well-known vocalists, this collection features lesser-known artists like K.C. White and Watty Burnett, who laid down infectious reggae tunes like “No No No (You Don’t Love Me Anymore)” and “Rainy Night in Portland.”

Here in the early reggae cuts you find amazing originality. Dennis Brown tracks like “Westbound Train” and “Man Next Door” encapsulate the raw power of reggae. And, Delroy Wilson’s bass heavy “Better Must Come” might be the greatest reggae song ever recorded. Plus the early Bob Marley & the Wailers’ songs forged music and message into a powerful punch. Together Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer recorded original classics like “Mr. Brown,” “Try Me,” and “Jailhouse.” These legends of reggae music would forever change the course of music history.

1. Bob Marley & the Wailers – Mr. Brown
2. Errol Dunkeley – Ok Fred
3. Marie Bryant – Tomatoes
4. Delroy Wilson – (I’m in A) Dancing Mood
5. Don Evans & the Paragons – Danger in Your Eyes
6. Dandy Livingston – Rudy, a Message to You
7. Ken Boothe – Old Fashioned Way
8. Phyllis Dillon – Woman In the Ghetto
9. Toots & the Maytals – Monkey Man
10. Barrington Levy – Sister Carol
11. Desmond Dekker – Reggae Recipe
12. Dennis Brown – Man Next Door
13. Susan Cadogan – Nice And Easy
14. Horace Andy – Natural Mystic
15. Don Carlos & Roots Radics – Fight Fight
16. Johnny Clarke – Don’t Trouble Trouble
17. Toots & the Maytals – Do The Reggay
18. The Pioneers – Let Your Yeah Be Yeah
19. U-Roy – Hold On
20. Derrick & Patsy – Housewives Choice
21. Lord Creator – Don’t Stay Out Late
22. Dobby Dobson – Loving Pauper
23. Roman Stewart – Try Me
24. Leroy Smart – Ballistic Affair
25. Bob Andy & Marcia Griffiths – Young Gifted And Black
26. Delroy Wilson – Better Must Come
27. K.C. White – No No No
28. Horace Andy – Do You Love My Music
29. Bruce Ruffin – Rain
30. Delroy Wilson – It’s A Shame
31. Johnny Clarke – Tears on My Pillow
32. Cornell Campbell & the Aggrovators – I Will Never Change/Version
33. Desmond Dekker – Fu Man Chu
34. Derrick Morgan – Tougher Than Tough (Rudie In Court)
35. The Wailers – Jailhouse
36. Dennis Brown – Westbound Train
37. Kingstonian – Nice Nice
38. Bob Marley & the Wailers – Bend Down Low
39. Jacob Miller – Mr. Officer
40. Owen Gray – Midnight Track
41. Delroy Wilson – Living In The Foots Steps Of Another Man
42. Lord Messam – Linstead Market
43. Alton Ellis – Ain’t That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One)
44. Bob Marley & the Wailers – One Cup Of Coffee
45. Delroy Wilson – Run Run
46. Peter Tosh – You Can’t Fool Me Again
47. Lord Creator – Independent Jamaica
48. John Holt & Alton Ellis – Rum Bumper’s
49. Bob Marley & the Wailers – Try Me
50. Bob Marley & the Wailers – Try Me (Version)
51. Derrick Morgan – I Am The Ruler
52. Ronnie Davis – I Won’t Cry
53. The Tennors – Ride Me Donkey
54. The Majesterians – If I Didn’t Want Your Loving
55. Alton Ellis & Phyllis Dillon – Why Did You Leave Me To Cry
56. Delroy Wilson – Cool Operator
57. Al Barry & the Cimarons – Morning Sun
58. Watty Burnett – Rainy Night in Portland
59. Stranger Cole – Out of Many, One
60. Patrick Andy – Clarendon Girl

Gran versió, com ja ha vien fet dècades enrere The Specials i més recentment l’Amy Winehouse, dels nord-americans Reel Big Fish del clàssic de Toots & The Maytals “Monkey Man”.

“Monkey Man” – Toots & The Maytals

Ay ay ay, ay ay ay,
tell you baby,
you huggin’ up the big monkey man (2x)

I’ve seen no sign of you,
I’ve only heard that you
huggin’ up the big monkey man (2x)

Is not lie, is not lie,
them a tell me,
you huggin’ up the big monkey man (2x)

Now I know that, now I understand,
you turnin’ a monkey on me (2x)

(repeat)

To buy the music of Toots & The Maytals click HERE

This month’s music selection varies from twangy country to roots reggae to experimental jazz-hip-hop and dub. Robert Glasper’s Double Booked is chalk-full of creativity and musicianship.  Glasper, a pianist originally from Houston, Texas has performed with Erykah Badu, The Roots, Maxwell, and Mos Def. On this new album Glasper mixes hip-hop, jazz, and experimental music into a beautiful soundscape.

Conrad Crystal and Suga Roy have put together a fine album with help from some of reggae’s icons. The legendary Toots & The Maytals joins the duo on “God Bless You.” The singjay Gyptian performs “Jah Jah See Dem”  in tribute to Joseph Hill and Culture. The dancehall jam “She Call Mi Phone” features “king of the dancehall” Beenie Man and the amazing vocalist Barrington Levy. Deejays U Roy, Dillinger, and Big Youth join the fray while Reggae superstars Lee “Scratch” Perry, Max Romeo, Eek-A-Mouse, Marcia Griffiths, Dennis Brown, The Congos, and Inner Circle all lend their vocals. Even the amazing danechall duo Chaka Demus & Pliers makes an appearance on “Girl You Rock My World.”

The Stephen Marleyalbum Mind Control originally dropped more than a year ago. Now a newer acoustic version of the disc has been released called Mind Control Acoustic. The smooth beautiful track “Chase Dem” features Capleton layering rhymes through the original tune. Brothers Damian Marley and Julian Marley appear on the record as does rude boy Spragga Benz.

1. Robert Glasper – Double Booked [Blue Note 2009]
2. Conrad Crystal & Suga Roy – Suga Roy, Conrad Crystal and the Great Reggae Icons [Fire Ball 2009]
3. Stephen Marley – Mind Control Acoustic [Tuff Gong 2009]
4. Danny Barnes – Pizza Box [ATO Records 2009]
5. Corb Lund – Losin’ Lately Gambler [New West 2009]
6. Beres Hammond – Something Old, Something New [Penthouse Records 2009]
7. Morgan Heritage – The Journey Thus Far [VP Records 2009]
8. Drake – So Far Gone [Young Money/Cash Money 2009]
9. B.B. Seaton – Ready For The World [Soul Beat/Roots International 2009]
10. Various Artist – Joyful Noise [I Grade Records 2009]
11. Geoff Maldaur & the Texas Shieks – Texas Sheiks [Tradition & Moderne 2009]
12. James Hand – Shadow on the Ground [Rounder 2009]
13. Jack Johnson – En Concert [Brushfire Records 2009]
14. Serani – No Games [Phase One 2009]
15. The Soothsayers Meet Red Earth Collective – One More Reason [Red Earth Music 2009]
16. Del Tha Funkyhomosapien & Tame One – Parallel Uni-Verses [Gold Dust 2009]
17. Mike Zito – Pearl River [Eclecto Groove Records 2009]
18. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – Speed Of Life [Sugar Hill 2009]
19. Various Artists – Riddim Driven: Clearance [VP 2009]
20. Lorenzo – Movin’ Ahead [Irie Ites 2009]

# 271 Toots & The Maytals > Pressure Drop
En klassiker från den legendariska ska/reggae-gruppen Toots & The Maytals som influerat mängder av artister, bl.a. Clash som också gjort en cover på denna. 

The Jam-Tex selector will post a study and organization of the essential tracks of reggae music. The selector invites others to join in on the organization of these tracks.  Thus Jam-Tex presents “The World of Reggae Music Collection.” This collection of singles begins with the greatest roots reggae hits in a category  entitled “Reggae’s Superstars – The Lions of Jah.”

The Reggae Superstars category includes the section: “The Lions of Jah.” The Lions of Jah section includes the pillars of reggae music, such as Bob Marley & the Wailers, Burning Spear, Dennis Brown, Jimmy Cliff, Toots & the Maytals, Jacob Miller, Peter Tosh, Max Romeo, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Bunny Wailer, Desmond Dekker, Freddie McGregor, Horace Andy, Barrington Levy, Beres Hammond, and features supergroups like  Third World, Black Uhuru, Steel Pulse, and Culture. The grouping of songs includes classic vocal groups like the Mighty Diamonds, Wailing Souls, and the Itals, and early deejay and singjay sensations like Big Youth, Tenor Saw, and Half Pint.  Yet overall this category relies on the heavy hitters of reggae music like  John Holt, Gregory Isaacs, Lucky Dube, Johnny Osbourne, and Cornell Campbell.

Please feel free to comment. The selector is open to suggestions and changes. Feel free to comment on the selections, categories, genre headings, and section headings. The selector will consider track additions and removals and even the renaming of categories, sections, and genres. Without further ado…

The Jam-Tex Selector presents…The World of Reggae Music Collection

Reggae’s Superstars: The Lions of Jah

1. Bob Marley & the Wailers – Get Up, Stand Up
2. Toots & the Maytals – 54-46 That’s My Number
3. Peter Tosh – Steppin’ Razor
4. Jimmy Cliff – The Harder They Come
5. Burning Spear - Old Marcus Garvey
6. Third World – Reggae Ambassador
7. Black Uhuru & the Revolutionaries – Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
8. Culture – Two Sevens Clash
9. Desmond Dekker – 007 (Shanty Town)
10. Barrington Levy – Too Experienced
11. Lee “Scratch” Perry – Chase The Devil
12. Lee “Scratch” Perry – Disco Devil
13. Steel Pulse – Handsworth Revolution
14. Steel Pulse - Revolution Dub
15. Gregory Isaacs & Roots Radics – Night Nurse
16. Gregory Isaacs – Night Nurse Dub
17. Ini Kamoze – World-A-Music
18. Dennis Brown – Here I Come Again (aka Have No Fear)
19. Wailing Souls – Shark Attack
20. Mighty Diamonds – Right Time
21. Jacob Miller & Inner Circle – Westbound Train
22. Horace Andy – Skylarking
23. Freddie McGregor – Big Ship
24. Max Romeo & the Upsetters – War Ina Babylon
25. Israel Vibration - Get Up and Go
26. Toots & the Maytals – Funky Kingston
27. Jacob Miller & Inner Circle – We A Rockers
28. Bob Marley & the Wailers – Rebel Music (Three O’Clock Roadblock)
29. Burning Spear – Columbus
30. Lucky Dube – We Love It
31. Jimmy Cliff – You Can Get It If You Really Want
32. Barrington Levy – Saw Red
33. Peter Tosh – Whatcha Gonna Do
34. Steel Pulse – Uncle George
35. Dennis Brown – Wolves And Leopards
36. The Heptones – Book of Rules
37. Cornell Campbell – The Gorgon
38. Mighty Diamonds – Identity
39. Beres Hammond & Zap Pow – Last War
40. Toots & the Maytals - Time Tough
41. Culture – Iron Sharpening Iron
42. Dennis Brown – Stop the Fussing & Fighting
43. Steel Pulse – Ravers
44. Half Pint – Level The Vibes
45. Beres Hammond – They Gonna Talk
46. John Holt & the Aggravators – You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine/Version
47. Jacob Miller & U-Brown – Keep On Knocking
48. Bunny Wailer – Blackheart Man
49. The Heptones – Party Time
50. Bob Andy – I’ve Got To Go Back Home
51. Burning Spear - The Invasion (Aka Black Wa Da Da)
52. The Itals – In A Dis Ya Time/ Harbour View Rock
53. Bob Marley & the Wailers – Is This Love
54. Johnny Osbourne & the Sensations – Come Back Darling
55. The Pioneers – Long Shot
56. Toots & the Maytals – Pressure Drop
57. Black Uhuru – Party Next Door
58. Gregory Isaacs – Sad To Know (You’re Leaving)
59. Peter Tosh – Wanted Dread And Alive (2002 Digital Remaster)
60. Cornell Campbell – Queen Of The Minstrel
61. Big Youth – Livin’
62. Burning Spear – Rise Up
63. Tenor Saw – Lots of Sign
64. Black Uhuru – Black Uhuru Anthem
65. Jacob Miller – Mixed Up Moods
66. Steel Pulse – Blues Dance Raid (LP Version)
67. Barrington Levy, Kojak & Liza – My Woman/ Ten Thousand Woman
68. Bob Marley & the Wailers – Rat Race
69. Jimmy Cliff – Struggling Man
70. The Heptones – Fattie Fattie
71. Horace Andy – Nice And Easy
72. Mighty Diamonds – Have Mercy
73. Black Uhuru – Rent Man
74. Sammy Dread – My Princess
75. Chalice – Good to Be There
76. Culture & Shorty the President – See Them A Come/ Natty Pass Him G.C.E.
77. Cornell Campbell – Boxing Around
78. Glen Washington – Rockers (Nuh Crackers)
79. Johnny Ousborne – Truths and Rights
80. John Holt – Strange Things
81. Dennis Brown – What About The Half
82. Jimmy Riley – Love And Devotion
83. Burning Spear – Jordan River
84. Third World – Roots With Quality
85. The Itals – Brutal Out Deh
86. Peter Tosh - Why Must I Cry
87. Culture – Lion Rock
88. Barrington Levy – My Time
89. Steel Pulse - Back To My Roots / Dub To My Roots
90. Gregory Isaacs – Stranger In Town
91. Dennis Brown – Ghetto Girl
92. The Wailing Souls – War Deh Round A John Shop
93. Jacob Miller – Chapter A Day
94. Beres Hammond – What One Dance Can Do
95. Max Romeo - One Step Forward (Album Version)
96. Lucky Dube - Prisoner
97. Israel Vibration - Back Staba
98. Lee “Scratch” Perry & the Heptones – Why Must I (Version)
99. Ed Robinson – Rude Awakening
100. Jimmy Cliff - Treat The Youths Right

Last night a friend and I saw Toots And The Maytals at the 9:30 Club. Toots & the Maytals are a reggae and ska group. I was first introduced to their music through the fantastic movie, The Harder They Come, a movie set in the slums of Jamaica about a musician who tries to make it big. It stars Jimmy Cliff.

(Here’s a preview trailer of the movie. You should watch this movie, if only for the music and culture.)

Anyways, Toots & the Maytals are a really fun, energetic band and I’ve grown to really like their music. The concert last night was no disappointment. The band came on stage asking the audience if they were ready for the pressure to drop, referring to their popular song, Pressure Drop. The second song they played was my favorite song of theirs, Pomp & Pride which I can only describe as sounding extremely happy…

The concert was full of plenty of their other hits too, and the crowd really seemed to be enjoying this release from the work week on a warm, Wednesday night. A funny thing to note about the music played last night was that for the most part, all of their songs were to a standard, mellow reggae beat. But the last few minutes of basically every song was sped up and turned into a ska rendition for only a few measures. It was fun, but it also got predictable. I was hoping to see Toots preform his popular, 54-46 Was My Number (which the 90s reggae band, Sublime covers nicely), but they never did it. (I assume they may have done it during an encore.) Unfortunately my friend and I had to leave before any encore was done, since the Metro was coming to a close.

The audience was such a surprise. I was expecting a mostly black audience, given this was a not so known reggae group and we were in a not so great part of the city. But to our surprise, the audience was probably 90% white. It was shocking. Toots  and his band took a while to start their show, and I joked to my friend it was because they were uncomfortable playing to such a white crowd and that maybe they were waiting for more blacks to show up. I feel like when most people think of reggae music they only think of Bob Marley. Other than Bob’s music, reggae didn’t really sink into the United States and get popular.

My friend and I were joking the whole night about how white the crowd was. You can be white and not act so white. Many of last night’s concert-goers were unaware of this. And it’s ok to be white when you are, in fact, white. But it just stuck out like a sore thumb at the 9:30 Club last night. It was almost embarrassing to see our race so disturbingly represented. A common sight last night were audience members at the stage, “fist pumping” with Toots. Yes, they were all white people doing this. Couldn’t this also be somewhat offensive to blacks? There were also a few instances of very white styles of dancing, which when seen next to the few blacks there who really knew how to move; was quite a funny sight.

And while the whiteness of the audience was overwhelming and bizarre, it was also kind of pretty cool, too. Like I said, I don’t know of many people who know or like of Toots & the Maytals, so the fact that there were so many (white) people who came out to see the band, means that this band really is that cool. It means that reggae is that great of a summer genre of music. It means that reggae might be making a come back. It means that I was mistaken by the band (and music’s) popularity.

Also, a great addition to the island, Jamaican feel of the night, was that the bars were coincidentally serving Red Stripe and Corona beers. Nice!

(Sorry for the blurry photos. That’s what my camera does, when you’re not allowed to use flash!)

If we listen to music that makes us think of summer, will the sun stay out? Let’s try.

Major Lazer - Can’t stop now (feat. Mr. Vegas & Jovi Rockwell)
Max Romeo – War Ina Babylon
Tanya Stephens - It’s A Pity
Bob Marley - Simmer Down
Toots & The Maytals - Bam Bam

Just when you were probably thinking I had something against “island” music played by actual inhabitants of the islands, I spring this one on you.  Anyone who knows me and knows my taste in music knows that I am really not a fan of reggae, in fact I used to dislike it so much I’d leave the room if it was on.  Then along came my wife who introduces me to Toots, one of the original reggae “masters”, and in my opinion, the man who funkified Reggae.  My eyes were opened and now every summer out comes “The Very Best of Toots & The Maytals”.  When Toots comes from the speakers at any party, you know it is time to do some major chillin’.

Since this is a Greatest hits album it is hard to choose only a few songs to add to your ultimate summer playlist, but tops in my book are “Funky Kingston“; which, if you watched TLC’s Miami Ink, you will remember as their opening theme song.  I love the vocal flow of  “Pomps & Pride“, it has the ability to put a smile on my face every time I hear it. A tough choice for the third song you need to add would be a song you have probably heard Hundreds of times, but probably not this original version. “Pressure Drop” was probably made most famous by The Specials, but was originally recorded by Toots & The Maytals in 1969.

So there you go, probably the only “real” reggae album you will see on this list, so take it all in if you are a fan of Reggae.  Some people say Reggae IS summer music, but when all you listen to is Reggae all summer long, it definitely gets old.

Make some summer noise!!

@ leftside-wobble.blogspot.com

Tracklisting:

Bill Withers – Who is He & What is He to You
Average White Band – Stop The Rain
Toots & the Maytals – Funky Kingston
The Hot 8 Brass Band – Sexual Healing
Hearts of Stone – Thank You Fallettinme Be Mice Elf Again
The Supremes – Come into My Life
David Ruffin – Blood Donors Needed
Earth, Wind & Fire – Moment of Truth
Donny Hathaway – The Ghetto
The Temptations – Law of the Land
Ann Sexton – You’re Losing Me
Bobby Patterson – Quiet! Do Not Disturb
Merry Clayton – Gimme Shelter
Marvin Gaye – Got to Give it Up
Creative Source – Who Is He & What Is He To You

Jamaican Gleaner skriver att producenten och managern Warwick Lyn avlidit i sviterna av bland annat prostatacancer.

Warwick Lyn var mannen i kulisserna. Han var aldrig en särskilt synlig person, trots att han arbetade tillsammans med stjärnproducenter som Leslie Kong och Tommy Cowan.

Men många har säkert Warwick Lyn att tacka för mycket. Bland annat Toots & The Maytals, som hade honom bakom spakarna på klassiska skivorna Funky Kingston från 1973 och Reggae got soul från 1976. Många har säkert hört Louie Louie och Pomps and pride samt titelspåret från Funky Kingston. Buju Bantons senaste albums parafras till Reggae got soul skvallrar om den skivans status.

Samarbetet med Tommy Cowan bör också ha varit framgångsrikt. Tillsammans arbetade de i Tommy Cowans managementbolag Talent Corporation. I stallet fanns några av 70-talets storstjärnor, bland annat John Holt och Inner Circle.

Warwick Lyn har inte varit aktiv i skivindustrin sedan 80-talet. Men det är ändå tråkigt när en person som arbetat med att lyfta fram och producera reggae ända sedan 60-talet avlider.