This became a big thing for us around 1975, along with stuff like 'Eighteen With A Bullet'. Tapper Zukie was a major name, particularly 'She Want A Phensic'; and Max Romeo's 'Wet Dream'. But the shift from ska and bluebeat etc. to 'roots' did not find favour with everyone. The heavier stuff around 1978 - Militant Barry for example - was pretty popular with us punky kids; and we hated most of Two Tone - with the notable exception of Rico. I'm just thinking about ordering some Rico on CD, but some are damned expensive on Amazon.
Back in the 60s, of course, we'd heard Millie, Desmond Dekker, Buster and Dave and Ansel. It was for older kids really. 'The Guns of Naverone' was very big with a tea-leaf up our street who hung around with some heavy Jamaican kids and was always good - at a price - for DC comic books.
Interested to see that John Simons likes some of the brass.
Not very interesting after John Peel started to take an interest in it and Bob Marley started to appear on TV.
Too much dub and toasting as well.
Burning Spear and Black Uhuru floated my boat.
i'm partial to lee scratch perry & king tubby. i love driving around at night, listening to dub VERY LOUD. not too keen on toasting, tho, but some of it is great imo.
as for roots reggae, culture did some great tracks, 'truths & rights' by johnny osborne is just great. love some of the congos as well.
early wailers stuff, pre bob marley & the wailers is stunning.
There are so many tunes on so many different labels and even a lot of versions of those tunes...
i.e. Rebel's Hop (Walk The Proud Land)... I think I 've heard at least 5 different versions...
I've always been partial to Rita's solo stuff. And listened to quite a bit of Ziggy when I was younger. All of the roots stuff ( think Harder they Come soundtrack) I am still very much into.
I thought "roots" was the sound that came out after "The Harder..."
Some fantastic Trojan Records and Studio One compilations available at the moment, covering pretty much the entire spectrum of the reggae genre.
I went to see Toots & the Maytals a few weeks ago - he had far more energy than me given the time of the evening
Since mostly former mods an skinheads a obviously active yah Eh wud bi time tuh revive dis thread. Mi wud lakka tuh staat wid di almighty Clancy Eccles.
Feel The Rhythm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgpsKwFIpmw
Fatty Fatty: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKgQmoIMiGI
My Girl: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5j62ijbmoXA
Bangarang Crash: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKULLEU79xI
Di nuh less almighty Kingstonians!
Sufferer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdZgTlePp9w
Hold Down: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBNkRGrfD48
Mix It Up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBfAiVeg_5Q
Nice Nice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUuJ1tXYhXA
Di fantastic Pioneers!
Long Shot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtgET_nQiJA
Give Me A Little Loving: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9o2XpMBeKo
Reggae Fever: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgJlvq97Z_I
Easy Come Easy Go: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mS4Deo_gOo4
A few of had a hairy moment at Wembley Conference Centre in 1978. A couple of reggae acts (maybe Matumbi) were playing. Far Right skinheads invaded the auditorium and there was a near-riot, with metal ashtrays being thrown. I'm still not sure how we got out of there alive.
AFS: Rico RIP. What a character.
Yes he was. AFS, a posting for you.
Derrick Morgan-Lover Boy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEQAENiCztA
Clue J And The Blues Blasters-Easy Snapping: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsDXR0-0p-Q
Dandy Livingstone-Rudy, A Message to You: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BwNgQ51hSI
Prince Buster-Barrister Pardon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20Ba02gJa_I
Not strictly speaking reggae, but that playing in 'Food For Thought' can still send shivers down my spine after - over forty years?
AFS: A few of had a hairy moment at Wembley Conference Centre in 1978. A couple of reggae acts (maybe Matumbi) were playing. Far Right skinheads invaded the auditorium and there was a near-riot, with metal ashtrays being thrown. I'm still not sure how we got out of there alive.
That reads terribly. I wish I had a time machine and could attend the 1970 Caribbean Music Festival at Wembley Stadium.
Before my time, but I saw Steel Pulse at least once, maybe twice: 'Ku Klux Klan'. Scary.