Tag Archives: reggae

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Last week, we asked you to provide us your favourite reggae tune.

In fact, we asked specifically:

“The greatest reggae track of all time is _______________________________because__________________’

As usual, a princely €25 voucher for any of fourteen Golden Discs outlets nationwide was at stake.

The competition was especially tuff but there could only be one winner

Niallo’s entry takes the bong gong :

“Greatest reggae song ? Prince Buster, yes, Peter Tosh, yes, The Wailers, yes, Toots, oh yes ! But, speaking as someone who’s been to Jamaica (been to Peter Tosh’s house/grave), there is only one spokesman for the good people of Jamaica who live in places like Russia (a town/ghetto out the back of Negril) and the Caribbean equivalent of the blues, and seeing as the quintessential reggae themed movie is its namesake… I’ll just leave this here: Desmond Dekker & The Aces’ Israelites. Tcha man.”

In other highlights from the skanking:

Walter-Ego: An unlikely contender for a reggae classic, but when The Pioneers’ favorite horse, Long Shot ‘Combat’ fell in the first race at Caymanas Park one afternoon, taking the the duo’s large wages with him, a classic was born. Released in 1969, Long Shot Kick de Bucket from The Pioneers.

Badatmemes: “It’s widely believed that the first Reggae song ever released in 1968 was by Lee Scratch Perry and it was called People Funny Boy. It has a baby crying in it. It’s effin brilliant. It goes like this.”

edalicious: “The greatest reggae track of all time is Big Five by Prince Buster because of the absolutely RIDICULOUS lyrics, and the big farty synth bits. Quality.”

Ploppy: “The greatest reggae track of all-time is Born For a Purpose by Doctor Alimantado, because even though he may not have been a qualified medical physician, the good Doctor’s 1977 classic is so full of fire and passion it can heal all wounds.”

Psydeshow: “The greatest reggae track of all time is I Chase the Devil by Max Romeo and the Upsetters, because I challenge you to resist its hypnotic rhythm. Apparently, some band sampled it heavily in the 90s, can’t remember their name; some young fellas who thought they were pretty smart, no doubt…”

Any excuse

Golden Discs

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A look at some iconic reggae album covers, photographed in their original locations around London over four decades later, for Covers, an anthology of classic sleeves and the Thames-side surroundings that informed them, by photographer Alex Bartsch.

Writes Erin MacLeod in Pitchfork:

“London must be, outside of Jamaica, the place that is most richly influenced by Jamaican people living there,” says Al Newman (AKA Al Fingers) of One Love Books, the publisher behind Covers and a number of evocative books related to reggae. “I grew up in London and I grew up with Jamaican culture. But it is also kind of an unknown history to many people in the UK.”

The book has successfully completed Kickstarter funding, but is still available for pre-order here.

H/T: Pitchfork


US/Jamaican dubsters Easy Star All-Stars (they of the brilliant Radiodread and Dub Side Of The Moon) have a new album out – a tribute to Michael Jackson’s Thriller.

EASY STAR’S THRILLAH brings back several of the reggae stars from previous albums, such as vocalists Michael Rose (Black Uhuru), Steel Pulse, Luciano, Mojo Morgan (Morgan Heritage), alongside the diverse playing of guests Yossi Fine (David Bowie, Lou Reed, Stanley Jordan), Joe Tomino (Dub Trio/Matisyahu), Andy Farag (Umphrey’s McGee), and horn tracks courtesy of Israel’s highly-acclaimed funk/hip-hop band Hadag Nachash.

You can listen to the whole thing at the band’s Youtube page.

Buy on iTunes

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