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The central event in the history of reggae music since the '60s was the gradual depature of colonialism due to the powerful lyrics of neo-activism that came along with reggae music. But first, we must understand what reggae is. Reggae, a popular music form of Jamaican origin, with the blend of native folk music, rock, jazz, funk and featuring strong bass lines, and a between type of drumming which became a full-blown accepted style.
My interest in reggae came into being in 1976 while a teenager vacationing in Lagos and had gone to Suru Lere Night Club where the windist, Tee Mac, had a bandstand. There, was when I first heard Bob Marley's "Exodus" vibrating from a jukebox. Henceforth, I adored reggae music until the arrival of "Hip-Hop" ragamuffin kind of reggae took the airwaves in the mid-'80s. If you grew up in the late 7os, and had been part of the hippie culture, there is no denial that reggae, too, was baked in your genes.
And of this interest, the purpose of this (thanks to the administrator for establishing this section specifically for music reviews and news) and the list that follows is to give tonalism its due. It is also to clarify the meaning of reggae greatness as it evolved in recent times. The list that I have chosen is not because they are historically significant, but because I believe they are reggae masterpieces as my collections began to grow. The instalment here in over my 500 albums and CDs was carefully selected from my music library.
1. Bob Marley and the Wailers Rastaman Vibration
Bob Marley was born in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1946. The first major reggae sensations in the 60s known as the "Wailing Rudeboys were Marley, Bunny Livingstone (Bunny Wailer), Peter Tosh, Junior Braitwaite (Junior Murvin) and Beverly Kelso. In 1966 the band broke up and all went solo with Marley creating more impact as he spearheaded the roots reggae invation. He formed his own band (Bob Marley and the Wailers) and grouped his boyhood cronies--Aston Barrett on bass guitar and percussion; Carlton Barrett on percussion; Tyrone Downie on keyboards and percussion; Alvin Patterson; Earl Smith; Donald Kersey and Al Anderson--as band members.
The band was signed by England's "Island Records" and his LP's became available abroad. "Rastaman Vibration," my pick of all his hits went platinum and got its way to becoming his first massive hit globally following his worldwide tour. Among his hits that went platinum: "Lively Up Yourself," "War," "Is This Love," "Rat Race," "No More Trouble," "Kaya," "Easy Skanking," "Redemption Song," "Coming In From The Cold," "Bad Card," "Johnny Was," "Night Shift," and many others.
2. Desmond Dekker 007/Shanty Town
Born in Jamaica in 1942. He was one of the consistently successful recording artist in England from the mid-1960s into the next decade. He wrote over 40 songs that made top 20 in Britain through the early 70s. Also signed by "Island Records.
Dekkers recordings began to find a market in England after he placed his single 007/Shanty Town in the top ten. He was the first soloist who brought reggae music to the world scene. His other hits--"King of Blue Beat," "It Mek," "Picney Gal," "The Israelites," and "You Can Get it if you Really Want,"--went platinum. His songs are still in print and can be purchased by order or anywhere records and CDs are sold.
3. Jimmy Cliff The Harder They Come...
First known reggae export with powerful lyrics, Cliff was born in Jamaica. "The Harder They Come...," a soundtrack recorded on "Columbis Records," was Cliff's first hit to reach platinum. Other hits followed: "House of Exile," Foolish Pride," "Rub-A-Dub Partner," "Peace Officer," "Stand Up and Fight Back," "Bongo Man," "Lonely Streets," "Meeting in Afrika," "Long Time No See," and several others. He featured in the movie "Club Paradise" with Robin Williams.
Johnny Nash I Can See Clearly Now
This marvellous singer, songwriter, record company executive was born in Houston, Texas, in 1940. The first performer not of Jamaican origin to record a reggae rythm that sold well over a million copies in less than a year of its release in 1972.
He concentrated on traditional pop music and rythm and blues but was not widely known until the release of "ICan See Clearly Now" catapulted him to stardom. Nash's reggae-flavored songs, though, were what audiences wanted most in his first nationwide tour of the U.S at the end of 1972, a tour that included a stay at the famous rock club "Whisky-A-Go-Go in Los Angeles. By that time, the LP "I Can See Clearly Now" had been in the top sections of the national hit charts for several months.
His other hits: "One More Time," "Hold Me Tight," "Trying to Find," "I Got Rythm," "Let's Get Lost" and many others.
5Peter Tosh Legalize It
Sonwriter, singer, guitarist, record company executive and "Wailing Rudeboys alumni. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1946.
Tosh, whose writing and performing in the mid-70s helped create a mass market for reggae music began as the founding member of the "Wailing Rudeboys." He worked alongside Lee Perry, Prince Jazzbo, Mutabaruka, and Bunny Wailer.
Tosh moved to London where he was signed to write songs for Island Records. One of his first efforts was "Get Up Stand UP," which became a major hit for Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer and a number of other reggae artists. For the balance of the 1970s through the first half of the 1980s, Tosh recorded or wrote a series of hits, all for the reggae market. The titles included "Equal Rights."
Tosh was acclaimed not only in England but Africa and the U.S. as well. His other hits: "Downpressor Man," "Jah Guide," "Apartheid," "Bush Doctor," "Mystic Man," "Johnny B. Goode," "Reggaemylitis," and many more.
In the late 80s, he took on an exhausting series of appearances which only added to his difficulties in writing new materials to meet the evolving reggae market. He still had a number of singles that made the charts on "Island Records," though none were smash successes.
6. Bunny Wailer Black Heart Man
Songwriter, performer, singer, clarinist, and "Wailing Rudeboys" graduate. Born in Kingston Jamaica and started playing the pubs in Kingston and Montego Bay after the break ou of the "Wailing Rudeboys." He added a different flavor to reggae music.
Wailer sang with local folklore ensembles and reggae bands, including the ones led by Junior Braithwaite, a "Wailing Rudeboys" alumni, then formed his own band and hired Peter Tosh, Aston "Family Man" Barrett, T. McCook, Robbie Shakespear and Willy Pep. "Blackheart Man" was recorded live and released on Island Records.
His other hits: "Moses Children," "Get Up, Stand UP," "Reincarnated Souls," "Fighting Against Convictions" and many others.
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Reggae market in the late '70s from Nigeria hippies perespective foreshadowed the great compositions of Motown's Norman Whitfield who produced Undisputed Truth, The Temptations, Rose Royce, Rare Earth, Smokey Robinson, and many others; and The Sound of Philadelphia's Kenneth Gamble who produced O'Jays, Thom Bell, Teddy Pendergrass, Stephanie Mills, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, Sharon Paige, and, too, many others.
But don't get me wrong, the 70's disco had its place in "showbizness." As in reggae, they were all part of the hippie culture. However, the following is the second installment of my collections of Reggae Masterpieces.
7. Max Romeo & The Upsetters Uptown Babies
Songwriter, composer and lyricist. Born in Jamaica in 1945 and moved to London in the '60s. Considered one of the most talented reggae products to emerge in the '70s. Max Romeo, born Maxie Smith, had many fans and his rude songs once banned by BBC became a national anthem for the "Skinheads" who dressed in military fatigues.
He made hits upon hits which included "One Step Forward," "War in a Babylon," "Black Equality," "Mother Oh Mother," "Three Blind Mice," and many others. He was produced by the legendary Lee Perry.
8. Burning Spear Marcus Garvey
I call him the Godfather of Reggae. I have watched him perform twice at Reggae Sunsplash in Long Beach, California. Born Winston Rodney and grew up in the slums of Montego Bay, Jamaica. Had his own production company and signed by Island Records.
Known for oft-quoting Marcus Garvey's "Up you mighty race, you can accomplish what you will.." sheds tears whenever he performs the track "Marcus Garvey." "Marcus Garvey" is Spear's finest work, and very likely the greatest piece of reggae music written in rememberance of Marcus Garvey.
His other hits: "Slavery Days," "Old Marcus," "Throw Down Your Arms," "Take a Look," "Great Men," I'm Not the Worst," "Who is the Winner?" and many others.
9. Toots & The Maytals Reggae Got Soul
First recorded live in concert and became a national anthem as it hit the airwaves. He hired the legendary rock star, Steve Winwood, to play organ, and the band's (Maytals) idiosyncratic soloists inspired its pianist-leader, Gladstone Anderson, to write a long series of increasingly complex musical cameos that ultimately won him recognition as reggae's foremost composer.
10. Big Youth Wolf in Sheeps Clothing
Songwriter, composer, arranger, lyricist, drummer and creator of "Natty Cultural Dread." Born Manley Buchanan in Kingston, Jamaica, and moved to London at age sixteen. Played the pubs until discovered and signed by London's Trojan Records at 12 Thayer Street.
In 1975, Big Youth continued to increase his popularity in England. During these engagements, he featured materials from his unpublished works until the release of "Wolf in Sheeps Clothing in 1976 released by Trojan Records.
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Roots reggae might also be defined by its venues. Traditionally the music of the front porch (your living room), the joints, the open-air festival, the dorms, the ghettos--making body and soul, one, political forums oft-quoting Bob Marley and the night clubs with exclusive reggae sessions.
But be aware that music of all forms would not fly well with the "deaf" members of the Taliban, who banned all music after they took control of Afghanistan in 1966. So, do not tell it to the Taliban. The "Redemption Song" as in Bob Marley, Tosh' "Downpressor Man," Wailer's "Moses Children," would totally upset them.
Also, we must not forget how we heard most of these masterpieces. I still remember the creation of Radio Nigeria 2 AM FM Stereo with Tony Ibegbuna and Benson Idonije reporting. They spinned, disc jockeyed and inspired the youths to "stand up for their rights" which became worrisome to the authoritarians.
The following lists, most national anthems, drove the '70s hippies nuts.
11. U Roy Fire in a Trench Town
"Baba" U Roy, born Ewart Beckford in Jonestown, Kingston, Jamaica. First emerged reggae rapper who inspired I Roy, Brigadier Jerry, Dillinger, Mad Professor, Scientist, Black Uhuru and many others to join suit in reggae revolution.
Fire in a Trench Town from the album "Natty Rebel" was released in 1976 working alongside the best reggae producers.
His other smash hits: "Go There Natty," "Have Mercy," "Music Addict," "Taking You to the Ball," "Reggae Party," "Jah Jah Call You," "Do You Remember," and many more.
12. Black Uhuru Sinsemilla
Michael Rose, the architect of these first known reggae dubbers hired Lowell "Sly" Dumber and Robbie Shakespear to produce the track "Sinsemilla" and other Black Uhuru's recordings that followed at Mango Records.
The heavy bassing and drumming coupled with its powerful lyrics speaks volumes. Still in print.
13. The Gladiators Symbol of Reality
Band leader Albert Griffiths was born in the rural Jamaican parish of St. Elizabeth in 1946. Though his music band was not known until the mid-70s, Gallimore Sutherland and the bass guitarist Clinton Fearon joined Griffiths in the late 60s when they formed the Gladiators.
My pick "Symbol of Reality" was recorded and released in 1981 by Nighthawk Records and produced by Bob Schoenfeld and Leroy Pierson.
14. The Heptones I Shall Be Released
This track was originally written by the rock legend Bob Dylan. Band members: Earl Morgan, Barry Llewelyn and Leroy Sibbles--all have Trenchtown roots--and were born in 1945, 1947 and 1949 respectively.
In the Spring of 1976, they opened for Bob Marley's Concert at The Lyceum, in London, introducing on stage "I Shall Be Released" which too, became a national anthem.
Other hits: "Mr. President," "Storm Cloud," "Why Must I," "Sufferers Time," "Party Time," and many others.
Goodness gracious! This is the most thorough, orderly, detailed and informative thread I've ever come across in a messageboard. All I ever did in 'em days was listen to the muzik as I couldn't tell who sang or wrote what. I remember U-Roy's "go there Natty" was a big hit at my end because of the forceful rythm. But as I grew older, I found Jimmy Cliff more soul-stirring.
Under which title were the following? 1) "Many rivers to cross.." 2) Originator.
Could "Master blaster" by my buddy Stevland Morris(Stevie Wonder) be classed as a reggae hit?
When I find time, I'll open a thread for my kinda muzik. ...watch this space...
___________________ Awo's political idea was based on the assumption that any town beyond Owo was Igbo or Hausa. Awo was not socialised; he was not a good mixer because he did not have the opportunity, which the secondary school offered. ~TOS Benson, Baba Oba of Lagos
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Ohafia: "Many Rivers To Cross" was from the album and soundtrack The Harder They Come..., and was Cliff's early struggles denouncing Michael Manley (then Jamaican Prime Minister) for negating the plight of the blacks in the ghettos. "Originator" was released in 1982 from the album "Special" which also was one of Cliff's finest works. "Roots Radical" is my favorite in that album.
Yes, Stevie Wonders's "Master Blaster" was a reggae piece as we saw in other rock, jazz and pure funk bands--Police, K.C. & the Sunshine Band, Steve Winwood, Eric Gale, Ralph McDonald, etc.--who made smash hits in reggae.
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While multitalented and multigrammy winner, Quincy "Original Studio Rat" Jones abandoned be bop and the big band era was working tirelessly producing Michael Jackson, James Ingram, Brothers Johnson and his own "What Makes You Do Stuff Like That," and while Ohio native, Bootsy Collins established The Rubberband Family with General George Clinton emerging with P-Funk, an albino youth, born and bred in Jamaica in the street name of Yellowman, through his club appearances, as a Disc Jockey, conquered the reggae world just like the Eurythmics and Boy George's Culture Club invaded America in the early '80s--a replica of The Beatles' invasion of America in the '60s.
But King Yellowman's legend began in 1979 with a trademark of wearing flashy yellow suits and hats rapping as never seen before, established a misty kind of "Reggae Rap," Jamaicans and the reggae world went "amok," as in U Roys' "Natty Rebel." It was another reggae revolution. Effective immediately upon his discovery, he was signed by Columbia Records through John Swenson, a freaky American tourist who had nothing else to do but spend money pub-crawling Jamaican nightclubs.
The following instalments may sound somehow strange compared to roots reggae (reggae culture and rastafarianism), but indeed, they are reggae masterpieces.
16. Yellowmam Jamaica Nice/Take Me Home Country Roads
Many other Jamaican reggae rappers besides the founders U Roy and Prince Jazzbo were influenced by folklore and roots reggae, Yellowman, changed the tonality in reggae rap. "Jamaica Nice/Take Me Home Country Roads" adapted from John Denver's classic is pungently idiomatic.
17. Oku Onuora Decolonization
Plawright, poet, singer, composer, activist, producer and record company executive. Born Orlando Wong, in Kingston, Jamaica, ditched school at age sixteen and turned to alternative schooling on the street corners of Kingston and the suburb Wareika Hills. The justly popular "Decolonization," co-written by Obayana Olumide is a particularly example of denouncing "white rule" and colonization.
His other hits: "Thinking," "Beat your Drums," "Change Yes Change," "The Call," and many others.
18. Michael Prophet Fussing And Fighting
The Big band of Michael Prophet (The Roots Radics Band and The High Times Band) which he conducted through his era in the '70s and '80s was a performing reggae dub and rap unit of unparalled originality.
"Fussing And Fighting" was also recorded live in concert and produced by the legendary Scientist.
19.Ras Michael Hosanna
Born Michael Henry in the ghetto of Kingston and graduated from the House of Negus, a rggae rastafarian fraternity. "Hosanna," was a track recorded in such meetings attended by the popular Tommy Cowan of The Jamaicans which gave birth to The Sons of Negus.
His other hits: "Sip Your Cup," "Wicked Man," "The Hour," "Children On The Mountain Top," "International Year of the Child" and many others.
20. Mutabaruka Where Mi Belang?
Poet, activist, songwriter, drummer and singer. Hired Augustus Pablo and produced by Earl "Chinna" Smith at Tuff Gong Studious in Kingston, Jamaica, for the recording of the "Check It" album which contained the track "Where Mi Belang?" "Where Mi Belang?" is a tale of anger, frustration and depression as a result of oppression.
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