Jamaican Music
by Ric Stewart
 Jamaica's incredibly rich musical lineage includes diverse
styles such as the local calypso shuffle called Mento, religious and carnival
music. After Jamaican Independence there emerged the horn based Ska and
the rock and roll knowledgeable Rock Steady. By 1968, these forms scarcely
prepped us for their earthshaking offspring, Reggae. As a Carribbean
island, Jamaica has seen a full spectrum of colonial, indigenous and African
cross influences. Reggae revived deep rootsy beats at higher speeds, highlighting
the drum and bass, inserting a chugging organ sound and laying a soul
vocal on top. Since 1968 this Reggae music spread rapidly to England influencing
Old Guard Classic rockers, pill poppers, punk rockers and the Carribbean
emigrant community. Now the music is international, shared by artists
in the U.S., U.K.( Finley Quaye, UB40 and Adrian
Sherwood) and Africa (Lucky Dube, Alpha Blondy). The Reggae beat has been
sliced, diced and liquified. Its influence now appears in Rap, Trip-Hop,
Modern Rock and Ambient recordings. In addition to being widespread rebel
music this is a powerfully positive music. Bob Marley's legend has only grown since his passing
in 1981 with the release of archival material and such films as "Time
Will Tell" and "Carribbean Nights". His efforts to bring people together
and messages of strength, faith and unity in a global brotherhood are
timeless. His concert for the independence of Zimbabwe in 1980 and his
on stage joining of the opposition party leaders in a turbulent Jamaica
during the 1976 election campaign exemplified a global, political and
messianic significance which carried the highest resonance of positive
vibration.
Marley's stardom has to date eclipsed the work of the many
other great and deserving stars who have arrived regularly on the Jamaican
scene. Among them producers such as Lee Perry, King Tubby and Bunny Lee
as well as singers from Dennis Brown, Junior Byles and Johnny Clarke to
Horace Andy, Burning Spear and Toots Hibbert all are more easily collectible
than ever on reissued material from labels such as Heartbeat, Blood and
Fire and Pressure Sounds. Dub, Dancehall and Tricky have borne out the
teachings of Reggae music. Cliff, Spear, Perry, Toots and Andy toured
in 1998. The saga of reggae music continues.
Reggae Top Ten
- Tougher Than Tough: The Story of Jamaican Music (Island)
This handsomely packaged book and four disc set captures the evolution
of Jamaican music over the crucial years 1958-1993. The Folkes Brothers
"Oh Carolina" starts the set with pre-ska R&B, then developments of
ska and rock steady give way to the many variants of reggae, dub,
and dancehall music. These songs comprise the backbone of Jamaican
sounds, it is all the stuff of legend. A must for any collector of
Island music. Compiled by reggae guru Steve Barrow  featured here in an exclusive There interview.
The Complete Bob Marley & The Wailers 1967-1972
Part II (JAD)
This Early years 3 cd collection succeeds the first volume of this
ongoing project to bare the cupboards at JAD in more ways than one.
Better photos, better quality recording, better music. Many of these
songs (here in their original form) were later made famous during
Marley and Tosh's solo careers. Includes party favorites such as:
"Four Hundred Years", "Soul Almighty", "Kaya", "Downpressor" and "Sun
is Shining (version)". The versions are a little light on dub pyrotechnics,
but the vocal performances and grooves will astound the serious Marley
fan.
Impact All Stars -- Forward the Bass (Blood
and Fire)
This timely release highlights the production work of the legendary
Clive Chin talking
candidly of the Early 70's period in the exclusive There interview.
Producing Carlton and Aston "Family Man" Barrett, Sly Dunbar, Tommy
McCook and Tyrone Downie in champion class sessions by the Wailers
rhythm section and future lead guitarist, Chin and the Randy's Studio
left their mark on Jamaican music.
The Complete UK Upsetter Singles Collection vol.
1 (Trojan)
The most prominent studio wizard in Reggae lauches his career on a
raft of hits. Timeless tracks like "Badam Bam" by the Ravens and "Return
of Django" and "A Live Injection" by the Upsetters. Many great instrumentals
worth the price alone. These two cd's come packaged in a minimally
stylish paper book format. Powerful good vibe music, part of an ambitious
ongoing reissue of Upsetter singles which should yield four volumes
total and make this previously difficult to find music much more accessible
to Thereheads worldwide.
Count Ossie and his Mystic Revealers of Rastafari--
Grounation (Dynamic Sound)
Melange of prevailing 50's jazz winds, Rasta percussion, and chants
which pinpoint the Afro-Carribbean genesis of Reggae. Now reissued,
this influential set should not be missed. 
Alton Ellis -- Cry Tough (Heartbeat)
"Get Ready to Rock Steady."
Toots and The Maytals -- Time Tough: The Anthology
(Island/Jamaica)
41 great tracks on a compact 2 cd set. Includes the legendary tracks
by the artist who gave Reggae its name on "Do the Reggay", such jewels
as "54-46 That's My Number", "Pressure Drop", "Pomp and Pride" and
"Country Road". Toots had it and this is where you get it.
Peter Tosh-- Equal Rights (Virgin)
After Tosh departed the Wailers, he laid down some of his best tunes.
Utilizing a catalog of songs which he had written during his tenure
with the Wailers and adding a few new gems. "Stepping Razor", "Get
Up, Stand Up", and "I Am That I Am" demonstrate some of the thickest
grooves and strongest comment in Reggae.
Augustus Pablo Meets King Tubbys In A Firehouse
(Shanachie)
Dub takes off with the inventors of a new spacey, rhythmic force.
These Early Seventies recordings capture the innovative studio effects,
real hard hitting rhythms and a sense of magic.
Dub or Die Vols I + II (Roir)
These compilations of Dub make it easy to appreciate the diversity
of style still developing in keeping with the Roots and Rhythms of
Jamaica. An interesting introduction to dub can be had on these Roir
comps.
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