Celebrating 25 Years of Reggae Radio with the Best of Smile Jamaica: CD Edition
<Records come from vinyl; what are CDs made of? Aluminum? 5 sec.>
Jump straight to the Jah-vember 15, 2014 Smile Jamaica Ark-Ive. Read below for the Tracklist
I pulled 50 tracks from my early days of Reggae collecting (1986-1990). Then I put those 50 in chronilogical order and started juggling the Disks from 4-7 PM.
Essentially: I am trying to recreate what my first show would have sounded like: Jah-tober 1989: Smile Jamaica.
<Best of Smile Jamaica 25 Years High-lights; 77 sec.>
Probably the first time in a decade no Black Wax on Smile Jamaica
<Vinyl Free edition; first time in a decade; 17 sec.>
Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: Jah-vember 15, 2014: Best of 25 Years.
Annotated playlist (soundbytes, Reggae History Lessons, photos, captions.)
Set 1:
Black Uhuru – Solidarity; Anthem (Mango) ‘84
<Anthem: The album that made me a Reggae fanatic; 29 sec.>
Jah Shaka Meets Aswad – Addis Ababa; In Addis Ababa Studio (Jah Shaka) ’84: Dub Album of the Week; 15 sec.
Prince Buster – Chubby; Original Golden Oldies vol. 2 (Blue Beat) ’67; nyabinghi drumming
Bunny Wailer – This Train; Blackheart Man (Mango) ‘76
<Woody Guthrie’s – This Train; 25 sec.>
Burning Spear – Red, Gold and Green; Marcus Garvey (Mango) ‘75
<Significance of Red, Green & Gold; 45 sec.>
The Diamonds & the Upsetters – Talk About It; Open the Gate (Trojan) ‘75
Set 2:
<Smile Jamaica used to air at 1pm when I started in ’89; 28 sec.>
Jacob Miller – Keep on Knocking; Who Say Jah No Dread (Greensleeves) ‘75
Judy Mowatt – Black Woman; Black Woman (Shanachie) ‘76
Dillinger – Ragnampiza; Bionic Dread (Mango) ’76; 17 sec.
Max Romeo – Smokey Room; War ina Babylon (Mango) ’76; 4:20 Cannabis Service Announcement; 17 sec.
Peter Tosh – Till Your Well Runs Dry; Legalize It (Columbia) ’76; William Bell cover
<Blues Reggae hybrid; 10 sec.>
Set 3:
<Smile Jamaica Best of 25 Years; 15 sec.>
Junior Murvin – Roots Train; Police and Thieves (Mango) ‘77
Tonight on KRCL, myself (Smile Jamaica since 1988); Brian Kelm (Monday Nite Blues since 1980) and Renee & Dawn Drive Time Imposters (2002-2008) talk about our history at KRCL.
KRCL – Local community radio station started Dec. 1979. Celebrating 35 years. I have been a part of the ride for 26 1/2 of those years (July 1988).
<Smile Jamaica: 25 Years of Reggae Radio; 30 sec.>
Myself (KRCL vet since 1988); Brian Kelm blues savant since 1980 and Renee and Dawn, Drivetime Imposters, 2002-2008 talk about how we got involved at KRCL.Your station that rules the nation!
Radioactive was KRCL’s listener call in show that ran from 2003 Labor Day until summer 2012.
I did the very first hour long interview on Labor Day 2003. The show was born from the 3 hour call in we did on Smile Jamaica when the 2003 March Iraq Invasion went hot. No music. Just listeners calling in with their thoughts on the war and me talking about Middle East politics which I have two college degrees in.
I probably did 400 interviews. Nick Burns, who was there the nearly nine years the show aired, interviewed us on our history at KRCL. Nice.
That Black Uhuru album above pretty much lit the fuse on nearly three decades of collecting, listening and promoting Roots Reggae and Mutant Dubwize.
25 years of Reggae Radio on Smile Jamaica.
So to celebrate that legacy I am going to try and recreate what my first Smile Jamaica Ark-Ive show might have sounded like: Jah-tober 1989.
Now I am going to do the same with those antique aluminum by-products things which can serve dubble duty as a drink coaster:
Best of 25 Years of Smile Jamaica: All CDs.
Rare that I don’t bust out any Black Wax, but today I’m going through what I was deep into, Roots and Dubwise, back in the mid 80s (Oct. 1986 is when I first touched down on Black Uhuru – Anthem) up until 1988 when I started early mornings on KRCL (3 o’Clock Roadblock) and then primetime Saturdays on Smile Jamaica: Jah-tober ’89.
So I spent the week jotting down tunes and artists that I would have really played in the first two years of being on air. Year 1: 3 o’Clock Roadblock, learning how to do radio. Then a little more than a year later doing Saturday Afternoons to a bigger and loyal Salt Lake Reggae audience on Smile Jamaica.
Wailers Family Tree: Bob (Uprising); Peter (Legalize It); Bunny (Blackheartman); Marcia – Naturally; Judy – Black Woman; Rita – One Draw
Heavy Roots: Spear, Culture, Israel Vibration
Seven Leaf: Rita, Max Romeo
2 Tone Ska: The Selecter and The Beat
Deejays and Dub Poets: LKJ, Mutabaruka, I Roy, Dillinger
So I get 3 hours and that means about 33-35 songs. I pulled 50 and then put them in chronological order. (As a Librarian I have a database of my music.) “Year” is one of my data entry cells.
From the earliest (1967) Prince Buster to 1990 (African Head Charge). Tune in to see how it all sounds.
bless, robt
Smile Jamaica live every Saturday 4-7 PM Mtn. Time:
Mutant Dub World Tour: France, Los Jah-ngeles, Jah-pon, UK
<Praise Jah for Daylight Savings: UFO watching soundtrack>
Roots Dawtas: Pacific Islander duo, Soom T from Scotland; Aisha UK; Canadian dub poetess; Los Jah-ngeles, Collie-fornya, French dubstress
Vinyl is Vital …. rhymes with Ital: Canadiandub poetry, herbage, JA harmony trio, JA deejay; Marley tribute
Wailers Family Tree: Bob last live ’80; Peter at the One Love Peace Concert ’78; Bunny Wailer digital ’86; Johnny Clarke covers Bob inna herbal stylee.
Below is the Annotated Playlist: photos, captions, Reggae History Lessons, soundbytes: Jah-vember 1, 2014 Smile Jamaica
Set 1: Vinyl Seven Leaf Election Celebration Set
<4 down, 46 to go!: Smile Jamaica’s Pot Prediction 75% success rate; 85 sec.>
Aisha – His Imperial Majesty; Daughters of Zion (Twinkle) ’93 UK vinyl
Bush Chemists – Raw Raw Dub (ROIR) 2005, Dub Album of the Week; UK mutant dubbers
Azeem & Session – Big Head Spliff; Dreadfly (Joe Gibbs) ’82 FL vinyl: 4:20 Vinyl Set. 4 down, 46 to go!
Hey Democrats? How’s that lesser of two evils strategy working out? Now we all get to work until the age of 70. If we can find work at all…
On the other hand:
Very good day for the Marijuana Vote. 3 out of the 4 entities on the ballot won. (Florida needed 60% and got 57%; which is encouraging if they try for outright legalization rather than medical MJ in 2016).
My friends call me Nelstradamus* because my political predictions tend to come true. I predicted Obama would be the guy back when it Hillary and the Seven Dwarfs in 2008. I predicted Ukraine and Cold War II before the Winter Russian Olympics. No I will not pick your lottery numbers!
*Last name is Nelson
Let’s seehow Smile Jamaica did on his Marijuana Picks: 3 out of 4.
<Smile Jamaica On Air Pot Prediction Nov. 1, 2014: #1>
<Smile Jamaica On Air Pot Prediction Nov. 1, 2014: #2>
Nov. 4: 2014:
1. Florida Medical Marijuana vote (Amendment 2); FAILED
However, because of the nature of the vote as a Constitutional Amendment it needed 60%. Sheldon Adelson, Las Vegas casino magnate, bankrolled the “no’s”. Ironically, the elderly, who could benefit the most from the therapeutic usages of the Seven Leaf, broke no. The usual shibboleth of “medical mj is just a scam to get stoned” kept the measure from crossing the barrier.
Not sure what is next, but if they can finesse a statewide, full on legalization referendum that might only need 50% + 1, it could pass handily. Plus 15% (yes minus no) is encouraging for 2016: where higher (ha hah) turnout will bring more groups that sat out the mid terms: blacks, Hispanics, women, millennials and pretty much everyone else sick of Tweedledum vs. Tweedle Dee
Here is what I said the day before the vote regarding Florida:
Florida. Amendment 2. Medical Marijuana. Smile Jamaica says: No Chance. Needs 60% to pass. Peaked at 57% and has been trending further down.
A much better managed campaign as opposed to the failed vote in 2012. It is encouraging that a mid term vote can be so successful, with a ten point spread. Full out Collie-rado/Washington style legalization, taxation and regulation. Treat it just like alcohol. Result exceeded the polls even with core pro pot constituencies highly (no pun) disengaged by this midterm election.
Here is what I wrote prior to the vote:
Jah-regon: Measure 91. Legalization a la Collie-rado and Washington State. Smile Jamaica says: Most likely going to win. Latest polls are encouraging because of the gap between Yes (52%) and No (41%). Could be hurt if disaffected millennials don’t turn up for the midterm vote. Looks promising but not a lock per DC.
70% yes; 30% no. Emphatic yes. Now you can legally possess up to 2 ounces of cannabis and grow 3 plants. Will be interesting to see how the Feds try to keep it clamped down. But two thirds approval is hard to tamp down (pun intended) if we are still a citizen democracy.
Washington DC: Not full legalization as in #1 and #2 but you can possess up to 2 ounces of cured bud and be able to grow six plants. Huge YES. Will probably cross over 60% yes. But it’s gonna be a nightmare.
So much of surrounding DC is federal jurisdiction. You don’t want to get busted with a stalk of sensi on Fedland. You’re gonna be under Heavy Manners. Plus in a likely ascendant Republican Congress, DC is going to probably face Congressional roadblocks to any semi-legalimplementation.
Jah-laska: Ballot Measure 2. Legalization a la Collie-rado and Washington State. Smile Jamaica says: Most likely not going to win
Here I what I said before the vote:
I have seen too many negative polls and only one outlier pro pot result that seemed too good to be true, so it seems suspect. 52% No to 48% Yes, but if millennials don’t show up for the midterm vote it will fall short. Should have waited until 2016 with more robust youth and libertarian turn out. Hope I’m wrong!
I was wrong! Way to go Jah-laska. Legal couch lock is better than booze during those long cold winters.
I assumed (you know what they say about assume? Makes an ass out of you and me) that a demoralized Progressive libertarian turnout combined with a grumpy motivated Tea Party libertarianism would make the YES come up just short. Nice little upset there!
A local Guamanian (?) government commission is now obligated to set up a program to administer and implement the medical marijuana apparatus for dispensaries and cards for those seeking relief from debilitating diseases like cancer, AIDS and glaucoma.
here’s what I said on this blog the day before the vote about Guam:
Guam: Joaquin (KC) Concepcion II Compassionate Cannabis Use Act of 2013. Medical Marijuana and the creation of legal dispensaries. Vote would ratify the legislation. Smile Jamaica says: I can’t find any reliable polls but its dependency to Federal jurisdiction makes any implementation difficult.
2016 Legalization Predictions.
Nelstradamus Predicts:
What happens the next two years: Obama is a lame duck. The Republicans will rage about a thousand year majority. We 1%ers are about to get what they call in Reggae: Heavy Manners. We the sheeple are gonna be pissed off like 2008.
More and more of the elderly will be funneled into their mandated Obamacare Death Panels. Those who grew up thinking marijuana was the gate way drug to get white girls to sleep with minorities are going off to the next world in incrementally higher numbers from a diet too rich in cat food.
New voters who have no problem with weed whatsoever gonna start taking their place. Ryan and Jennifer are gonna be much more kind (pun intended) to the Seven Leaf than Fred and Ethel
The demographics should be ripe for a full court Legalization press.
These states should be able to successfully get full Collierado style legalization going. Let’s quit pussyfooting around with medical marijuana. Legalization, regulation and taxation. Once the government gets a tax in place, they get hooked on the green. Kasheesh. In the same way states never drop or lower their Sales Tax. O-sterity ahead. No stone (pun intended) left unturned as states scrounge for funds to try and make up the short fall.
Expect thin gruel from the feds in the next two years. States budgets are going to be meager. Marijuana sales receipts and cannabis tourism can make up for the Neoliberal beatdown coming our way.
West:
Collie-fornya is the big prize considering the success of Washington and Oregon. The 9th biggest economy in the World. If California legalizes the collie weed, it’s game over. Might as well just put forward a Federal Legalization bill.
Jah-waii: More lucrative potential than coffee. Imagine the tourism opportunities. Guam style mid 50’s yes
Arizona and New Mexico. Libertarian Arizona and more progressive New Mexico are prime states for building organic, local grass roots legalization. Both would be difficult but not impossible. New Mexico the more likely.
Jah-vada: I know that the casinos, who call the shots in a one industry state, hate the idea of legalization. They don’t want people flying in to Vegas, getting a $30 a night smoking hotel room so they can burn weed all weekend instead of hitting the strip clubs or slot machines. Rural areas should be encouraged by the hemp products potential.
Jah-tana. My home state with its libertarian bent is a long shot, but there is some energy building. Grassroots (pun intended) shoe leather via the college towns like Missoula and Bozeman would be the center of the effort. But you have to get Billings and the rural communities in the Eastern two thirds of the state. My mom would vote yes. My dad? As long as you don’t tax his Olympia Beer to pay for legalization, I could lobby him for a yes.
If those states voted yes, that would leave only the Mormon Triangle states of Utah, Wyoming and Idaho as bastions of No. I’m waiting to see what Colorado’s ski industry gains from legalization at the expense of Utah’s “stone age” (pun intended) mentality.
Midwest:
The legalization movement has to branch out from the West. These states should have the mechanism to pass legalization
Wisconsin and Michigan should be successful with a well funded and articulated campaign. Illinois too. Lots of rural areas in these states but working the issues could overcome provincial prejudices.
Ohio and Minnesota have potential but need to start right now on the campaign.
Northeast:
I fully expect these states to say yes to legalization: New Hempshire, Vermont and Maine. (I mean, Vermont means green for Jah’s sake!).Piggy back those efforts to rope in Delaware and Rhode Island.
If you can get New York, New Jah-sey and Jah-sylvania. It’s game over. Might as well make it easy on all 50 states.
South:
I full expect the South to successfully secede from the Union in the next two years. So why bother.
So November 2016, I want to be able to say: 16 down, 34 to go!
Jump straight to the Smile Jamaica Ark-Ive: Jah-vember 1, 2014
Greetings,
Jah-loween Recap 2014
Everyone have a good time getting innocent children hooked on High Fructose Corn Syrup? Tsk, tsk. Definitely NOT Ital or Vital
Did any of you folks stream the 12 hours of Jah-loween tunes I gave you? Mutant Dub and Roots Reggae Mixcloud Only shows without me talking. Spooky tunes, horror bytes and movie trailers. Plus 2013 and 2014 KRCL Live Smile Jamaica Monster Hash. Good any time of year!
So check it! I had zero trick or treaters Friday. I must be that house on the block. Too many voodoo sounds and smells emanating from the bowels of the Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives.
<That House on the Block: The Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives; 14 sec.>
When I was a youth in Montana, Halloween was definitely not as ideal as it is in Utah. Usually you had to walk on snow or have your winter jacket on over your costume.
And you better not give me and my hoodlum friends candy corn or raisins. If you gave out crap candy, you could expect an egg splat on your picture window! Fiya bun candy corn! Fiya bun raisins or nickels! Gimme the fructose corn poison. Droooollllll…..
<Fiya bun Candy Corn and Raisins in my Treat Bag; 18 sec.>
Vote Tuesday Nov. 4: Tweedle Dum Versus Tweedle Dee.
<Smile Jamaica’s Pot Vote Election Prediction; 46 sec.>
1. Jah-laska: Ballot Measure 2. Legalization a la Collie-rado and Washington State. Smile Jamaica says: Most likely not going to win
I have seen too many negative polls and only one outlier pro pot result that seemed too good to be true, so it seems suspect. 52% No to 48% Yes, but if millennials don’t show up for the midterm vote it will fall short. Should have waited until 2016 with more robust youth and libertarian turn out. Hope I’m wrong!
2. Jah-regon: Measure 91. Legalization a la Collie-rado and Washington State. Smile Jamaica says: Most likely going to win. Latest polls are encouraging because of the gap between Yes (52%) and No (41%). Could be hurt if disaffected millennials don’t turn up for the midterm vote. Looks promising but not a lock per DC.
3. Washington DC: Not full legalization as in #1 and #2 but you can possess up to 2 ounces of cured bud and be able to grow six plants. Huge YES. Will probably cross over 60% yes. But it’s gonna be a nightmare.
So much of surrounding DC is federal jurisdiction. You don’t want to get busted with a stalk of sensi on Fedland. You’re gonna be under Heavy Manners. Plus in a likely ascendant Republican Congress, DC is going to probably face Congressional roadblocks to any semi-legal implementation.
4. Guam: Joaquin (KC) Concepcion II Compassionate Cannabis Use Act of 2013. Medical Marijuana and the creation of legal dispensaries. Vote would ratify the legislation. Smile Jamaica says: I can’t find any reliable polls but its dependency to Federal jurisdiction makes any implementation difficult.
5. Florida. Amendment 2. Medical Marijuana. Smile Jamaica says: No Chance. Needs 60% to pass. Peaked at 57% and has been trending further down.
Non-statewide, local/county jurisdiction votes Tuesday: Michigan (12 cities), Maine (2 cites), New Mexico (2 counties). Plus something a gwaan in Jah-suchusetts district which I was too foggy to understand.
Martha Velez – Bend Down Low; Escape From Babylon (Sire) ’76; Bob Marley tune, Bob/Scratch prod’n, Wailers riddims
<Rockers do Reggae History Lesson: Martha Velez; 41 sec.>
Black Uhuru – I Love King Selassie; Power to the Trinity (Shanachie); Request
Set 4:
The Archives feat. Ras Puma – Sensibility; The Archives (ESL) 2012 herb tune; Eric Hilton of Thievery Corporation
Bob Marley & the Wailers – Work; Live Forever (Tuff Gong) 9/23/80 last live show: Pittsburgh, Jah-sylvania
Bunny Wailer – Haughty Tempo; Rule Dance Hall (Shanachie) ‘86
Set 5: Jah-loween Vinyl Holdover from Jah-tober
<Holdover, Never Leftover: Black Wax Spooktacular; 16 sec.>
Lone Ranger – Annie Palmer; Barnabas in Collins Wood (GG’s); ’79 JA
<Jah-loween History Lesson: Annie Palmer – cruel white Jamaican witch; 23 sec.>
Moses – When the Vampire Comes to Your Neighborhood; 12” (Wackies) ’82 NYC
Three Dimension – Undertaker; Roadblock (Nubian) ’82 UK
Edi Fitzroy – Hotel California; Eclipse (RAS) ’88 DC; Church of Satan = Hotel California
<Hotel California = Church of Satan; 42 sec.>
Set 5: Rockers do Reggae
<The Clash and Pink Floyd commonality; 11 sec.>
Nina Hagen – African Reggae; Nina Hagen Band (Columbia) EP; ’82 Rockers do Reggae Set
The Clash – Revolution Rock; London Calling (Columbia/Epic) ‘79
<Reggae History Lesson: Mikey Dread: Jamaican Deejay. Clash performer and producer; 23 sec.>
Ben Harper – Wicked Men; Reggae Sampler (Virgin) ’97 EP
Roxy Music – Love Is the Drug (Live); Mob Life (Uncut) Scorsese Soundtrack set
Set 7: Jamaican Jukebox of 45 7″ singles (Vinyl Jr.)
Jimmy Cliff – Deal With Life; 7” (Sun Power) ’77
Errol Dunkley – Train to Zion; 7” (Topco) ’75
Max Edwards – Black Cinderella; 7” (New Star) ’78
Set 8: Mutant Dub
2 Bad Card – Sweet Feelings; Hustling Ability (ON U Sound) ’95 UK
Armagideon – Open the Gates; Ease the Tension (Armagideon) ’95 UK
Bomb the Bass – Somewhere; Clear (Quango) ’96 UK
Kanka feat. Biga – Make It This Time; Sub.mersion (Hammerbass) 2009 Fr.
Dubblestandart feat. Lee “Scratch” Perry – Voodooism Dub; Marijuana Dreams (Collision) 2010
Smile Jamaica is hosted by Robert Nelson on 90.9 FM KRCL in Salt Lake City, Utah (Saturdays, 4-7 p.m. MT). Ark-ives available weekly here at the Smile Jamaica blog.