Greetings,

Last show of 2018 before I head out for the Holidays. So nuff Christmas a gwaan. And a lickle Hanukkah stylee for good measure.

<Reggae Christmas at the Nelson Family gathering; 40 sec.>

Ancient Astronaut Theory suggests Santa is an Alien

<Santa: spaceship, Rudolph’s nose – tracking beacon; 36 sec.>

But, in fact I tell you the story about Saint Nicolas from modern day Turkey. Baba Noel (father Christmas)

<Baba Noel; 18 sec.>

I ‘n’ I never know the right mix of Christmas tunes to play. If I don’t play any, listeners call in to complain. If I play too much, listeners call and complain.

Last week I was 0 for 2. I played a take on Handel’s Messiah called the Sensimilla Choir. A woman called in and thought that was blasphemous and I shouldn’t be play songs about drugs.

Then I played Fishbone’s Slick Nick — you devil you! Saint Nick (Baba Noel) gone to seed and wrecked Christmas.

Listener called: That song was the worst and Smile Jamaica keeps getting worse.

So for those naysayers, they want I ‘n’ I to postpone Christmas!

<Mutabaruka – Postpone Christmas; 39 sec.>

So no matter where you fall on the spectrum, I hope you have a great Holiday. I get to take my Mom and Pop shopping for the medicinal mistletoe in Sun City West

<All I want for Ismas….>

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives Annotated Playlist: Jah-cember 15, 2018; 81 sec.

Set 1:

• Steel Pulse – Reggae Fever; Caught You (Island) ’80 UK vinyl
• Black Uhuru w/ Sly & Robbie – Let Us Dub; Brutal Dub (RAS) ’86 DC vinyl dub album of the hour
• Kiddus I – Love Child; Natty & Nice (Rhino) 70’s tune about Jesus
• Akabu – Warrior Queen; Warrior Queen (ON U Sound) ’89 UK female roots group
• Martin Campbell – Iliteracy (sic); Historical Tracks (Channel One UK) ’92 mispelled word on perpose
• Jacob Miller & Ray I – All I Want For Ismas; Natty Christmas (RAS) ’77 herbtune: All I want for Ismas is my collie herb

Set 2:

• Temple Rockers feat. Linval Thompson – The Blessing + Days Long Ago; Festival of Lights (Fresh Roots) 2018 Hanukkah
• The Ethiopians – Let Me Blow My Smoke; Owner Fe De Yard (Heartbeat) ’84 herbtune
• Cornell Campbell – King’s Heart; Natty Dread in a Greenwich Farm (Striker Lee) ’75
• Sister Carol – Santa Claus; 12″ (Grade One)

Set 3: Best of Smile Jamaica 29+ Years

• Carlene Davis – Ism and Schism; 15 Classic Tracks (Sonic) 
• Clint Eastwood & General Saint – Vote For We; Stop That Train (Greensleeves) ’82 UK
• Lucky Dube – False Prophets; Prisoner (Shanachie) ’90 South African
• Freddie McGregor – Irie Christmas;  Reggae Christmas From Studio One (Heartbeat/Studio One) ’80
• Joe Ferry – Skalalleujah; Skalellujah (Big Music) ’97 Christmas ska album of the Hour: Handel’s Messiah

Set 4:

• Alton Ellis – Praise Jah It’s Christmas; Christmas Vibes (Studio One)
• UB40 feat. Sister V – V’s Version; Baggariddim (DEP) ’85 female toaster over ‘Version Girl”
• Macka B – Ganja Ladies; Weed a Bun vol. 1 (Charm) 2005 herbtune
• Tyrone Evans & Glen Adams – God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen + Joyful Tidings (Clocktower) ’78 Bronx: Christmas hymn

Set 5: Christmas Vinyl Is Vital

• Mutabaruka – Postpone Christmas; High Times All-Star Explosion (Alligator) ’85 Chicago blues label
• Barrington Levy – I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus; Christmas Sting (Thunderbolt) ’81
• Hortense Ellis & Trinity – Santa Is Black; African Christmas (Top Ranking) ’79 Miami
• Johnny Osbourne, Jennifer Lara & the Family Group – Christmas Medley; Christmas Stylee (Studio One) ’80 JA

Set 6:

• The Gaylads – We Three Kings; 7″ (Soul Beat) ’69 

<The Magi – 3 Kings; 38 sec.>

• Sugar Minott – Christmas Time; 7″ (Black Roots) ’79
• Iron Phoenix – Natty Dread Christmas; 7″ (Observer) ’78
• Keith Richards – Run Rudolph Run; 7″ (Rolling Stone) ’78 Chuck Berry cover

<Keef does Chuck inna Christmas stylee; 17 sec.>

• Yabby You & the Prophets – Fire; Rough Guide to Dub (Rough Guide) Dub Album of the Hour

Set 7: Wailers Family Tree

• Bob Marley & the Wailers – Lively Up Yourself; Wailing Wailers (Studio One) ’71 bonus from first LP
• Bob Marley & the Wailers – Trenchtown Rock; Live 1973-1975 (Starbucks) 6/10/75 at the Quiet Knight, Chicago

<The I Three replace Bunny and Peter in the Wailers; 54 sec.>

• Peter Tosh – Burial; Live at My Father’s House (Beat Club) ’78 Roslyn, NY
• Bunny Wailer – Jump Nyahbinghi; Hall of Fame (RAS) ’95 50 Bob songs for his 50th birthday

Set 8:

• John Holt – Spaceman Came Calling; Reggae Christmas (Trojan) ’86
• Thievery Corporation – Lagos Connection; Outernational Sound (ESL) 2004 DC
• Gorillaz – Ghost Train; G Sides (Virgin) 2001
• Lee “Scratch” Perry & Sandra Robinson – Merry Christmas, Happy Birthday (Trojan) ’86 UK
• Aswad – Roxanne; Big Up (Mesa) ’97 Police cover