Greetings,

It was about 20 years ago. I ‘n’ I was juggling Roots Reggae on Smile Jamaica. One roots gem after another. Phone rings.

Listener calls in. “I appreciate everything you do with Smile Jamaica, but I notice you don’t play very much female Reggae.”

Remember, I ‘n’ I deejay for a small, community radio station. I haven’t had a show review in over a decade. Surely, I ‘n’ I can get into ruts like any other media or arts person.

In my defense, 80% of Reggae recorded in Jamaica, or worldwide for that matter, is performed by male artists. And I ‘n’ I subscribed to Rasta militant dj Big Youth’s maxim: No more songs about girls!

Strictly haaard Roots telling stories about the political underdogs , Rastafari gospel and the 400 years of slavery.

I ‘n’ I thanked the listener for the critical input.  From that day on, I want to sift in at least one Roots Dawta into the mix. My sets  average 3-4 songs. It has definitely improved the sound of Smile Jamaica  and broadens the universal appeal.

And after harvesting through my Ark-Ive, it is every easy to find female Reggae artists singing about roots topics beyond Lovers Rock.

So I ‘n’ I am at the point in organizing and cataloging my Ark-Ive of several thousand Reggae 7″ 45’s. Same as with LP’s and CD’s. Harvest the Roots Dawtas in all my various categories: herb, Marley covers and tributes, rock ‘n’ soul covers, etc.

So, what a great idea to celebrate International Women’s Day with a 3 hour showcase of Reggae Roots Dawtas 7″ 45’s. The Jamaican Jukebox

bless, Bobbylon

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: March 7, 2020 – Roots Dawta 7″ Jamaican Jukebox; 69 sec.

Set 1:

• Dhaima – Ina Jah Children; 7″ (Joe Gibbs Record Globe) ’77
• Prince Fatty – Hollie Cook in Dub (Mr. Bongo) 2012 Dub Album of the Hour
• Anicia Banks – I Want to Thank You; 7″ (Ashandan) ’77 Curtis Mayfield/Bob Marley cover
• Jennifer Gad – Survival; 7″ (Black Roots) Marcia Griffiths cover
• Della Grant – Leggo Africa; 7″ (Twinkle) ’99
• Audrey Hall – Groove Situation; 7″ (Kebar) ’76 Keith Rowe cover
• Massawa – Free at Last; 7″ (Full Moon) livicated to Nelson Mandela
• Sister Nancy – Telephone Challice; 7″ (Volcano) ’82 4:20 Herb
• Queen Ifrica – Burn Some Herbs; 7″ (Fire Links)  20005 bonus herbtune

Set 2:

• Daughter Whinny – Shame & Scandal; 7″ (Hitbound) ’82 rude mento cover
• Debra Keese – Travelling; 7″ (Orchid) ’79 Lee “Scratch” Perry/Black Ark prod’n
• Taliasha Love – Roots Man; 7″ (Jah Music) ’76
• Sharon Black – Struggling; 7″ (Clintones) ’77
• Brenda Harry – Rise Up Stand Firm (Twinkle) 2001

Set 3:

• The Selecter – Celebrate the Bullet; 7″ (Chrysalis) ’81 UK 2 Tone Ska
• Sharon Little – Mash Up Creation; 7″ (One Love) ’81
• Lady Ann – Shine Eye Boy; 7″ (Roots Tradition) ’78
• Dawn Love – Watering; 7″ (Ja Man) ’75 over Welding
• Daughter Cherry – Babylon You Guilty; 7″ (High Note) ’78
• Chuck Foster – California Dubbin’ Dub Album of the Hour

Set 4:

• Little Natural – Put Good Lyrics in the Music; 7″ (Conscious) youth gal dub poet
• Althia – Down Town Thing; 7″ (Joe Gibbs Record Globe)
• Novellette Barnett – Fire de a Town; 7″ (High Note)
• Barbara Jones – Slim Boy; 7″ (Impact!) ’75

Set 5:

• Rita Marley – Beauty of God’s Plan; 7″ (Hansa) ’80 picture sleeve; Wailers Family Tree set
• Cedella Marley Booker – Mommy’s Daddy; 7″ (Ghetto Youths) Bob Marley’s mom
• Marcia Griffiths – Dreamland; 7″ (High Note) ’78
• Yvonne Harrison – Knotty Screwface; 7″ (Mart’s) ’78 Bob Marley cover
• Judy Mowatt – Hush Baby Mother; 7″ (Ashandan) ’85

Set 6:

• Dawn & Christine – Panadol; 7″ (M & M) herbtune
• Sheila Hylton – Mellow Mood; 7″ (Harry J) ’77 Bob Marley cover
• The Marvels – Rock Steady (Pama) ’71 Aretha Franklin cover
• Norma Frazer – First Cut Is the Deepest; 7″ (Studio One) ’67 Cat Stevens cover
• Lee “Scratch” Perry – Jah; Black Ark in Dub (Black Ark) ’81 Dub Album of the Hour

Set 7:

• Grace Jones – Love Is the Drug; 7″ (Island) picture sleeve
• Veronica Adams – Midnight Train to Georgia; 7″ (Impact!) ’75
• Sheila Hylton – Lotta Love; 7″ (Jaywax) ’79 Neil Young/Nicolette Larson cover
• Doreen Schaeffer – Sugar, Sugar; 7″ (Studio One)
• Joy White – My Guy; 7″ (Hawk)  ’75 Deborah Wells Motown cover

Set 8:

• Aisha – Give a Little Love; 7″ (Rockers)
• Duche Gold – I Have a Dream; 7″ (Massawa) ’94 hailing MLK
• New Age Steppers feat. Ari Up – Fade Away; 7″ (ON U Sound) ’80 UK Jr. Byles cover
• Cynthia Schloss – No Brother No Cry; 7″ (Merritone) ’80 Bob Marley cover
• Ebony Sisters – Son of a Preacher Man; 7″ (FORM) ’75 Dusty Springfield cover
• Claudette Miller – Too Much Heaven; 7″ (Roots International) ’79 Bee Gees cover
• Nora Dean – Barbwire; 7″ (Treasure Isle) ’70 rudeness