Is Reggae music gospel music? Yes and no. What attracted me to Reggae back in the mid 80s was certainly the Rastafari themed music from stalwarts (pronounced stal-a-watt in Jamaica) like Marley, Tosh and Spear.
Of course there is plenty of non-religious Reggae: love songs, pop and soul covers.
I doubt Reggae would have had such cultural saturation in the West on the backs of novelty hits like “Fattie Boom Boom” and “Israelites” or AM covers with a shuffle beat. Something about Reggae’s heavenly message attracted interested Westerners looking for something exotic and non-mainstream.
In the 70s lots of people in the West opted out of Christianity, (especially Catholicism and Judaism), and went for something new. Some went to cults. Others went for Reggae: Movement of Jah People while also protesting against the “system.” Or the corrupt and greedy “shit-stem” as Peter Tosh called it. Socialism with a small “s”.
Tired of doing the Judeo-Christian bit? Choose: Jim Jones or Haile Selassie
You don’t have to be a Rasta to sing or enjoy Reggae. But the conventional wisdom is that Reggae is identified as a counter cultural exploration of worship of His Imperial Majesty as a Black Jesus. West Africans ripped from the continent, put down in Jamaica in bondage and expected to worship their master’s white god.
Rebelling against that physical and mental slavery, while still preserving Christian traditions, led to Rastafari in Jamaica: Look to a black king crowned in East Africa. The return of Jesus who will lead blacks out of “Babylon” (The West, Jamaica, UK, America, etc.) to “Zion” (Africa or better still Ethiopia.)
I’m not a Rasta. My roots are in Northern Europe and Iran. I consider myself a Rastafari empathizer. Someone who understands and appreciates the religion as a devoted observer. Not a devotee.
The Smile Jamaica formula: 50% Rasta music; 20% Mutant Dub; 20% Seven Leaf; 9% UFOs; 1% Lovers Rock
I grew up a twice a year Methodist: Christmas Eve and Easter. The only time the Nelson family really went to weekly Sunday service was the two years my Dad was on the City Council in Fort Benton Montana.
Not that I haven’t been trying to be a “missionary” for the secular consumption of Reggae music. I celebrate Jah for the inspiration in thousands of Reggae tunes that fill my soul with joy. But I am careful not to endorse HIM out of respect for true believers. I don’t want to be a part of what Jacob Miller complained about: Too much commercialization of Rastafari!
Yours truly, Bobbylon, is a Rasta empthazier. I ‘n’ I look to the heavens for Ancient Aliens. Not Skygods
The reason I bring this up: I had an interview with Jamaican Reggae singer Etana. So I do what I normally do before a phone interview: go on Wikipedia and read up on the artist’s entry.
Her album I Rise starts off with a gospel cover of a brilliant Bob Marley cover tune: Selassie is the Chapel. Itself an update of an old American gospel tune. Covered by Elvis.
Etana’s entry mentioned her recording genres thusly: Reggae, Gospel.
Reggae Singer Etana. Gave me the Hairy Eyeball for calling her a Reggae AND Gospel singer. Mea culpa!
While introducing her to the radio listeners, I casually mentioned Etana was a Reggae and Gospel artist coming to town. She interrupted me and corrected me. She was most certainly NOT a Gospel singer. Her music was not geared to religiosity.
No worries. I did political interviews for 9 years. You don’t have to agree with me to have a conversation.
But when you lead off your album with a Rasta cover of a full on gospel song you can see where I might have been mistaken!; 21 sec.
By the way, I am not religious either. What earthlings worshipped as Skygods were Ancient Aliens colonizing Earth to mine gold to take back to their homeworld, Nibiru, beyond our galaxy.
Set your I watch alarm to 2900AD. That’s when the Anunnaki return to Earth.
Skygods came from here. The 12th Planet. Do not scoff!
In fact Etana the Reggae Singer, meet Etana the Sumerian King
Etana was an ancient Sumerian king of the city of Kish. According to the Sumerian King List, he reigned after the deluge. The list also calls Etana “the shepherd, who ascended to heaven and consolidated all the foreign countries”, and states that he ruled 1560 years.
Ascended to Heaven in a Chariot of the Gods (Erich Von Daniken)
Read this book. It makes sensi to me!
Here is what I have for you during the next 3 hours of Roots Reggae, Dubwize and Gospel; 18 sec.
Annotated Playlist (photos, captions, Reggae History Lessons, soundbytes)
Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: May 30, 3015:
Set 1:
Wayne Jarrett – Saturday Night Jamboree; 12” (Dub Irator) ‘80
Bullwackies All Stars – Recording Connection; Black World (Wackies) ’79 Dub Album of the Week
Dennis Brown – Emmanuel God Is With Us; 10” (Glimmer) ‘78
Mike Brooks – Good Herb; Earth Is the Fullness (Moll-Selekta) 4:20 Cannabis Service Announcement; 13 sec.
George Faith – Opportunity; To Be a Lover (Mango) ’77 Lee “Scratch” Perry prod’n
<Black Ark Sound: Lee “Scratch” Perry & the Upsetters: 1974-1979>
UK masters of the drum & bassline
Set 2:
Peter Tosh – Handsome Johnny; Talking Revolution (Pressure Sounds); live on the JBC, Kingston, JA acoustic
Jah Glen – Save Our Nation; 10” (South East Music) ’79; Glen Brown prod’n over Lambsbread riddim
Jennifer Gad – Babylon Must Fall; Solid Foundation (Flag) ‘92
Bunny Wailer – Bald Head Jesus; Liberation (Shanachie) ‘88
<Bunny Wailer: Jesus was a Dreadlock; 60 sec.>
Wikipedia entry for Nazirites (aka Rastas who live by the Nazarene Creed)
Abstain from wine, wine vinegar, grapes, raisins, intoxicating liquors,[vinegar distilled from such substances,and eating or drinking any substance that contains any trace of grapes.
Refrain from cutting the hair on one’s head; but to allow the locks of the head’s hair to grow. Neither crease one’s flesh.
Not to become ritually impure by contact with corpses or graves, even those of family members.
The Nazirite Vow
Set 3: Best of 25 Years of Smile Jamaica; 14 sec.
Scotty – Draw Your Brakes; Unbelievable Sounds (Trojan) ’71
<Scotty: Forward ‘n’ Payaka! Mon-ackle ‘n’ dem go Sacka!; 53 sec.>
Burning Spear – Fire Down Below; Presenting (Studio One) ‘72
Errol Dunkley – Baby I Love You; Darling Ooh (Attack) ‘72
Judy Mowatt – Zion Chant; Black Woman (Shanachie) ‘76
A+ Record.
Set 4:
The Wailers – Lively Up Yourself; Burnin’ (Deluxe Edition); Live at Leeds UK; 11/23/73
Lively up yourself and don’t be no drag. Reggae is another bag
Set 5: Vinyl is V-Ital Set
Bam Bam – Slave; Power of a Woman (Bam Bam International) ’87; female artist out of Los Angeles: Vinyl is V-Ital Set
Horace Andy – Mr. Bassie; Don’t Stop (Island in the Sun) ’85 Corona, NY
Toyan – Herb Transplant; Every Posse Want Me (Live & Learn) ’83 DC
Amjam – Give the People; Live Off the Board (Celluloid) ’87 US; Am(erican)Jam(aican)
SoCal Reggae. Features Hunt Sales of David Bowie/Tin Machine fame
Set 6: Jamaican Jukebox 7″ 45s
<Rarest Reggae not on Digital; 35 sec.>
Michael Palmer – Don’t Smoke the Seed; 7” (Hitbound) ’83 JA herbtune
<NORML sez: 10 billion in legal weed sales this year; 4 down, 46 to go! 33 sec.>
Mixcloud – Bobbylon: Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives + Digital Dubplates
Ark-Ive. Here on Smile Jamaica blog; without commercial interruptions
Twitter: SmileJ_KRCL for live alert and stream upload/blog posts
Greetings,
“4 down, 46 to go!”
Been away two weeks fundraising for listener supported Community Radio station KRCL. Thanks to any and all who made contributions to keep Reggae Radio and my 25 plus years running well hot. You Kings ‘n’ Queens helped us pull in $22k for KRCL on 6 total hours. Pretty great for a late afternoon, ethnic music show. Give thanks! blessings!
So let’s celebrate with a blowout.
<Alien Weed Attack; 30 sec.>
Cannabis? No! Canna-bliss. We’re gwaan celebrate free speech for three hours on Smile Jamaica devoted to the Seven Leaf. The Weed of Wisdom. The Healing of the Nation on your station that rules the nation.
3 Hours of herbtunes, Seven Leaf black wax. 420, or 4/20 or 4:20 – it’s herbal meditation inna irie vegetation on Smile Jamaica
Here’s what I did today
Bakefest of Champions
Popped an Allegra D (my allgergies are brutal this year)
Cratedug on behalf of Record Store Day
Camped out in my Secret Dubratory brewing up a 4 hour and 20 minutes. Zero seconds Digital Dubplate only version excursion for Mixcloud and the Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives. Herbtunes, movie clips and soundbytes inna Seven Leaf stylee.
As I did last year
I will upload that show, Year 2, on April 20th, Monday at 4:20 AM. Night owls this one’s for you!
Digital Dubplate Caanna-bliss Service Weekend – Apr. 20, Monday, 4:20 AM. 4 hours and 20 minutes. Zero seconds to the Seven Leaf. For Niteowls, insomniacs and the graveyard shifters
I’m in a real Vinyl mood this afternoon. Pulling Musical Cannabis “nugs” from the shelves in the ]Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives makes me want to rinse out some rarities for surety.
High-lights of the Show
7″ Jamaican Jukebox of 45 RPM: Black Uhuru vs. Ozzy Osbourne
Roots Dawtas
Mutant Dub Space Dust last half hour
Wailers Family Tree
Vinyl is Vital midway
Check it out but you bettter be a “responsible listener” or else…
<Johnny Law in your rear view…>
These aren’t donuts!
Smile Jamaica live every Saturday 4-7 PM Mtn. Time:
Mixcloud – Bobbylon: Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives + Digital Dubplates
Ark-Ive. Here on Smile Jamaica blog; without commercial interruptions
Twitter: SmileJ_KRCL for live alert and stream upload/blog posts
About time to start earning that Nobel Peace Prize. Executive Order – Legalize Marijuana in all 50 states. UN Security Council legalizes it for the entire world. Anunnaki have already legalized it in the Galaxy
Afrikan Simba + Echo & Prince Livijah – Free Up the Herb + Here Comes the Herbsman; 10″ EP (Reality Shock) 2007 UK; 4:20 Cannabis Service Announcment
“Mother don’t cry. I’ll be alright. I’m going to a better place”
Set 2: Best of 25 Years of Smile Jamaica
Naturalites – Picture on the Wall; Rub-a-Dubble vol. 1 (CSA) ’85 UK
<How Smile Jamaica made this song International: 1; 64 sec.>
<Smile Jamaica and the Oral Tradition; 29 sec.>
Althea & Donna – Sorry; Uptown Top Ranking (Virgin Front Line) ’78 female dj duo
Dennis Brown – So Jah Say; Words of Wisdom (Shanachie) ’79
African Head Charge – Gospel Train; Songs of Praise (ON U Sound) ’90 Mutant Dub/African music hybrid
Not to be confused with the cheap beer. Storytelling: Listen to the bytes above to hear how Smile Jamaica made Picture on the Wall a big Reissue Hit in the SoCal Island community
Set 3: Tribute to Bob Marley
Sister Carol – Dedicated to Bob Marley; Black Cinderella (Heartbeat/Jah Life) ’84
<Rastas would prefer livicate to dead-icate; 16 sec.>
Lone Ranger – Tribute to Bob Marley; On the Other Side of Dub (Heartbeat/Studio One) ’81 bonus track
<No Reggae without Coxsone Dodd’s Studio One Label; 22 sec.>
Culture – Psalm of Bob Marley + Dub of Bob Marley; Good Things (RAS) ’89
Coxsone Dodd – founder of Reggae Music with his Studio One record label; 1932-2004. Thank you!
Set 4: Jamaican Jukebox – 7″ 45 RPM
Jah Blue – Charles Manson; 7″ (Roots International) ’79 JA, not a tribute!
<Charles Manson – Helter Skelter “black people beware”; 56 sec.>
Mixcloud said I had too much Bob for last week’s Ark-Ive
Listen here instead. 2hr. 51 min.
bless, robt
Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives Playlist: Bob-ruary 7, 2015: Tribute to Bob Marley
Toots & the Maytals – Marley’s Gone (His Songs Live On); (Sunsplash) Live at Reggae Sunsplash; US Vinyl 8/4/82: Bobstock – Tribute to Bob Marley 70th Birthday
Bob Marley & the Wailers – Roots, Rock, Dub; In Dub (Tuff Gong); Dub Album of the Week; B side dubs to Marley 45s
Bob Marley & the Wailers – Punky Reggae Party; 12” (Tuff Gong) ’77: Lee “Scratch” Perry, Aswad, Meditations
Dillinger – Check Sister Jane; King Pharaoh (Blue Moon) ’84 UK vinyl; dj on “Waiting in Vain”
Brigadier Jerry – Tribute to Bob Marley; On the Road (RAS) ‘90***End of Set 1
Ronnie Davis – Kaya; Jah Love (Music Club); 4:20 Cannabis Service Announcement
Bob Marley & the Wailers – Could You Be Loved; 12” (Island) ’80 remix
Mikey Dread – In Memory (Jacob, Marcus & Marley); S.W.A.L.K (Heartbeat) ’82 US vinyl; Jacob Miller & Marcus Garvey
Stevie Wonder – Master Blaster (Jammin’); Hotter Than July (Motown) ‘81***End of Set 2
Smile Jamaica much prefers Collie-rado’s Inversion Galore to Utah’s Winter Smog. 4 down, 46 to go!
Greetings,
<Inversion Galore. Surviving Utah’s Winter Smog>
Settling into Jah-nuary. Middle of winter. The two month period of hibernation between the Green Bud Bowl Packers last game and opening Season for my beloved San Francisco, Giants baseball.
Weeping and Wailing and gnashing of teeth 😦
Green Bud Bowl Packers legendary collapse. Dread only had to do one thing and one thing only: catch the effing ball. Game over. Super Bowl 49. Fiyah bun!
<Green Bud Bowl Packers epic collapse against Seapukes: No Superbowl for I ‘n’ I; 17 sec.>
***
Grinding it out at work trying to avoid the flu and the colds brought about by Utah’s chunky air. Flu shot was a dud. Everyone in my family except me got it. Praise Jah! One of my best friends had to go to the emergency room with fluid in her lungs. Utah from November to March great for skiiers. Not so much for those with ashthma.
So playing rope a dope in cutting through the Post Holiday blah’s with the Kool Roots of Reggae ‘n’ Dubwize.
High-lights of the Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: Jah-nuary 24, 2015; 64 sec.
Wailers Family Tree: Bob & Peter Live in Leeds UK; Tosh live acoustic radio performance; Bunny chants down Botha and Apartheid South Africa, Marcia Griffiths – Steppin’ ’79
Dub Album of the Week: Aba-Shanti Ites. Mutant dub instrumentals
Soundtracks: Reggae on celluloid
Best of Smile Jamaica 25 Years: Marcia G, Prince Lincoln UFOria, Dillinger PSA on STD’s
Vinyl is V-Ital: Roots Dawtas: lovers rock, deejay Seven Leaf, dub poet
Mutant Dub: UFO skywatching soundtrack
<Songs to watch the sky for UFO’s. They are out there. Do not scoff!; 8 sec.>
bless, robt
Galaxy poll on the Terrestrial Drug War
Smile Jamaica Playlist: Jah-nuary 24, 2015:
Set 1:
Kojak – Glory to Jah; Chant Down Babylon (Gorgon) JA vinyl
Aba-Shanti-I &the Shanti-Ites – Tower of Bable (sic); Verse III (Falasha) ’99; Dub Album of the Week: mutant dub style
Black Slate – Mozart in Trenchtown; World Citizen (Unit 8) 2014 UK roots reunion
<Black Slate: UK Roots Reunion; 29 sec.>
Akabu – Fate of the World; Warrior Queen (ON U Sound) ’95 UK female roots group
African Brothers – Gimme Gimme African Love; 10” (Main Line) ’77, Tony Tuff Sugar Minott group
Iba – Babylon Don’t Like; Many Lives (Mt. Nebo) 2006; 4:20 Cannabis Service Announcement
<4 down, 46 to go!; 7 sec.>
Big Youth – Honesty; Screaming Target (Trojan) ’72; on Slaving riddim
UK Roots Reunion. One of Smile Jamaica’s Best of 2014
Set 2:
The Wailers – Stop That Train; Burnin’ (Deluxe Edition) (Tuff Gong); Live at Leeds UK; 11/23/73
Cedric ‘Im Brooks – Jah Light It Right; Light of Saba (Honest Jon’s) ’76 horn jazz + nyahbinghi instrumental
Dennis Brown – Give a Helping Hand; 10” (Observer Gold)
Rhoda Dakar – 007; Cleaning in Another Woman’s Kitchen (Moon Ska) 2007; singer in Special AKA, Bodysnatchers ska covers Desmond Dekker
2 Tone Ska-stress: Bodysnatchers, Special AKA, sang a song about date rape that is brilliant and harrowing “The Boiler”
Set 3: Reggae tunes on Soundtracks
Lee “Scratch” Perry – Dreadlocks in Moonlight; Countryman Soundtrack (Mango) ‘82
Western Roots – Rockers Galore; Babylon Central Soundtrack (ESL) 2010 mutant dub
Winter in Utah. Great for the skiiers. Not so great in the Valley. Bad air was killing all my friends: asthma, bronchitis, flu shot was a dud. I got a massive head cold sitting on the tarmac in Jah-buquerque trying to get home. Decongestant nah work. Maybe a cordless drill in my ear canal will free up some earway.
<Winter in the Salt Lake Valley: Chunky Style air; 12 sec.>
Happy New Year 2015 in the Salt Lake Valley: Inversion galore!
Tis the season of the Hazy Shade of Winter. If your breathing is wrecked or the flu has you down for the count, just spin last week’s Smile Jamaica. Best way to complement your sick leave
Best of Smile Jamaica 25 Years: The Reagan Year (1988) radio debut; 15 sec.
Wailers Family Tree: The Wailers Duo (Bob + Peter) Live at Leeds; 11/23/73. Tosh harangue that nearly got him killed after the One Love Peace Concert; 4/22/78 Kingston, JA. Introducing Bunny Wailer’s album Liberation ’88. Judy Mowatt classic Black Woman
Dub Album of the Week: Bullwackie’s All Stars – Free For All (Wackies). Heavy urban dub JA via NY.
Seven Leaf: Junior Dan, Mike Brooks, Aldubb
<4 down, 46 to go!>
Vinyl is V-Ital midway
Jamaican Jukebox: 7″ vinyl rarities
Disco Mix: Extended mix vox and dubwize vinyl
Roots Dawtas: Aisha lovers rock, The Selecter 2 Tone ska, Judy Mowatt, Mutant Dubstress Molara, Iskeeda, Alpha & Omega trance dub
Mutant Dub: UFOria skywatching soundtrack; last half hour
Eyes to the skies!
Set 1:
Horace Andy – Tune in to the Airwaves; Don’t Stop (Island in the Sun) ’85 NY vinyl
Bullwackies All Stars – Free For All; Free for All (Wackies) Dub Album of the Week
Prince Far I & the Arabs – Foggy Road; Message From the King (Virgin Front Line) ‘78
The Selecter – Selling Out Your Future; Celebrate the Bullet (Chrysalis) ’81 UK 2 Tone ska feat. Pauline Black
Junior Dan – Sligoville Tobacco; 10” (Hi-Try) 4:20 Cannabis Service Announcement (melodica instrumental)
<Reggae History Lesson: Sligoville Jamaica Rastas; 46 sec.>
Mike Brooks – Rhum (sic) Drinker – Classical Anthology (Teams) ’75; best of; herbtune
<You know me as a Rum Drinker, yah I’m a Sensi Smoker; 12 sec.>
Sligoville Tobacco. 4 down, 46 to go!
Set 2:
The Wailers – Burnin’ & Lootin’; Burnin’ (Deluxe Edition) (Tuff Gong); Live at Leeds UK; 11/23/73; 28 sec.
<Live at Leeds: Bunny stays home: England cold; 28 sec.>
Aisha – It’s Not Right; True Roots (Ariwa) ’94 UK
Eric “Rebel Lion” Bubbles – Roots of Black People (Progressive International) ‘79
Smile Jamaica’s favorite Lovers Rock Roots Dawta
Set 3: Best of Smile Jamaica: 25 Years
Austin Campbell – the Hotter the Battle; Babylon a Fall Down (Trojan); Best of 25 Years Set (1988-1990)
The Morwells – Educate Your Mind; Bingy Bunny: Kingston 12 Toughie (RAS) ‘75
Judy Mowatt – Put It On; Black Woman (Shanachie) ’76; Wailers cover
Singers & Players – Thing Called Love (Don’t Fight); Revenge of the Underdog (ON U Sound) ’82 mutant dub
A+ Record. 1976
Set 4: Peter Tosh: harangue + Legalize It/Get Up Stand Up; 46 sec.
Peter Tosh – Speech + Legalize It/Get Up Stand Up; Talking Revolution (Pressure Sounds) 4/22/78: One Love Peace Concert; Kingston JA
Chanting down the shitstem
Set 5: Vinyl is V-Ital
Dean Fraser – Sensimilia; Christmas Sting (Thunder Bolt) Vinyl is Vital Set; over Hallelujah Choir riddim JA
Basement 5 – Paranoiaclaustrophobia Dub; Basement in Dub (Island) ’80 UK Mutant Dub; future members part of Big Audio Dynamite
<Jurassic era Mutant Dub. Big Audio Dynamite; 39 sec.>
Bim Sherman – Haunting Ground; Haunting Ground (Revolver) ’86 UK best of
Mystic Youth feat/ I-Skeeda & the Irie-Ites – Save the Roaches; Best Wishes (Sunship) female singer; junior high Bay Area reggae group; 52 sec.
Before Political Correctness: Junior High Reggae Band saves the roaches. 4 down, 46 to go!
Set 6: Jamaican Jukebox of 7″ 45s; 33 sec.
General Echo – Love Bump; 7” (Jah Man) ’80 JA; 7”
Augustus Pablo & Lloyd Young – Our Man Flint; 7” (Black Art)
Lanford Graham – Where You Come From; 7” (Jungle Rock)
Delroy Gordon – Dizzy Spell; 7” (Portland)
Second rate Neo Liberal Hit Man to James Bond
Set 7:
Bunny Wailer – Rise and Shine; Liberation (Shanachie) ‘88
Ben Wa – Dubasaurus Rex; Devil Dub (Black Hole) ’98; Oakland, Colly-fornya
Sun Araw & M. Geddes Gengras – Sunshine; Meet the Congos (Icon Eye) 2012
Smile Jamaica’s second favorite Green. Go Green Bay!
<Go Green Bay!>
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.
Smile Jamaica 