My brother lives in Minneapolis. When the Polar Vortex hit, it took me back to my youth in Montana.
Cold so bitter, just closing the car door shattered glass. Only Chinook winds, (warm winds) kept Montana from being Alaska
<Chinook Winds; 46 sec.>
So when it became our turn in Utah to be homebound with a massive mid week snowstorm, I took advantage of the day:
Feb. 6 – Bob Marley’s Birthday. Once I got the notice on my phone to stay home. I turned off the alarm, cranked up the furnace and decided what better way to celebrate a Snow Day than starting with The Wailers Catch a Fire and play through to Uprising.
Zicam and Vitamin C during the Holiday/plane rides – check
I shouldn’t have gone back to work. That was what laid me low. Second day back. Too busy to get sick so I paid the price Saturday.
Everyone else came from their travels and those of us working with the public are well exposed. After 2 weeks off air seeing family, I didn’t want to miss a show.
Bad radio etiquette to hack and wheeze on air, but I soldiered on. The worst thing about colds for a deejay? Not only the horrible voice croak announcing set lists, but worse: Congestion for me settles between my ears. That makes it rough to cue up the record when I drop the needle.
Very exact skill to place the needle pon the groove, back cue and remote start. Hard to do when deaf
bless, Bobbylon
<COLD, COLD WINTER>
Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: Jah-nuary 12, 2019 Annotated Playlist; 1 min. 27 sec.
Set 1:
Rasta Generation Band feat. King Caleb – Stand By Jah; Stand By Jah (Black Spade) ’90 Oakland, CA vinyl – Ben E. King update
The Aggrovators – A Version of Class; Dub Justice (Attack) UK vinyl dub album of the hour; 70’s Bunny Lee B-Sides
Eric “Rebel Lion” Bubble – Forward Jah People; Roots of Black People (Progressive International) 2013
Joy White – Tribulation; United Dreadlocks (Rhino UK) ’77
Linton Kwesi Johnson – It Noh Funny; A Capella Live (LKJ) ’93 in Brussels UK dub poet
<LKJ poem; 46 sec.>
Clint Eastwood & General Saint – Stop That Train; Stop That Train (Greensleeves) ’83 UK cover of Keith & Tex
Spent time in City Lights Bookstore looking for Jamaican dub poetry
Getting ready to do our Spring Fund Drive at KRCL. So I thought I would give you a sampler of the theme sets I have done over the years and decades. 50 sec.
The Whitman Sampler of Smile Jamaica:
Easter/Passover
4:20 herbtunes
Wailers Family Tree
Jamaican Jukebox 7″ – Roots Dawtas cover Bob Marley
Vinyl is Vital
Rockers do Reggae
Roots Dawta CDs
UFO-ria
bless, Bobbylon
Set 1: Easter/Passover
Lawrence Ferlinghetti – Baseball Canto; Bob Dylan’s Theme Time Radio Hour – Baseball (Columbia)
Agrovators – None Shall Escape the Dub; Rasta Dub ’76 (Attack) ’76 JA dub album of the week
Bro. Marshall – Man From Galilee; Man From Galilee (Tabernacle) ’68
Gloria Bailey & the Joy Bells – I Have Paid the Price; 7″ (Henry’s) ’81 JA gospel
The Gospelettes – Sign My Name’ 7″ (Glad Tidings) JA gospel
Norma King – Good Friday; 7″ (Zion Love) ’89 Can.
Marcia Griffiths & Tyrone Taylor – He Shed His Blood; 7″ (High Note) JA ballad
The Congos – At the Feast; 12″ (99) ’81 – Passover
Smile Jamaica celebrates all the Sky Gods: Christian, Jewish and Sumerian
Set 2: 4:20 Cannabis Service
Ben Harper – Burn One Down; Voodoo Child (bootleg) 4/97 live in Bonn, Germ.
Soom T – Weed is Sweeter; Ode to a Carrot (Jahtari) 2008 Glasgow female weedstepper
Michael Rose – Draw the Weed; Never Give It Up (Heartbeat) 2001
Mikey Murka & Disrupt – Police; 12″ (Mahanee) 2009 Germ. cover of John Holt’s Police & Helicopter
Set 3: Wailers Family Tree
Peter Tosh – African; Dealing With the Shytstem (bootleg) 11/5/82 live at the Roxy in LA
Bunny Wailer – No More Trouble; Hall of Fame (RAS) ’95, 50 Bob covers on Bob’s 50th
Bob Marley & the Wailers – Is This Love; Kaya (Tuff Gong) ’78
Bob Marley & the Wailers – Is This Dub; CD Single (Tuff Gong) ’78
Scientist – Guava Road Dub; 11King of Dub (Kingdom) ’81: Dub Album of the Hour
Set 4: 7″ Jamaican Jukebox: Roots Dawtas cover Bob Marley
Cindy Breakespeare – Turn Your Lights Down Low; 7″ (Riverside)
<Damian Marley’s Mom; 32 sec.>
I Three – I Shot the Sheriff; 7″ (Rita Marley Music)
Anicia Banks – Thank You Lord; 7″ (Ashandan) Curtis Mayfield original, Bob cover
Sheila Hylton – Mellow Mood; 7″ (Harry J) ’77
Set 5: Vinyl Is Vital
Prince Far I – Natty Champion; Jamaican Heroes (Trojan) ’80 UK
Jennifer Lara – Hand to Mouth; High Times All Star Explosion (Alligator) ’85 Chicago blues label does Reggae
New Age Steppers feat. Bim Sherman – Dreamers; Foundation Steppers (ON U Sound) ’83 UK Mutant Dub
Jackie Bernard – Economic Crisis; Lee “Scratch” Perry – Excaliburman (Seven Leaves) ’78 UK
Steel Pulse – Higher Than High; Caught You (Island) ’80 UK
Set 6: Rockers do Reggae
Johnny Clarke – Rebel Soldering; Don’t Trouble Trouble (Attack) ’75: (1) – Original
<Soldering = cocksman; 36 sec.>
Hall & Oates – Soldering; Hall & Oates (Buddha) ’75 (2) cover
<Hall & Oates on Smile Jamaica? WTF? 26 sec.>
Bob Dylan – Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door; Live at Budokan (Columbia) ’78 Jah-pon
<2nd place to Cheap Trick; 14 sec.>
Linda McCartney – Sugartime; Wide Prairie (MPL) ’77 produced by Lee “Scratch” Perry
WTF?
Set 7: Roots Dawtas
Aisha – Only Jah Works; True Roots (Ariwa) ’94: Roots Dawta CD set
Althea & Donna – Sorry; Uptown Top Ranking (Virgin Front Line) ’78
Rita Marley – Jah Jah Don’t Want; Who Feels It Knows It (Shanachie) ’80
Love Joys – Chances Are; Lovers Rock Showcase (Wackies) ’82 female duo
Aisha – Smile Jamaica’s favorite female singer
Set 8: UFO-ria
Anubian Lights – Outflight; Outflight CD Single (Crippled Dick Hot Wax) 2001 – The New Jerusalem
<The New Jerusalem mentioned in Revelation is about a gigantic spaceship; 50 sec.; <
U.F.O. feat. Deedee Bridgewater – Flying Saucer; Saint Germain des Pres Cafe IV (Wagram) 2004 Fr.
Creation Rebel – Starship Africa Part 1; 10″ EP (ON U Sound) 2015 UK
Dennis Alcapone – The Sky’s the Limit (Flying Machine); Guns Don’t Argue (Trojan) ’72
Tena Stelin – Flying Saucers; 7″ (River Bank) 2001 about the Anunnaki
Mighty Sparrow – Russian Sattelite; Bob Dylan Theme Time Radio Hour vol. 5 (Music Melon) ’59 about Laika the Soviet space dog, calypso
<Mighty Sparrow’s tribute to Laika, Soviet space dog who gave his life for space travel; 21 sec.>
Bad Vlad Putin or as I call him affectionately – Lemonhead
<World War III – soon come? 54 sec.>
Greetings,
My first semester at college – Montana State, Fall 1983:
Soviet Union shot down a Korean jet liner
Beirut bombing of US army barracks killing hundreds
America invaded Grenada
It looked like the Cold War was getting “thawed”. Yet, by the time I graduated from the University of Utah in 1989, the wall had fallen and the Cold War was over.
Not so fast….
Wheel it forward to 2016. Trump defeats Hillary. How could that have happened? Let’s blame the Russians. Add in Syria and Ukraine, the recent aggressive update of our Nuclear Response Review. And 1 Trillion in nuclear “improvements.” Mueller’s investigation and innuendo against Russian “hacking”.
Rachel Maddow might call me Ivan, but the reality is:
Rachel Maddow – peddling war for higher ratings
Russia, no longer the Soviet Union, is feeling the strain of a new Cold War. Their incumbent President, Vladimir Putin, has an election of his own next week. His State of the Nation was a warning to America and its allies.
I no longer do Radioactive political interviews on KRCL but I still follow the news. I am worried a confrontation in the Syrian Panhandle could lead to World War III.
See that splotch of Green in the Northeast. That is where World War III could start
Of course, my antennae is attuned to Reggae as prophecy. I played a Justin Hinds song on this Smile Jamaica Ark-Ive edition that brought me right back to Sept. 1983.
So until the bombs drop, enjoy this March edition of Smile Jamaica. Forward ever, backwards never. War Time is over!
bless, Bobbylon
Lemondhead vs.The Cheetolini
Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: March , 2018 Annotated Playlist; 100 sec.
Set 1:
Devon Russell – Homebound Train; High Times All-Star Explosion (Alligator) ’85 vinyl Chicago blues label
Scientist – Hail HIM Dub; High Priest of Dub (Tamoki Wambesi) ’82 UK vinyl dub album of the hour
Before the crappy Digital Millennium Copyright ACT (DMCA) I used to spin one half of an album midway on Smile Jamaica. Usually something rare that hadn’t been issued on CD (much less digital).
Before Orrin Hatch’s DMCA this is the sort of out of print album. I would spin one half of the vinyl. Rarity for surety!
Orrin Hatch put a stop to that.
DMCA verboten: Can’t play more than 4 songs by the same artist
DMCA verboten: Can’t play more than three songs in a row of any one album.
So I switched up a new tradition: Rockers do Reggae
I ‘n’ I am a music obsessive who listens to a lot more than Reggae. So I have 2 CD Suitcases and then some of Rock, Soul, Jazz, Punk artists doing (usually) one shot Reggae riffs.
Every once in a while someone pitches a bitch. Got a nasty email when playing UK angry rocker Graham Parker’s soul riff down rub a dub “More Questions than Answers”.
Another time I had a caller asking me when Smile Jamaica would be over because I played a Camper Van Beethoven ska tune!
But you gotta trust me. Reggae is universal. Not all of it is great, but some of it is right on.
With that in mind enjoy this week’s Ark-Ive and listen for: Last week it was jazbo Herbie Mann. Get set this week – Ella Fitzgerald, Eric Clapton, Bad Brains, Judy (Mowatt) does Jerry (Garcia). From Bad Brains to Bob Dylan.
Check it!
bless, robt
Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: Jah-gust 5, 2017 Annotated Playlist; 90 sec.
Liberated from British colonial rule: Aug. 6, 1962
Set 1:
Brigadier Jerry – Jah Jah Move; Jamaica Jamaica (RAS) ’85 DC vinyl
Desmond & Joe – Bristol Rock; Dubbing in the U.K. (Starlight) UK vinyl dub album of the hour
Peter Tosh – Coming in Hot; Honorary Citizen (Columbia/Legacy) ’82 Boulder, Collie-radio live
Bad Brains – Leaving Babylon; Babylon Central Soundtrack (ESL) ’83 DC punk-dubbers
Capital Letters – Rumours; Headline News (Greensleeves) ’79 UK youth group
<Headline News? Roots Reggae vs. The CIA News Network; 13 sec.>
Gracy & the Herbman Band – Forward Up; See Mi Yah (Funfundvierzig) ’91 Germ. Female herbtune
John Holt – Police In Helicopter; 12” (Holt) ’81 siren mix: 4:20 Cannabis Service Announcement
<Police Siren in your rearview? Johnny Law or Smile Jamaica? 32 sec.>
Set 2:
Bob Marley & the Wailers – So Much Things to Say; Exodus 40 (Tuff Gong) ’77 original + 2017 Ziggy rmx
I knew it was gonna be trouble. Last Saturday we got 6 inches in the Salt Lake Valley. My garage is in the alley way. Dangerous for getting high centered and sliding into power poles.
So I waited for a lull in the storm and moved my car to the front street. My street was unploughed and there was snow accumulated over the curb.
Loaded up my stacks of wax and suitcase of disks. And headed for KRCL.….
Goosed my All Wheel Drive Subaru to plow through virgin snow. Best intentions….. 4 wheels on top of snowpack just skidded me to the curb and I was wedged in a snow drift and dead in the water.
Two hour wait for AAA. First show I had been a no show for in 27+ years.
So after I got towed out and back into my garage, I hunkered down in my Secret Dubratory and pulled together 3 hours of Digital Dubplate sound.
Snowmageddon Stylee!
bless, robt
Smile Jamaica Digital Dubplate – Jah-nuary 27, 2017 Playlist
0-30 min.:
Black Uhuru – World is Africa; Sinsemilla (Mango) ‘80
Keith Hudson – I Shall Be Released; Flesh of My Skin, Blood of My Blood (Atra) ’74 Bob Dylan cover
First re-cap after the election. I have been voting since 1984 and I can’t imagine two worse choices for President than what we got this go round: A greedy, law flaunting incompetent who helped ruin the other states in the Middle East George W didn’t destroy versus a human Cheeto reality host. Ick.
The only good that came out of this election was this Nation dubbled the number of States that can re-assert mankind’s 8000 year connection to Jah’s wisdom weed. Three other states (including my homeland – Montana) approved Medical Marijuana.
Medical MJ: Jah-rkansas, Jah-rida, Jah-tana, North Jah-kota
Jah-chigan’s legalization bid was yanked by an activist judge.
20% of this Nation now have benefitted from cannabis now.
In 2013 – 2 down, 48 to go!
In 2015 – 4 down, 46 to go!
In 2017 – 8 down, 42 to go!
In 2019 – ???
Maybe Obama will use an Executive Order and just legalize it everywhere. Finally some “Hope” for “Change” as he is packing up and moving out of the White House.
bless, robt
<8 down, 42 to go! 67 sec.>
Come on Prez? You smoked it. Your dawta got busted smoking. Since Hillary went down in flames, here is your last chance for a legacy! LEGALIZE IT EVERYWHERE
All my heroes are named Bob: Marley, Crumb and Dylan. Congrats to Nobel Prize for Literature, Bob Dylan. The first popular music artist to be chosen. Well deserving.
So I start off Smile Jamaica with a 3 song Reggae Tribute to his Bobness!
<Winner, winner Nobel Prize chicken dinner! 33 sec.>
bless, robt
Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: Jah-tober 15, 2016: Annotated Playlist – photos, captions, soundbytes, Reggae History Lessons; 51 sec.
Bob Dylan Tribute
Wailers Family Tree
Vinyl is Vital
Jah-loween Stylee
Disco Mix 10″/12″
Roots Dawtas
UFO-ria inna Mutant Dub Stylee
Intro: 33 sec.
Set 1: From one Bob to another: Dylan Tribute – Nobel Winner
<Amazing achievement. Nobel deserving; 52 sec.>
Jimmy London – Ride On; Welcome to My World (Burning Sounds) ’78 UK vinyl
Sould Syndicate – Black Pride – Dub; King Tubby & Friends – Sound System Dub Vol. (Original) JA vinyl, 1975-78: Dub Album of the Hour
Bob Dylan – Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door; Live at Budokan (Columbia): ’78 Reggae Tribute to Nobel Laureate, Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan – Man Gave Names to All the Animals; Slow Train Coming (Columbia) ’79 Gospel Grammy winner
Bob Dylan – Jokerman; Infidels (Columbia) ’83 Sly & Robbie on the riddims
Peter Broggs – Internaitonal Farmer; Rastafari Liveth! (RAS) ‘82
African Pearl – Zion Bound; 10” (Ariwa) 2005 UK: female roots
Set 2: Wailers Family Tree
Peter Touch & Hugh Roy – Rightful Ruler; Honorary Citizen: Jamaican Singles (Columbia) ’69 box set
Bob Marley & the Wailers – Jamming (Long Version); Exodus (Deluxe Edition) (Tuff Gong) ’77 bonus track
<Dessert before dinner: dub before the vox – Jamming; 18 sec.>
Set 3:
<Request: The one album that led to Smile Jamaica – Black Uhuru Anthem; 35 sec.>
Black Uhuru – Black Uhuru Anthem; Anthem (Island) ’84 Night of the Living Dead, Request; 19 sec.
Creation Rebel/New Age Steppers – Painstaker; Threat to Creation (Cherry Red/ON U Sound) ’81 dub to New Age Steppers cover of Michael Rose “Observe Life
African Princess – Jah Children Cry; 12” (Jah Shaka) ’80 UK
Scientist – Heavyweight Dub Champion (Greensleeves) ’80: Dub Album of the Hour
This album made me a Reggae Fanatic – Hard to live in dread in the dawn of the living dead!
Set 4: Best of Smile Jamaica – 27 Years
Yellowman – Morning Ride; One in a Million (Shanachie) ’84
<The Morning Ride – a different commute!; 25 sec.>
Aisha – Evil Spirits; High Priestess (Ariwa) ‘88
Barry Brown – Run Wicked Man; Far East (Hitbound) ‘81
Keith Hudson – My Eyes Are Red (Unlreased Version); Brand (Pressure Sounds) ‘77
The morning ride is the longest ride
Set 5: Vinyl Is Vital
Icarus – Land of Tarot; State of Mind (Russian Roulette) ’82 UK
Earl Sixteen – Freedom; Heart of the Ark vol. 2 (Seven Leaf) Black Ark/Lee Perry prod’n
Clint Eastwood – Sweet, Sweet Jamaica; Sex Education (Greensleeves) ’80 UK
Tony Tuff – Born in the Ghetto; Presenting Mr. Tuff (Black Roots) ’81 JA
Aura Lewis Meets Lee “Scratch” Perry – At Midnite; Full Experience (Blue Moon) Fr. EP – Black Ark prod’n
Set 6:
Tino – Bats in My Belfrey Dub; Hallowe’en Dub (Tino’s) Jah-loween beats artist
Yesca – Searchin’; Up in Smoke Soundtrack (Warner Bros) ’78 herbal update of the Coasters 50 r & b
Ther Herbaliser – The Hard Stuff; Something Wicked This Way Comes (Ninja Tune) 2002 UK mutant dub herb tune
Version feat. Sista Widey – Put On; 10” (Webcam Hi Fi) 2007 Fr. mutant dub
Black Roots Players – Redder Than Red; Ghetto-ology Dub (Easy Star) ’79 Dub Album of the Hour
Makes your flesh creep: next 2 Saturdays nuff Jah-loween on Smile Jamaica. 3 hours Digital Dubplate mix on Mixcloud Oct. 31
Set 7: Jah-loween Stylee
Black Survivors – Catch a Vampire; Nations of the World (Sword Lion) ’95 UK
Garland Jeffreys feat. Big Youth – Graveyard Rock; Escape Artist (Epic) ’81 – NY bi-racial rocker
<Don’t get stoned on my tombstone! 25 sec.>
Rupie Dan & Jennifer Gad feat. Macka B – Devil Dance; Solid Foundation (Flag) 1992
Bomb the Bass feat. Sinead O’Connor & Benjamin Zephaniah; Empire; clear (Quango) ’95 UK mutant dubbers; Empire=Vampire
Don’t get stoned on mi tombstone!
Set 8: UFO-ria: 38 sec.
Audio Active – Space Children; Tokyo Space Cowboys (ON U Sound) ’94 Jah-pon
Rockers Hi Fi – Dick From Outaspace; Rockers to Rockers (Gee Street) ’95 UK
The dog days of August? No! The Jah Days of Jah-gust. When it’s hot and everything is dried out. The AC is maxed and the lawn is barely green, how do you break away?
Grab a cold one of choice and settle in for 3 hours of riddim showers! Fall soon come!
Or read the story and look below for the Annotated Playlist
Greetings,
Aww, strolling down memory lane. 25 years every Saturday on Smile Jamaica. As the Ark-Ive grows, it just takes too long to cull from A to Z. All the Vinyl especially. I just reminisce too much on each album. Where I bought it, why I bought it. Are there herb tunes or Marley covers I forgot about? Halloween ditties or other oddities….and on and on and on.
So my methodology was to try my best to re-create a potential first episode. (I actually debuted first Saturday of KRCL’s Fall Radiothon). So I knew I would have to have a representative from at least a dozen or so of my original favorite artists….all on Black Wax. 50 Records where I get to juggle, consistently from show to show, between 32-35 selections over 3 hours.
I knew I had to feature these artists:
Bob Marley
Don Carlos
Jimmy Cliff
Burning Spear
Lee Perry’s brooding Black Ark sound
Roots Dawtas
Seven Leaf
UK artists
Adrian Sherwood’s Mutant Dub ON U Sound label
The Clash – discovered Reggae via UK punkers before Marley, Tosh and Bunny
Everyone on the floor of my dorm at the U of U got to “enjoy” this album. Perhaps my all time favorite?
Plus songs that I absolutely loved in the 1986-1988 Era:
Culture – Calling Rastafari
UB40 female toaster V’s Version from the rare dubble disk UK version pared down to a single in the US – Baggariddim
Big Youth – Get On Up. Hardcore Reggae disco funk
Sister Frica – One in the Spirit: From Methodist Sunday School to Pablo’s “Far East” Jamaican sound
Arthur Louis – beautiful version with Eric Clapton of Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
Below is the Annotated Playlist: Reggae History Lessons, Soundbites, Playlist, photos and captions.
On this Playlist, I search deep in my LONG term memory to try and remember where I would have purchased these Black Wax Vinyls; 1986-1988. Most of these Record Stores are gone now, but back in the day it was a Vinyl Paradise. Lps were cheap to make way for these new gizmos called CDs.
Thanks for being a part of 25 years listening to Smile Jamaica. Forward ever, backwards never!
bless, robt
25 Years of the Red Gold and Green. Give Thanx!
Playlist: Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: Sept. 20, 2014
Set 1: 25 Year All Vinyl Is Vital Showcase
Black Uhuru – Party Next Door; Anthem (Mango) ’84 US (Smokey’s Records, SLC)
Bullwackies All Stars – Recording Connection; Black World (Wackies) ’79 Dub Album of the Week; NYC
Bob Marley & the Wailers – Jah Live; Countryman Soundtrack (Mango) ’82 US (Cosmic Aeroplane, SLC); single recorded 1976
<Reggae History Lesson: Bob Marley: You cyaan (can’t) kill God! 25 sec.>
Rita Marley – Beauty of God’s Plan; Rita Marley (Trident) ’81 UK (Streetlight Records, SF)
Culture – Calling Rastafari; Calling Rastafari (Nighthawk) ’82 Various Artist St. Louis, Jah-ssouri (Randy’s Records, SLC)
<Reggae History Lesson: US Record Labels slinging Reggae; 30 sec.>
Black Slate – Legalize Collie Herb + Legal Dub; Rasta Festival (Alligator) UK 4:20 Cannabis Service Announcement; ’81 Jah-cago blues label (Rasputin Records, Berkeley)
T Shirt from Year 1 of the Smile Jamaica Ark-Ive (circa 1988). 1976 single written after Haile Selassie was overthrown as Emperor of Ethiopia and imprisoned by the Dergue (Ethiopian Communists)
Set 2:
Desmond Dekker – Big Headed; Compass Point (Stiff) ’81 UK (Streetlight Records, SF)
Junior Byles – Cally Weed; Rasta No Pickpocket (Nighthawk) ’86 herb tune; St. Louis, Jah-ssouri (label promo)
The Selecter – Bristol and Miami; Celebrate the Bullet (Chrysalis) ’81 2 Tone Brit Ska; about riots in UK and FL (Mad Platter Records, SLC)
Don Carlos – Living in Harmony; Prophecy (Blue Moon/Magnum) ’85 UK (RAS mail order, DC)
Ferguson 2014. Miami 1980
Set 3:
The Congos – Children Crying; Heart of the Congos (Congo Ashanty) ’77 JA; Lee Perry/Black Ark/Upsetters (RAS mail order)
Big Youth – Get On Up; Rock Holy (Negusa Negast) ’80 JA (RAS mail order)
Burning Spear – Jah a Guh Raid; Hail H.I.M. (Burning Spear) ’80 JA (Rutabaga Records, SLC)
Sister Frica – One in the Spirit; Rockers All Star Explosion (Alligator) ’83 A. Pablo prod’n; Sunday School Hymn (label promo)
While my Dad was on the City Council. Methodist Sunday School hymn
Set 4:
Alpha Blondy & the Wailers – Jerusalem; Jerusalem (Stern’s) ’86 UK; Cote d’Ivoire, West Africa (RAS mail order)
Desi Roots – Weedfields; Doing it Right (Hawkeye) ’80 UK; herb tune (Esoteric Records, Sacramento)
Dillinger – Check Sister Jane; King Pharoah (Blue Moon/Magnum) ‘84 UK; Marley Waiting in Vain – Johnny Clarke (Greensleeves mail order, UK)
One of hundreds of gems my Smile Jamaica predecessor, John “Rutabaga” Resse, turned me on to circa 1987-88
Set 5:
Arthur Louis – Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door; This is Reggae Music vol. 2 (Island) ’75 US Bob Dylan cover (Smokey’s Records, SLC)
<Arthur Louis and Eric Clapton cover Dylan; 32 sec.>
<Reggae History Lesson: Reggae’s love of AM pop and black soul; 23 sec.>
Jimmy Cliff – Keep Your Eyes on the Sparrow; Best of Jimmy Cliff (Island) ’75 Jah-taly; folk ballad (Half Price Records, Berkeley)
UB40 & Sister V – V’s Version; Baggariddim (Virgin) ‘85 dubble disk. Update of Boy Friday rock steady classic (Randy’s Records, SLC)
Perhaps the best Zimmy cover of this out of hundreds. Eric Clapton on guitar
Set 6:
Ruffy & Tuffy – Third World War; Climax (Black Star) ‘88 Finland (Tower Records, SF)
<World War III as predicted by Nelstradamus last Feb. during Ukraine Coup; 16 sec.>
<Cold War II, Electric Boogaloo: Obama v. Putin; 20 sec.>
Lone Ranger – Legalise the National Herb; Hi-Yo, Silver, Away! (Greensleeves) ’82 UK herb tune (Tower Records, Las Vegas)
Leroy Smart – Rock and Come On; On Top (Micron) ’82 Can. (RAS mail order)
Full Experience feat. Aura – Young, Gifted and Broke; Aura Meets Lee “Scratch” Perry at Black Ark Studios (Blue Moon) Fr. Nina Simone cover; Black Ark w female vox (RAS mail order)
Cold War II – Proof that the sequel is never as good as the original
Set 7:
Casselberry & DuPree – Coming in From the Cold; City Down (Icebergg); ’86 Jah-waukee Marley cover (label promo)
The Clash feat. Mikey Dread – Bankrobber/Robber dub; Black Market Clash (NuDisk) 10” US (Randy’s Records)
Johnny Clarke – Rebel Soldering; Don’t Trouble Trouble (Attack) ’88 UK; Bunny Lee comp (Smokey’s Records)
<Smile Jamaica Reggae Lexicon: Soldering or Welding; 10 sec.>
Flick Wilson – Slave Master; School Days (Jah Life) ’80 JA (The Beat, Sacramento, CA)
10″ Vinyl picture sleeve Nu Disk. One of the very first additions to the Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives. Randy’s Records, Salt Lake City; Oct. 1986
Akabu – Time; Akabu (Viva) ’89 UK female roots group (Rough Trade, SF)
Dub Syndicate feat. Bim Sherman; Strike the Balance (ON U Sound) ’89 Fr (ON U Sound mail order, UK).
Singers & Players feat. Mikey Dread – School Days; Staggering Heights (ON U Sound) ’83 UK (Rough Trade, SF)
New Age Steppers – Stabilizer; Foundation Steppers (ON U Sound) ‘82 (ON U Sound mail order)
African Head Charge – Stebeni’s Theme; My Life in a Hole in the Ground (ON U Sound) ’81 African w/ female vox (Cosmic Aeroplane, SLC)
Rutabaga Reese turned me on to Adrian Sherwood and the ON U Sound Mutant Dub Massive. Circa 1987
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.
Set 4:
Smile Jamaica 