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Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives (Stream + Tracklist): Jah-gust 12, 2017 – World War 3.0: The Ultimate Bad Hair Day!

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<World War 3.0..; 16 sec..>

<…started by 2 guys with bad hair; 51 sec.>

Greetings,

Man am I exhausted by the divisiveness in this country and the world. Seems like we’re lurching to mass destruction through hatred and mean spiritedness. War is the first bag out of the club. Threats of war, sanctions, all negativity for surety.

What can we do? What comes first: Civil War in America or World War 3.0 in East Asia.

Reggae prophesied what happens  when nations result to wars and rumors of wars.

Wish I had something more encouraging to report. But I don’t. So let’s hope we can cool down the pace and get along in the rat race

Have no fear for atomic energy
‘Cause none of them can stop the time

-Bob Marley : Redmeption Song

bless, robt

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives Annotated Playlist: Jah-gust 12, 2017; 63 sec.

Set 1:

  • Don Carlos & Gold – Roots Rock Party; Showdown vol. 3 (Hitbound) ’84 JA vinyl
  • Dub Specialist – Hanging on the Wall; Dub Store Special (Studio One) ’74 JA vinyl dub album of the hour
  • Peter Tosh – No Nuclear War; No Nuclear War (EMI America) ’87

<Tosh’s murder – 1987; 26 sec.>

  • Hugh Mundell – Walk With Jah; King Jammy in Roots (Auralux) ’82

<Mundell’s murder 1983; 30 sec.>

  • Carlton Livingston – 100 Weight of Collie Weed; Retrospect (Grapevine) ’84 4:20 Cannabis Service Announcement

<Ask Ed – How people get busted for weed; 43 sec.>

Ed Rosenthal of High Times

3 Ways people get busted:

  1. carelessness
  2. family members/significant others turn you in during quarrels
  3. bad luck/wrong place at the wrong time
  • Naffi I – We Shall Not Want; 10” (Roots Injection) 2007 UK female militant steppers
Augustus Pablo protege murdered in 1983: Hugh Mundell

Set 2:

  • Collie Buddz – Tomorrow’s Another Day Collie Buddz (Columbia) 2007
  • Mike Brooks – Culture; Classical Anthology (Teem) ‘75
  • Aswad – Just a Little Herb; Rebel Souls (Mango) ’84 herbtune
  • Marcia Aitken & Trinity/I’m Still in Love + Three Piece Suit (Trojan) ‘77
Collie Buddz

Set 3: Best of Smile Jamaica 27+ Years

  • Black Uhuru – Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner; Black Uhuru (Virgin) ’80 

<Black Uhuru – adventures in cratedigging; 37 sec.>

  • Burning Spear – Education; Farover (Heartbeat) ‘83
  • Aisha – Hi-Tech; High Priestess (Ariwa) ‘88
  • Mikey Dread – World War III; Beyond World War III (Heartbeat) ‘81
  • Ja-Man All-Stars – Dub Zone; In the Dub Zone (Blood and Fire/Ja-Man) Dub Album of the Hour
Bought my first CD’s for the Ark-Ives at Smokey’s Records; SLC

Set 4:

  • Bunny Wailer – Let Him Go; In I Father’s House (Solomonic) ’80 JA vinyl
  • Sammy Dread – Independent Dread; Jah Live! (Heartbeat City) ‘98
  • Charlie Chaplin – Chalice Contest; Old & New Testament (RAS) ’92 herbtune
  • Sister Beverley – Rasta Woman; 12” (RAMA) ’76 UK

Set 5: Vinyl is Vital

  • Fab 5 – Ooh?  Wa?; Jamaican Woman (Stage) ’87 JA 
  • Dillinger – I Thirst; Blackboard Jungle (Culture Press) ’84 UK tribute to soap opera vampire Barnabas Collins
  • Della Grant &The Twinkle Brothers – Jah, Jah I’m Calling You (Twinkle) ’91 Oakland, CA
  • Lone Ranger – Collie Weed Style; Love & Happiness (Burning Sounds) ’79 UK to Dawn & Christine herbtune
  • Ruffy & Tuffy – If the Third World War Is a Must; Cimax (Black Star) ’88 Finland, twins
If the Third World War is a Must!

Set 6:

  • Bob Marley & the Wailers – Guiltiness; Exodus 40 (Tuff Gong) ’77 original + 2017 Ziggy rmx

<Bob’s Exodus; 70 sec.>

 

  • Augustus Pablo – Chant to King Selassie I; By the Rivers of Babylon (Shanachie) ’76 Rasta themed comp
  • The Selecter – Train to Skaville 12”; Celebrate the Bullet (Deluxe Edition) (Chrysalis) ‘80 2 Tone UK ska cover of the Ethiopians
  • Jah Shaka – Coronation Dub; Coronation Dub (Jah Shaka) ’89 Commandments of Dub ch. 9:Dub Album of the Hour
Train to Skaville

Set 7:

  • The Jay Boys – African People; Babylon a Fall Down (Trojan) ’72 update of Paul Revere and the Raiders’ Indian Reservation

<African People = Indian Reservation; 19 sec.>

  • Big Joe – World Wide Kaya; At the Control (Jackpot) ’78 herbtune of Ronnie Davis doing Bob Marley
  • Webcam Hi Fi feat. Naima – Jah Jah Love (Tube Dub) 2007 Fr. mutant dubstress
Reggae re-working as African People

Set 8: Mutant Dub

  • Thievery Corporation feat. David Byrne – Dance on Vaseline; Abductions and Reconstructions (ESL) ’99 rmx from Talking Heads 

<David Byrne debut on Smile Jamaica; 16 sec.>

  • Anjali – Space Lust in the Space Dust; Anjali (Wiija) 2000 UK Hindi-dubstress, UFOria
  • Abassi All Stars feat. Junior Kigwe – High Grade; Showcase (Universal Egg) 2006 UK herbtune
  • The Archives feat. Lenny Kurlou – Why Can’t We Live Together?; The Archives (ESL) 2012 – ½ Thievery Corp; covers Timmy Thomas soul
  • Dubsultan – Salmin Dub; Dub Sultan (Dub Sultan) 2012 Middle East dub out of Bozeman, MT!

<Mutant Middle East dub out of Bozeman, MT; 23 sec.>

Herbie Mann, Ella Fitzgerald and now…David Byrne on Smile Jamaica!

Words of Wisdom:

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: Jah-gust 5, 2017 (Stream + Tracklist: Ella Fitzgerald does Clapton inna Rub a Dub Stylee!

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Ella makes her Smile Jamaica debut. Singing The Cream classic. Eric Clapton shows up too this week!

Greetings,

Before we start: Happy Jamaican Independence Day – 55 years old

<Aug. 6, 1962 – Jamaican Independence Day; 21 sec.>

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.

  1. DMCA verboten: Can’t play more than 4 songs by the same artist
  2. 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

<Ziggy remixes Exodus 40 – 77 to 2017; 79 sec.>

<1977 to 2017: So Much Things to Say; 44 sec.>

  • Wailing Souls – Wild Wild Life; Cool Runnings Soundtrack (Chaos) ’93 Talking Heads cover
  • Christine Miller & Roots Hi-Tek – Trod Away Home (Roots Hi-Tek) 2005 UK militant steppers

Set 3: Best of Smile Jamaica 27+ Years

  • The Selecter – Bombscare; Celebrate the Bullet (Chrysalis) ’81 UK 2 Tone ska

<Pauline Black & The Selecter; 2 wars to 7 in 8 years: Bombscare! 25 sec.>

  • Barrington Levy – Please Jah Jah; Prison Oval Rock (RAS) ‘84
  • Aswad – Hooked On You; To the Top (Simba) ’86 UK
  • African Head Charge – Hold Some More; Songs of Praise (ON U Sound) ’91 UK African/dub
  • Jack Ruby & the Black Disciples – Marcus Garvey Dub; Black Foundation in Dub (Heartbeat) Dub Album of the Hour

Set 4:

  • Black Uhuru – Bull in the Pen; Anthem (Island) ’84 – US rmx

<Fence can’t hold 2 big bull inna the pen; 56 sec.>

  • Mungo’s Hi Fi feat. Top Cat & Soom T – Herbalist + Did You Know?; 12” (Scotch Bonnet)  2007 UK dubstep; herbtune + female vox

<Dubstep = the punk of the Reggae genre; 19 sec.>

Set 5: Vinyl Is Vital

  • Bunny Wailer – Whirly Girly; In I Father’s House (Solomonic) ’80 JA
  • Akimbo – So Long Trouble;  So Long Trouble (Forward Sounds International) ’85 UK w/ female vox

<Adventures in Cratedigging; 40 sec.>

  • Horace Ferguson – Tranquilizer; Sensi Addict (Prince Jazzbo Music) ’87 JA herbtune
  • Desi Roots – Black Justice; Doing It Right (Hawkeye) ’80 UK
  • New Age Steppers – 5 Dog Race; Foundation Steppers (ON U Sound) ’83 UK Adrian Sherwood/mutant dub instrumental

Set 6:

  • Judy Mowatt – They Love Each Other; Fire on the Mountain 2 (Pow Wow) ’97 Jerry Garcia cover

<Reggae Dead Mashup>

  • Jimmy Lindsay – Easy; 12 the Hard Way (Tribesman) ’77 Commodores cover
  • Squire Jon – Are We Really Free?; 10” (Hi Try) 2006 UK spoken word
  • King Jammy Meets Dry and Heavy In the Jaws of the Tiger – Do Dub Up Your Fight (BSI) 2001 Jah-pon: Dub Album of the Hour

Set 7: Rockers do Reggae

  • Ella Fitzgerald – Sunshine of Your Love; Groove Corporation Presents Remixes From Elephant House 2 (Distant Drummer) 2001 covering The Cream rmx 
  • Eric Clapton – Willie and the Hand Jive; 461 Ocean Boulevard (Island) ‘75
  • Garland Jeffreys – Zoo; Garland Jeffreys (Collector’s Music) ’73 NYC rocker
  • Bob Dylan – Man Gave Names to All the Animals; Slow Train Running (Columbia) ‘79
Welcome to Smile Jamaica, Ella!

Set 8: Mutant Dub

  • Dan-I & King Kietu – Pope; Rastafari Judgement Fire (Imperial Roots) 2009 Sicily: Mutant Dub Set
  • Allan Pillay – Demonic Forces; Wild Paarty Sounds vol. 1 (Cherry Red/ON U Sound) ’81 UK
  • Tony Tuff – The Answer; Time Will Tell: Henry & Louis Meet Blue and Red (BSI) 2001 Portland, OR
  • Grace Jones – Hurricane + Dub; Hurricane (Wall of Sound) 2011

Wordcs of Wisdom:

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: Jah-ly 29, 2017 (Stream + Tracklist): You’ve got Jazz Vinyl inna mi Roots Reggae!

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Herbie Mann – what’s this guy doing on Smile Jamaica?

Greetings,

Doing Reggae Radio for three decades, you do what you can to mix it up and stay out of ruts.

About six weeks ago, a listener Stephen – hit me up on Twitter asking me if I had heard of an obscure Reggae album by a traditional jazz flute player, Herbie Mann.

Indeed I had. My sister lives in Albuquerque. So we meet there for Christmas now, instead of me having to make a 600  mile drive through the frozen North to get to Montana.

Whenever I go anywhere, I pick up the Yellow Pages (now have to do it from their app.) Where are the Record stores?

ABQ has a good boutique shop called Mecca. Past downtown as you get to Old Town. I chat up the owner on soul reissues and what I call Mutant Dub: Dubstep, lounge, experimental ambient.

The tiny shop crammed with disks and cds lends itself to a cozy, relaxed atmosphere. Along the lines of the movie High Fidelity

Last Christmas I walk in and he greets me. Reaches behind the counter and pulls out a record. “Now that you’re here, maybe you want this”

It was a copy of herbie Mann “Reggae’. Once I saw the vinyl sleeve and knew it was vintage and not recent, all I had to say was put in on my pile.

1974. Love that era of Reggae and Rock. Everything was real music. Not synthed overdubs.

Legit if Tommy McCook, Mick Taylor and Albert Lee are in the mix

I tend to buy in waves and so I have a queue of about 100 priorities. Vinyl gets played first.

It took me about 6 months for this to jump from the crate to the turntable. Damn good on the riddims and the flute. Nothing soft or cheesy. I don’t know a lot about jazz. But I know an encyclopedia’s worth of Reggae.

When Stephen inquired about this. I dropped the 18 minutes of Side 2 during this week’s Vinyl is Vital segment. Smokey Robinson’s My Girl.

After Tosh and before Marley, that instrumental gem fit hand in glove with the Roots.

3 decades of Smile Jamaica – It’s Reggae when I say it’s Reggae. Gonna play Ella Fitzgerald covering The Cream inna rub  a dub style this Saturday!

bless, robt

Mecca Records on West Central ABQ, New Mex. Shop there. These stores are dying out and it saddens me. My lifestyle is under threat: cratedigging

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: Jah-ly 29, 2017 Annotated Playlist: 1 min. 50 sec.

Set 1:

  • Bunny Wailer – Rockers; In I Father’s House (Solomonic) ’80 JA vinyl
  • Augustus Pablo feat. The Crystalites & Big Youth; Melodica Melodies (Trojan) ’81 UK vinyl dub album of the hour
  • Ken Boothe – In the Summertime; Freedom Street (Beverley’s/Jet Set) ’70 – Mungo Jerry cover
  • Wingless Angels – Rasta Army; Wingless Angels vol. II (Mindless) ‘96 – Keith Richards, Justin Hinds nyah group; 18 sec.
  • The Equators – Police on My Back; Hot (Stiff) ’81 UK ska update of Eddy Grant & the Equals
  • Prince Alla – Sensimilla; More Love (Jah Warror) 2002
  • Christine Miller & Roots Hi Tek – The Light; 10” (Roots Hi Tek) 2009
Keith Richards and his Rasta Army

Set 2:

  • Peter Tosh – Rastafari Is; Honorary Citizen (Columbia/Legacy)  Nov. 5, 1982 live the Roxy – Los Angeles
  • Jay Tees – Come to Me; 10″ (Music Lab) ’81 JA female duo

Set 3: Best of Smile Jamaica 27+ Years

  • Althea & Donna – Jah Rastafari; Uptown Top Ranking (Virgin Front Line) ’78 
  • Sylford Walker & Welton Irie – Give Thanks and Praise to Jah + Rolling Stone; Lambs Bread International (Blood & Fire) ‘79
  • Wailing Souls – Jah Is Watching You; On the Rocks (Greensleeves) ‘83
  • Benjamin Zephaniah – Rasta; Rasta (Workers Playtime) ’83 UK dub poet
  • E.T & Randy’s All Stars – Ordinary Version 3; Rough Guide to Dub (Rough Guide) 2005 Dub compilation of the hour

Set 4:

  • Mike Brooks – Rum Drinker; Classical Anthology (M-10) herbtune
  • Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers – 666; Hey World! (EMI America) ‘86
  • Christine Adelsi – Babylon Shores; 10” (King Earthquake) 2012 UK militant steppers

Set 5: Vinyl is Vital

Herbie Mann – My Girl; Reggae (Atlantic) ’74 – flute player covers Motown w/ the Tommy McCook Band; Request

<New Orleans Jazz flute + Motown Reggae; 90 sec.>

<Flautist Herbie Mann, Mick Taylor -gits; Albert Lee; Tommy McCook Band: 80 sec.>

Set 6:

  • Bob Marley & the Wailers – Natural Mystic; Exodus (Tuff Gong) ’77 original
  • Bob Marley & the Wailers – Natural Mystic (Ziggy rmx); Exodus 40 (Tuff Gong) 2017 remix

<Exodus – movement of Bob’s people; 2 min. 45 sec>

<Natural Mystic: Original & Ziggy’s rmx; 40 min.>

  • Mikey Ras Starr – Jah Man of Calvary; Fire & Rain (Makasound) 70’s
  • Judy Mowatt – I Am Not Mechanical; Only a Woman (Shanachie) ‘82
  • Willi Williams & Brentford Rockers– Armagideon Version; Version Dread (Studio One/Tuff Gong) ’82 Studio One Dub Album of the Hour
Bob ’77 & Ziggy 2017 – Version Galore!

Set 7:

  • Rita Marley – A Jah Jah; Who Feels It Knows It (Shanachie) ‘80
  • Dillinger – Crabs in My Pants; Cocaine (Charly) ’83 JA disco
  • Tena Stelin – Intelligent Design; 10” (Dub Corner) 2007 UK mutant dub

<Putting the “fun” in Rasta fundamentalism – Tena Stelin, conspiracy theorist/UFOlogist; 40 sec.>

Tena Stelin – Putting the “fun” in Rasta Fundamentalism, UFOlogy and conspiracy theories

Set 8:

  • Thievery Corporation feat. Lou Lou – Time and Space; Temple of I & I (ESL) 2017 DC dubbers w/ female vox: Mutant Dub Set
  • Creation Rebel/New Age Steppers – Chemical Specialist (Cherry Red/ON U Sound) ’81 dub to Jah Woosh
  •  “Woodpecker Sound”
  • Jeb Loy & the Oil Wells – Things that Made the U.S.; Wild Paarty Sounds vol. 1 (Cherry Red/ON U Sound) ’81 UK
  • David Holmes feat. Sarah Cracknell – Gone (Kruder & Dofrmeister Session TM); This Films Crap Let’s Slash the Seats (1500) ‘98

Words of Wisdom:

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: July 22, 2017 (Stream + Tracklist): Happy Birthday Haile Selassie I

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This poster guides and protects over the Smile Jamaica Secret Dubratory

<Inna my house, there’s a picture on the wall – Rastafari sit upon his throne – Happy Birthday Negusa Negast!; 10 sec.>

Greetings,

Rastafari Reggae. Don’t say Rastafarian. That is an ism and schism. Without His Imperial Majesty, Reggae would be reduced to AM pop hits, lovers rock and island novelty kitsch.

Tributes to the Head Creator (Ras Tafari in Amharic, the language of Ethiopia). That is what attracted me to Reggae around 1986. It still is what moves me today, pumping Reggae Radio 29 years later.

These songs are platonic love songs to a man revered for his commitment to Christianity, (as head of the Ethiopian Church), Africa (fought against Euro-colonialism) and poor Jamaicans alienated from a white Jesus.

His epithets:

  • Jahovia
  • Ras Tafari
  • Power of the Trinity (Haile Selassie in Amharic)
  • Negusa Negast (King of Kings, Amharic) and the Lord of Lords
  • Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah; 6 sec.
  • Elect of God/Everliving God
  • Earth’s Rightful Ruler
  • Kibir la Amlak – Glory to Jah

The downtrodden in Jamaicas: the poor farmers and ghetto dwellers alike tended to be very religious. The only book they might have ever read was The Bible.

Jamaicans knew that Selassie was, like Jesus Christ, descended from the House of David. Black nationalist Marcus Garvey predicted, “Look to the East for a black man will be crowned. Thus signals the return of blacks from the New World back to Africa.

<to the Rastas: Jess-us not Jeezus; 24 sec.>

The Rastafari movement was born: 40 sec.

Jamaican leader Marcus Garvey foretold Selassie’s kingdom

Sing praises unto Jah

bless, robt

Smile Jamaica Annotated Playlist: July 22, 2017 – Selassie I Birthday Special; 64 sec.

Set 1:

  • Bob Marley & the Wailers – Jah Live; 7” (Tuff Gong) ’75

<Jah Live – you can’t kill God; 24 sec.>

  • Chalawa – Natural Mystic Dub; Exodus Dub (Micron) ’77 Can. Vinyl – (Marley) Dub Album of the Hour
  • Naturalites – Picture On the Wall; Rub a Dubble vol. 1 (CSA) ‘88

<Picture on the Wall: From SLC to So Cal to world wide; 67 sec.>

  • Althea & Donna – If You Don’t Love Jah; Uptown Top Ranking (Virgin Front Line) ‘78
  • Black Uhuru – I Love King Selassie; Tear It Up: Live (Mango) ’82 London
  • Cornell Campbell – Jah Jah Man; 10” (Irie Ites) 2012 Fr.
the Lion of Judah shall break every chain. And give I ‘n’ I the victory again and again

Set 2:

  • Culture – Calling Rastafari – Two Sevens Clash (Shanachie) ‘77
  • Sister Carol –Conquering Lion + Mi Love the Father; Direct Hit (Catapult) 2001
  • Errol Dunkley – Created by the Father; Darling Ooh (Attack) ‘73
  • Judah Eskender Tafari – Rastafari Tell You; Rastafari Tell You (Gussie P) ‘95

Set 3:

  • Don Carlos – Just a Passing Glance + DJ version; Just a Passing Glance (RAS) ‘84
  • Peter Broggs – Rastafari Liveth; Rastafari Liveth! (RAS) ‘82
  • Silvertones – When Knotty Came; Clocktoer Classics (Clocktower/Abraham) 70’s
  • Jennifer Lara – Jah Will Lead Us Home (Kingston Connexion) ‘79
Many Rastas emulate this hand gesture on Reggae album covers

Set 4:

  • Rita Marley – Thank You Jah; Who Feels It Knows It (Shanachie) ‘80
  • Peter Tosh – Jah Say No; Mystic Man (EMI America) ’79
  • Ijahman Levi – Jah Is No Secret; Haile I Hymn (Mango) ’78 Steve Winwood on organ
  • Roots Radics – Death of Mr. Spock;  Scientist & Jammy Strike Back (Trojan) ‘82 Dub Album of the Hour

Set 5: Vinyl Is Vital

  • Prince Lincoln & the Royal Rasses – People Love Jah Music; Natural Wild (United Artists) ’80 UK Joe Jackson prod’n
  • Clint Eastwood – It Wasn’t Rasta; Love & Happiness (Burning Sounds) ’79 UK
  • Meditations – Rastaman Prayer; Message From the Meditations (United Artists) ’76 UK Lee Perry mix
  • African Princess – Jah Children Cry; Hits From the House of Shaka (Jah Shaka) ’85 UK

Set 6:

  • Bob Marley & the Wailers – Selassie Is the Chapel; Rebel (JAD) ‘ 68 gospel cover of the Orioles – Crying in the Chapel
  • Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers – Get Up Jah Jah Children; Hey World! (EMI America) ‘86
  • Burning Spear – Jah Is My Driver;  Farover (Heartbeat) ‘83
  • Sinead O’Connor – Jah No Dead; Throw Down Your Arms (That’s Why There’s Chocolate & Vanilla) 2005 Burning Spear cover

<Jah no dead! 30 sec.>

Set 7:

  • Judy Mowatt – King of Kings; Only a Woman (Shanachie) ‘82
  • Aswad – In My Father’s House; Rebel Souls (Mango) ‘84
  • Aisha – The Creator; High Priestess (Ariwa) ‘88

Set 8: Mutant Dub

  • African Head Charge – Rasta Don’t Fear;  In Charge: Live in Japan (Beat) 2005 UK 
  • Alpha & Omega – Rasta Woman; King & Queen (Alpha & Omega) ’89 UK trance dub w/ female vox
  • Singers & Players – Dungeon/Merchant Ship/Jah Army Band; Revenge of the Underdog (ON U Sound) ’82 UK
  • Dan-I & King Kietu – Hail Rastafari; Rastafari Judgement Fire (Imperial Roots)  2009 Italian
  • Steve Harper – Jah Jah Never Fail I; Time Will Tell (BSI) 2001 Portland

 

Words of Wisdom:

Smile Jamaica Digital Dubplate (Stream + Tracklist): Best of 29 Years of Reggae Radio!

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Greetings,

July 2, 1988 was when I ‘n’ I debuted at 3AM on a hot summer night late Sunday/early Monday on radio station KRCL. The name of the show was 3 o’clock Roadblock named after the Bob Marley song.

That started a 3 decade journey of 29 years of Reggae Radio. After a year or so I moved from early morning graveyard shift to the big show: Smile Jamaica. 

Saturdays 1-4 PM in 1989-1990 and then moved back to 4pm. Planted my flag and never left.

If I figure I average about 45 shows a year (with time away for cratedigging on the weekends). That amounts to 1305 + shows. Almost 4000 hours of Reggae.

I celebrated with all vinyl a couple weeks back. Took last Saturday off and cooked up a CD best of 29 years in my Secret Dubratory.

Thanks for the musical memories!

bless, robt

If I remember correctly: Black Uhuru’s What Is Life was the first song I played on Reggae Radio: 3AM July 2, 1088

0-30 min.

  • Naturalites – Picture on the Wall; Rub a Dubble vol. 2 (CSA) ’88 UK
  • Rita Marley – Beauty of God’s Plan; Who Feels It Knows It (Shanachie) ‘80
  • Bob Marley & the Wailers – Brainwashing; African Herbsman (Trojan)  ’71 nursery rhyme
  • Peter Tosh – Recruiting Soldiers; Mystic Man (EMI America) ‘79
  • Bunny Wailer – Cool & Deadly; Marketplace (Shanachie) ‘85
  • Marcia Griffiths – Where Were You; Steppin’ (Shanachie) ‘79
  • Aswad – Bubblin; To the Top (Simba) ’86 UK
  • Benjamin Zephaniah – Dis Policeman Keeps on Kickin’ Me to Death; Rasta (Workers Playtime) ’83 UK dub poet 
“Inna my house, there’s a picture on the wall. Rastafari sit upon his throne.”

30-60 min.

  • Bim Sherman – Lamb of Judah + Judah Dub; Bim Sherman Meets Horace Andy & U Black in a Rub a Dub Style (Original) ‘79
  • Cedella Marley Booker – He’s a Rastaman; Awake Zion (Rykodisc) ’84 Bob’s Mom tribute to Bob
  • Bingy Bunny & the Morwells – Bit by Bit; Kingston 12 Toughie (RAS) ‘74
  • Black Roots – Pin in the Ocean; All Day All Night (Nubian) ’87 UK
  • Black Slate – Reggae Music; Amigo (Ensign) ’80 UK
  • Jean Binta Breeze – Time Gawn + Arising; Tracks (LKJ) ’90 UK female dub poet
  • Black Uhuru – Eye Market; Chill Out (Mango)  ’82 

60 min – 90 min

  • Burning Spear – Fittest of the Fittest (Heartbeat) ’83
  • Capital Letters – Fire; Headline News (Greensleeves) ’79 UK youth group
  • Judy Mowatt – Rock Me; Love Is Overdue (Shanachie) ’86
  • Creation Rebel – Chatti Chatti Mouth; Psychotic Jonkanoo (Statik/ON U Sound) ’81  Mutant Dub
  • Cymande – Brothers on the Side; Cymane (Sequel) ’74 Cymande = dove of peace. UK crossover group
  • Jay Boys – African People; Babylon a Fall Down (Trojan)  ’72 Paul Revere and the Raiders cover – Indian Reservation  cover
  • Love Joys – One Draw; Lovers Rock (Wackies)  ’83 female duo on Rita Marley herbtune 
Cymande – Dove of Peace: UK diaspora of rock, soul, reggae, jazz

90 min. – 2 hr.

  • David Lindley – Quarter of a Man; El Rayo-X (Elektra)
  • Dennis Brown – So Jah Say; Words of Wisdom (Shanachie) ‘79
  • Max Romeo – Uptown Babies Don’t Cry; War ina Babylon (Mango) ‘76
  • Martha Velez & the Wailers – Bend Down Low (Sire) ’76 Bob Marley cover/production
  • Dillinger – Mickey Mouse Crab Louse; Cocaine (Charly) ’83 rude
  • Don Carlos – Jah Jah Hear My Plea; Prophecy (Blue Moon) ’84 
Saw David Lindley at the Zephyr (SLC) Summer ’87. Bought this album the next day

2 – 2 and 1/2 hr.

  • Garland Jeffreys feat. Linton Kwesi Johnson & Dennis Bovell – Miami Beach;  Escape Artist (Epic) ’81 single
  • Patti Smith – Redondo Beach; Horses (Arista) ‘75
  • Gideon Jah Rubbaal – Natty Dreadlocks a Superstar; Free Us Now (Jah Rubbaal) ‘77
  • Gregory Isaacs – Sad to Know (You’re Leaving); Night Nurse (Mango) ‘82
  • Hot Chocolate – Confetti Day; Every 1’s a Winner (Infinity) ’78 UK soul does reggae
  • Phyllis Dillon – Midnight Confession; Midnight Confession (Treasure Isle) ’68 Grass Roots cover
  • Ijahman Levi – Jah Heavy Load; Haile I Hymn (Mango) ’78
Got this album for Christmas 1978. Thanks Mom!

2 and 1/2 – 3 hr.

  • Ini Kamoze – Trouble You, Trouble Me; Mini LP (Island) ‘84
  • Jacob Miller – A Chapter a Day; Mixed Up Moods (Top Ranking) ‘80
  • Sister Carol – Wild Thing; Something Wild Soundtrack (MCA) ’86 Troggs re-work
  • Jah Wobble – Dreadlock Don’t Deal in Wedlock; The Legend Lives On (Virgin) ‘80
  • Johnny Clarke – Crazy Baldheads + Academy Award Version; Authorized Version (Virgin Front Line) ’76 Bob Marley cover
  • Keith Hudson – Musicology; Rasta Communication (Greensleeves) ‘79
  • UB40 feat. Sister V – V’s Version; Baggariddim (DEP) ’85 update of group’s Version Girl

 

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: June 24, 2017 (Stream + Tracklist): Livicated to Ronald Wilson Reagan!

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President Raygun regrets funding the Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives through the Student Loan Program

<Livicated to Ronald Reagan; 10 sec.>

Greetings,

The Rastas called him:

  • Ronald
  • Wilson
  • Reagan – 666

I pay tribute to his legacy in funding the Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives through the 80’s student loan program. 30 years ago it was more Pell Grants than 9% Loans.

So I would take the check, put in a savings account and once in the summer and usually once during the Holidays, I would travel to the Bay Area and descend upon the plentiful record stores from Reno to San Jose.

So it is hard not be nostalgic after I have been moving into my 400+ square foot Ark-Ive: 31 sec.

From the Garage:

To the Ark-Ive:

Spent 2k on CD towers to empty out the cardboard boxes and onto shelving. Every Saturday before Smile Jamaica since New Year’s I have prepared for this move.

Now that I am inside the house, I have to make sensi of the entropy. A journey of a thousand miles begins with unloading a single box.

A luta continua – The struggle continues

bless, robt

He did alright for I ‘n’ I

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: June 24, 2017: Annotated Playlist: 40 sec.

Set 1:

  • Jimmy Riley – Summertime; 12” (DEB) ’76 Porgy & Bess cover
  • Hi Tech Roots Dynamics – M.S.G.; New York Dub (Channel One UK) ’96 UK Vinyl Dub Album of the Hour
  • Aswad – African Children (Part 2); Not Satisfied (Columbia/Legacy) ’82 UK ballad
  • Dennis Brown – Should I; Money in My Pocket (Shanachie) ‘79
  • Gracy & the Herbman Band – Time is the Master; See Me Yah (Funfundvierzig) ’91 Germ. female
  • Capital Letters – Smoking My Ganja 12” Mix; Headline News (Greensleeves) ’79 UK youth group: 4:20 Cannabis Service Announcement
“Summertime and the living is easy”

Set 2:

  • Thievery Corporation feat. Notch – True Sons of Zion; Temple of I & I (ESL) 2017 DC dubbers
  • Bunny Wailer – Dance Ha Ti Gwan; Dance Massive (Shanachie) ‘92

<grumpy roots guy does dancehall; 25 sec.>

  • The Equators – Feelin’ High; Hot (Stiff) ’81 UK ska herbtune
  • Christine Adelsi – Life; 10” (King Earthquake) 2012 UK militant steppers
Feelin’ High!

Set 3: Best of Smile Jamaica 27+ Years

  • Black Uhuru – Journey; Red (Mango) ’81
  • Jean Binta Breeze – A Simple Thing + A Song to Heal; Tracks (LKJ) ’91 UK dub poet female
  • Benjamin Zephaniah – Rasta; Rasta (Workers Playtime) ’83: UK dub poet male
  • Peter Tosh – Legalize It; Legalize It (Columbia) ‘76
  • Peter Tosh – Legalize It Version; Honorary Citizen (Columbia/Legacy) ’76 box set

<Jawara Tosh beaten into coma in jail; 64 sec.>

Like father, like son: Them Ha Fe Get a Beatin’

Set 4:

  • I Roy and Lee Perry  – Space Flight; Chapter Two of Words (Trojan) UFOria

<Roswell inna Rub a Dub Stylee; 57 sec.>

  • Bob Marley & the Wailers – Jammin’; 12” (Tuff Gong) ’77 alternate extended mix
  • Lee Perry – Noah Sugar Pan; Upsetter Shop v.2 (Heartbeat) Dub ’77 Album of the Hour

<Captain Lee “Scratch” Perry driving the Space Shuttle? WTF?; 18 sec.>

Set 5: Vinyl is Vital

  • Sister Carol – Murdee & Stylee; Black Cinderella (Jah Life) ’84 Brooklyn
  • Prince Far I – Deck of Life; Jamaican Heroes (Trojan) ’80 UK deejay
  • Barrington Levy & Jah Thomas? – Collie Weed; Hunter Man (Burning Sounds) ’83 UK herbtune
  • Gregory Isaacs – Musical Revenge; Reggae It’s Fresh (Tad’s) ’88 NY
  • Junior Brown – Warriors; Hits From the House of Shaka (Jah Shaka) ’85 UK

Set 6:

  • 10cc – Dreadlock Holiday; Snatch Soundtrack (Maverick) ’76 rockers do reggae
  • Trevor Hartley – Smoke and Chill; Hartley (Jove) ’94 herb tune
  • Fabiane Miranda – Prophecy; 12 the Hard Way (Tribesman) ’77 female
  • Paul Blake & the Bloodifre Posse – Get Flat; Reggae Dance Party (RAS) ’87 dance number

<Jamaican dance = Get Flat; 40 sec.>

Set 7:

  • Jah Pecker & the Wailers – Jammin’; 21st Century Dub (ROIR) ’87 Jah-ponese cover of Bob Marley

<From Jah-pon: Jah Pecker & the Wailers>

  • Sister Beverley – Rasta Woman; 12” (RAMA) ’76 UK

Set 8: Mutant Dub

  • Ikonika – Sahara Michael; contact, love, want, have (Hyperdub) 2010 UK Sara Abdel Hamid
  • Herbaliser – Worldwide Connected; Something Wicked This Way Comes (Ninja Tune) 2002 UK
  • Massive Attack – Safe From Harm; Blue Lines (Virgin) ’91 UK feat. Shara Nelson
  • Audio Active – Psycho Buds (Game Mix/Asian Dub Foundation); CD Single (Birdman) ’99 Jah-pon
Dubstep Dawta – Ikonika

 

 

 

 

 

 

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: June 10, 2017 (Stream + Tracklist) Roswell 70th Anniversary Preview!

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Giorgio Tsoukalos – The Bob Marley of Ancient Aliens, Friday Nights

<Roswell alien autopsy. My brother in law talked to a guy who knew the coroner who provided the coffins for the alien crash victims; 57 sec.>

Dateline: Roswell, New Mexico – July 4, 1947. In a small farming community a UFO crashed. Called a Flying Saucer.

Of course, the military claimed otherwise: It was a weather balloon. Fake News before its time.

My brother in law sells high tech pipe in New Mexico. One a sales call in Roswell he was told:

The coroner was asked by the Military to provide 3 child size coffins. You don’t need coffins for a weather balloon.

Smile Jamaica’s preview to our second annual UFOria 3 hour special coming up : July 8th – the 70th Anniversary of the crash.

Look to the skies and do not scoff!

bless, robt

Smile Jamaica Playlist: June 10, 2017: soundbytes, photos, captions and Reggae History Lessons; 62 sec.

62 sec.

Set 1:

  • Barrington Levy & Jah Thomas – Sweet Reggae Music; Hunter Man (Burning Sounds) ’83 UK vinyl
  • King Tubby & Friends – Blackman’s Dub; Dub Album of the Hour
  • Misty in Roots – Peace & Love; Chronicles (Kaz’s) ’94 UK best of
  • Marcia Griffiths – Dreamland; Naturally (Shanachie) ’78 Bunny Wailer cover
  • Black Uhuru – Great Train Robbery; Reggae Dance Party (RAS) ’86 comp. Junior Reid on the vox
  • The Tamlins – Irie Collie; 10” (Irie Ites) 2012 Fr. 4:20 Cannabis Service Announcement

Set 2: Wailers Family Tree

<Exodus Riddim Shower; 43 sec.>

  • Bob Marley & the Wailers – One Love/People Get Ready; Exodus (Tuff Gong) ’77: riddim shower (1): vox
  • I Roy – Commandment V (One Love/People Get Ready); Ten Commandments (Virgin) riddim shower (2): dj ’80 UK vinyl: yellow picture sleeve
  • Chalawa – One Love/People Get Ready Dub; Exodus Dub (Micron) riddim shower (3): dub ’77 Can.
  • Bunny Wailer – Don Dadda; Dance Massive (Shanachie) ‘92

<Bunny schools the Young Turks; 29 sec.>

Set 3: Best of Smile Jamaica 27+ Years

  • Martha Velez – Bend Down Low; Escape From Babylon (Sire) ’76: Bob Marley cover; Bob produced, Lee Perry mixed, Wailers on the riddims

<Broadway singer covers Bob without having to sleep with him; 32 sec.>

  • Cultural Roots – Worries Me a Yard; Running Back to Me (Mango) ‘88
  • Jimmy Cliff – Dear Mother; Follow My Mind (Wounded Bird) ’75 Joe Higgs cover
  • Don Carlos – Working Everyday; Prophecy (Blue Moon) ‘84
  • Aston Family Barrett – Cobra Style Dub; Familyman in Dub (Heartbeat) Dub Album of the Hour

Set 4:

  • Collie Buddz – Come Around; Come Around (Sony) 2007 dubstep/dancehall herbtune
  • Devon Russell – We Are Darker Than Blue; Classic Reggae Hits (Time Music) ’91 Curtis Mayfield cover
  • Nicky Thomas – Let It Be; 70’s Hits Reggae Style (Castle) ’70 Beatles cover
  • Dave Barker – Sunshine Rock; Chapter 2 of Words (Trojan) ‘70
  • Super Chick – Me a Champion; 10” (Hitbound) ‘81

Set 5: Roots Dawta vinyl

  • Jennifer Lara – Hand to Mouth; High Times All Star Explosion (Alligator) ’85 Chicago label
  • Imo & the Soul Syndicate – Past History; Past History (Yah Way) ’86 Mill Valley, CA
  • Rasta Generation Band feat. Miss Mack – Cracking Up; Stand By Jah (Black Spade) ’90 San Francisco
  • Sista Ruby – Making of a Supa Dupa; Woman DJ (Keyman) ’99 UK
  • Aisha – Daughters of Zion; Daughters of Zion (Twinkle) ’93 UK

Set 6:

  • Peter Tosh – Bumba Klaat; Honorary Citizen (Columbia/Legacy) rare live take

<Bumbaklaat – the Jamaican curse word: 1 min. 42 sec.>

<Peter fights the duppy trying to kill him BUMBAKLAAAT; 32 sec.!>

  • Peter Broggs – Jah Is Mighty; Rejoice (RAS) ’97 Bob Marley cover
  • Dillinger – Marijuana in My Brain; Cocaine (Charly) ’83 herbtune
  • Sister Africka – Wish I Well; 10” (Dub Jockey) ’93 UK
  • Jah Pelikaho – Mystic Cosmic Vibration; 21st Century Dub (ROIR) ’87 dub album of the hour: Jah-ponese dubbers w/ the Wailers

Set 7: UFO-ria set: 1 min.

  • Simaryp – Skinhead Moonstomp; Skinhead Moonstomp (Trojan) ’70 UK ska
  • Pink Floyd – Interstellar Overdub; Relics (Harvest) ’71 best of

<Pink Floyd on Smile Jamaica? WTF?>

  • Lee “Scratch” Perry – Angel Gabriel & the Space Boots; Lord God Muzick (Heartbeat) ‘91
  • SoKo – I Thought I Was an Alien; I Thought I Was An Alien (Because Music) 2012 Fr. Female singer
Before it was called fake news. This crash was explained away as swamp gas and a weather balloon.

Set 8: Mutant Dub

  • Laraaji and Audio Active – Space Visitors for Tea – That Lump on Your Head (Gyroscope) ’95: Jah-ponese dubbers
  • Alpha & Omega – The Vibration; King & Queen (A & O) ’89 UK trance dub
  • Dubadelic – Operation Duppy Conqueror 2000 (Special Tactics); 2000 – a Bass Odyssey (WordSound) ’96 illbient
  • Thievery Corporation feat. Mr. Lif – Fight to Survive; Temple of I & I Sound (ESL) 2017 DC