I have been doing Roots Reggae Radio for about 27 years now. Thousands of hours and most of it is devoted to Heavy Roots
<Smile Jamaica – The King’s Music, Jamaican Blues>
Smile Jamaica’s prevailing themes for 25+ Years:
socialism (small s) – Reggae the music of the community. The music of the Underdog. Universality for sure-ty. No isms and schisms!
Rastafari – I am myself not a Rasta but consider myself a Rasta empathizer who acts as a missionary for Jah’s Gospel and let you decide. It’s good enough just to enjoy the inspiration of the lyrics along with the groove of the Beat.
Politrix and politics – I did political interviews for 9 years as The Angry Liberal. Reggae music was talking about what Occupy Wall Street championed 40 years before the Greenspan Recession. Reggae music totally influenced my personal politics of peace and love to all. No war, no racism, no sexism, no exploitation
The one music sub genre I play somewhat sparingly is Lover’s Rock.Romantic Reggae. I will play romantic tunes if it has a hard riddim. But lyrically that’s never been a big motivator.
Every Saturday I bring down about 200 pieces of music. I get to play about 33 per week (Natch!) The gems I pull out of the crate tend to be Orthodox Roots and earsplitting Dubwize.
<At the Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: I put the Fun in Roots Fundamentalism>
Not much of this for 25+ years of Smile Jamaica……but a whole lot of this. “Screwface know a who fi frighten”. Bob Marley
Don’t kid yourself. There is plenty of great Lover’s Rock in the Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives. I played the best of it for 3 Hours – Lover’s Rock Showcase.
<Smile Jamaica: Happy Valentine’s Day; 20 sec.>
Smile Jamaica Annotated Playlist: Jah-bruary 14, 2015: Happy Valentine’s Day; 33 and 1/3 sec.
Set 1:
Melodians – Passion Love; Irie Feeling (RAS) ’83 DC Vinyl
Black Slate Meets Soul Syndicate – Moodie in Dub (Moodie) ’78 Dub Album of the Week
The Dynamics – Whole Lotta Love; Version Excursion (Groove Attack) 2007; Led Zeppelin cover feat. Female vox
Aswad – Star of My Show; To the Top (Simba) ’86 UK; Aswad means “black” in Arabic, Amharic
<Out of thousands, one of the first 10 Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives – Aswad “To the Top”; 22 sec.>
Lacksley Castell – Princess Lady; Princess Lady (Negus Roots) ’83 youth voiced singer
<Reggae History Lesson: Only the Good die Young – Lacksley Castell; 24 sec.>
Maxine Miller – How Many Times; Showcase (Wackie’s) ’80 Brooklyn vinyl; Bob Marley cover
Johnny Clarke – No Woman No Cry; Jah Live (Music Club); Marley covers CD
Probably within the first 10 disks added to the Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives 1986; Tower Records, Las Vegas
Set 2:
Prince + Princess Buster – Ten Commandments of Man to Woman; Woman to Man; Sings His Hit Song Ten Commandments (RCA) ‘67
<Answer Record: Lover’s Quarrel? 19 sec.>
Dennis Brown – If I Had the World; Complete A & M Years (A & M)
<Crown Prince of Reggae: Dennis Brown; 29 sec.>
Dillinger – Take Care of Your Wife; King Pharaoh (Blue Moon) ’84 UK vinyl over Melody Life
<Dillinger’s Marital advice: Don’t stab your wife with a knife! 19 sec.>
Prince Buster invented talkover sound. Shared a label with Elvis
I don’t want no ice cream love, That’s too cold for me, little girl. I don’t want no ice cream love, girl can’t you see?
I want a love that’s warmer than the summer sunshine, I want a love that’s as warm as mine, Because my love, is warmer than a chocolate fudge. Because my love, is warmer than a chocolate fudge.
And that is why, I don’t want no ice cream love, It is too cold for me, girl. I don’t want no ice cream love, it is too cold, can’t you see, little girl? I don’t want no ice cream love, It’s too cold for me.
Love in the winter, Should be warmer than the summer sun.. But if you’re giving me a ice cream love, little girl, that’s no fun, And that is why I say, Because my love, is warmer than a chocolate fudge. I say, my love, is warmer than a chocolate fudge.
No-no-no, ice cream love, too cold for me. No-no-no, ice cream love at all. No-no-no-no.. ice cream love, It’s too cold for me..
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
Bob Marley & the Wailers – Redemption Song; 12” (Tuff Gong) full band version; not acoustic
<Rare band mix of Redemption Song; 25 sec.>
Redemption Song: acoustic to end Bob’s last LP “Uprising”. Band version on Black Wax 12″. Emancipate yourself from mental slavery
Set 8:
Alpha & Omega – Freedom Fighters; Sound System Dub (ROIR) ’95 Best of UK trance dubbers
Lee “Scratch” Perry – Exodus; On the Wire (Trojan) 2000
Bunny Wailer – Stay With the Reggae; Marketplace (Shanachie) ‘85
Bob Marley & the Wailers – War/ No more Trouble; 12” (Island) ’78 from live Babylon By Bus
<Bob Marley’s “War” derived from HIM Haile Selassie’s speech at the United Nations>
The I Threes – He’s a Legend; Beginning (EMI America) ’86 US vinyl
From the Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives. HIM: Until the philosophy which hold one race superior and another Inferior Is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned – Everywhere is war – Just Say No to Iraq 3.0
If you made it this far, thanks for listening to Bobstock on Smile Jamaica
To celebrate Bobstock or Bob Stalk as in Stalk of Sensi!, I am putting in some clips of readings from Smile Jamaica of Bob’s lyrical wisdom from the little book 56 Thoughts From 56 Hope Road
Each week I read a Thought on Smile Jamaica
Thanksgiving 2012 I picked up a blood infection while cratedigging in Las Vegas. What happens in Vegas I first noticed in St. George.:“That’s weird, I’ll just dump some Neosporin on it on my way to the Record shop.”
I found this little book at Zia’s Records in town. No crate was left un-dug as I was starting to fade. Watching a Family Guy marathon in my Hotel Room on Thanksgiving Day was pretty much one rung above comaville for I ‘n’ I.
Barely made it back to SLC and went straight into the Hospital for 5 days.
You’re never really prepared to go into Intensive Care, but I had slipped that little book into my bag. Five days with nothing but tubes sticking out of you. I had that book to distract me from my stupidity and mortality.
So now I read a passage every week on Smile Jamaica to celebrate Bob’s wisdom and guidance. Selah!
Enjoy the Best of the Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives Bob Marley Tributes
bless, robt
WWBMD? What Would Bob Marley Do? Light a candle for his 70th birthday!
Tracklist for Online Only Marley Tribute
30 min.:
<56 Thoughts From 56 Hope Road; No. 24; 13 sec.>
Cedella Marley Booker – He’s a Rastaman; Awake Zion (Rykodisc) ’84; Bob’s mom
Culture – Psalm of Bob Marley + Dub; Good Things (RAS) ‘89
Stevie Wonder – Master Blaster (Jammin’); Hotter Than July (Motown) ‘81
Sister Carol – Dedicated to Bob Marley; Black Cinderella (Jah Life) ‘84
The Melody Makers – Lyin’ in Bed; Time Has Come (EMI) ’88 Best of (30 min.)
1 hour:
<56 Thoughts From 56 Hope Road: No. 25; 38 sec.>
Mikey Dread – In Memory (Jacob, Marcus, Marley)(S.W.A.L.K.) (Heartbeat) ‘82
Alpha & Omega – Freedom Fighters; Sound System Dub (ROIR) ’95 Best of; UK trance dubbers
Prince Far I – Tribute to Bob Marley; Voice of Thunder (Trojan) ‘81
Bunny Wailer – Stay With the Reggae; Marketplace (Shanachie) ‘85
Lui Lepkie – Tribute to Bob Marley; Late Night Movie (Joe Gibbs) ‘81
Everton Blender – Bob Marley/World Corruption; Live at the White River Reggae Bash (Heartbeat) ‘99
Abyssinians – Jah Marley; Last Days (Tabou1) ‘98
Big Youth – Hit the Road Jack (Tribute to Bob, Peter, Bunny); Jamming in the House of Dread (ROIR/Danceteria) Live at Reggae Japansplash; Osaka, Jah-pon 8/30/90
Twin heroes of the Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives
<56 Thoughts From 56 Hope Road. No. 35; 43 sec.>
2 hr. 20 min:
Randeesh – Bob Marley Is a River of Love; Courage (Mountain Lion) 2004
Isaac Haile Selassie – Dear Bob (Tribute to Bob Marley); CD Single (Resin Music) ‘99
Joel Zoss – Bob Marley International; Back to the Island (Rounder) 2001
Dennis Alcapone – Natty Bid Goodbye; Good Old Days (Teams)
Bunny Wailer – Final Statement; Hall of Fame (RAS/Solomonic) ‘95
Looking back on 28 plus years of seeking and collecting Reggae and Dub has led to 25 plus years of playing that harvest every Saturday afternoon on Smile Jamaica!
Especially now that Vinyl has made a roaring comeback from its decline* during the late 80’s and 90’s. I never gave up on it for one minute. And now that the Digital Music era is in ascendance, Vinyl as “artifact” has never been more important. And that is why I ‘n’ I don’t play Digital. Drop the needle pon de Record!
*Vinyl is the only music source growing in sales. CD’s are in a coma. Even Digital is flat because of the Great Recession.
<Paying Tribute to Vinyl: 25+ years worth on Smile Jamaica. Class of ’89; 12 sec.>
Operator! What’s the number for 9-1-1? I need more vinyl for my sock hop!
<Celebrating 25 Years with 3 hours of All Vinyl!; 44 sec.>
HIgh-Lights to listen for:
Seven Leaf – 4 down, 46 to go!
<4 down, 46 to go!>
Bob-ruary Tribute: Jah-bruary or Urb-ruary is Bob Marley month on Smile Jamaica
Roots Dawtas: singer, harmony, deejay dub poetess
Disco Mix: Dubstep, Mutant Dub, 10″, 12″, picture sleeves, red Vinyl, herbtune
7″ Jamaican Jukebox
Mutant Dub: Tosh rmx herbtune, Hindi-dubbers, African crossover,
Enjoy a Vinyl-icious 3 hours of Roots ‘n’ Dubwize!
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
Blessing to MLK: When he moved from Civil Rights to Anti-War and Pro Worker Rights, “They” took him out
Greetings,
Livicated* to MLK and his fight for human rights
*livicate – never dead/dedicate
<MLK>
Heinous!
<Smile Jamaica Approved: Green Bay Packers; 36 sec.>
WTF? Heinous. Just heinous. The Green Bud Bowl Packers peed a sure victory down their leg to a guy (QB Wilson) who probably doesn’t go for 4 down, 46 to go.
I must have had two dozen text messages from people. Ran the gamut from condolences to ha ha.
There weren’t any tears at the Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives
Not a fan
The mood at the Ark-Ives was more like this:
Green Bay? WTF!
Forward ever, backwards never
bless,robt
The High-lights of Jah-nuary 17, 2015: Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives; 45 sec.
Great late 80’s offering from Bunny. Smile Jamaica Approved
Set 3: Best of Smile Jamaica 25 Years
Gregory Isaacs – One More Time; Cool Ruler (Virgin Front Line) ’78
The Selecter – Out on the Streets; Too Much Pressure (Chrysalis) ’80 2 Tone UK ska feat. Pauline Black on vox
Aswad – Pull Up; To the Top (Simba) ‘87
<Aswad one of the first 20 additions to the Smile Jamaica Ark-Ive; 23 sec.>
Mighty Diamonds – Babylon is Dangerous; The Real Enemy (Rohit) ‘87
Las Vegas Tower Records; May ’88. One of my earliest adds to the Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives
Set 4:
<Wailers – Live at Leeds; Just Bob & Peter; 23 sec.>
The Wailers – You Can’t Blame the Youth; Burnin’ (Deluxe Edition) (Tuff Gong) 11/23/73; Live at Leeds in UK; 20 sec.
Zema – Give a Little Love; Look at the Heart (Melchizedek) ’99 Los Jah-ngeles, Colly-fornya female singer
Sylford Walker & Welton Irie – Lambsbread + Lambsbread International (South East Music) ’79 J’can flavor of herb
Herb inflation since 1979: 1200%
<1979, Jamaica: Qtr pound of ishense: 1 dollar 5 cents; 20 sec..>
Set 5: Vinyl is V-Ital!
Bim Sherman – Got to Get On; Haunting Ground (Revolver) ’86 UK: cover of Keith & Tex “Stop that Train”
Charlie Chaplin – Jamaican Collie; Chaplin Chant (Tamoki Wambesi); UK herbtune
Azeem – God is Watching; Dreadfly (Joe Gibbs) ’82 Miami
Mother Liza – Bore Nose Possie; Chant Down Babylon (Gorgon) JA female deejay
favorite singer in the Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives
Set 6:
Peter Tosh – Fools Die (Wisdom); Talking Revolution (Pressure Sounds); acoustic at WXFM Jah-cago, Ill.
<Tosh rarity for sure-ty>
Sarah B Band – Let You Win; Realign Your Mind (Sarah B Band); local SLC reggae
Barry Issacs – Mission Against Herbs; 10” (Reggae on Top) militant steppers herbtune
Collection of rare Tosh performances. Tracking this each Ark-Ive Edition this winter and spring. Selah!
Set 7: Jamaican Jukebox: 7″ 45’s
Benjamin Zephaniah – Now Not Now; Dub Ranting (Radical Wallpaper) ’82; UK dub poet. 7″ picture 8 track of dubpoetry
Ilements – Free Up the Herbs; 7” (Irie Ites) 2010
Errol Dunkley – Train to Zion; 7” (Topco) ‘75
Iron Phoenix – Natty Dread Christmas; 7” (Observer)
<Xmas in Jah-nuary; 27 sec.>
Rare gem from the Smile Jamaica Ark-Ive bought at the KUSF (U of San Francisco) Rock ‘n’ Swap. That station is now classical not college music
<KUSF: From best college station in the nation to classical music; 33 sec.>
Set 8: Mutant Dub
Prince Far I & Singers and Players – Water the Garden; Pay It All Back vol. 2 (ON U Sound) ’88; mutant dub set
<Reggae History Lessons: Pay It All Back Sampler Series for ON U Sound label>
Soho – Zombies Walk the Cardboard City; Goddess (Atco) ’90 UK
GT Moore – Secret Love; 12” (Jah Works) 2009 UK
David Holmes – Slashers Revenge; Let’s Get Killed (Go Beat) ‘97
Dr. Israel – Residence Dub; Land of Baboon (Baraka Foundation) ’96
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 