Catch a Fire LP and Harder They Come Soundtrack/Movie lit the fuse on Reggae in the West & World-wide!
<End of June: 27 Years of Reggae Radio! 34 sec.>
<High-lights of the June 13, 2015: Smile Jamaica Arkives; 2 min 18 sec.>
Dub Album of the Week: Black Disciples dubs to Burning Spear’s Marcus Garvey LP
Vinyl Is Vital: All Seven Leaf Black Wax. 4 down, 46 to go!
Jamaican Jukebox: 7″ 45s. Rarest of the Rare!
Best of 25 Years: My Favorites year one of Reggae Radio: 1988-1990
Mutant Dub
Wailers Family Tree: Dubble dose of Stir It Up: JA vs. UK/US mixes. Bunny Wailers dubble dose of Ballroom Floor. Tosh lie at the Jamaica World Music Festiva; 11/27/82 – Montego Bay, JA
Roots Dawtas: Marcia Griffitsh, French Dubstress,
Disco Mix: Don Carlos, French mutant dub
Tosh played at Sunrise
Set 1;
Don Carlos – I Love Jah; 10” (Negus Roots) ’80
Black Disciples – The Ghost; Garvey’s Ghost (Mango) ’76 Dub Album of the Week
African Head Charge – Somebody Touch I; Shashamane Land (ON U Sound) ’93 Africanized Mutant Dub
<Shashamane: Jamaican Rastas in Ethiopia; 24 sec.>
Marcia Griffiths – I’ve Got to Go Back Home; Naturally (Shanachie) ’78 Bob Andy cover
<Zion is My Home: Fort Benton, Montana; 15 sec.>
Pioneers – Feeling High; From the Beginning (Jet Star) ’79; 4:20 Cannabis Service Announcement
<4 down, 46 to go!; 12 sec.>
The Specials – Stereotype Pt. 1 & 2; More Specials (2 Tone) ’80 UK; 2 Tone ska
My Birthplace as well!
Set 2: Best of Smile Jamaica: 25 Years
George Faith – Opportunity; To Be a Lover (Mango) ’77 Lee “Scratch” Perry Black Ark
<Blues Reggae Singer: George Faith; 15 sec.>
Jimmy Riley – From the Ghetto; Clocktower Classics (Clocktower); ’75 Brad Osborne prod’ns
Ernest Wilson – I Know Myself; Channel One Hitbound: The Revolutionary Sound (Heartbeat) ’74 HooKim Bros. prod’n
<HooKim Brothers: Chinese Jamaicans; 23 sec.>
Mad Professor vs. Puls Der Zeit – Abu Dhabi Check; At Checkpoint Charlie (ROIR) ’89 German dubbers
<Cold War II: The Sequels are Never Better Than the Original; 27 sec.>
War in Transnistria begins World War III
Set 3:
Peter Tosh – Stepping Razor; Live at the Jamaica World Music Festival (Peter Tosh Foundation); 11/27/82 Montego Bay, JA
<Christened the Bob Marley Performing Arts Center; 18 sec.>
Taj Weekes & Adowa – Lonesome in Babylon; Hope & Doubt (Alpha Pocket) 2005 St. Lucia; Request
<Adowa: Where the Ethiopians defeated the Italian invaders; 27 sec.>
Version feat. Naima – Jah Jah Love; 10” (Webcam Hi Fi) 2007 Fr.; Mutant dub w/ female vox
Menlik II, HIM Grandfather defeats the Italian invaders at Adowa, Ethiopia
Mutant Dub World Tour: France, Los Jah-ngeles, Jah-pon, UK
<Praise Jah for Daylight Savings: UFO watching soundtrack>
Roots Dawtas: Pacific Islander duo, Soom T from Scotland; Aisha UK; Canadian dub poetess; Los Jah-ngeles, Collie-fornya, French dubstress
Vinyl is Vital …. rhymes with Ital: Canadiandub poetry, herbage, JA harmony trio, JA deejay; Marley tribute
Wailers Family Tree: Bob last live ’80; Peter at the One Love Peace Concert ’78; Bunny Wailer digital ’86; Johnny Clarke covers Bob inna herbal stylee.
Slaying the Drug War with riddim!
Below is the Annotated Playlist: photos, captions, Reggae History Lessons, soundbytes: Jah-vember 1, 2014 Smile Jamaica
Set 1: Vinyl Seven Leaf Election Celebration Set
<4 down, 46 to go!: Smile Jamaica’s Pot Prediction 75% success rate; 85 sec.>
Aisha – His Imperial Majesty; Daughters of Zion (Twinkle) ’93 UK vinyl
Bush Chemists – Raw Raw Dub (ROIR) 2005, Dub Album of the Week; UK mutant dubbers
Azeem & Session – Big Head Spliff; Dreadfly (Joe Gibbs) ’82 FL vinyl: 4:20 Vinyl Set. 4 down, 46 to go!
Hemp, Hemp, Hooray! Seven Leaf on the rise in the USA!
Greetings,
Nov. 3, 2014: Two down, 48 to go!
Hey Democrats? How’s that lesser of two evils strategy working out? Now we all get to work until the age of 70. If we can find work at all…
A pity you donkeys didn’t go with Single Payer. All of this could have been avoided. Coulda, woulda, shoulda
On the other hand:
Very good day for the Marijuana Vote. 3 out of the 4 entities on the ballot won. (Florida needed 60% and got 57%; which is encouraging if they try for outright legalization rather than medical MJ in 2016).
My friends call me Nelstradamus* because my political predictions tend to come true. I predicted Obama would be the guy back when it Hillary and the Seven Dwarfs in 2008. I predicted Ukraine and Cold War II before the Winter Russian Olympics. No I will not pick your lottery numbers!
*Last name is Nelson
Let’s seehow Smile Jamaica did on his Marijuana Picks: 3 out of 4.
<Smile Jamaica On Air Pot Prediction Nov. 1, 2014: #1>
<Smile Jamaica On Air Pot Prediction Nov. 1, 2014: #2>
Nov. 4: 2014:
1. Florida Medical Marijuana vote (Amendment 2); FAILED
However, because of the nature of the vote as a Constitutional Amendment it needed 60%. Sheldon Adelson, Las Vegas casino magnate, bankrolled the “no’s”. Ironically, the elderly, who could benefit the most from the therapeutic usages of the Seven Leaf, broke no. The usual shibboleth of “medical mj is just a scam to get stoned” kept the measure from crossing the barrier.
Not sure what is next, but if they can finesse a statewide, full on legalization referendum that might only need 50% + 1, it could pass handily. Plus 15% (yes minus no) is encouraging for 2016: where higher (ha hah) turnout will bring more groups that sat out the mid terms: blacks, Hispanics, women, millennials and pretty much everyone else sick of Tweedledum vs. Tweedle Dee
Here is what I said the day before the vote regarding Florida:
Florida. Amendment 2. Medical Marijuana. Smile Jamaica says: No Chance. Needs 60% to pass. Peaked at 57% and has been trending further down.
Close but no blunt. Go for the touchdown in 2016: Full Legalization and hope Obama’s lead weight anchor doesn’t kill the turnout. Good prospects in 2 years.
A much better managed campaign as opposed to the failed vote in 2012. It is encouraging that a mid term vote can be so successful, with a ten point spread. Full out Collie-rado/Washington style legalization, taxation and regulation. Treat it just like alcohol. Result exceeded the polls even with core pro pot constituencies highly (no pun) disengaged by this midterm election.
Here is what I wrote prior to the vote:
Jah-regon: Measure 91. Legalization a la Collie-rado and Washington State. Smile Jamaica says: Most likely going to win. Latest polls are encouraging because of the gap between Yes (52%) and No (41%). Could be hurt if disaffected millennials don’t turn up for the midterm vote. Looks promising but not a lock per DC.
Hey Jah-regon. Peter said to Legalize It so I could advertise it! Great job
70% yes; 30% no. Emphatic yes. Now you can legally possess up to 2 ounces of cannabis and grow 3 plants. Will be interesting to see how the Feds try to keep it clamped down. But two thirds approval is hard to tamp down (pun intended) if we are still a citizen democracy.
Washington DC: Not full legalization as in #1 and #2 but you can possess up to 2 ounces of cured bud and be able to grow six plants. Huge YES. Will probably cross over 60% yes. But it’s gonna be a nightmare.
So much of surrounding DC is federal jurisdiction. You don’t want to get busted with a stalk of sensi on Fedland. You’re gonna be under Heavy Manners. Plus in a likely ascendant Republican Congress, DC is going to probably face Congressional roadblocks to any semi-legalimplementation.
Finally living up to its founder’s “sage” advice to separate the male from the female hemp plants. George “Hemp Daddy” Washington.
Jah-laska: Ballot Measure 2. Legalization a la Collie-rado and Washington State. Smile Jamaica says: Most likely not going to win
Here I what I said before the vote:
I have seen too many negative polls and only one outlier pro pot result that seemed too good to be true, so it seems suspect. 52% No to 48% Yes, but if millennials don’t show up for the midterm vote it will fall short. Should have waited until 2016 with more robust youth and libertarian turn out. Hope I’m wrong!
I was wrong! Way to go Jah-laska. Legal couch lock is better than booze during those long cold winters.
I assumed (you know what they say about assume? Makes an ass out of you and me) that a demoralized Progressive libertarian turnout combined with a grumpy motivated Tea Party libertarianism would make the YES come up just short. Nice little upset there!
Jah-laskan Campfire: Canadian whiskey in your coffee and two legal spliffs to watch the Aurora Borealis
A local Guamanian (?) government commission is now obligated to set up a program to administer and implement the medical marijuana apparatus for dispensaries and cards for those seeking relief from debilitating diseases like cancer, AIDS and glaucoma.
here’s what I said on this blog the day before the vote about Guam:
Guam: Joaquin (KC) Concepcion II Compassionate Cannabis Use Act of 2013. Medical Marijuana and the creation of legal dispensaries. Vote would ratify the legislation. Smile Jamaica says: I can’t find any reliable polls but its dependency to Federal jurisdiction makes any implementation difficult.
Island living just got a little bit better. The future Smile Jamaica Retirement Ark-Ive. Pain relief for neck arthritis playing high school football
2016 Legalization Predictions.
Nelstradamus Predicts:
What happens the next two years: Obama is a lame duck. The Republicans will rage about a thousand year majority. We 1%ers are about to get what they call in Reggae: Heavy Manners. We the sheeple are gonna be pissed off like 2008.
More and more of the elderly will be funneled into their mandated Obamacare Death Panels. Those who grew up thinking marijuana was the gate way drug to get white girls to sleep with minorities are going off to the next world in incrementally higher numbers from a diet too rich in cat food.
Osterity: What you can afford after Grand Bargain cuts to Social Security, 2017
New voters who have no problem with weed whatsoever gonna start taking their place. Ryan and Jennifer are gonna be much more kind (pun intended) to the Seven Leaf than Fred and Ethel
The demographics should be ripe for a full court Legalization press.
These states should be able to successfully get full Collierado style legalization going. Let’s quit pussyfooting around with medical marijuana. Legalization, regulation and taxation. Once the government gets a tax in place, they get hooked on the green. Kasheesh. In the same way states never drop or lower their Sales Tax. O-sterity ahead. No stone (pun intended) left unturned as states scrounge for funds to try and make up the short fall.
Expect thin gruel from the feds in the next two years. States budgets are going to be meager. Marijuana sales receipts and cannabis tourism can make up for the Neoliberal beatdown coming our way.
West:
Collie-fornya is the big prize considering the success of Washington and Oregon. The 9th biggest economy in the World. If California legalizes the collie weed, it’s game over. Might as well just put forward a Federal Legalization bill.
Jah-waii: More lucrative potential than coffee. Imagine the tourism opportunities. Guam style mid 50’s yes
Arizona and New Mexico. Libertarian Arizona and more progressive New Mexico are prime states for building organic, local grass roots legalization. Both would be difficult but not impossible. New Mexico the more likely.
Jah-vada: I know that the casinos, who call the shots in a one industry state, hate the idea of legalization. They don’t want people flying in to Vegas, getting a $30 a night smoking hotel room so they can burn weed all weekend instead of hitting the strip clubs or slot machines. Rural areas should be encouraged by the hemp products potential.
Jah-tana. My home state with its libertarian bent is a long shot, but there is some energy building. Grassroots (pun intended) shoe leather via the college towns like Missoula and Bozeman would be the center of the effort. But you have to get Billings and the rural communities in the Eastern two thirds of the state. My mom would vote yes. My dad? As long as you don’t tax his Olympia Beer to pay for legalization, I could lobby him for a yes.
If those states voted yes, that would leave only the Mormon Triangle states of Utah, Wyoming and Idaho as bastions of No. I’m waiting to see what Colorado’s ski industry gains from legalization at the expense of Utah’s “stone age” (pun intended) mentality.
Smile Jamaica’s Christmas/Solstice/Birthday Gift: 2016 Montana Legalizes It. From the Big Sky state to the Big High State. Selah!
Midwest:
The legalization movement has to branch out from the West. These states should have the mechanism to pass legalization
Wisconsin and Michigan should be successful with a well funded and articulated campaign. Illinois too. Lots of rural areas in these states but working the issues could overcome provincial prejudices.
Ohio and Minnesota have potential but need to start right now on the campaign.
Michigan go for the Legalize It in 2016?
Northeast:
I fully expect these states to say yes to legalization: New Hempshire, Vermont and Maine. (I mean, Vermont means green for Jah’s sake!).Piggy back those efforts to rope in Delaware and Rhode Island.
If you can get New York, New Jah-sey and Jah-sylvania. It’s game over. Might as well make it easy on all 50 states.
New Hempshire Legalize It in 2016?
South:
I full expect the South to successfully secede from the Union in the next two years. So why bother.
Will the New Confederacy legalize the Collie when they secede in 2017?
So November 2016, I want to be able to say: 16 down, 34 to go!
Winston Hubert McIntosh; Oct. 19, 1944-Sept. 11, 1987 on guitar and baritone vox in Jah’s Heavenly Choir
Greetings,
Smile Jamaica pays tribute to the man who put the militant wrath to Roots Reggae. Peter Tosh born Oct. 19, 1944.
Let us honor him by spinning his music today pon your Hi Fi. Vinyl Preferred
<Smile Jamaica Peter Tosh Listening Day; Oct. 19; 23 sec.>
Huge huge influence on me. Not just for Reggae Music but my personal politics. Tosh did not do “Lesser of Two Evils”.
He defined support for the Seven Leaf with Legalize It. No pussy footin’
<Peter live in the studio: Don’t Wanna Get Busted; 2 min 26 sec.>
Here are my personal Tributes in the form of Reggae History Lesson vox files from the Smile Jamaica Ark-Ive Podcasts.
Everyone wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die…Peter Tosh
bless, robt
No. 1: Tosh History Lesson: Oct.. 18, 2014
Peter was murdered in terrible circumstances on the eerie foreshadowed date of Sept. 11, 1987.
From Wikipedia:
On 11 September 1987, just after Tosh had returned to his home in Jamaica, a three-man gang came to his house demanding money.[13] Tosh replied that he did not have any with him but the gang did not believe him. They stayed at his residence for several hours and tortured him in an attempt to extort money from Tosh. During this time, Tosh’s associates came to his house to greet him because of his return to Jamaica. As people arrived, the gunmen became more and more frustrated, especially the chief thug, Dennis “Leppo” Lobban, a man whom Tosh had previously befriended and tried to help find work after a long jail sentence.[13] Tosh said he did not have any money in the house, after which Lobban put a gun to Tosh’s head and shot once, killing him. The other gunmen began shooting, wounding several other people and also killing disc jockeys Doc Brown and Jeff “Free I” Dixon. Leppo surrendered to the authorities. He was sentenced to death, but his sentence was commuted in 1995 and he remains in jail. The other two gunmen were never identified by name.[14]
Many rumors about why and who killed The Bush Doctor….
I remember how I found out about this tragedy. My sister was in SLC and I went to pick her up at the airport. I pick up a newspaper and at the top of Page 2: “Reggae star murdered in Jamaica”
F-Bomb! I had just bought his album, No Nuclear War, and expected I would get to see him on tour to promote it. Nope.
Was looking forward to a 1988 American Tour to support this album that came out Sept. 1987, within days of his murder
Ah, but the story doesn’t end there. 38 days later, on Peter’s birthday, Oct. 19th, 1987 the Stock Market suffered the greatest crash since The Great Depression in 1929.
Wikipedia:
Black Monday refers to Monday, October 19, 1987, when stock markets around the world crashed, shedding a huge value in a very short time. The crash began in Hong Kong and spread west to Europe, hitting the United States after other markets had already declined by a significant margin. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) dropped by 508 points to 1738.74 (22.61%).
Black Monday? More like Peter Tosh’s Hairy Eyeball
I like to think that Peter Tosh got in his licks from beyond this world. Praise Jah, his birthday fell on a Sunday this year. Because the conditions are ripe for another crash.
De-dollarization is what Ukraine is really about. Russia doesn’t want to sell energy in the reserve currency: dollars. They will accept rubles, yuan (Chinese currency) or gold. Tosh predicted this with his tune The Day the Dollar Died.
<Peter Tosh: Livicated to his legacy, prophecy and his supernatural powers; 1 min 55>
Dollar or green toilet paper?
No 2 Peter Toshisms. Peter had a unique lexicon of word mashups that twisted convention into cynical reality. Here are a few off the top of my head:
“No such thing as a diatribe, I preach livatribes”
““The Crime Ministers who shit in the House of Represent-A-T’ief”.
America – A-sad-ica; because there is nothing “merry” about America
<Toshism: America = A-sad-ica>
Edward Seaga – head of right wing Jamaican Labour Party – Edward CIA-ga
House of Representatives – House of Represent a Thief
Poltics = Politricks
Prime Minster – Crime Minsister
System – Shitstem
Militant dread in full kuffiyeh
No. 3: Reggae History Lesson: Peter Tosh pays a steep price for “Legalize It, I will advertise it” at the One Love Peace Concert
From Wikipedia:
The One Love Peace Concert was a large concert held on April 22, 1978 at The National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica.
The One Love Peace Concert brought together 16 of Reggae’s biggest acts, and was dubbed by the media as the “Third World Woodstock”, “Bob Marley plays for Peace” and simply, “Bob Marley Is Back.” The concert attracted more than 32,000 spectators with the proceeds of the show going towards “much needed sanitary facilities and housing for the sufferahs in West Kinston.” The concert was kicked off at exactly 5:00 PM with a message from Asfa Wossen, the crown prince of Ethiopia, praising the concert organizers’ efforts to restore peace in Jamaica. This introduction to the event is important in illustrating the growing prevalence of the Rastafari movement in everyday Jamaican culture. The concert was divided into two halves, with the first half devoted to showcasing some of Reggae’s newer talent, and the second half devoted to the more established artists.
Tosh harangued the audience from the stage. Taunting the cops and poltrixters on legalizing herb and supporting colonial states like Rhodesia and South Africa. The cops caught up to him later and beat him nearly to death.
One Love Peace Concert movie: Bob, Peter, Jacob Miller, Dennis Brown and more; Apr. 22, 1978
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.
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