Tag Archives: Dub Album of the Week

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives Mar. 6, 2021 – Bunny Wailer Joins Jah’s Heavenly Choir

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Bunny Wailer, b. Apr. 10, 1947 joins Jah’s Heavenly Choir

Greetings,

Crap. I ‘n’ I was still processing the loss of Reggae stalwart U Roy. I was actually at work editing a sound file when all of a sudden my phone lit up. Twitter, Rolling Stone, friends: Bunny Wailer passes of complications from a stoke he had last summer. At 73, that is far too young. But now he adds the high harmony to Bob’s tenor and Peter’s baritone.

As it was and ever shall be. Selah!

Bob was the rock star. Peter the militant. And Bunny was rightfully the mystic man of the trio. He didn’t want to fit into the rock star mold that Island owner Chris Blackwell wanted for the group. So he pulled out and re-trenched as a Rasta philosopher and dancehall pioneer. His high harmonies on Hallelujah Time*, which I lead off with today, speak to his gospel prowess.

*Great name for a Reggae radio show/podcast!

<Hallelujah Time; 32 sec.>

Bunny, Bob, Peter – locks grow in their heart!

As befit their ghetto roots that led to so much great music, they were all inter-related.  Bunny’s father lived with Bob’s mother and had a dawta. Bob’s half sister. Peter had Andrew Tosh with Bunny’s sister. So even when the 3 went their separate ways, they were still and always a family.

<Why I call it Wailers Family Tree; 30 sec.>

Bunny’s father; Bob’s mother; sister Pearl

For I ‘n’ I, Bunny Wailer always means two things. The record I purchased before I was even into Reggae: Blackheart Man. Saw it front and center at the foundation Salt Lake City record shop Cosmic Aeroplane. Great Neville Garrick cover art. Gatefold sleeve, rare for a Reggae record. Of Bunny, spliff in his mouth, a lion protruding from his third eye while an extra terrestrial looking Haile Selassie sits upon his shoulder. That album helped light the fuse.

The Blackheart Man. Indeed!

<Blackheart Man, earliest addition to the Smile Jamaica Ark-Ive; 58 sec.>

The other sublime Bunny Wailer is his stepping out on lead with the 1971 recording of Dreamland. The lyrics are all about going to heaven. (The last song on this podcast edition.) Lee “Scratch” Perry brought out that terrific mysticism that is so authentic and powerful. When its my turn, I’ve asked it to be played at any gathering my would family have.

Thank you Neville Livingston for making us enriched with the power of your music and the beauty of your voice.

bless, Bobbylon

Bonus Story: How Thievery Corporation saved me in a blizzard going over Monida Pass, Holiday 2002

The worst stretch of I-15 from Fort Benton, Mt to SLC: the dreaded Monida Pass. Snow, wind, ice, bitter cold

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives:  March 6, 2021  Playlist: 2 min. 35 sec.

Set 1:

  • Horace Andy – Oh Lord, Why Lord; Best of (Studio One) ’72 JA vinyl; Parliament/G. Clinton cover
  • Jah Shaka – Institution Dub; Dub Masters Vol. 1 (Mango) ’89 UK vinyl dub album of the hour
  • The Wailers – Hallelujah Time; Burnin’ (Island) ’73 UK vinyl: Bunny Wailer on vox. RIP
  • Bush Chemists – Time of Tribulation; Light Up Your Spliff (Conscious Sounds) ’96 UK Mutant Dub
  • Johnnie Moore & the Skatalites – South China Sea (Take 1); 10” EP (Top Deck) ’65 UK green vinyl trumpet ska
  • Cocoa Tea – There’s an Herb Tree in My Garden; Mr. Cocoa Tea (Blue Mountain) ’85 herbtune/Ben E. King Spanish Harlem
  • Universal Speakers – We Roots + Dub; We Roots (Catch Me Time) 2012 US roots dawta group
Cover of George Clinton’s pre-funk Parliament soul/gospel ballad. Beautiful!

Set 2:

  • Thievery Corporation feat. Emilia Torriani – Heaven Is In Your Eyes; Richest Man in Babylon (ESL) 2002 DC dubbers
  • Lee Perry & the Upsetters – Soul Man; Double Seven (Trojan) ’73 cover of Sam & Dave soul
  • Judy Mowatt – Black Woman; Women Hold Up Half the Sky (Shanachie) ’76 comp.
  • Welton Irie – Man Next Door; 12” (Joe Gibbs Record Globe) ’79 FL: dj to Paragons tune
  • Johnny Clarke – Every Knee Shall Bow; Dreader Dread (Blood & Fire) ’78 comp.
Trusted compan+ion through a blizzard over Monida Pass: Xmas 2002

Set 3: Best of Smile Jamaica 31+ Years

  • Bunny Wailer – Cease Fire; Roots Radics Rockers Reggae (Shanachie) ’83 herbtune
  • Dr. Alimantado – Oil Crisis; Born For a Purpose (Greensleeves) ‘73
  • Marcia Griffiths – Give and You Get; Steppin’ (Shanachie) ‘79
  • George Faith – Midnight Hour/Ya Ya; To Be a Lover (Mango) ’77 Lee “Scratch” Perry/Black Ark: Wilson Pickett/The Coasters cover
  • Dub Specialist – Starring Dub; Dub (Heartbeat/Studio One) 70’s dub album of the hour
Among the first 10 Reggae CDs added to the Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives; Oct. 1986, Salt Lake City

Set 4:

  •  
  • Michigan & Smiley – Diseases; Dancehall (Soul Jazz) ’84 comp.
  • Wailing Souls – Wild Wild Life; Cool Runnings Soundtrack (Chaos) ’93 Talking  Heads cover
  • Black Harmony – Our Feelings; 12” (Cool Rockers) ’81 UK female lovers Rock
March 20th Live on Smile Jamaica – Crappy Ronaversary Year 1 krcl.org 909FM. 4-7 PM

Set 5: Vinyl is Vital

  • U Roy – Control Tower; Rasta Ambassador (TR Groovemaster) ’77 JA 
  • Phyllis Barnes – Black Cinderella; Yabby You and King Tubby’s All-Stars (Yabby You) early 90’s JA
  • The Specials – Stereotypes; Top Chrysalis 2 (Chrysalis) ’80 Spanish comp
  • Bunny Wailer – Ballroom Floor; Live (Mango) 12/26/82 morn in JA US

Set 6: Wailers Family Tree

  • Bunny Wailer – This Train; Blackheart Man (Mango) ’76 US – Sister Rosetta Tharpe cover
  • Bunny Wailer – Galong So; Solomonic Singles vol. 2 (Solomonic) ‘81
  • Bob Marley & the Wailing Wailers – Nice Time; Wail ‘N Soul ‘M Singles (JAD) ‘67
  • Ranny Williams feat. Peter Tosh – Pepper Seed; Arise Blackman (Trojan) ’69 Unity label single. Peter on organ
  • King Tubby – Many Moods of the King Dub; I Am the King (Sprint) Dub Album of the Hour

Set 7: Rockers do Reggae

  • David Lindley – Tu-Ber-Cu-Lucas and the Sinus Blues; El Rayo-X (Asylum) ’81 Rockers do Reggae Set
  • The Members – Clean Men; 1980: The Choice is Yours (Virgin) ’80 UK pub rock
  • Robert Palmer – Hard Head; Some People Can Do What They Like (Island) ‘76
  • Grace Jones – Love You to Life + Dub; Hurricane (Wall of Sound) 2011

Set 8: Reggae Rona Mini Opera

  • David Fly – Coronavirus Covid-19; Digital File: Reggae Rona Mini Opera
  • The Ethiopians – Hong Kong Flu; Original Hit Sound (Trojan) ‘69
  • The Clash – Lost in the Supermarket; London Calling (Epic) ‘79
  • The Police – Don’t Stand So Close to Me; Zenatta Mondatta (A & M) ‘80
  • Junior Byles – Fever; Beat Down Babylon (Trojan) ’72 Lee “Scratch” Perry prod’n
  • Junior Delgado – Live Like a Hermit; Sisters and Brothers (Blue Moon) ‘79
  • Love Clinic – Love Clinic; Love Clinic (Ariwa) 2005 UK Roots Dawtas
  • The Wailers – Dreamland; Complete Upsetter Collection (Trojan) ’71 Bunny Wailer on vox
Love Clinic or one of Cuomo’s nursing homes? The choice is yours!

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: Jah-Tober 31, 2020: Jah-loween Monster Bash!

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Greetings ghouls ‘n’ gals!

<All trix, no treats!>

Smile Jamaica loves Jah-loween. Here is the Monster Menagerie from the Ark-ives:

  • Anti-christ/Mark of the Beast/666 – 7
  • Bats – 2
  • Bermuda Triangle – 1
  • Black magic – 9
  • Cemeteries & graveyards – 7
  • Demons – 6
  • Devil, Lucifer, Satan – 59
  • Dungeons – 6
  • Duppies & Jumbies (Jamaican ghosts) – 14
  • Exorcist – 1
  • Frankenstein – 5
  • Ghosts – 19
  • Halloween holiday – 5
  • Haunted houses – 2
  • Hell hounds -1 
  • Loch Ness Monster – 1
  • Monsters – 4
  • Mr. Brown who rides around Trenchtown in a motorized coffin – 2
  • Mummies – 2
  • Obeah (Jamaican Black Magic) – 13
  • Skeletons – 2
  • Undertakers – 3
  • Vampires, Dracula and soap opera vampire Barnabas Collins – 63
  • Voodoo – 5
  • Werewolves – 4
  • Witches – 4
  • Zombies – 14

By my Liberal Arts math, that tallies up to over 260 Jah-loween gems. Plus all my horror soundbytes and movie trailers. (New additions in between the horrorfest such as The Exorcist, Planet of the Vampires,nNight of the Living Dead,  Phantasm).

All mixed into one bubbling cauldron of grimness. Perfect for this era of The Covid. I don’t listen to a lot of new Reggae releases but next year I’m sure to add some ghouly Covid delights.

There was once upon a time when I ‘n’ I never said a word and only played station ID’s during the 3 hours. It was truly 180 minutes of drum, bass and Afternoon of the Living Dead.

But since this is Smile Jamaica, I ‘n’ I tell you some stories to embellish the tunes:

  • Annie Palmer – the evil Jamaican wife of a slave plantation owner who used to whip her slaves mercilessly and continued to haunt them after she died

<Annie Palmer; 26 sec.>

In Jamaica police informers were referred to as Vampires:

<Vampire = informer; 27 sec.>

Peter Tosh always felt there were hell hounds on his trail. One night he was paralyzed from the forces of a demon. He prayed to Jah to save. Jah told him, “son, use the word and you will be as free as a bird.

That word? Bumba klaat. In Jamaica, that is as rude as saying Mother F’er in the US. Bum for vagina. Klaat = cloth. Rastas want nothing to do with their queen’s “monthly visitor”. So the epithet shocked the duppy (Jamaican ghost) out of Peter’s soul.

<Oh Bumba Klaat; 1 min. 22 sec.>

And how about the corpse who put a transmission, engine and four wheels on his coffin to terrorize the denizens of Trenchtown ghetto. His names was Mr. Brown.

<Mr. Brown rides around in a coffin; 21 sec.>

curse, Bobbylon

Smile Jamaica Jah-loween Monster Bash, 10/31/2020 Annotated Playlist: 85 sec.

Set 1:

  • Ini Kamoze – Hole in the Pumpkin; Shocking Out (RAS) ’87 3 Hours of Jah-loween
  • Scientist – The Voodoo Curse; Rids the World of the Evil Curse of the Vampires (Greensleeves) ‘81
  • Black Uhuru – Anthem; Anthem (Island) ‘83
  • Ijahman Levi – Devil Disciple; Forward Rastaman (Jahmani) ‘87
  • The Toyes – Monster Hash; The Toyes (CD Tunes) ‘96
  • GG All-Stars – Haunted House; 12” (GG’s Hit!)   ‘78

Set 2:

  • Crucial Bee – Mark of the Beast; Just a Sting (All-Starr) US Virgin Islands vinyl
  • Sinead O’Connor – Vampire; Throw Down Your Arms (That’s Why There’s Chocolate & Vanilla) 2005 Devon Irons cover
  • The Ethiopians – Obeah Book; Slave Call (Rohit) ’74 Obeah – Jamaican black magic
  • Ghetto Priest – Dungeon; Vulture Culture (ON U Sound) 2003 Singers & Players cover
  • Clint Eastwood & General Saint – Talk About Run; 12” (Greensleeves) ’81 UK duppies in the cemetery

Set 3:

  • Lone Ranger – Annie Palmer; Barnabas in Collins Wood (Wave) ’79 JA vinyl: Jamaican witch/ghost
  • Pablo Gad – Blood Suckers; Blood Suckers (Celluloid) ‘78
  • Chalice – Back Weh Evil Forces; Stand Up! (CSA) ’85 UK vinyl
  • Sky High & the Mau Mau – Cemetery Robbery; Origination (Sky High) 70’s
  • Moses – When the Vampire Comes to Your Neighborhood; 12” (Wackies) ’82 Bronx
  • Leo Graham – Voodooism; Magnetic Mirror Master Mix (Anachron) 70’s Dutch vinyl; Lee “Scratch” Perry prod’n

Set 4:

  • Capleton & Big Youth – Mark of the Beast; I-Testament (Def Jam) ‘97
  • Jimmy Cliff – Satan’s Kingdom; I am the Living (MCA) ’80 US vinyl
  • Easy Star All-Stars feat. Mikey General & Spragga Benz – Thrillah (Easy Star) 2012 Michael Jackson/Vincent Prince
  • Carl McDonald – Satan Soldiers on the Run; 12” (Makdon) ’87 Brooklyn 

Set 5:

  • Peter Tosh – Oh Bumba Klaat; 12” EP (Rolling Stone) ’81 UK fight off demonic possession
  • David Lindley – Werewolves of London; Very Greasy (Elektra) ’88 Warren Zevon cover
  • Pluto & Trinity – Vampire Year; Ire Mas Rockers Carnival (Top Ranking) ’81 FL vinyl
  • Laurel Aitken – Witchdoctor from Amsterdam; Eskapade en France (Blue Moon) ’90 Fr. Vinyl

Set 6:

  • Future Pigeon – The Mummy; Echodelic Sounds (Record Collect) 2005 SoCal
  • Dennis Brown – Black Magic Woman; Black Magic Reggae (Trojan) ’72 Fleetwood Mac/Santana cover
  • Don Carlos – Night Rider (In Danger); Deeply Concerned (RAS) ’87 DC vinyl
  • The Wailing Souls – Face the Devil; Face the Devil (Jah Guidance) ’81 JA vinyl
  • Bob Marley & the Wailers – Mr. Brown; Black Magic Reggae (Trojan) ’70 rides around in a coffin

 

Smile Jamaica Living Room Ark-Ives: Jah-pril 18, 2020 – Qanneh Bossom (The Aromatic Reed)

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Living room kind a cloudy for a while

Greetings from Quarantine,

Raise your hand if this Covid Clampdown has you One Toke Over the Line? From Lawrence Welk – covering Brewer & Shipley:

(The guy with the accordion announcing the two tokers sounds like he just took a hit off the spliff!)

Lawrence Welk thought that was a gospel song! “Modern spiritual”

Like Jesus did. The necessary ingredient for His miracles was cannabis oil:

Jesus consumed cannabis

Smile Jamaica locked out of your station that rules the nation, KRCL, till at least the end of May. So I ‘n’ I have the entirety of the Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives to peruse for the infamous, notorious, humorous, outrageous, quasi legalish 420 Cannabis Service Show.

I ‘n’ I would say 25 of the 30 or so Jah-prils of being your host, has been devoted to the Seven Leaf

I’n’ I was chatting up a friend recently: “Wouldn’t it be great if the purgative lung properties of inhaling cannabis could mitigate against the severity of the Covid?”

What if doctors were able to tell their patients. “You have tested positive for the Covid. My suggestion is to start smoking marijuana immediately!”

I mean, really. You want to go on a ventilator or smoke two joints? Lot cheaper and the mortality rate of those on ventilators is about 90%. I ‘n’ I guess we’re stuck with bleach enemas and injecting Lysol.

So all the Doom Porn I’m forced to read as opposed to news, tells us we are heading into an economic Depression. You want a leg up on revenue? Do what Lebanon did.

Lebanon – First Arab Nation to Legalize Cannabis

From the Bekaa Valley, recently liberated from ISIL tyranny. Home of the legendary Lebanese Blonde hash

They became the first Middle East nation to legalize cannabis. From the Aramaic – qanneh (reed) bossom (aromatic) – so the aromatic reed = ganja stalk

So don’t call it marijuana – that is a made up name by the 30’s anti-drug thugs in the US government: Maria + Juan = Marijuana. To stigmatize the drug with Mexican laborers so they could be easily deported during the depression.

Quick history of Cannabis:

  1. The Scythians (an Iranian people) – were the first to  throw Cannabis seeds on the hot plate to inhale the vapors.

From 5th Century BC historian, Herodotus:

The Scythians said, take some of this hemp-seed [presumably, flowers], and, creeping under the felt coverings, throw it upon the red-hot stones; immediately it smokes, and gives out such a vapour as no Grecian vapour-bath can exceed; the Scyths, delighted, shout for joy.” Yes I!

  1. They puff puff passed it to the Medes (forefathers of today’s Kurds)
  2. The Medes spread it to the expansive Assyrian-Akkadian-Babylonian empires.
  3. Trade with Egypt allowed for the plant to go West through the Maghreb (Arab North Africa) and north through the Mediterranean
  4. 2020 – Lebanese blonde

So, while you are forced indoors – whether sick or healthy, enjoy this cannabliss podcast: 35 Reggae songs plus special efx, movie dialog and other seven leaf snippets.

Stay safe!

Bless, Bobbylon

Smile Jamaica Playlist: Apr. 18, 2020 – 420 Special

Set 1:

  • The Toyes – Green Doctor; Strange Animals (CD Tunes) ’96 LA
  • Eek a Mouse – Sensee Party; Skidip! (Greensleeves) ’82
  • John Clarke – Good Collie Weed; Visions of John Clarke (Wackies) ’79 to Only Sixteen riddim
  • Junior Byles – Cally Weed; Rasta No Pickpocket (Nighthawk) ’86
  • Gracy & the Herbman Band – Follow Up; See Mi Yah (Funfundvierzig) ’91 Germ. female

Set 2:

  • Black Uhuru – Sinsemilla; Sinsemilla (Mango) ’80 without seeds
  • Angie Angel – Sativa Info; All I Have Is Love (Easy Star)  2001
  • Lone Ranger – Collie Dub; Rosemarie (Techniques)  ’81
  • Jah Woosh – Chalice Blaze; Chalice Blaze (Original) ’78
  • Mikey Dread – Pound a Weed; Life Is a Stage (Dread at the Controls) 2007
  • Capital Letters – Smoking My Ganja 12″; Headline News (Greensleeves) ’79 UK

Set 3:

  • Prince Alla – Sensimilla; More Love (Jah Warrior) 2002
  • Sammy Dread – Wrap Up a Draw; Wrap up a Draw (Seven Leaves)
  • The Pioneers – Feeling High; 20 Greatest Hits (Trojan) ’79
  • UB40 – Mi Spliff; Baggariddim (DEP) ’85
  • Carlton Livingston – Chalice in Mind; Crucial Reggae (Mango) ’82
  • Ganja Woman – Light Up Your Spliff; Pro Cannabis 4 (EFA) 2002

Set 4:: Queen Elizabeth weed set

  • Heavy Manners – Taking the Queen to Tea; Heavier Than Now (NoVo) ’96 Chicago w/ female vox
  • U Roy – Chalice in the Palice; Dread in a Babylon (Virgin Front Line) ’75
  • Bush Chemists – Light Up Your Spliff; Light Up Your Spliff (Conscious Sounds) ’96 UK mutant dubbers
  • Dillinger – Buckingham Palace; CB 200 (Mango) ’76
  • Peter Tosh – Buk-in-Hamm Palace; Mystic Man (EMI America) ’79

Set 5: Wailers Family Tree Herb Set

  • Bob Marley & the Wailers – Marley-juana Mix; Smile Jamaica Dubplate
  • Bunny Wailer – Cease Fire; Roots, Radics, Rockers, Reggae (Shanachie) ’83
  • Peter Tosh – Don’t Want to Get Busted; Talking Revolution (Pressure Sounds) ’76 KZEL Eugene, OR radio acoustic
  • Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers- African Herbsman; Joy and Blues (Virgin) ’93
  • Rita Marley – One Draw; 12″ (Shanachie) ’83

Set 6:

  • Johnny Osbourne – Mushroom; Fally Lover (Greensleeves) don’t pee in my garden, or mushroom will grow
  • The Selecter – My Collie (Not a Dog); Too Much Pressure (2 Tone) UK ska w/ female vox
  • Jacob Miller – Healing of the Nation;  Wanted (Top Ranking) ’78
  • Benjamin Zephaniah – Get High; Rasta (Workers Playtime) ’83 UK dub poet
  • Mighty Diamonds – Pass the Kouchie; Big Blunts (Tommy Boy) ’81
  • The Toyes – Smoke Two Joints; The Toyes (CD Tunes) ’96

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: Jah-burary 22, 2020 – Reggae Apocrypha!

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June 13, 1980 – Dortmund (West) Germany

Greetings,

I ‘n’ I know Black History Month (February) as Bob Marley Month (Bob-ruary). Born Feb. 6, 1945 he would have been 75 had he not died of melanoma on May 11, 1981 (36 years old.)

In the Rasta community, they avoid death. So part of that Ras’pect is to say “livicate” not deadicate.

As a major Reggae collector I ‘n’ I had picked up some Marley reissues in the past year.

  • Boston, ’78

Plus, a CD/DVD combo that was published on the West German rock television show Rockpalast. (See image at top.)

If you were a youth in the 70’s as I was, weekend night time rock and roll TV programs, like Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert and Midnight Special with Wolfman Jack fed viewers music television fix before the advent of MTV.

The Uprising disk/DVD = Rockpalast performance was recorded in Dortmund (West) Germany on June 13, 1980.

It was haunting. Bob was at his high point. I ‘n’ I always tell people you can gauge Bob’s age by the length of his dreads. The short and wiry, athletic Bob roamed the stage like a lion. Dreads flashing. Moving about the other group members. Full of energy and passion.

Bob’s nickname was Skipper. He was an exacting band leader who would even fine his wife Rita, among other band members, if they made a mistake. This was the video performance of a man and group leading Reggae into the mainstream.

The 80’s would have seen him at the top of the pop music pinnacle alongside stalwarts like Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson, U2 and Madonna.

Alas, it wasn’t to be. Almost 3 months later Bob collapsed running  in New York’s Central Park. He performed one more show in Pittsburgh, PA (Sept. 23, 1980). And made his Exodus to Jah’s Heavenly Choir less than 8 months later.

As someone with a Ph.D. in Bobology, I was stunned. On stage in front of thousands, this was not the look of a many being ravaged by cancer.

<Bob’s Rockpalast performance; 72 sec.> 

Bob’s passing shocked the Reggae world as well. In Jamaica, and elsewhere over the decades since May ’81, I ‘n’ I have  culled nearly 50 Bob Tributes.

One thing about music when it hits you, you feel no pain. Artists exacted their grief in an expression of platonic love. Every Bobruary, I’n’ I rinse out those songs throughout the 4 weeks of Smile Jamaica editions.

<Marley Tribute phenomena; 40 sec.>

***

For the past several months I ‘n’ I have been tracking through the Wailers’ early pre-Island label catalog. We are on the 1970 recordings for Chinese Jamaican restauranteur, Leslie Kong

The Wailers had huge ska success with Coxsone Dodd’s Studio One label. But they would sell 80,000 copies of a  record and be compensated $25.

Studio One owner made thousands on sales. The Wailers made $25 on 80k sold

 

So the group quit Studio One and created their own label: Tuff Gong. However, the Jamaican music business was cut throat. DIY groups like the Wailers couldn’t get their songs into the shops or on the radio as independents. So the label folded.

Thus they turned to one of Dodd’s competitors, Leslie Kong. Beverley’s, his label, was a successful Rock Steady label selling thousands of records in the UK, especially.

Record producer is the guy that funds the sessions.

  • Recording in a music studio; pay for time
  • Paying the musicians
  • Paying the sound engineer
  • Paying to mix the tape recording
  • Paying to press the records
  • Paying to distribute the records to shops domestically and internationally
  • Payola to get the song on the radio.

The Wailers recorded about 10 songs. What to call it. Since Kong knew the group was hot, but records by the Wailers were hard to find, he wanted to call it Best of Bob Marley and the Wailers.

The group were hostile to that notion and felt they were being ripped off again. These weren’t their best songs. “Best” signifies the group was at its end, not a re-boot. The album is not exactly filler, and there are some great performances. But Best was a misnomer…at best.

The group wanted the album to be called Caution. This is where the Reggae apocrypha sneaks in. The Wailers were sighting up Rasta. With all that mystical and magical revelation, they warned Kong this offense would not go unpunished….Caution indeed.

Here is how Bunny Wailer described what happened in the liner notes of the Bunny album I have introduced on this podcast edition of Smile Jamaica. As part of I ‘n’ I Wailers Family Tree selections.

<The mysterious death of Leslie Kong; 2 min. 48 sec.>

As Bunny noted, Kong wanted to exploit the group’s sales potential: notoriety + scarcity = $$$.  Call it Best Of and watch the records fly off the shelves.

He wasn’t interested in “art” but commerce. The Wailers took their craft seriously. Here was another rip off.  Call it black magic obeah, divine justice or just the eerie circumstance of timing.

On the very day the records were to be sent to the shops, Kong died of a brain aneurysm.  He was 38 years old. Caution indeed!

Caution – the road is wet. Black soul is black as jet. Caution the road is hot. You can do better than that

How about one more story:

Haile Selassie visited Jamaica in 1966. For Peter Tosh it was a foundation moment in the development of Rastafari worship.

<Rasta Shook Them Up: Peter Touch & the Wailers>

bless, Bobbylon

Haile Selassie

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: Jah-bruary 22, 2020 Annotated Playlist

Set 1:

  • Jah Woosh – Love Jah and Live; D.J. Legend (Original) ’70’s UK vinyl
  • Scientist & Forces of Music – Marcus Mosiah Garvey; International Heroes  of Dub (Tamoki Wambesi) early 80’s UK vinyl dub album of the hour
  • Horace Andy – Get Up; Living in the Flood (Melankolik) ’99 hidden track
  • Johnny Clarke – Hypocrites; Be Thankful (Foundation Music) 70’s Bunny Lee prod’n
  • Akabu – Blackbird; Warrior Queen (ON U Sound) ’89 UK roots dawta group
  • Prince Far I – Lambs Bread Collie; Ten Commandments (Rhino) ’79? 4:20 Cannabis Service Announcement
  • I Roy – Rootsman; 10″ (Observer Gold) ’76 UK

 

Set 2:

  • Bob Andy & Marcia Griffiths – Lean on Me; Sweet Memories (Nectar) ’76 married duo cover Bill Withers
  • Taxi Gang – Twilight Zone; Many Moods of Sly, Robbie & the Taxi Gang (Sonic) ’86 TV theme instrumental
  • Thievery Corporation feat. Black Uhuru – Boof ‘n’ Baff ‘n’ Biff; Abductions and Reconstructions (ES)
  • Ganja Tree – Hard Road to Travel; 10″ (I-Grow) 2006 Fr. militant steppers

Set 3: Best of Smile Jamaica 30+ Years

  • King Stitt – Fire Corner; Keep on Coming in the Dance (Trojan) ’69 comp.

<How King Stitch becomes King Stitt>

  • Zap Pow – Roots Man Reggae; Zap Pow (VP) ’78
  • Gregory Isaacs – Happiness Come; Love Is Overdue (Heartbeat) ’74
  • Judy Mowatt – Sisters Chant; Black Woman (Shanachie) ’76
  • Jah Power Band – No Formula Dub; Sensi Dub vol. 7 (Original) ’95 dub album of the hour

Set 4:

  • Bunny Wailer – Tread Along; Jamaican Singles vol. 1 (Solomonic) ’69
  • Triston Palmer & Jah Thomas – Give Me a Chance + Please Mr. Officer; In Disco Style Entertainment (Munich) ’80; Jah Thomas herbtune
  • Bedouin Soundclash feat. Vernon Buckley – Higher Ground; Street Gospels (Sideonedummy) 2008 vox from The Maytones
  • Abassi All-Stars feat. Minoo – December; No Answer 10″ EP (Deep Root) 2008 UK militant steppers feat. female vox

Set 5: Vinyl Is Vital

  • Ranking Joe – Tribute to Bob Marley; Rebel DJ (Jam Rock) ’81 Miami vinyl
  • The Blackstones – Soul Shakedown Party; Insight (Burning Sounds) ’81 UK red vinyl Bob Marley cover
  • Sophia George – Tenement Yard; Fresh (Winner) ’85 UK
  • Lee Milo – Hell is On Fire; Positive Movements (Rooney) ’89 Miami
  • Ini Kamoze – I Want it Ital; Here Comes the Hotstepper (Columbia) ’84 US comp.

 

Set 6:

  • Bob Marley & the Wailers – Back Out; Best of Bob Marley & the Wailers (Beverley’s) ’70 JA vinyl
  • Chalice – Master Blaster Jammin; Best of Bob Marley Stevie Wonder Bob Marley Tribute
  • Aisha – Tribulation; High Priestess (Ariwa) ’88
  • Sane Inmates – Masquerade Dance; 10″ (Ariwa) 2006 UK
  • Burning Babylon – Roots Fi Kool; Knives to the Trebel (Mars) 2004 Dub Album of the hour
This erroneously titled LP got the producer, Leslie Kong

Set 7:

  • The Wailers feat. Peter Touch – Rasta Shook Them Up; The Toughest (Heartbeat/Studio One) ’66 about Selassie’s visit to Jamaica
  • Bobby & Carol Kalphat – Memories of Bob; 7″ (Hit Vibes) ’81?
  • Faith D’Aguilar – Reggae Pioneers; 7″ (Gorgon) ’83
  • Lone Ranger – Tribute to Bob Marley; 7″ (Studio One) ’81
  • Jennifer Lara – Natural Misty; 7″ (Studio One) ’81 Bob Marley’s Natural Mystic

Set 8; Mutant Dub

  • Dub Syndicate feat. Big Youth – Wake Up; Fear of a Green Planet (Shanachie) ’98 Mutant Dub Set
  • Aldubb feat. Longfingah – Straight From the Heart; Welcome to Bassland (One Drop) 2012 Germ.
  • African  Heard Charge feat. Prof. Stretch – Brother of Reality; Drums of Defiance (ON U Sound) ’98 UFOria
  • Kid Loco – Three Foot High Reefer; Kill Your Darlings (Division One) 2001 Fr. herbtune
  • 2 Badcard – Noise Polluters; Chainstore Massacre (ON U Sound) 2003 comp.
  • Alpha & Omega feat. Nishka – Stepping Up + The Firmament; Dub Plate Selection vol. 2 (A & O) 2001 UK trance dub w/ female vox

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: Jah-vember 16, 2019: Your Perception is Not My Reality!

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Greetings,

I ‘n’ I was fighting glaucoma with my bredrins Mike and Aqua Boy. I was laying out my Presidential strategy for taking down The Cheetolini in 2020:

Tulsi-Bernie

America’s only hope in 2020

With the JFK coup anniversary looming: Was it Bin Laden on the Grassy Knoll? Discuss!

But then the discussion took a turn. When baseball season is over, I ‘n’ I turn to a new time suck: Ancient Aliens on the History Channel.

I was talking about the documentary’s 2 hour tribute to Erich von Daniken, the Father of Ancient Astronaut Theory. His book, Chariots of the Gods, lit the fuse for a whole generation seeking a connection between ancient astronauts mis-labelled as Sky Gods by mankind.

I took to the alternative cosmology of Ancient Astronaut Theory late in life. But I should have been into it for 40 years….

I grew up in a small farming community in North Central Montana called Fort Benton. Beautiful little river city. We had a theater and a drive in. It was a short bike ride from my house to go see a movie to get out of the sun.

Fort Benton, Montana – the Birthplace of Montana and cattle multilations

It was sometime, summer 1975. I was ten years old. The movie was Young Frankenstein: Mel Brooks, Marty Feldman and Teri Garr. But, in the lobby was something that really intrigued me: a whole display of cut outs, movie stills and placards describing Chariots of the Gods. The movie.

One of the stills described a picture in Ancient Assyria; my mother’s homeland in the Fertile Crescent. I was totally enthralled and could not wait to see it in two weeks!

Coming soon to a farm implement dealership

The following week, the movie theater went out of business and became a farm implement manufacturing business. Cursed!

****

Wheel it forward to last weekend. I was regaling my mates, between bongrips and bourbon, of the story von Daniken described from the Bible: Ezekiel and the crystal ship. A wheel within a wheel.

Ezekiel 1:14-28. Ancient Astronaut Theory

 14And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.

15 Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces.

16 The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel.

17 When they went, they went upon their four sides: and they turned not when they went.

18 As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings were full of eyes round about them four.

19 And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up.

20 Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.

21 When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.

22 And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above.

23 And under the firmament were their wings straight, the one toward the other: every one had two, which covered on this side, and every one had two, which covered on that side, their bodies.

24 And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings.

25 And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings.

26 And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.

27 And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about.

28 As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.

That, my friends, is the description of nothing other than a space ship which travels by gyration, the wheel within a wheel!

What the Prophet Ezekiel saw in the Old Testament

<Ezekiel’s crystal ship>

My bredrin Aquaboy, who reads dinosaur media like the New York Times and The Nation magazine, was not having it. He was giving me the red eyed hairy eyeball.

The hairy eyeball

So I’n’ I zone in on the kill shot: The Ancient Aliens episode devoted to Chariots of the Gods’ legacy talked about one of the original NASA scientists who thought von Daniken was a crank and set out to use physics to debunk the wheel within a wheel.

His name was Sidney Blumrich…

I ‘n’ I, who does not read the New York Times nor the Nation, never got to finish…Aquaboy was full on scoffing. I ‘n’ I held up my hand and calmly said,

“Your perception is not my reality.”

They’re here. They’ve always been here. And they’re coming! Scoffing won’t save you!

bless, Bobbylon

Bobbylon’s Top Ten Biblical Alien Encounters

  1. Moses and the burning bush – spaceship
  2. Ezekeiel and the Crystal Ship: the wheel within a wheel aka a gyroscopic spaceship
  3. Stairway to Heaven – walkway to a spaceship
  4. Enoch – Noah’s grandfather who walked with God and then was not
  5. Lot’s wife – turned into a pillar of smoke, not salt after Armageddon was destroyed in a nuclear attack
  6. The New Jerusalem – Borg cube massive space ship
  7. The Nephilim – Biblical giants describing the Anunnaki who created mankind and mated with their women
  8. Noah’s Flood (1) – Utnapishtim in a tessaract spaceship to wait for the flood waters to recede (Sumerian origin story)
  9. Noah’s Flood (2) – Ziusudra in a submarine to wait for the flood waters to recede (Sumerian origin story)
  10. Jacob’s Ladder – spaceship walkway (see #3)

How about some examples from Islam and Hinduism:

  • Magic/flying carpets
  • The Prophet Muhammad’s midnight journey to Heaven on the back of a winged horse Al-Buraq. Buraq means “lightning” in Arabic (one man space capsule)
  • Descriptions of flaming minarets in the sky (missiles)
  • Hindu Vimana’s: space chariots fighting battles
  • Shiva’s Trident – missile
Al-Buraq “lightning”. Took the Prophet Muhammad to heaven from earth….spaceship!

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: Jah-vember 16, 2019 Annotated Playlist: 73 sec.

Set 1:

  • Mikey Dread – Voice of Jah; Dread at the Controls (Trojan) ’79 UK vinyl
  • Aggrovators – Dread Locks in Jamaica (Attack) ’76 JA vinyl dub album of the hour
  • Chachi feat. Sister Carol – Natty Dread;  (Kariang) ’99 Ethiopian dawta cover Bob Marley
  • Sister Carol – Natty Live Up; Lyrically Potent (Heartbeat) ’96 Bob Marley’s Natty Dread
  • Jah Thomas – Tribute to the Reggae King; In Disco Style – Entertainment (Midnight Rock) ’81 Bob Marley tribute
  • Sublime – Legalize It; Hempilation (Capricorn) ’96 Peter Tosh cover; 4:20 Cannabis Service Announcement
  • Junior Murvin – Bad Weed; 12” (Upsetters) ’78 UK – Lee “Scratch” Perry prod’n; herbtune over Police & Thieves

Set 2:

  • Zema – Joy in the Morning; Black Sleep (Melchizedek) 2003 Culver City, CA dawta
  • Linton Kwesi Johnson – Sonny’s Lettah; a capella live (LKJ)

<UK sus laws against “vagrancy”; 28 sec.>

  • The Eagles – Country Living; Reggae Classics (DCC) ‘73
  • Tapper Zukie – Black Man 12”; I Can Hear the Children Singing (Blood & Fire) ’78 dj to Prince Alla
  • Barry Brown – Release the Chains; 10” (Rockers) ’80 UK; Augustus Pablo prod’n

Set 3: Best of Smile Jamaica 30 Years

  • Martha Velez – Get Up Stand Up; Escape From Babylon (Sire) ’76; Wailers cover
  • Mighty Diamonds – Gnashing of Teeth; I Need a Roof (Hitbound) ‘76
  • Junior Delgado – Armed Robbery; Brothers (DEB) ‘77
  • Ranking Dillinger – African Worldwide; None Stop Disco Style (Abraham) ’77 dj to Johnny Clarke’s “African Roots

Set 4:

  • Winston “King” Cole – Black Magic Woman; Impact! (Soul Jazz) 70’s Fleetwood Mac/Santana cover
  • Hopeton Lewis – Dreadlocks Lewis; 7” (Thorough Bred) ’75 herbtune
  • Black Harmony – Reasons; 12” (Cool Rockers) ’81 UK female lovers rock
  • King Tubby Meets the African Brothers – Original Dub; In Dub (Nature Sounds) ’75 Dub Album of the Hour

Set 5: Vinyl is Vital 

  • Michael Rose – Born Free; Trojan Story (Trojan) 3 LP UK box set
  • Tony Brown Band – Iration Song; Prisoners in Paradise (Mountain Railroad) ’81 Madison, WI
  • Matumbi – Man in Me; Best of (Trojan) ’75 UK: Bob Dylan cover
  • Kofi – Reggae Starship; Black…With Sugar (Ariwa) ‘89 UK roots dawta UFOria

Set 6: 7″ Jamaican Jukebox

  • Aisha – Give a Little Love; 7” (Rockers International) 7” Jamaican Jukebox Set
  • Richard Ace – Supernatural Thing; 7” (Clocktower) 70’s Ben E. King cover
  • Madoo – Jamming So; 7” (Crazy Joe) ‘79
  • The Lions – Roll It ‘Round’ 7” (Lions Bread) 2010 LA roots group*
  • Sly & the Revolutionaires – Cocaine; Bill Laswell: Dub Massive Chapter One (Trojan) 2005 Dub Album of the Hour

Set 7: Wailers Family Tree

  • Bob Marley & the Wailers feat. Bunny Wailer – Dreamland; Marley, Tosh, Livingston & Associates (Studio One) ’66 JA vinyl

<Dreamland – Bunny Wailer’s vision of heaven; 1 min. 23 sec.>

  • Bunny Wailer – Natural Mystic; Hall of Fame (RAS) ’95: 50 Bob songs for Bob’s 50th birthday
  • Peter Tosh – Get Up Stand Up; Wanted (bootleg) Sept. 29, 1981 at the Ritz, NYC
  • Ziggy Marley – Live on Mars; Fly Rasta (Tuff Gong) 2013 UFOria
Bunny’s vision of heaven

Set 8: UFOria

  • Tena Stelin – Flying Saucers; 7” (Mascot) ’99 UFO-ria
  • Unity – Stargazing; Heat Your Body Up (Virgin) ’83 UK
  • Thievery Corporation  feat. Sleepy Wonder – Stargazing; Culture of Fear (ESL) 2011
  • Ancient Astronauts feat. Akua Naru – Last Night; Into Bass and Time (ESL) 2010 w/ female vox alien love song
  • Rockers Hi-Fi – Dick From Outerspace; Rockers to Rockers (Gee Street) ’95 UK
  • Spiritual Rez – Let’s Go Out With a Bang; Apocalypse Whenever (Spiritual Rez) 2014

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: Jah-tober 26, 2019: Bone Yard Skank!

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Greetings Ghouls ‘n Gals,

I live in Sugarhouse; on a narrow street that only has one street lamp. I rarely get any Trick or Treaters and my Doc says high fructose is not Ital. And I have a physical coming up in 3 weeks.

The last thing I need is a bunch of left over candy. On Halloween night, my doorbell camera picked up two sets of kids at my door. They were adorable. And I felt guilty. It was a record cold night.

Next year I’m gonna put a little dish near my front door and let the tykes grab whatever they want.

Just don’t do this!

Urban Legend: Stoners giving edibles out for Halloween

So enjoy this 3 hours of All killer….literally Jah-loween tunes: From driving around Kingston in a coffin to  “roll a lickle spliff wif di papyrus”. Horror bytes, movie trailers and the monster menagerie!

From your Undead station that rules the nation!

curse, Bobbylon

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: Jah-tober 26, 2019: Halloween Showcase; 2 min. 14 sec.

Set 1:

  • Ini Kamoze – Hole in the Pumpkin; Shocking Out (RAS) ’87
  • Scientist – Rids the World of the Evil Curse of the Vampires (Greensleeves) ’81 dub
  • Bim Sherman – Haunting Ground; Crucial Cuts vol. 1 (Century) ’86
  • Sky High & the Mau Mau – Cemetary Robbery; (Origination) ’94
  • The Toyes – Monster Hash; The Toyes (CD Tunes) ’96 cover of Bobby “Boris” Pickett
  • Barrington Levy – Murderer (Vampire); 12″ (Jah LIfe) ’84

Set 2:

  • Yellowman – Me Kill Barnie; Them a Mad Over Me (Hitbound) ’82 Barnabas Collins: soap opera vampire

<Please Sir, may I have a cup of blood? 41 sec.>

  • Black Uhuru – Vampire; Sinsemilla (Mango) ’80
  • Laurel Aitken – Witchdoctor From Amsterdam; Eskapade en France (Blue Moon) ’77
  • The Specials – Ghost Town; 12″ (2 Tone) ’81 UK 2 Tone ska; picture sleeve
Soap Opera vampire Barnabas Collins

Set 3:

  • Capleton feat. Big Youth – Mark of  the Beast; I Testament (Def Jam) ’97
  • Benjamin Zephaniah – Blood Suckers; Belly of De Beast (Ariwa) ’96 UK dub poet
  • Carl McDonald – Satan Soldiers on the Run; 12″ (Makdon) ’87 US

Set 4:

  • Pablo Gad – Sad Mistake; Hard Times (Melodi) ’80 vampire tune
  • Max Romeo & Lee “Scratch” Perry – Horrorzone + Dub; Horrorzone (Nu Roots) 2016

Set 5: Vinyl is Vital

  • Massive Dread – Vamps on the Corner; This Is Massive (UFO) ’80 JA

<In Jamaica vampires = informers; 35 sec.>

  • Prince Alla – Evil Forces; In I Father’s House (Calabash) ’84 Miami
  • Sinead O’Connor – Vampire; Throw Down Your Arms (That’s Why There’s Chocolate & Vanilla) 2005 UK: Devon Irons cover
  • Clint Eastwood & General Saint – Two Bad D.J.; 12″ (Greensleeves) ’81 UK – duppies/Jamaican ghosts
  • Scientist – The Mummy’s Shroud; Scientist Rids the Curse of the Vampires (Greensleeves) ’81

Set 6: Wailers Family Tree

  • Bob Marley & the Wailers – Mr. Brown; Rasta Revolution (Trojan) rides around in a coffin:

<Mr. Brown; 48 sec.>

  • Bunny Wailer – Blackheart Man; Blackheart Man (Mango) ’76
  • Peter Tosh – Dracula; Equal Rights (Deluxe Edition) (Columbia) ’76
  • Peter Tosh – Dracular; 7″ (Shock) ’76 dubwize

Set 7:

  • David Lindley – Werewolves of London; Very Greasy (Elektra) ’88 rocker cover Warren Zevon
  • Dean Stone – Vampire Rock; 12″ (GG’s Hit) ’79 UK
  • Scientist – Blood on His Lips; Scientist Rids the World of the Evil Curse of the Vampires (Greensleeves) ’81

Set 8:

  • Future Pigeon – Mummy Rock; Echodelic Sounds of Future Pigeon (Record Collect) 2006 LA: Mutant Dub Jah-loween
  • Tayo Meets the Acid Rockers feat. Pupa Jim – Vampayas; 12″ (Scrub a Dub) 2010 UK
  • Thievery Corporation feat. Femi Kuti – Vampires; It Takes a Thief (ESL) 2010 best of
  • Allan Pillay – Demonic Forces; Wild Paarty Sounds (Cherry Red/ON U Sound) ’81
  • Natacha Atlas – I Put a Spell on You; Best of (Mantra) 2005 Arabic singer covers Screaming Jay Hawkins

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: Jah-tober 19, 2019 – Hole in the Pumpkin!

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High Fructose, the true horror of Halloween

Greetings,

I ‘n’ I have been hosting Smile Jamaica for 30 years now. October 1989. Don’t remember the first Halloween Reggae show I did, but it would have been early 90’s.

So a quarter century of the exploration of Jamaican, mostly, superstitions about witches, vampires, ghosts/duppies, Obeah Black Magic, The Mummy, Dracula, Frankenstein and the rest!

About 10 years ago I was transitioned into head of the Audio Studio at the Marriott Library: Fall 2009. The early days of digital content. So I had started to notice many soundbytes in a horror vein from my Reggae CD collection.

I started ripping those clips from CDs, pull them into ProTools digital editor. “Snip, snip”. Export as .mp3. Same with a multitude of Halloween sound effects disks.

And there you go! Just like Dr. Frankenstein cutting up sound for your ghoulish pleasure!

Oct. 26th Smile Jamaica will be 3 hours of Boneyard Skanking. But play this podcast to keep the kids off your porch while you hand out your high fructose delights.

curse, Bobbylon

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: Jah-tober 19, 2019 Annotated Playlist; 91 sec.

Set 1:

  • Don Carlos & Gold – Harvest Time; Raving Tonight (RAS) ’83 DC vinyl
  • The Aggrovators – Strictly Rockers in the Dreadland (Justice) ’76 JA dub album of the week
  • Victor Essiet & the Mandators – Mi Friends (Duppy Conqueror); One Love One World (Mystic) 2006 Nigerian singers cover Bob Marley Halloween tune
  • Hortence Ellis – Words; Queen of Reggae (JA) ’82 soul cover?
  • Delroy Wilson – Better Must Come; Norman Jay MBE Presents Ska and Boogie (Sunday Best) ’71
  • The Itals – Herbs Pirate; Calling Rastafari (Nighthawk) ’82 comp: 4:20 Service Announcement
  • Mike Brooks – Devil’s Conspiracyj 10″ (Sip a Cup) Mid 2000’s UK militant steppers

Set 2:

  • George Faith – All the Love I’ve Got; To Be a Lover (Mango) ’77 Lee “Scratch” Perry/Black Ark prod’n
  • Milton Henry – Them a Devil; Who Do You Think I Am? (Wackies) ’85
  • Zema – Somebody Wrong; Look at the Heart (Melchizedek) ’99 Culver City, CA female
  • Dennis Bovell – Pow Wow; All Over the World (EMI) 2006 UK dubber on 70’s I Roy riddim
  • Moses – When the Vampire Comes to Your Neighbourhood; 12″ (Wackies) ’82 Bronx, NY

Set 3:

  • Dillinger – I Thirst; Cocaine (Charly) ’79 Barnabas Collins vampire: Best of Smile Jamaica 30 Years – Halloween
  • Don Carlos – Night Rider (In Danger); Deeply Concerned (RAS) ’87 ghostbuster
  • Willi Williams – Dungeon; Messenger Man (Blood & Fire) ’80
  • Wailing Souls – Face the Devil + Dub; Wailing (Jah Guidance) ’81

Set 4:

  • Sheryl Lee Ralph, Sharon and Cedella Marley – (I’m) Hurting Inside; Mighty Quinn soundtrack (A & M) ’89 Bob Marley cover
  • Thievery Corporation feat. Ras Pidow – The Outernationalist; Babylon Rewound (ESL) 2004 DC dubers rmx Rasta elder
  • Scientist – Blood on His Lips; Rids the World of the Evil Curse of the Vampire (Greensleeves) ’81 Halloween dub
  • General Saint & Clint Eastwood – Talk About Run; 12′ (Greensleeves) ’81 UK
  • Sly & Robbie – Stepping Out a Space; Dub Revolutionaries (Ariwa) 2003 Dub Album of the Week

Set 5: Jah-loween Vinyl

  • Lone Ranger – Annie Palmer; Barnabas in Collins Wood (Wave) ’79 JA – Jamaican witch

<Annie Palmer; 39 sec.>

  • Crucial Bee – Mark of the Beast; Just a Sting (All-Star) US Virgin Island
  • Dennis Brown – Spellbound; Spellbound (Joe Gibbs) ’80 Miami, FL
  • Chalice – Back Weh Evil Forces; Stand Up (CSA) ’85 UK
  • Amp-Ech – Living Dead + Dub; Against Injustice (Amp-Ech) ’87 JA

Set 6: Wailers Family Tree

  • Bob Marley & the Wailers – Maga Dog; Marley, Tosh, Livingston & Associates (Studio One) ’66 Tosh vox

<Maga dog = mangy dog; 66 sec.>

  • Peter Tosh – Mystic Man; Live at the Ritz (bootleg) 9/29/81 in NYC
  • Bunny Wailer – Running Away; Hall of Fame (RAS) 50 Bob Marley songs for his 50th birthday
  • Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers – 666; Hey World! (EMI America) ’86
  • Jah Shaka Meets Aswad – Addis Ababa; In Addis Ababa Studio (Jah Shaka) ’84 UK dub album of the hour

Set 7: 7″ Jamaican Jukebox Halloween

  • Twinkle Brothers – Devil Worshippers; 7″ (Twinkle) ’99 – 7″ Jamaican Jukebox Jah-loween Set
  • Chezidek – Vampire; 7″ (Massive B) ’96
  • Levi Williams – Duppy Jamboree + Dub; 7″ (Mighty Cloud + Student) ’74

Set 8: Mutant Dub Halloween

  • Balkan Beat Box – What a Night; Give (National Geographic) 2012 Israeli about a ghost:

<Who is Jimmy Savile?>

  • Ghetto Priest – Dungeon; Vulture Culture (ON U Sound) 2003 UK: Singers & Players cover
  • Hollie Cook – Desdemona; Twice (Mr. Bongo) 2014 UK dawta about a ghost encounter in the park
  • Lee “Scratch” Perry – Grim Reaper; On the Wire (Trojan) 200 UK
  • Finley Quaye – Mash Up Lucifer/Stone the Devil; CD EP (Epic) ’97
  • Dubchek – Duppy Train;  Down Memory Gap Lane (Unitone World) 2001

 

 

 

 

 

 

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: June 8, 2019 – Conspiracies, Casinos, Cannabis & Keith;

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Greetings,

Lots of stories on this edition of the Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives. During our vinyl segment I played a song by Yellowman chronicling the fallen heroes of Reggae music, Many of them murdered: Peter Tosh, General Echo….and Bob Marley? (Lee “Scratch” Perry blamed Island records own Chris Blackwell of killing Bob for his royalties.)

Alex Jones also believes the CIA killed Bob Marley to stop his revolutionary music from influencing liberation movements in South Africa, Palestine and Central America. My cryptic comment. How does a black man die of melanoma (skin cancer.)

<Did the CIA kill Bob Marley? 27 sec.>

On a more positive note, the state of Illinois is so broke they had no choice but to legalize the seven leaf — through their legislature. Signed by the governor! Now it’s 11 down, 39 to go!; 41 sec.

Illinois also legalized casinos throughout the state. State Casino Board chairman, Al Capone III, said blackjack and cannabis are a winning combination that rules the nation!

<weed and casinos in Illinois; 71 sec.>

Al Capone spins in his grave: legal weed and gambling

And lastly, a guy who likes weed, Reggae and probably conspiracy theories, one Keith Richard, guitarist of the Rolling Stones shows his love of the rub-a-dub by covering Half Pint off the Dirty Work CD.

bless, Bobbylon

<Winsome = Too Rude; 49 sec.>

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives June 8, 2019 Annotated Playlist; 77sec

Set 1:

  • Jah Woosh – Psalms; D.J. Legend (Original) ’82 UK vinyl
  • Derrick Harriott & the Crystalites – Rasta Is Love; Scrub-a-Dub (Crystal) ’74 JA dub album of the hour
  • Rita Marley – One Draw; 12″ (Shanachie) ’81 4:20 for Illinois legalize
  • Jay McGee – One Draw; 12″ (Scorpio) ’81 Canada
  • Loi – One Draw; 12″ (Abraham) Willowdale, Ontario Canada; female
11 down, 39 to go!

Set 2:

  • Aswad – Caution; Roots Revival (Ark 21) ’98 Bob Marley cover
  • Dhaima – Ina Jah Children; Love of the Common People (Trojan) ’77 female Joe Gibbs comp.

<Dhaima – Roots Dawta; 16 sec.>

  • Ronnie Davis – Wheel of Life; Wheel of Life (Upstairs Music) ’83
  • Horace Andy – Get Up; Living in the Flood (Melankolic) ’99
  • Pad Anthony – Lovin’ Stylee; 12″ (Sunset) ’85 JA

Set 3: Best of Smile Jamaica 29+ Years Set

  • Macka B – Black Man; Natural Suntan (Ariwa) ’90 take on Batman Theme
  • Ranking Ann – Black Rock Posse; A Slice of English Toast (Ariwa) ’82
  • Barrington Levy – Jah a The Creator; Time Capsule (RAS) ’83
  • Alton Ellis & U Roy – Can’t Stand It (Extended Mix);  Cry Tough (Heartbeat/Treasure Isle) ’68
  • 4th Street Orchestra – Higher Ranking; Scientific, Higher Ranking Dubb (EMI) ’76 Dennis Bovell dubplates; Dub Album of the Hour

Set 4:

  • Musical Youth – 007 (Shanty Town); Different Style (MCA) ’83 UK youth group cover Desmond Dekker
  • Ayo – What’s This All About; Gravity at Last (Wrasse) 2008 Nigerian-German dawta
  • Jah Bunny – Gimme African Leggo Babylon; 12″ (Must Dance) ’86 UK

Set 5: Vinyl is Vital

  • Blackstones – Soul Shakedown; Insight (Burning Sounds) ’79 UK red vinyl; Bob Marley cover – Vinyl is Vital Set
  • Yellowman – In Memory; Rides Again (RAS) ’88 tributes to fallen heroes
  • Boom Shaka – Wicked Man; Creation (Moving  Target) ’86 Los Angeles
  • Pancho Alphanso – Babylonian; Watch This Sound (Shanachie) ’82 Ho Ho Kus, NJ
  • Hortense Ellis – Sweetheart; Dance Hall Session (Studio One) JA vinyl

Set 6: Wailers Family Tree

  • Bob Marley & the Wailers – Straight and Narrow Way; Best of Bob Marley & the Wailers (Studio One) ’64 feat. Junior Braithwaite

<Junior Braithwaite on lead Wailers vox; 2 min.>

Bunny Wailer – Zimbabwe; Hall of Fame (RAS) ’95 50 Bob songs for 50 years

  • Peter Tosh – Don’t Look Back; While Relaxing (bootleg) Mar. 14, 1979 in Wash’n DC
  • Roots Radics – Love and Understanding (Version); Understanding (Deluxe Edition) (Tamoki Wambesi) ’79 Dub Album of the Hour

Set 7:

  • Half Pint – Winsome; In Fine Style (Sun Set) ’84 JA vinyl: (1) – original
  • Rolling Stones – Too Rude; Dirty Work (Columbia) ’85 (2) – Keith’s cover
  • Love Clinic – Love Rapture; Love Clinic (Ariwa) 2005 female dj & singer over Blondie’s Rapture
  • UB40 feat. Admiral Jerry – Up and Coming M.C.; I Got You Babe EP (Virgin) ’85 UK toaster
  • Junior Murvin – Cross Over; 12″ (Upsetter) ’77 UK

Set 8: Mutant Dub

  • Bob Marley/Bill Laswell – Exodus; Dreams of Freedom (Axiom) ’97 
  • Morcheeba – Who Can You Trust; Who Can You Trust (Indochina) ’96 UK
  • Alpha & Omega – Back Against the Walls of Babylon; Mystical Things (BSI) 200 UK trance dub
  • Sugar Dee – High Grade; 12″ EP (Know Thyself) 2012 UK herbtune

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: Jah-pril 20, 2019 – 420 on 4/20!

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Greetings,

April 20th. 4/20. Smokers in San Rafael code for getting together for a toke. Grew from there to what we know now. The Smoker’s Holiday in 10 down, 40 to go.

Even my Mom sent me a Happy 420 meme

Vaping with my parents last Xmas is one of my fondest memories of the past few years. Especially now that my Dad is deathly ill.

So, every April I start looking for new soundbytes to “rip.” This year I “harvested” about 15 new ones

  • Blues Brothers:
  • Dub Side of the Moon:
  • Queen Elizabeth

And how about some Biblical affirmation of the Seven Leaf….

<Revelation 22:2 – Healing of the Nations; 22 sec.>

<Psalm 18:8 – Fire out of his nostrils; 20 sec.>

…from the Holy Land to Egypt and Mesopotamia

As we roll a lickle spliff w/ di papyrus and smoke sensimenia inna Mesopotamia

<Mummy Rock; 11 sec.>

Then back to America for jazz chanteuse Billie Holiday’s Seven Leaf motivation…

<Whenever I get low, I get high…Billie Holiday; 12 sec.>

I wonder if there is anyone out there in terrestrial radio land that did 3 hours of all marijuana music in the middle of a Saturday afternoon. And even if they did, who stitches in 420 soundclips, movie dialog and musical bong rips? (The advantages of being a sound editor by trade.)

I ‘n’ I that’s who! Let’s celebrate some free speech while it is still allowed.

<Sensi…ng a theme?; 13 sec.>

So enjoy the 25th (or so) annual 420 on Smile Jamaica. Until it’s 50 down, none to go….

bless, Bobbylon

The only shotgunning that should be allowed between these two nuclear leaders

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: Jah-pril 20 – 420 on 4/20 Annotated Playlist: ( 1 min. 55 sec.)

Set 1:

  • Jah Woosh – Mariguana World Tour; Marijuana World Tour (Original) ’79 UK vinyl: 420 Cannabis Service Show
  • Sly & the Revolutionaries – Rizla; Black Ash Dub (Trojan) ’80 UK vinyl dub album of the hour
  • Capital Letters – Smoking My Ganja; Headline News (Greensleeves) ’79 UK
  • The Equators – Feelin’ High; Hot (Stiff) ’81 UK ska
  • Glen Judah – Mr. Collie Man; 12″ (Atlantean) ’83 Houston

<Collie = Kali; 29 sec.>

Set 2:

  • Melodians – Irie Feeling; Irie Feeling (RAS) ’83
  • Leroy Smart – Collie Give Me Wisdom; Let Everyman Survive (Jamaican Gold) ’78
  • Natural Beauty – Nice Up Dancee; 12″ (Must Dance) ’86 UK Roots Dawta trio
  • Soul Syndicate – Mariwana; Harvest Uptown, Famine Downtown (Epiphany) ’77    
Two spliff ‘n’ two Heineken

Set 3:

  • Eek a Mouse – Ganja Smuggling; Hi Grade Ganja Anthems 1 (Greensleeves) ‘81
  • Michael Palmer – Don’t Smoke the Seed; Hi Grade Ganja Anthems 2 (Greensleeves) ‘83
  • Rita Marley – One Draw; Who Feels It Knows It (Shanachie) ’80
  • Jay McGee – One Draw; 12″ (Scorpio) ’81 Can. Rita Marley cover
  • Chariot Riders – Sensimilla Dub; Sensimilla Dub (Crystal) ’80 JA vinyl dub album of  the hour

Set 4:

  • Snoop Lion & Collie Budz – Smoke the Weed; Reincarnation (Berhane Sound System) 2013 Michael Palmer cover

<Snoop Lion vs. Bunny Wailer; 26 sec.>

  • Jacob Miller – Healing of the Nation; Classics Collection
  • Lone Ranger – Ganja Man; 12″ (Satta Rock) JA

Set 5: Vinyl Is Vital 420

  • Peter Tosh – Wanted Dread & Alive; Wanted Dread & Alive (Rolling Stone) ’81 UK 

<Wanted Dread & Alive – I ‘n’ I first Reggae LP: 1981; 38 sec.>

  • Tinga Stewart – Give Me a Puff; Key to Your Heart (Calabash) ’83 Miami
  • Earl 16 – Herb Man Corner; Super Duper (Jam Rock) ’82 Miami
  • Soom T – Boom Shiva; 12″ (Scotch Bonnet) 2013 EP: female weedstepper
  • Reggae on Top All-Stars – Cutting Dub; Chalice Dub Part I (Reggae on Top) ’95 420 dub album of the hour

Set 6: 7″ Jamaican Jukebox 420

  • Black Uhuru Meets Black Sabbath – Guess Who’s Coming For Sweet Leaf (blank) 
  • Lighty of Saba – Lambsbread Collie; 7″ (Uhuru) ’75
  • Winston Jarrett & the Righteous Flames – Kaya; 7″ (Tony Shabazz) ’78 Bob Marley herbtune
  • Horace Ferguson – Sensi Addick; 7″ (Prince Jazzbo Music) ’87

Set 7:

  • The Toyes – Smoke Two Joints; The Toyes (CD Tunes) ’96
  • Future Pigeon – Mummy Rock; Echodelic Sounds of Future Pigeon (Record Collect) 2006 LA “roll a lickle spliff w/ di papyrus”
  • Bobby Melody – Low the Sensie Man; 12″ (Vibes & Vibes) ’85 UK
  • Jah Power Band – Sticky Sticky Weed Dub; Sensi Dub Part 7 (Original) 420 Dub Album of the Hour

Set 8: Mutant Dub 420

  • Thievery Corporation feat. Pam Bricker – Lebanese Blonde; Mirror Conspiracy (ESL) 2002 DC 
  • Bob Marley & the Wailers – African Herbsman (Kooba Rmx); Roots, Rock, Remixed (Quango) 2007
  • Dry & Heavy – Kick the Bong Around feat. Likkle Mai ; 12″ UK (Green Tea)  ’99 Jah-pon w/ female vox
  • The Toyes – Monster Hash; The Toyes (CD Tunes) ’96 Boris Pickett cover

 

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: Jah-pril 13, 2019 – Emotional Rescue!

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<Emotional Rescue is dub?; 44 sec.>

Greetings,

Having some bourbon over at my buddy Aquaboy’s house. He, I and our friend Mike like combat glaucoma Friday afternoons with some music on the Hi Fi.

My choIice was Rolling Stones – Emotional Rescue. In my elevated condition I’m sitting by the right speaker and noticed the dubby echo of the title track. Mick’s falsetto, Bill Wyman’s bubbling bass and Charlie Watts tapping out a retro Reggae riddim.

Praise Anu! That’s mutant dub! Sounded almost like the Public Image Limited LP Second Edition.  A-tonal echo and meandering pace.

As a drum and bass follower, I always thought Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts are underrated for their syncopation. In my mind, they are the best things on suspect Stones albums like Undercover and Dirty Work. (Before I got into Reggae, living in Montana the Rolling Stones were my most listened to group.)

<Stones drum & bass; 26 sec.>

So listen keenly at around the 2 hour and 30 minute mark on today’s Ark-ive for Mutant Dub Rolling Stones – thus I decree.

Rolling Stones, Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman September 1981

Also, this show is a prelude to next Saturday’s penultimate 420 blow out on 4/20, April 20th. I harvested 15 new soundbytes, bong rips and movie trailers

10 down, 40 to go!

bless, Bobbylon

<Psalm 18 Verse 8 – The Good Sensi; 18 sec.>

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives Annotated Playlist: Apr. 13, 2019; `1 min.

 

Set 1:

  • Matumbi – Music in the Air; Matumbi (EMI) ’78 UK vinyl
  • Glen Brown – Detrimental Music; Music From the East (Fashion) ’89 UK vinyl dub album of the hour
  • Judy Mowatt – Put It On; Black Woman (Shanachie) ’76 Wailers cover
  • Gladiators – Jah Jah Version; Studio One Singles (Heartbeat/Studio One) 70’s era
  • Clancy Eccles – Don’t Brag, Don’t Boast; Bob Dylan: Artists Choice (Starbucks) Rock Steady era
  • Prince Jazzbo – Jamaican Collie; Mr. Funny (Pressure Sounds) ’75? 4:20 Cannabis Service Announcement
  • Bunny & Ricky – Bushweed Corntrash; 10″ (Upsetter) ’75 UK herbtune

Set 2

  • Steel Pulse – Throne of Gold; Earth Crisis (Elektra) ’83
  • Jean Binta Breeze – Dubwize + Confusion; LKJ Presents (LKJ) ’96
  • The Pioneers – Pusher Man; Give and Take (Trojan) ’78 Best of
  • Barry Isaac – Mission Against Herbs; 10″ (Reggae on Top) 2008 UK militant steppers

Set 3: Best of Smile Jamaica 420

  • Search Boys – Searchin’; Up in Smoke (Warner Bros.) ’74 Coasters update: 420 Best of Smile Jamaica 29+ Years
  • U Brown – Tu Sheng Peng; Rub a Dubble Reggae vol. 2 (CSA) ’83
  • Frankie Jones – Collie George; King Jammy a Man and His Hits vol. 1 (RAS) herbtune

<Collie from the Goddess Kali; 15 sec.>

  • The Love Joys – One Draw; Lovers Rock Showcase (Wackies) ’83 Rita Marley cover
  • Ja Man All-Stars – Dub Zone; In the Red Zone (Blood & Fire) 70s era dub album of the hour

Set 4:

  • Aisha – Free My Mind; Raise Your Voice (Twinkle) ’95
  • Gentlemen’s Dub Club – Bad Girl; The Big Smoke (Easy Star) 2015 herbtune
  • Sylford Walker & Welton Irie – Lambsbread; 10″ (South East Music) ’79 UK herbtune

<Lambsbread: herb from Jamaica; 13 sec.>

from Jamaica>

Set 5: 420 vinyl set

  • Steel Pulse – Drug Squad; Caught You (Island) ’80 UK 
  • Freddie McGregor – Natural Collie; FM (High Times) ’82 JA
  • Jah Woosh & Sis Bee – Herb Reasoning; Rebellion (FORM) Ireland
  • Shorty the President – Kaya; Fire Fire (Charmers) ’78 UK Bob Marley cover
  • Soom T – I Need Weed; 12″ EP (Mungo’s Hi Fi) Glasgow female weedstepper 2013 UK picture sleeve

Set 6: 420 7″ Jamaican Jukebox Set

  • Queen Omega – Good Cannabis; 7″ (Special Delivery Muzik) 7″ 
  • Jah Lion – Colombia Colly; 7″ (Black Art) ’76
  • Linval Thompson – Smoke Mariguana; 7″ (Thompson Sound) ’79
  • Eek a Mouse – Sensiemena (sic); 7″ (Thompson Sound) ’83
  • King Tubby Meets the African Brothers – Original Dub; In Dub (Nature Sounds) Dub Album of the Hour

Set 7:

  • Arthur Louis – Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door; This Is Reggae Music vol. 2 (Island) ’75 US vinyl version of Bob Dylan
  • Krieger-Densmore Reggae Bonanza – Get Up Stand Up; 12″ (Rhino) ’83 LA Wailers cover: 1/2 of The Doors
  • Stranger Cole & Gladdy – One Toke Over the Line; 70’s Reggae Style (Castle Pulse) 70’s herbtune of Brewer & Shipley
  • Gregory Isaacs & Kenny Knots – Bush Ganja + Love Is The Key; 10″ (Inner Sanctuary) 2005 UK herbtune

Set 8: Mutant Dub

  • Rolling Stones – Emotional Rescue; Emotional Rescue (Rolling Stones) ’80
  • Dub Syndicate – Higher Than High Fear of a Green Planet (Shanachie) ’98 herbtune
  • Bush Chemists – Good Sensi Dub; One Dub (Interchill) 2009
  • Reggae on Top All-Stars – Cutting Dub; Chalice Dub Part 1 (Reggae on Top) 2005
  • Kenny Knots – Good Sensi; 10″ (Conscious Sounds) 2004 UK herbtune
  • Ex-Centric Sound System – Lullaby; Electric Voodooland (Loud) 2004 Israeli/African