Greetings,
It was about 20 years ago. I ‘n’ I was juggling Roots Reggae on Smile Jamaica. One roots gem after another. Phone rings.
Listener calls in. “I appreciate everything you do with Smile Jamaica, but I notice you don’t play very much female Reggae.”
Remember, I ‘n’ I deejay for a small, community radio station. I haven’t had a show review in over a decade. Surely, I ‘n’ I can get into ruts like any other media or arts person.
In my defense, 80% of Reggae recorded in Jamaica, or worldwide for that matter, is performed by male artists. And I ‘n’ I subscribed to Rasta militant dj Big Youth’s maxim: No more songs about girls!
Strictly haaard Roots telling stories about the political underdogs , Rastafari gospel and the 400 years of slavery.
I ‘n’ I thanked the listener for the critical input. From that day on, I want to sift in at least one Roots Dawta into the mix. My sets average 3-4 songs. It has definitely improved the sound of Smile Jamaica and broadens the universal appeal.
And after harvesting through my Ark-Ive, it is every easy to find female Reggae artists singing about roots topics beyond Lovers Rock.
So I ‘n’ I am at the point in organizing and cataloging my Ark-Ive of several thousand Reggae 7″ 45’s. Same as with LP’s and CD’s. Harvest the Roots Dawtas in all my various categories: herb, Marley covers and tributes, rock ‘n’ soul covers, etc.
So, what a great idea to celebrate International Women’s Day with a 3 hour showcase of Reggae Roots Dawtas 7″ 45’s. The Jamaican Jukebox
bless, Bobbylon
Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: March 7, 2020 – Roots Dawta 7″ Jamaican Jukebox; 69 sec.
Set 1:
- Dhaima – Ina Jah Children; 7″ (Joe Gibbs Record Globe) ’77
- Prince Fatty – Hollie Cook in Dub (Mr. Bongo) 2012 Dub Album of the Hour
- Anicia Banks – I Want to Thank You; 7″ (Ashandan) ’77 Curtis Mayfield/Bob Marley cover
- Jennifer Gad – Survival; 7″ (Black Roots) Marcia Griffiths cover
- Della Grant – Leggo Africa; 7″ (Twinkle) ’99
- Audrey Hall – Groove Situation; 7″ (Kebar) ’76 Keith Rowe cover
- Massawa – Free at Last; 7″ (Full Moon) livicated to Nelson Mandela
- Sister Nancy – Telephone Challice; 7″ (Volcano) ’82 4:20 Herb
- Queen Ifrica – Burn Some Herbs; 7″ (Fire Links) 20005 bonus herbtune
Set 2:
- Daughter Whinny – Shame & Scandal; 7″ (Hitbound) ’82 rude mento cover
- Debra Keese – Travelling; 7″ (Orchid) ’79 Lee “Scratch” Perry/Black Ark prod’n
- Taliasha Love – Roots Man; 7″ (Jah Music) ’76
- Sharon Black – Struggling; 7″ (Clintones) ’77
- Brenda Harry – Rise Up Stand Firm (Twinkle) 2001
Set 3:
- The Selecter – Celebrate the Bullet; 7″ (Chrysalis) ’81 UK 2 Tone Ska
- Sharon Little – Mash Up Creation; 7″ (One Love) ’81
- Lady Ann – Shine Eye Boy; 7″ (Roots Tradition) ’78
- Dawn Love – Watering; 7″ (Ja Man) ’75 over Welding
- Daughter Cherry – Babylon You Guilty; 7″ (High Note) ’78
- Chuck Foster – California Dubbin’ Dub Album of the Hour
Set 4:
- Little Natural – Put Good Lyrics in the Music; 7″ (Conscious) youth gal dub poet
- Althia – Down Town Thing; 7″ (Joe Gibbs Record Globe)
- Novellette Barnett – Fire de a Town; 7″ (High Note)
- Barbara Jones – Slim Boy; 7″ (Impact!) ’75
Set 5:
- Rita Marley – Beauty of God’s Plan; 7″ (Hansa) ’80 picture sleeve; Wailers Family Tree set
- Cedella Marley Booker – Mommy’s Daddy; 7″ (Ghetto Youths) Bob Marley’s mom
- Marcia Griffiths – Dreamland; 7″ (High Note) ’78
- Yvonne Harrison – Knotty Screwface; 7″ (Mart’s) ’78 Bob Marley cover
- Judy Mowatt – Hush Baby Mother; 7″ (Ashandan) ’85
Set 6:
- Dawn & Christine – Panadol; 7″ (M & M) herbtune
- Sheila Hylton – Mellow Mood; 7″ (Harry J) ’77 Bob Marley cover
- The Marvels – Rock Steady (Pama) ’71 Aretha Franklin cover
- Norma Frazer – First Cut Is the Deepest; 7″ (Studio One) ’67 Cat Stevens cover
- Lee “Scratch” Perry – Jah; Black Ark in Dub (Black Ark) ’81 Dub Album of the Hour
Set 7:
- Grace Jones – Love Is the Drug; 7″ (Island) picture sleeve
- Veronica Adams – Midnight Train to Georgia; 7″ (Impact!) ’75
- Sheila Hylton – Lotta Love; 7″ (Jaywax) ’79 Neil Young/Nicolette Larson cover
- Doreen Schaeffer – Sugar, Sugar; 7″ (Studio One)
- Joy White – My Guy; 7″ (Hawk) ’75 Deborah Wells Motown cover
Set 8:
- Aisha – Give a Little Love; 7″ (Rockers)
- Duche Gold – I Have a Dream; 7″ (Massawa) ’94 hailing MLK
- New Age Steppers feat. Ari Up – Fade Away; 7″ (ON U Sound) ’80 UK Jr. Byles cover
- Cynthia Schloss – No Brother No Cry; 7″ (Merritone) ’80 Bob Marley cover
- Ebony Sisters – Son of a Preacher Man; 7″ (FORM) ’75 Dusty Springfield cover
- Claudette Miller – Too Much Heaven; 7″ (Roots International) ’79 Bee Gees cover
- Nora Dean – Barbwire; 7″ (Treasure Isle) ’70 rudeness
Smile Jamaica 