School is in session. Quick upload of last week’s Smile Jamaica. Be sure to play through the last 45 minutes with Mutant Dub selections by guest Mixcloud deejay from Ogden: Nerd Show!
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
I was born in a small north central Montana town called Fort Benton. Along the Missouri river, it was the furthest the steamboats could go before you had to pack wagon trains of goods to Oregon and Canada.
Brutally cold in the winter. Gorgeous in the summer, although the mosquitos are the size of kittens. A town of 1500 didn’t have much in the way of shopping, so you had to drive 35 miles to Great Falls.
Movies, clothes shopping, better restaurants. When the drinking age in Montana was 19, we would buy beer where no one knew us. They had a good record store there called Hastings. It was across the street from the mall, so I would always try and swing by there before I left for home.
Usually, I would buy vinyl. But, it was about 45 minutes to drive home, at 55 max MPH speed limit. So I would tend to buy a cassette to listen to for the drive home.
I was getting ready to graduate May of 1983. I remember the album I bought: Ramones – Subterranean Jungle. The cassette was the big novelty hit of ’83. MTV crossover: Musical Youth – Pass the Dutchie.
Youth group from UK singing and toasting over a sanitized version of the Mighty Diamonds’ Pass the Kutchie.
Kutchie = cannabis utensil. Can’t have kiddies singing about the Seven Leaf, so they switched up the lyrics to the cooking pot, dutch pot = dutchie.
I bought it for the song, not because it was Reggae. That was #2 Reggae addition to the Smile Jamaica Ark-Ive. Over the years, I picked it up on LP and various 12″ promo singles. Then, cratedigging in Minneapolis a few years ago, I got their 2 albums on 1 CD for $5 in the discount rack. Nice price!
I was cleaning out my garage and came across a shoebox full of cassettes and found it there. (First Reggae album you are wondering? Peter Tosh – Wanted Dread & Alive; Xmas ’81. Thanks Mom!
bless, Bobbylon
<Musical Youth – second addition to the Smile Jamaica Ark-ive>
Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: June 1, 2019 annotated playlist
Set 1:
Michael Prophet – Jah Jah Is My Master; Yabby You & King Tubby’s All Stars (Yabby You) early 80’s JA vinyl
Augustus Pablo – The Big Rip-Off; Ital Dub (Trojan) ’74 UK vinyl dub album of the hour
Cymande – Zion I; Renegades of Funk (Newhouse) ’72 UK soul/rock/reggae
Sugar Minott – Devil Is At Large; Tempo Explosion (Black Victory) ’85
Natural Vibes – Life Hard a Yard; King Jammy a Man and His music Volume 1 (RAS) ’82
Tristan Palma – Sensimilla; Return of the Rub-a-Dub Style (Echodelic) 2011 4:20 Cannabis Service Announcement
Lucy Clark – Just One Look; 12″ (Bullet) US Doris Troy cover
Set 2:
Sister Carol – Natty Live Up; Lyrically Potent (Heartbeat) ’96
Nerious Joseph – Guidance; Fashion in Fine Style vol. 1 (Fashion) ’92
The Royals – Pick Up the Pieces: Full Up: Best of Studio One vol. 2 (Heartbeat/Studio One)
Wingless Angels feat. Justin Hinds & Keith Richards – Come Down Wicked Man; Wingless Angels II (Mindless) ’96 nyahbinghi
Junior Delahaye – Working Hard For the Rent Man; 12″ (Wackies) ’83 Bronx
Set 3: Best of Smile Jamaica 29+ Years
Dennis Brown – Westbound Train; Some Like It Hot (Heartbeat) ’75:
Aisha Morrison – Ethiopias; Stay Red (Esoldun) 77? Black Ark prod’n
Freddie McGregor – Rastaman Camp; Bobby Bobylon (Heartbeat/Studio One) ’79
Musical Youth – Rub ‘N Dub; Youth of Today (MCA) ’82 UK youth group
Aswad – Dub Fire; New Chapter of Dub (Mango) ’82 Dub Album of the Hour
Set 4:
Thievery Corporation feat. Puma – Babylon Falling; Temple of I & I (ESL) 2017
Now that we hit June, it’s Reggae Season as I ‘n’ I celebrate the last month on 2 decades of Reggae Radio before I celebrate 30 years in July; 1988-2018. From Reagan to the Cheetolini. All killer, no filler
<Digital story on my parents’ excursion into Medical Marijuana; 1 min. 46 sec.>
As an amateur missionary for the benefits of medical marijuana, I had been relaying the story of my parents’ excursions into Seven Leaf pain relief on the past two episodes of Smile Jamaica.
My parents just became snowbirds from Northern Montana to Sun City West, Arizona
Christmas 2017 in the homeland
My Mom has knee pain, anxiety and sleep issues and my dad: neuropathy, back pain and carpal tunnel issues. Last week I told the story about taking my Dad in to get a Medical MJ card.
<Medical Marijuana for Ma and Pa; 90 sec.>
Took a week to get the card, and I was back in Utah. So they went to the dispensary and had a little shopping spree
pain relief pills
topical CBD ointment
pain patch
Because they bought so much and were first time customers, they got a free vape pen. And bought a 4 to 1; CBD to THC cartridge.
Better than Walgreens or CVS
Long story short: they call me for guidance on how to work the vape pen. Trial and error and voila! My parents are vaping like Bob & Rita Marley.
And hour later I get another call….”We’re not feeling anything.” I said, you got the stuff that doesn’t “feel”. Oh. Ok.
Last Sunday I call and looks like Mom wants to try a little more kick to her healing regimen. Why not? It’s medicinal and legal.
Last Friday my sister texts me: Mom and Dad just had a toke!
Me: Cheech & Chong!
Sis:
Me:
I had a listener call me after I told this story and we got into a discussion about having parents who are sick of the pills, cost and side effects of the Pharmaceutical Industrial Complex
Once the (recent) stigma of weed is overcome through the relief of daily pain and social anxiety, cannabis reclaims its rightful place in our 10,000 year history of the Seven Leaf plant.
Revelation 22:2King James Version (KJV)
In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
As I concluded my reasoning with the caller on the benefits of cannabis for our parents, he said, “You know Robert? You’re a good son.”
And I said, I really want my parents to enjoy their retirement pain free and unencumbered by the daily pill regimen they are currently under. However, I am definitely taking my vape pen with me on my next visit to Sun City West.
A little dab will do ya!
Bless, Bobbylon
Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: Jah-nuary 13, 2018 – Annotated Playlist; 1 min. 20 sec.
Set 1:
Soul Syndicate – King’s Highway; High Times All-Star Explosion (Alligator) ’85 Chicago blues label
Winston Edwards – Natty Dub; Natty Locks Dub (Studio 16) ’74 UK vinyl dub album of the hour
Bad Brains – I and I Survive; Rock For Light (Caroline) ’83
Rupie Dan and Jennifer Gad – Blazing Fire; Solid Foundation (Flag) ’92
Carlene Davis – The Harder They Come; Reggae Sunsplash ’81 – Tribute to Bob Marley (Elektra) ’81 Jimmy Cliff cover
Dub Syndicate – Higher Than High; 10″ (Lion & Roots) ’98 UK 4:20 Cannabis Service Announcement
Set 2: Wailers Family Tree
Peter Tosh & the Wailers – 400 Years; Peter Tosh & Friends (Upsetter0 ’70 Lee “Scratch” Perry prod’n
<400 Years – The Middle Passage; 35 sec.>
Bunny Wailer – Forever Loving Jah; Hall of Fame (RAS) ’95 Bob Marley covers
Bob Marley & the Wailers – Natural Mystic; Exodus 40 (Tuff Gong) Live at the Rainbow Theatre, London; June 1977
<Exodus Live inna London June 1977; 46 sec.>
Rita Marley – That’s The Way; 12″ (Shanachie) ’80 US picture sleeve
Set 3:
Wingless Angels – Inviting You + Shady Tree; Wingless Angels II (Mindless) ’96 Keith Richards, Justin Hinds; nyah drums
<Keith Richards on Smile Jamaica? WTF?; 32 sec.>
UB40 – Don’t Break My Heart; LIttle Baggariddim (A & M) ’85 EP
King Kong – Unity; Rumble Jumble Life (Massive B) 2005
Grace Nelson – Jah Is Real; Ire Hi Fi – Play de Music (Plant Music) 2007 Germ.
Lee Perry & the Upsetters – Jah; Black Ark in Dub (Upsetter) ’77 Dub Album of the hour
Set 4:
Black Uhuru – Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner; Black Uhuru
Bush Chemists feat. Ras I – Borderline; Light Up Your Chalice (Conscious Sounds) ’99 UK mutant dub
Super Chick – Bees Man; 10″ (Channel One) ’83
Michael Rose, Puma Jones and Duckie Simpson – The group that got me into Reggae
Set 5: Vinyl is Vital
Sister Carol – International Style; Black Cinderella (Jah Life) ’84 Brooklyn
Laurel Aitken – Je t’aimerai toujours ( I Love You, Yes I Do!) ; Eskapade en France (Unicorn) ’90 Fr. ska EP
The Specials – Sock it to ’em J.B.!; More Specials (2 Tone) ’80 UK tribute to neoliberal hitman, James Bond
Chalice; Dangerous Disturbances; Stand Up! (CSA) ’85 UK
Amp-Ech – Living Dead + Version; Against Injustice (Amp-Ech) ’87 JA
Ska praise to neoliberal hitman, James Bond
Set 6″ Roots Dawtas Rockers – Best of Smile Jamaica 28+ years
Patti Smith Group – Ain’t It Strange; Radio Ethiopia (Arista) ’76
Joan Armatrading – I Can’t Lie to Myself; Walking Under Ladders (A & M) ’81; feat. Sly & Robbie
Tom Tom Club – Bamboo Town; Close to the Bone (Sire) ’83; Tina & Chris from Talking Heads
Martha Velez – Bend Down Low; Escape from Babylon (Sire) ’76: Bob cover, Bob production, Wailers & I-Three. Lee Perry engineer
You’ve got dub in my proto-punk rock
Set 7:
Tapper Zukie – Chalice to Chalice; MPLA (Virgin Front Line) ’78 herbtune
Jimmy Cliff – I Can See Clearly Now; Cool Runnings Soundtrack (Chaos) ’93 cover of Johnny Nash
Don Evans & the Paragons – Danger in Your Eyes; Full Up – More Hits From Studio One (Heartbeat/Studio One) ’76
Sis Aesha (sic) & Robbie Valentine – King Selassie I + Conditions; 10″ (Sip a Cup) 2001 UK
8 down, 42 to go!
Set 8: Mutant Dub
Luciano & Sis Sanae – What You Gonna Do Now + Free Jah Children; Abassi All-Stars Showcase (Universal Egg) 2006 UK
Alpha & Omega – Solomon and Sheba; Overstanding (A & O) ’92 UK trance dub
Dr. Israel & the Brooklyn Jungle Sound System – Afrika Youth; Black Rose Liberation (Baraka Foundation) 2001 Brooklyn
Dry & Heavy – Night Flight dub; Meet King Jammy in the Jaws of the Tiger (BSI) 2000 Jah-pon
Charlie P & the Dubateers – Lock Me Up + Dub; Hustle (Dubateers) 2011 UK
Salt Lake City. Some call it Inversion. I call it mutant pollution
Greetings,
Brutal. Absolutely brutal. The air in Utah since I got back from Holiday has been beyond atrocious. “Inversion”. Sounds so innocuous. How about death inducing pollution. Killer smog. Climate change up front and center.
It got me too. I have lived in Salt Lake City since Fall of 1986. The winter pollution gets geometrically worse every year.
I work on the hill at the University of Utah. Driving on my way home (mea culpa!), I can’t believe that orange toxic shit is going into my lungs and a million others. I know several people who have had to go to the emergency room with triggered asthma.
For me, it’s a near bronchial hack and wheeze. (Coughed so hard I thought I broke a rib.) Add to that, my congestion doesn’t settle in my sinuses. But right between my ears.
I am mostly deaf until I clear it out. I was in search committee meetings this week and could not hear the candidates talk.
The Smile Jamaica hearing aid. Found at Bed, Bath and Beyond
And as a deejay that is not ideal either. Tough to find the queue point on the vinyl when I can hear/feel only low end bass.
This takes precision hearing to queue a record
So I was hoping that the heavy bass of Smile Jamaica blasting through KRCL’s monitor speakers would do what Mucinex could not. Blow out my ear tubes. Acoustic levitation in a Irie meditation?
FAIL!
<Inversion vs. Bass; 27 sec.>
Green smoke nah work neither. FAIL!
<Green smoke vs. lung butter; 20 s ec.>
If you are homebound and can’t venture out into the toxic smog, Smile Jamaica works wonders against cabin fever.
Cactus Records: Bozeman, MT; my go-to shop from 1983-86
Greetings,
I went to Montana State University in Bozeman from Fall of ’83 to Spring of ’86. I had a studio apartment right around the corner from Cactus Recyords.
I would spend hours there on Saturdays. Buying vinyl. Music magazines like Trouser Press and Spin. (AlreadIy a subscription to Rolling Stone.) had read in an electronics magazine about these space age inventions called the compact disk.
Aluminum based not vinyl. Harder to scratch or warp. Smaller and lighter so easier to store. For me the best benefit was you could play the whole disk without need to get up and flip the disk over for Side 2.
I wanted these. November ’85 Cactus put up a little rack of these disks. I didn’t even have a CD player yet. So I bought 2 of a very limited stock. The first Fleetwood Mac album (Nicks/Buckingham edition) and Steely Dan a Decade of Hits. I think they each cost $20 which was a fortune in 1985 dollars.
I would stare at them and wait impatiently for Christmas. I had asked for a CD player for the Holiday. Got a Fisher Deck. Mom probably got it from Sears or Montgomery Ward’s.
The deck itself was bare bones. All it did was display track number. No time counter, no programming. I think it had a repeat feature but that was it.
So when Walter Becker, one half of Steely Dan passed away this week, I fetched this disk and livicated the Reggae jam “Babylon Sisters” on this Ark-ive edition of Smile Jamaica
Livicated to Walter Becker; 22 sec.
<Babylon Sisters – turn that jungle music down; 26 sec.>
I can usually find a Reggae jam
bless, Bobbylon
Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: Jah-tember 9, 2017 Annotated Playlist; 52 sec.
Set 1:
I Roy – African Continent; The General (Virgin Front Line) ’78 UK vinyl
Chalawa – So Much Things to Say Dub; Exodus Dub (Micron) ’77 Can. Dub vinyl of the hour
Bunny Wailer – Cease Fire; Roots, Radics, Rockers, Reggae (Shanachie) ’83 – cease fire and light the chalice: Trump vs. Kim Jong-un
<2 guys w/ bad hair – Cease Fire and light the chalice!; 30 sec.>
Sylford Walker & Welton Irie – Chant Down Babylon + Ghettoman Corner; Lambs Bread International (Blood and Fire) ‘79
Abassi All-Stars feat. Omar Perry & Minoo – Ain’t So Fine + Jah Is Here; 10” EP (Deep Root) 2006 UK militant steppers w/ female vox
Always start a Smile Jamaica episode with rare vinyl!
Set 2:
Black Uhuru – Sensimilla; Tear It Up – Live (Mango) ’82 live in London; herbtune
Winston Jarrett – Selassie Is the Chapel; By the Rivers of Babylon (Shanachie) ’95 cover of Bob’s cover of the Orioles gospel tune
Michigan and Smiley – Reggae Ska; Reggae Dance Part (RAS) ‘83
Rita Marley – That’s The Way; 12” (Shanachie) ‘81
Duckie Simpson, Michael Rose and the late Puma Jones. My Holy Trinity of Reggae
Herbie Mann – what’s this guy doing on Smile Jamaica?
Greetings,
Doing Reggae Radio for three decades, you do what you can to mix it up and stay out of ruts.
About six weeks ago, a listener Stephen – hit me up on Twitter asking me if I had heard of an obscure Reggae album by a traditional jazz flute player, Herbie Mann.
Indeed I had. My sister lives in Albuquerque. So we meet there for Christmas now, instead of me having to make a 600 mile drive through the frozen North to get to Montana.
Whenever I go anywhere, I pick up the Yellow Pages (now have to do it from their app.) Where are the Record stores?
ABQ has a good boutique shop called Mecca. Past downtown as you get to Old Town. I chat up the owner on soul reissues and what I call Mutant Dub: Dubstep, lounge, experimental ambient.
The tiny shop crammed with disks and cds lends itself to a cozy, relaxed atmosphere. Along the lines of the movie High Fidelity
Last Christmas I walk in and he greets me. Reaches behind the counter and pulls out a record. “Now that you’re here, maybe you want this”
It was a copy of herbie Mann “Reggae’. Once I saw the vinyl sleeve and knew it was vintage and not recent, all I had to say was put in on my pile.
1974. Love that era of Reggae and Rock. Everything was real music. Not synthed overdubs.
Legit if Tommy McCook, Mick Taylor and Albert Lee are in the mix
I tend to buy in waves and so I have a queue of about 100 priorities. Vinyl gets played first.
It took me about 6 months for this to jump from the crate to the turntable. Damn good on the riddims and the flute. Nothing soft or cheesy. I don’t know a lot about jazz. But I know an encyclopedia’s worth of Reggae.
When Stephen inquired about this. I dropped the 18 minutes of Side 2 during this week’s Vinyl is Vital segment. Smokey Robinson’s My Girl.
After Tosh and before Marley, that instrumental gem fit hand in glove with the Roots.
3 decades of Smile Jamaica – It’s Reggae when I say it’s Reggae. Gonna play Ella Fitzgerald covering The Cream inna rub a dub style this Saturday!
bless, robt
Mecca Records on West Central ABQ, New Mex. Shop there. These stores are dying out and it saddens me. My lifestyle is under threat: cratedigging
Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: Jah-ly 29, 2017 Annotated Playlist: 1 min. 50 sec.
Set 1:
Bunny Wailer – Rockers; In I Father’s House (Solomonic) ’80 JA vinyl
Augustus Pablo feat. The Crystalites & Big Youth; Melodica Melodies (Trojan) ’81 UK vinyl dub album of the hour
Ken Boothe – In the Summertime; Freedom Street (Beverley’s/Jet Set) ’70 – Mungo Jerry cover
Wingless Angels – Rasta Army; Wingless Angels vol. II (Mindless) ‘96 – Keith Richards, Justin Hinds nyah group; 18 sec.
The Equators – Police on My Back; Hot (Stiff) ’81 UK ska update of Eddy Grant & the Equals
Prince Alla – Sensimilla; More Love (Jah Warror) 2002
Christine Miller & Roots Hi Tek – The Light; 10” (Roots Hi Tek) 2009
Keith Richards and his Rasta Army
Set 2:
Peter Tosh – Rastafari Is; Honorary Citizen (Columbia/Legacy) Nov. 5, 1982 live the Roxy – Los Angeles
Jay Tees – Come to Me; 10″ (Music Lab) ’81 JA female duo
Set 3: Best of Smile Jamaica 27+ Years
Althea & Donna – Jah Rastafari; Uptown Top Ranking (Virgin Front Line) ’78
Sylford Walker & Welton Irie – Give Thanks and Praise to Jah + Rolling Stone; Lambs Bread International (Blood & Fire) ‘79
Wailing Souls – Jah Is Watching You; On the Rocks (Greensleeves) ‘83
Benjamin Zephaniah – Rasta; Rasta (Workers Playtime) ’83 UK dub poet
E.T & Randy’s All Stars – Ordinary Version 3; Rough Guide to Dub (Rough Guide) 2005 Dub compilation of the hour
Set 4:
Mike Brooks – Rum Drinker; Classical Anthology (M-10) herbtune
Herbie Mann – My Girl; Reggae (Atlantic) ’74 – flute player covers Motown w/ the Tommy McCook Band; Request
<New Orleans Jazz flute + Motown Reggae; 90 sec.>
<Flautist Herbie Mann, Mick Taylor -gits; Albert Lee; Tommy McCook Band: 80 sec.>
Set 6:
Bob Marley & the Wailers – Natural Mystic; Exodus (Tuff Gong) ’77 original
Bob Marley & the Wailers – Natural Mystic (Ziggy rmx); Exodus 40 (Tuff Gong) 2017 remix
<Exodus – movement of Bob’s people; 2 min. 45 sec>
<Natural Mystic: Original & Ziggy’s rmx; 40 min.>
Mikey Ras Starr – Jah Man of Calvary; Fire & Rain (Makasound) 70’s
Judy Mowatt – I Am Not Mechanical; Only a Woman (Shanachie) ‘82
Willi Williams & Brentford Rockers– Armagideon Version; Version Dread (Studio One/Tuff Gong) ’82 Studio One Dub Album of the Hour
Bob ’77 & Ziggy 2017 – Version Galore!
Set 7:
Rita Marley – A Jah Jah; Who Feels It Knows It (Shanachie) ‘80
Dillinger – Crabs in My Pants; Cocaine (Charly) ’83 JA disco
Tena Stelin – Intelligent Design; 10” (Dub Corner) 2007 UK mutant dub
<Putting the “fun” in Rasta fundamentalism – Tena Stelin, conspiracy theorist/UFOlogist; 40 sec.>
Tena Stelin – Putting the “fun” in Rasta Fundamentalism, UFOlogy and conspiracy theories
Set 8:
Thievery Corporation feat. Lou Lou – Time and Space; Temple of I & I (ESL) 2017 DC dubbers w/ female vox: Mutant Dub Set
Creation Rebel/New Age Steppers – Chemical Specialist (Cherry Red/ON U Sound) ’81 dub to Jah Woosh
“Woodpecker Sound”
Jeb Loy & the Oil Wells – Things that Made the U.S.; Wild Paarty Sounds vol. 1 (Cherry Red/ON U Sound) ’81 UK
David Holmes feat. Sarah Cracknell – Gone (Kruder & Dofrmeister Session TM); This Films Crap Let’s Slash the Seats (1500) ‘98
Words of Wisdom:
Smile Jamaica is hosted by Robert Nelson on 90.9 FM KRCL in Salt Lake City, Utah (Saturdays, 4-7 p.m. MT). Ark-ives available weekly here at the Smile Jamaica blog.
Smile Jamaica 