As an avid skywatcher looking for UFOs, last Saturday was a special treat. The Supermoon (aka the Sturgeon Moon). Hot end of Summer Saturday. Watched a little baseball, waited for the sun to go down and around Midnight I sat on my front steps with a little bourbon (and some spinach salad) and scanned the skies while Thievery Corporation* boomed in my living room. I look for Aliens but alas have never seen one of their crafts.
*Mutant Dub your UFO skywatching soundtrack
One summer on my way home to Montana one of the Supermoons was so bright, I shut off my headlights and drove a mile down I 15 illuminated only by Moonlight.
One day before it’s my time, I will see a UFO. Because they are out there! Do not scoff!
bless, robt
Who do you believe? The liars in the government or your own eyes?
Celebrating 27 Years of Reggae Radio! Give thanks!
Greetings,
Spring 1988. Salt Lake City/University of Utah Campus. Reagan’s last year in the White House; 21 sec.
Ronald Wilson Reagan – 666. Did fund the Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives via Student Loans and Pell Grants. Give thanx! Ronnie Raygun. Believed in UFO’s too
Celebrating 27 years of Reggae Radio. My roommate and I were in The Pie (University of Utah campus) listening to Community Station KRCL. They were looking for early morning hosts. Him and I went to the new volunteer meeting. He wanted to do College Rock. They had enough of that. I was interested in doing Reggae.
I had been a volunteer at the Univ. of Utah’s K-UTE “radio” station that only broadcast in the Student Union. Called my show Positive Vibrations after the Marley tune. But that wasn’t real radio. But gave me the idea Terrestrial Radio was something I wanted to do.
If I could commit to 3-6 AM, I could do a Reggae Show. Late Spring of ’88 radio training. 4th of July weekend: The debut of 3 O’Clock Road Block: Graveyard Roots Reggae Ska and African music. During the coldest winter in Decades. Praise Jah for AAA!
<1988 Alaska Clipper Winter; 34 sec.>
I was cratedigging in Montana during the actual 27 year date and the July 11 show was to commemorate that legacy. 43 sec.
Tunis, Montana – Suburb of Fort BentonPaid my dues early Mornings: 3 O’Clock Roadblock: Monday 3-6AM. KRCL 90.9FM July 1988-Aug. 1989
<Montana Roadtrip – Climate Report; 47 sec.>
bless, robt
Founded 1846. The Birthplace of I ‘n’ I: The Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives
SMILE JAMAICA ARK-IVES: JULY 11, 2015 PLAYLIST:
27 Year Anniversary: Best of the 70’s: Polyester nah jester! 15 sec.
The 70’s – Roots Reggae highpoint showcased on Smile Jamaica for two and a half decades plus
Set 1:
Naturalites – Picture on the Wall; Rub-a-Dubble Reggae vol. 1 (CSA) ’83 UK
Scientist – King of Dub (Kingdom) ’81 Dub Album of the Week
<First Dub Album added to the Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: May 1987; 12 sec.>
Bob Marley & the Wailers – Jah Live; Countryman Soundtrack (Mango) ’76; you cyaan kill God!
<Jah Live – Bob’s comments on Selassie’s overthrow, 1974; 54 sec.>
The Dergue: Ethiopian Communists overthrow His Imperial Majesty, 1974.
Burning Spear – Door Peep Shall Not Enter; Presenting Burning Spear (Studio One) ‘70
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
Triple Crown winner American Pharoah: The Bob Marley of thoroughbreds
Greetings,
<Saturday Afternoons on 90.9FM. Don’t touch that dial!>
History was made on Saturday. First time since Affirmed in 1978, that a horse won the Triple Crown: Kentucky Derby, Preakness and lastly, the Belmont Statkes. Nuff Respect to American Pharoah! 17 sec.
Here is what I’ve got on tap for the June 6 2015: Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives
3 hours of all killer, no filler; 59 sec.
Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: June 6, 2015 Annotated Playlist: photos, captions, Reggae History Lessons, soundbytes
Set 1:
Michael Palmer – Jah Jah You Come; Ghetto Living (Bebo’s Music) ’85 Wheaton, MD vinyl
Earl “Heptones” Morgan – DC Dub Connection (Auralux) ’82 Dub Album of the Week
Is Reggae music gospel music? Yes and no. What attracted me to Reggae back in the mid 80s was certainly the Rastafari themed music from stalwarts (pronounced stal-a-watt in Jamaica) like Marley, Tosh and Spear.
Of course there is plenty of non-religious Reggae: love songs, pop and soul covers.
I doubt Reggae would have had such cultural saturation in the West on the backs of novelty hits like “Fattie Boom Boom” and “Israelites” or AM covers with a shuffle beat. Something about Reggae’s heavenly message attracted interested Westerners looking for something exotic and non-mainstream.
In the 70s lots of people in the West opted out of Christianity, (especially Catholicism and Judaism), and went for something new. Some went to cults. Others went for Reggae: Movement of Jah People while also protesting against the “system.” Or the corrupt and greedy “shit-stem” as Peter Tosh called it. Socialism with a small “s”.
Tired of doing the Judeo-Christian bit? Choose: Jim Jones or Haile Selassie
You don’t have to be a Rasta to sing or enjoy Reggae. But the conventional wisdom is that Reggae is identified as a counter cultural exploration of worship of His Imperial Majesty as a Black Jesus. West Africans ripped from the continent, put down in Jamaica in bondage and expected to worship their master’s white god.
Rebelling against that physical and mental slavery, while still preserving Christian traditions, led to Rastafari in Jamaica: Look to a black king crowned in East Africa. The return of Jesus who will lead blacks out of “Babylon” (The West, Jamaica, UK, America, etc.) to “Zion” (Africa or better still Ethiopia.)
I’m not a Rasta. My roots are in Northern Europe and Iran. I consider myself a Rastafari empathizer. Someone who understands and appreciates the religion as a devoted observer. Not a devotee.
The Smile Jamaica formula: 50% Rasta music; 20% Mutant Dub; 20% Seven Leaf; 9% UFOs; 1% Lovers Rock
I grew up a twice a year Methodist: Christmas Eve and Easter. The only time the Nelson family really went to weekly Sunday service was the two years my Dad was on the City Council in Fort Benton Montana.
Not that I haven’t been trying to be a “missionary” for the secular consumption of Reggae music. I celebrate Jah for the inspiration in thousands of Reggae tunes that fill my soul with joy. But I am careful not to endorse HIM out of respect for true believers. I don’t want to be a part of what Jacob Miller complained about: Too much commercialization of Rastafari!
Yours truly, Bobbylon, is a Rasta empthazier. I ‘n’ I look to the heavens for Ancient Aliens. Not Skygods
The reason I bring this up: I had an interview with Jamaican Reggae singer Etana. So I do what I normally do before a phone interview: go on Wikipedia and read up on the artist’s entry.
Her album I Rise starts off with a gospel cover of a brilliant Bob Marley cover tune: Selassie is the Chapel. Itself an update of an old American gospel tune. Covered by Elvis.
Etana’s entry mentioned her recording genres thusly: Reggae, Gospel.
Reggae Singer Etana. Gave me the Hairy Eyeball for calling her a Reggae AND Gospel singer. Mea culpa!
While introducing her to the radio listeners, I casually mentioned Etana was a Reggae and Gospel artist coming to town. She interrupted me and corrected me. She was most certainly NOT a Gospel singer. Her music was not geared to religiosity.
No worries. I did political interviews for 9 years. You don’t have to agree with me to have a conversation.
But when you lead off your album with a Rasta cover of a full on gospel song you can see where I might have been mistaken!; 21 sec.
By the way, I am not religious either. What earthlings worshipped as Skygods were Ancient Aliens colonizing Earth to mine gold to take back to their homeworld, Nibiru, beyond our galaxy.
Set your I watch alarm to 2900AD. That’s when the Anunnaki return to Earth.
Skygods came from here. The 12th Planet. Do not scoff!
In fact Etana the Reggae Singer, meet Etana the Sumerian King
Etana was an ancient Sumerian king of the city of Kish. According to the Sumerian King List, he reigned after the deluge. The list also calls Etana “the shepherd, who ascended to heaven and consolidated all the foreign countries”, and states that he ruled 1560 years.
Ascended to Heaven in a Chariot of the Gods (Erich Von Daniken)
Read this book. It makes sensi to me!
Here is what I have for you during the next 3 hours of Roots Reggae, Dubwize and Gospel; 18 sec.
Annotated Playlist (photos, captions, Reggae History Lessons, soundbytes)
Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: May 30, 3015:
Set 1:
Wayne Jarrett – Saturday Night Jamboree; 12” (Dub Irator) ‘80
Bullwackies All Stars – Recording Connection; Black World (Wackies) ’79 Dub Album of the Week
Dennis Brown – Emmanuel God Is With Us; 10” (Glimmer) ‘78
Mike Brooks – Good Herb; Earth Is the Fullness (Moll-Selekta) 4:20 Cannabis Service Announcement; 13 sec.
George Faith – Opportunity; To Be a Lover (Mango) ’77 Lee “Scratch” Perry prod’n
<Black Ark Sound: Lee “Scratch” Perry & the Upsetters: 1974-1979>
UK masters of the drum & bassline
Set 2:
Peter Tosh – Handsome Johnny; Talking Revolution (Pressure Sounds); live on the JBC, Kingston, JA acoustic
Jah Glen – Save Our Nation; 10” (South East Music) ’79; Glen Brown prod’n over Lambsbread riddim
Jennifer Gad – Babylon Must Fall; Solid Foundation (Flag) ‘92
Bunny Wailer – Bald Head Jesus; Liberation (Shanachie) ‘88
<Bunny Wailer: Jesus was a Dreadlock; 60 sec.>
Wikipedia entry for Nazirites (aka Rastas who live by the Nazarene Creed)
Abstain from wine, wine vinegar, grapes, raisins, intoxicating liquors,[vinegar distilled from such substances,and eating or drinking any substance that contains any trace of grapes.
Refrain from cutting the hair on one’s head; but to allow the locks of the head’s hair to grow. Neither crease one’s flesh.
Not to become ritually impure by contact with corpses or graves, even those of family members.
The Nazirite Vow
Set 3: Best of 25 Years of Smile Jamaica; 14 sec.
Scotty – Draw Your Brakes; Unbelievable Sounds (Trojan) ’71
<Scotty: Forward ‘n’ Payaka! Mon-ackle ‘n’ dem go Sacka!; 53 sec.>
Burning Spear – Fire Down Below; Presenting (Studio One) ‘72
Errol Dunkley – Baby I Love You; Darling Ooh (Attack) ‘72
Judy Mowatt – Zion Chant; Black Woman (Shanachie) ‘76
A+ Record.
Set 4:
The Wailers – Lively Up Yourself; Burnin’ (Deluxe Edition); Live at Leeds UK; 11/23/73
Lively up yourself and don’t be no drag. Reggae is another bag
Set 5: Vinyl is V-Ital Set
Bam Bam – Slave; Power of a Woman (Bam Bam International) ’87; female artist out of Los Angeles: Vinyl is V-Ital Set
Horace Andy – Mr. Bassie; Don’t Stop (Island in the Sun) ’85 Corona, NY
Toyan – Herb Transplant; Every Posse Want Me (Live & Learn) ’83 DC
Amjam – Give the People; Live Off the Board (Celluloid) ’87 US; Am(erican)Jam(aican)
SoCal Reggae. Features Hunt Sales of David Bowie/Tin Machine fame
Set 6: Jamaican Jukebox 7″ 45s
<Rarest Reggae not on Digital; 35 sec.>
Michael Palmer – Don’t Smoke the Seed; 7” (Hitbound) ’83 JA herbtune
<NORML sez: 10 billion in legal weed sales this year; 4 down, 46 to go! 33 sec.>
The Tamlins – Baltimore; Taxi Fare (Heartbeat) ’80; Nina Simone cover; 13 sec.
Capital Letters – Run Run Run; Headline News (Greensleeves) ’79 UK youth group
Peter Broggs – Just Because I’m a Rastaman; Rastafari Liveth! (RAS) ’82 DC
Akabu – Feeling Good; Warrior Queen (ON U Sound) ’89 UK female group
1978 comeback cover of Randy Newman. Baltimore in the news.
Baltimore by Randy Newman
Beat-up little seagull
On a marble stair
Tryin’ to find the ocean Lookin’ everywhere
Hard times in the city In a hard town by the sea Ain’t nowhere to run to There ain’t nothin’ here for free
Hooker on the corner Waitin’ for a train Drunk lyin’ on the sidewalk Sleepin’ in the rain
And they hide their faces And they hide their eyes ’cause the city’s dyin’ And they don’t know why
Oh, baltimore Man, it’s hard just to live Oh, baltimore Man, it’s hard just to live, just to live
Get my sister sandy And my little brother ray Buy a big old wagon Gonna haul us all away
Livin’ in the country Where the mountain’s high Never comin’ back here ’til the day I die
Oh, baltimore Man, it’s hard just to live Oh, baltimore Man, it’s hard just to live, just to live
Set 6: Jamaican Jukebox 45 RPM; 6 sec.
Rob Smarley (aka Albert Griffiths) – Holiday Ride; 7” (Portland) ’78 JA; 7” Jamaican Jukebox set
<Albert Griffiths as Rob Smarley? 14 sec.>
Anthony Johnson – Oh Jah; 7” (Corner Stone) JA
Lady Ann – Informer; 7” (Taxi) ’83 JA
Carlton Livingston – Chalice in Hand; 7” (Taxi) herbtune
Some sort of inside joke by The Gladiators lead singer? Albert Griffiths
Set 8: Mutant Dub*
*Programming Note: power surge from all the Mutant Dub bass knocked the station off air. Most of Jah Woosh and 2 Bad Card zapped by KRCL’s weak sauce transmitter. 2 minutes of dead air chopped from the stream. Mea culpa — the Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives. 21 sec.
Ari Up – Kill Em With Love (Collision) 2005 former lead singer of The Slits punk group; mutant dub set
<Reggae History Lesson: punk dubstress Ari Up: The Slits, New Age Steppers, solo 14 sec.>
The Archives feat. Ras Puma – Who’s Correct?; The Archives (ESL) 2012; Eric Hilton of Thievery Corporation
Red I – Jahdgement Day; Jahdgement Day (Red I) Phillipines dub
Jah Woosh – Woodpecker Sound; Wild Paarty Sounds vol. 1 (ON U Sound) ‘81
2 Bad Card – Weed Specialist; CD single (ON U Sound) ‘95
Jah Rej – Yes I; 12” (Jah Works)
African Head Charge – Fruit Market; Drastic Season (ON U Sound) ‘83
Ari Up of The Slits and New Age Steppers. Johnny Rotten was her father in law
Parting Shot Words of Wisdom: Do yourself a favor educate your mind!
The Lion of Judah shall break every chain and give I the Victory again and again…Robert “Nesta” Marley
Mixcloud – Bobbylon: Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives + Digital Dubplates
Ark-Ive. Here on Smile Jamaica blog; without commercial interruptions
Twitter: SmileJ_KRCL for live alert and stream upload/blog posts
Neil Armstrong: “I am So high!”
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 