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Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: Jah’ly 27, 2019: 31 Years of Reggae Vinyl!

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Greetings,

The year was 1988. Early Spring. My college roommate and I were having a slice at The Pie Pizzeria near our apartment close to the University of Utah campus.

The pizza place had KRCL 90.9FM on the hi fi. Community radio. Programmed by volunteers who pick their own music. We heard they were doing a new volunteer training. My roommate wanted to do 80’s indie. I had recently discovered KRCL’s Smile Jamaica.

Another college friend had turned me on to Reggae via the album at the top of this blog post: Sly & Robbie 80’s hardcore digital mix of Black Uhuru. Militant Reggae in a drum and bass style.

<Black Uhuru – Anthem and what it means to Smile Jamaica; 38 sec.>

Thanks to Pres. Ronald Raygun’s student loan program, I  started collecting Reggae and had enough to be trained for an late Sunday night/early Monday morning show called 3 o’clock Roadblock

<How I started at KRCL; 39 sec.>

It was just before 4th of July 1988 when I debuted. I found that I couldn’t sleep if I needed to be loading my car for the 20 minute drive to the station. So I would stay up all night, lay down riddims, go home and crash and then get up to go class mid Monday morning.

I did the show for a little more than a year. It was a great way to learn radio without a lot of pressure. My listeners? Night owls, insomniacs, graveyard shift workers and cab drivers.

A month prior, I tried to recreate the first radio show of 3 o’clock Roadblock with what was a new medium at the time: the compact disk. This week I went through my Ark-Ive and harvest vinyl LPs.

And to mix it up, I organize from A-Z and Z-O for the black wax nostalgia mixdown.

<Early vinyl gems laid out A-Z; 36 sec.> 

And 31 years later, except for 1 LP (Eek a Mouse), the black wax is sounding crisp. Or criss as the dreads would say.

Enjoy and thanks for listening!

bless, Bobbylon

“Vinyl is what we listened to before CDs.”

Smile Jamaica Ark-ives July 27, 2019: 31 Years of Vinyl A-Z

Set 1: A-E

  • Jimmy Riley – Summer Time; 12″ (DEB) ’76 UK Porgy & Bess cover
  • Soul Syndicate – Only Jah Dub; Visions of Love (Epiphany) ’79 Dub Album of the Hour (Earl Zero bonus dubs)
  • Horace Andy – Oh Lord, Why Lord; Best of Horace Andy (Coxsone) ’72 JA
  • Black Uhuru – Anthem; Anthem (Island) ’83 UK Groucho Smykle rmx
  • Culture – Behold the Land; Africa Stand Alone (April) ’79 US
  • Carlene Davis; Angel in Your Arms; At the Right Track (Carib Gems) ’80 UK Hot soul cover
  • Eek a Mouse – Sensee Party; Skidip! (Greensleeves) ’82 US 4:20 Cannabis Service
Just about the only LP that had surface noise from today’s all vinyl show

 

Set 2: F-J

  • Phillip Frazer – 2000 Years; Come Ethiopians (Freedom Sounds) ’79 JA
  • Sophie George – Girlie Girlie; Fresh (Winner) ’86 UK
  • Heptones – Cool Rasta; Cool Rasta (Trojan) ’76 UK
  • I Roy – Union Call; Whap’n Bap’n (Virgin) ’80 UK
  • Wayne Jarrett – Love in a Mi Heart; Chip In (Greensleeves) ’82 UK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Set 3: K-N

  • Ini Kamoze – Rough; Pirate (Mango) ’86 US
  • Ijahman Levi – Are We a Warrior; Are We a Warrior (Mango) ’79
  • Judy Mowatt – Mr. Big Man; Mellow Mood (Ashandan) ’75 JA
  • Natural Ites – What About the Africans; Marvellous (CSA) ’87 UK
  • Scientist – Miss Know It All; Trojan Dub Box Set (Trojan) ’98 Dub Album of the Hour

Set 4: O-R

  • Johnny Osbourne – Rude Boy; In Ah Disco Style (Cha Cha) ’81 UK
  • Michael Prophet – Give Me the Right; Blood Stain (Ashantites) ’83 DC
  • Quasar – Stir It Up; Fresh (LASN) US Bob Marley cover
  • Ras Midas – Too Long in the Wind; Rastaman in Exile (Disc’ AZ International) ’80 Fr.

Set 5: S-W

  • Sister Nancy –  Gwan a School; One Two (Techniques) ’82 JA
  • Tamlins – Big Girl Now; I’ll Be Waiting (Live & Learn) ’87 DC Stylistics cover
  • U-Roy – Babylon Burning; Natty Rebel (Virgin) ’76 UK
  • Viceroys – Brethren & Sistren; Brethren & Sistren (CSA) ’83 UK
  • Wailing Souls – Stranded in L.A.; Stranded (Greensleeves) ’84 US

Set 6: X-Z

  • Bob Marley & the Wailers – Exodus; Exodus (Island) ’77 UK
  • Yellowman – Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt; Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt (Greensleeves) ’84 US
  • Zema – Blood Money; Zema (Melchizedek) ’86 SoCal dawta
  • Dub Syndicate – Overloader; Towering Dub Inferno (Rykodisc) ’90 Dub Album of the Hour
Letter X – Exodus

Set 7: Z-V

  • Zap Pow – Roots Man Reggae; Zap Pow (Mango) ’78 US
  • Yabby U & the Prophets – Get Lost Babylon; Babylon Queen (Clappers) ’82 US
  • Delroy Williams – Learn; I Stand Black (Message) ’84 US
  • Martha Velez – Get Up Stand Up; Escape From Babylon (Sire) ’76 US Wailers cover

Set 8: U-O

  • Unity – Star Gazing; Heat Your Body Up (Charisma) ’83 UK
  • Peter Tosh – Oh Bumbo Klaat; 12″ EP (Rolling Stone) ’81 US
  • Sister Netifa – Don’t Talk to Me Babylon + Scream; Woman Determined (Aluta) ’89 UK dub poet
  • Ras Michael – Mr. Brown; Rastafari (Top Ranking) ’75 JA
  • Barbara Paige – Babylon Must Fall; Hear Me Now (Epiphany) ’82 US
  • Oku Onuora – Wi a Come; 12″ (Heartbeat) ’83 US picture sleeve

Smile Jamaica Digital Dubplate Summer Roots – Cratedigging in 115 Degrees!

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Greetings,

My Dad has been laid up in Sun City West, AZ. He has something called NPH: Excess spinal fluid builds up on the part of the brain that controls walking, bowel/bladder control and short term dementia.

I, my brother and sister have been tag teaming with my Mom in his treatment. July was my turn.

Long story short, in the week I had been here, his recovery has improved enough for me to do a little cratedigging.

I am mainly on the hunt for collector Reggae vinyl. The temp in Phoenix is 115 degrees.

Here is how you cratedig in triple digits without your vinyl stash melting.

  1. From the retirement community my parents live in, Sun City West, to Tempe is about 45 minutes. Run the AC at 60 degrees. By the time I got out of the car, I was frozen. I literally wished I had worn socks.
  2. But, getting out of the car into that heat felt good. My joints thawed out from the drive. Enter the shop ad cratedig.
  3. Going back to the car was like walking into a furnace blower.
  4. My mom had set up one of those cooling bags and we added a zip loc bag full of ice. Even then I placed a thick blanket. Must avoid sunlight and high temps.
  5. Placed the records in the bag and rinse and repeat.

The uniqueness of cratedigging. At Xmas time, I didn’t find any vinyl in Phoenix. Hellish summer I found good collectors vinyl if three shops. Getting them home is part of the story.

Enjoy this musical mash up podcast for when I was off air.

bless, Bobbylon

Vinyl only shop by the Phoenix Skyharbor Airport

Smile Jamaica Digital Dubplate July 2019 Playlist:

0-30 min.

  • UB40 – Many Rivers to Cross – Version Girl (Virgin) ’85 Jimmy Cliff cover
  • Marcia Griffiths – Peaceful Woman; Steppin’ (Shanachie) ’79
  • Culture – Trod On (Extended Mix); Production Something (Heartbeat) ‘77
  • Yellowman – Don’t Burn It Down; One in a Million (Shanachie) ’84 herbtune
  • Taj Mahal – Slave Driver; Mo’ Roots (Columbia) ’74 Wailers cover
  • Organized Kryme feat. Johnny Osbourne – Ice Cream Love; Organized Kryme (1st Step) 2000

30-60 min.

  • New Age Steppers feat. Ari Up – Fade Away; New Age Steppers (ON U Sound) ’80 female vox on Jr. Byles cover
  • Yabby You – Run Come Rally; One Love, One Heart (Shanachie) ’75 comp.
  • Love Joys – Chances Are; Lovers Rock Reggae Showcase (Wackies) ’83 female duo
  • Jah Lion – Hay Fever; Colombia Colly (Mango) ’76 dj to Susan Cadogan’s “Fever”
  • Overproof Sound System – Kunta Kinte; Nothing to Proove (sic) (Different Drummer) 2004 mutant dub to Creole classic
  • Massive Dread – Strictly Bubbing; This Is Massive (Nyam Up) ‘82
  • Tassilli Players – Interstellar Overdub; Outer Space (Universal Egg) ’96 UK mutant dub

60-90 min.

  • Burning Spear – Foggy Road; Hail HIM (Heartbeat)  ‘80
  • Foundation – Beverly Hills; Flames (Mango) ’88
  • Aisha – Prophecy; High Priestess (Ariwa) ’88 female cover of Faybiane Miranda
  • Prince Far I – Tribute to Bob Marley; Voice of Thunder (Trojan) ’82
  • Queen Majeeda – Gye Name; Conscious (Heartbeat) ’93 female dub poet
  • Cocoa Tea – Jah Made Them That Way; Rocking Dolly (RAS) ’82 
  • Mighty Diamonds – The Real Enemy; The Real Enemy (Rohit) ‘87
  • Heavy Manners – Complicated Decency;  Heavier Than Now (NoVo) ’96 Chicago group w/ female vox

90 min. – 2 hr.

  • Third World – Rhythm of Life; 96 Degrees in the Shade (Mango) ’76
  • Dillinger – Crabs in My Pants; Cocaine (Charly) ’83 rude
  • Prince Alla – Sun Is Shining; More Love (Jah Warrior) 2002
  • Revolutionary Dub Warriors – Warrior; Deliverance (ON U Sound) ‘94 UK mutant dub
  • Welton Irie – Jah Come;  Lambsbread International (Blood & Fire) ‘79
  • Aswad – Love Fire; Live and Direct (Mango)  ’83
Sun City West, AZ – 115 degrees in the shade

2 – 2 and 1/2 hr.

  • Noah House of Dread – Revelation Time; Heart (ON U Sound) ’82 UK mutant dub
  • Cymande – The Message;  Cymande (Sequal/Janus) ’72 UK reggae/rock/soul/jazz
  • Zion Train – Customs Check; Passage to Indica (China) ’93 UK mutant dub
  • Ras Command – Culture Move; In Dub (Red Arrow) ’95 Germ. Mutant Dub
  • Black Uhuru – Mondays; Chill Out (Mango) ’83
  • U Roy – Trenchtown Rock; Dread in a Babylon (Virgin Front Line) ’76

2 and 1/2 – 3 hrs.

  • Musical Youth – Political /General; 7″ (021) ‘81
  • Big Youth – A Luta Continua; A Luta Continua (Heartbeat)  ’84 the struggle
  • continues
  • King Kong – Ethiopia; Rumble Jumble Life (Massive B) ‘97
  • Kings of Reggae feat. Chris Hinze – Let’s Have a Party; Bamboo Reggae (Keytone) ’83 flute jazz reggae
  • Afro Omega – Set in the Sky; Love Emergency (Afro Omega) 2008 SLC w/ female vox
  • Alpha & Omega – The Roots; Dub Magic (Zion’s Gate) ‘98 UK trance dub

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: June 29, 2019: 31 Years of Reggae Radio!

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Greetings,

<New broom sweeps clean, old broom knows the corners!>

Early spring 1988,  my roommate and I were in the Pie Pizzeria near the Univ. of Utah campus. They were listening to the local community radio station, KRCL. I had discovered its Saturday afternoon Reggae program called Smile Jamaica about a year previous. KRCL were looking for new volunteers to train for graveyard shift shows.

My roommate, also a music fanatic, wanted to do a mid 80s college show. I was interested in Reggae. They had enough rock programmers but wanted someone to do a late night program that could mix up Reggae with Ska and World.

I started training late spring and was granted a show that debuted just before the 4th of July 1988: 3 o’clock Roadblock – named for the Bob Marley song because the show aired from 3am-6am late Sunday night/early Monday morning.

includes 3 o’clock Roadblock

I learned how to juggle tunes for a radio audience for probably a couple hundred graveyard shift workers, night owls and insomniacs.

Black Uhuru was the group that got me into Reggae music. I loved them: Michael Rose, Puma Jones (dawta) and Ducky Simpson (dread.) Their album, Anthem (the first Reggae Grammy award) was a booming 80’s synth from Sly & Robbie meshed with heartical roots and dread anthems.

I had met a guy in the U of U dorms, Neil Copperman. Jewish kid from Baltimore who had all these new compact disks on a massive hi fi with Bose speakers. I had been an early adopter of the round aluminum disks, (and I also favored Bose 301’s),  when I moved to SLC from Bozeman, Montana; Fall Semester 1986. So we would trade disks and listen to each other’s selections.

The dorms were concrete bunkers and the drum and bass from Sly & Robbie ricocheted around the room.  I was hooked on Reggae from that moment forward. I had a few Marley’s, Tosh’s, Toot’s & Cliff’s. None of them made the instant impact Black Uhuru did.

From late June 1988-Aug. 1989 when I quit the late night, I would always start each edition of 3 o’clock Roadblock with a Black Uhuru tune.

<Anthem lit the fuse; 66 sec.>

I was only off air for about 2 months. In Oct. 1989, my mentor Rutabaga Reese offered to have me split Smile Jamaica with him. And that lead to my Saturday adventure of almost 30 years.

In between I have been a part of the digital media transition and this podcast was created before there was even a word for it. I knew that radio was gonna go internationally online.

<Smile Jamaica pre-podcasting “podcast”; 23 sec.>

But that’s a story I will continue Oct. 2019 – when, Jah wiling, I get my 30 year badge.

Humans of the U: Robert Nelson

So enjoy this possible recreation of the very first 3 hours of Reggae Radio from I ‘n’ I. CDs on this podcast. In a month, I will do the same for vinyl.

Thanks for listening from day 1 or 31 years fresh.

bless, Bobbylon

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: June 29, 2019 Annotated Playlist; 1 min. 56 sec.

Set 1: 1972-1976

  • Black Uhuru – Party Next Door; Anthem (Mango) ’83 Best of 31 Years of Reggae Radio
  • Augustus Pablo – Unity Dub; Africa Must Be Free by 1983 Dub (Rockers) ’83 YS US vinyl dub album of the hour
  • Jimmy Cliff – The Harder They Come; The Harder They Come Soundtrack (Mango) ’72

<The Harder They Come and Reggae in US/UK; 74 sec.>

  • The Wailers – Stir It Up; Catch a Fire (Tuff Gong) ’73 US w/ guitar and piano overdubs

<Catch a Fire and Reggae in the US/UK; 65 sec.>

  • Burning Spear – Down By the Riverside; Presenting (Studio One) ’73
  • Peter Tosh – Legalize It; Legalize It (Columbia) ’76

Set 2: 1976

  • The Mighty Diamonds – Back Weh Mafia; Ice on Fire (Virgin Front Line) ’76 soul producer, Allen Toussaint prod’n
  • Judy Mowatt – Put It On; Black Woman (Shanachie) ’76 Wailer cover
  • Max Romeo – One Step Forward; War ina Babylon (Mango) ’76 Lee “Scratch” Perry/Black Ark riddim shower (1) – vox
  • Prince Jazzbo – Ital Corner; Ital Corner (Clocktower) ’76 Black Ark riddim shower (2): deejay

<Lee “Scratch” Perry’s Black Ark studio>

Set 3: 1976-1977

  • Martha Velez – Bend Down Low; Escape From Babylon (Sire) ’76 Bob prod’n/Perry mix/Wailers on the riddims/Wailers cover

<Martha Velez; 38 sec.>

  • Bunny Wailer – This Train; Blackheart Man (Mango) ’76 Woody Guthrie cover
  • The Congos – Children Crying; Heart of the Congos (Black Art) ’77 Black Ark prod’n
  • The Revolutionaries – Dawn Creation; Phase  One Dub Wise volume 2 (Phase One) ’80 UK vinyl dub album of the hour

Set 4: 1977

  • Culture – Two Sevens Clash; Two Sevens Clash (Shanachie) ’77

<When the 2 7’s clashed; 72 sec.>

  • Jolly Brothers – Conscious Man; Conscious Man (Seven Leaf) ’77 Lee “Scratch” Perry Black Ark prod’n
  • Yabby You – Judgment Time; One Love, One Heart (Shanachie) ’77

Set 5: 1978-1979

  • I Roy – Tiddle Le Bop; Heart of a Lion (Virgin Front Line) ’78 nursery rhyme
  • Ijahman Levi – Jah Heavy Load; Haile I Hymn (Jahmani) ’78 feat. Steve Winwood on organ
  • Althea & Donna – Uptown Top Ranking; Uptown Top Ranking (Object Enterprise) ’78 female dj duo
  • Dennis Brown – Love Jah; Words of Wisdom (Shanachie) ’79

Set 6: 1979

  • The Morwells feat. Bingy Bunny – Bit By Bit; Kingston 12 Toughie (RAS) ’79
  • Capital Letters – Run Run Run; Headline News (Greensleeves) ’79 UK youth group w/ female harmonies
  • Marcia Griffiths – Steppin’ Out of Babylon; Steppin’ (Shanachie)
  • Sugar Minott & Soul Syndicate – Walking Through the Ghetto; Ghetto-ology + Dub (Easy Star) ’79
  • Roots Radics – Rockers Almighty Dub; Rockers Almighty Dub (Clocktower) Bronx, NY vinyl dub album of the hour

Set 7: 1979-1980

  • Keith Hudson – Musicology; Rasta Communication (Greensleeves) ’79
  • Johnny Osbourne – Jah Promise; Truths and Rights (Studio One) ’79
  • Earl Zero – I No Lie; Visions of Love (Epiphany) ’79
  • Pablo Moses – Dubbing is a Must; A Song (Mango) ’80
  • Wailing Souls – Old Broom; Very Best of (Greensleeves) ’80 comp.
New broom sweeps clean. Old broom knows the corners!

Set 8: 1980-1981

  • Ken Booth (sic) & the Iranian Students – Peace Time/Khomeni Skank; Jack Ruby Hi-Fi (Auralux/Clappers) ’80
  • Sister Jam – People of the World; Rockers International (Greensleeves) ’80 Augustus Pablo prod’n
  • Flo & Eddie – Rock With Me; Rock Steady With Flo & Eddie (Epiphany) ’81 of the Turtles; Melodians cover
  • Garland Jeffreys feat. Linton Kwesi Johnson – Miami Beach; Escape Artist (Epic) ’81 NY rock artist w/ dub poet
  • Mikey Dread – World War III; Beyond World War III (Dread at the Controls) ’81

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: June 22, 2019: Space Farce!

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Greetings,

I’m annoyed with our President. Listen why…

<Trump scoffs at UFO’s;  97 sec.>

This summer I started watching a new program on History Channel called Unidentified

The show features a guy named Lew Elizondo who quit our intelligence service to alert the world about UFO encounters. Our naval pilots are being harassed and traumatized by their encounters with flying “Tic Tacs”. Craft that can neutralize weapons defense systems on our most sophisticated planes.

Pentagon admits to UFO investigations

This popped up on the corporate news cycle and during an interview with George Stephanapolous, The Cheetolini said he didn’t believe in UFO’s. I would have thought he would have believed in UFO’s bigly.

So here is why I am perturbed: Pres. 45 created the Space Force. General Giorgio of Ancient Aliens is heading the effort.

General Giorgio tapped I ‘n’ I to be in charge of Lunar agriculture. I am leading the effort to plant the space dust. The moon is gonna be lonely for a while. That’s why NASA invented vaping. You can’t spark a doobie in space. No oxygen, am I right?

I ‘n’ I am not growing moon weed and deejaying for the harvesters’ entertainment up there, just so Raytheon and Boeing can add to their Military Industrial Complex profits.

Hey 45: It ain’t swamp gas, ball lightning or mother effing weather balloons. It is Extra Terrestrials wary of our nuclear war insanity.

Between Trump’s betrayal and the Walrus of War (John Bolton’s) game of chicken in the Strait Hormuz, I am fed up!

So I told the Mad Tweeter: I QUIT; 60 sec.

The Aliens do not want to see a World War III in the Middle East that could go nuclear. Alien sightings became common after Hiroshima and Nagasaki. They don’t care about us humans, but they need our gold and water. A Bitter Wind destroyed Sumer – and what was that bitter wind? Nuclear weapons inna Mesopotamia

<No war with Iran; 52 sec.>

<Specials – anti-war ska; 27 sec.>

Watching Unidentified and hearing military people talk about a “rain of UFO’s” mankind should heed the warning. If you weaponize space, the Aliens will intercede and it won’t turn out well.

Watch the movie from 1951, the Day the Earth Stood Still and how the Aliens (or  my ancestors – The Anunnaki if you are like me, an Ancient Astronaut Theorist), will put mankind under heavy manners, as the Rastas used to say

<Klaatu Barada Nikto; 54 sec.>

Look to the skies! Do not scoff!

Bobbylon

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives June 22, 2019 – Annotated Playlist; 76 sec.

Set 1:

  • Black Uhuru – Solidarity; 12″ EP (4th & Broadway) ’83 US picture sleeve
  • Lee “Scratch” Perry & the Upsetters – Cloak & Dagger; Cloak & Dagger (Black Art) ’72 UK vinyl dub album of the hour
  • IBA – Zion Trail; Many Lives (Mt. Nebo) 2006 Chattenham
  • Sister V – V’s Version; Baggariddim (DEP) ’85 female dj over UB40 Version Girl
  • Tippa Lee & Lone Ranger – Me No Call No Police + Keep on Dubbing in the Dance; Return of the Rub-a-Dub Style (Echodelic) 2011
  • Barrington Levy – Collie Weed; 12″ (Jah Life) ’79 JA 4:20 Cannabis Service Announcement

Set 2:

  • Mikey Dread – I Love My Mother; World Tour (Dread at the Controls) ’99
  • Alton & Hortense Ellis – I’m Just a Guy; Cry Tough (Treasure Isle/Heartbeat) ’68
  • Junior Delgado – Tell Me How You Feel; Tichen (Rhino UK) ’90
  • Leonard Dillon – Done ‘I Done; One Step Forward (House of Reggae) ’91
  • Early B – Send in the Patient; 12″ (Vibes and Vibes) ’85 JA

Set 3:

  • Fred Locks – Moving With the Power; Culturally (Tan-Yah) ’95
  • Bush Chemists feat. Talawa – Stand Up Dub; Light Up Your Chalice (Conscious Sounds) ’99 mutant dub w/ female vox
  • Ken Boothe – Tears in My Eyes; 10″ EP (Trojan) ’71 BB Seaton cover
  • Pablo Gad – Bloodsuckers + dub; Bloodsuckers (Melodie) ’78

Set 4:

  • Thievery Corporation – It Takes a Thief/DJ Kicsk; DJ-Kicks (!K7) ’99
  • Chris Wayne – Don’t Worry Yourself; Tempo Explosion (Black Victory) ’85
  • Rasta Rafiki – Congregation; Stream of Consciousness (Blue Duck) ’95 Morgantown, WV
  • Rita Marley – That’s the Way; 12″ (Shanachie) ’82 picture sleeve
  • Culture – Dubbing in the Capital; Stoned (RAS) ’97 Dub Album of the Hour

Set 5: Vinyl is Vital

  • The Specials – The Man at C & A; More Specials (2 Tone) ’80 UK 2 Tone ska; anti-nuclear war
  • Pancho Alphanso – Red Eye; Watch This Sound (Shanachie) ’82 Ho Ho Kus, NJ
  • Charlie Chaplin – Naw Leave Me Chalwa; Red Pond (Tamoki Wambesi) ’82 UK
  • Pluo Shervington – Ms. Gace; Pluto (Wild Flower) ’75 JA
  • Soom T – 31st Century Song; 12″ EP (Scotch Bonnet) 2012 UK female weedstepper

Set 6: Best of Smile Jamaica 29+ Years

  • Sister Carol – Lost inna Space; Jah Disciple (RAS) ’99 UFO tune; Best of Smile Jamaica 29+ years
  • Bad Brains – The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth; Rock for Light (Caroline) ’83 DC punk dubbers
  • Michael Prophet – Fight to the Top 12″ version; Serious Reasoning (Mango) ’80
  • Martin Campbell & Hi-Tech Roots Dynamics: Cosmic Dub Clash (Log On!) 2007 UK dub album of the hour

Set 7: Wailers Family Tree

  • Bob Marley & the Wailers – Another Dance; Marley, Tosh, Livingston & Associates (Studio One) ’65 JA vinyl

<Another Dance>

  • Peter Tosh – Mystery Babylon; Jamaica (Putomayo) ’76

<Tosh bio>

  • Bunny Wailer – Winepress (Babylon System); Hall of Fame (RAS) ’95: 50 tracks for 50th birthday
  • Bob Marley/Bill Laswell – Dreams of Freedom (Axiom) ’97 ambient dubs

Set 8: UFOria

  • Word Sound I  Powa – Intro; Live From Planet Crooklyn (WordSound) UFOria
  • UFO feat. Dee Dee Bridgewater – Flying Saucer; Saint German des Prev IV (Wagram)
  • Tena Stelin – UFO + Unidentified Flying Dub; Jah Warrior Presents
  • Winston Wright & Tommy McCook – Moon Invader; Greater Jamaica Moon Walk-Reggay (Treasure Isle) ’69 instrumental
  • Rockers Hi-Fi – Dick From Outta Space; Rockers to Rockers (Gee Street) ’95 UK
  • Bob Marley – So Much Trouble in the World; Songs of Freedom (Tuff Gong)

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: June 15, 2019 – Father & Dreadlocks!

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Greetings,

Smile Jamaica pays tribute to all the Fathers. In Reggae, of course, His Imperial Majesty – Haile Selassie I is the universal father

A little story about my father, also named Robert. 2019 was the year everything went sideways. On Jan. 3 he fell while walking the dog and was admitted to the emergency room in Sun City West, AZ.

We found out he has a condition called NPH. It’s a build up of excess spinal fluid on the brain. Its untreated effects include lack of co-ordination in walking, mental impairment and incontinence. It is treated by installing a shunt in the skull that absorbs the excess fluid harmlessly into the stomach lining.

But before he could have that procedure he had: shingles which  led to meningitis, two small strokes and a whole litany of deleterious side effects. He has been in hospital or a rehab facility more nights than he has spent at home.

Talking to him was like he was fading out and not there. So this Father’s Day show was livicated to him and the memories of our family and wondering why nothing seems to be working for him.

When I talked to him on Father’s Day, it was the first time in months we carried on an actual conversation. The first sense of optimism and now I don’t dread calling him.

So I always lead off with this song by Charlie Ace called Father and Dreadlocks: (37 sec.)

Father and Dread Locks – Charlie Ace (lyrics transcribed by Bobbylon)

  • Hail Daddy-man!
  • Wha’ppen when him come for the Holidays
  • Yes-I! Whap’n rate up a draw of herb fi I place y’know!
  • Son – who dat? No Parson’s son turn Rastaman!
  • Yes-I! Man sight the fullness y’know?
  • Parson send him one son fi (to) college for the study of religious knowledge
  • Some day the boy decides to come home for Holiday
  • But when he enter him home something strange happen
  • He wasn’t wearing slicker suit
  • He wasn’t wearing big heel boots
  • He was wearing dungarees and sandals
  • And when he moved his tam from his head
  • Parson frightened til him was drop down dead
  • When him natty dreadlocks drop to the ground
  • So, his Dad looked at him and said:
  • My son, my son what comes over you? What happened?
  • You pass your GCE and sit upon University. What happened?
  • I work morning, noon and night to get you there. What happened?
  • He said, Daddy you don’t understand like I do
  • But Jah has called upon I
  • I have sight of the Promised Land
  • Daddy, I know the way you feel but one day you will understand
  • My son, what is the plan for the future?
  • He said: Daddy, I plan to use my education to defend human rights, equality and justice throughout the Universe
  • This time the Mother is in the kitchen cooking the best dressed chicken
  • So she run when she realize her one son was home to greet her one son
  • When she sight Natty Dreadlocks she nearly drop down dead
  • She said: My son, my son. What are we going to tell the people of the neighborhood?
  • He said: Mom, tell them that the power of Jah is moving on-ya!

So that song has special significance Father’s Day 2019. The power of Jah is movin’ on ya! Foward ever, backwards never Papa Bob!

<The Power of Jah is movin’ on-ya!; 51 sec.>

bless, Bobbylon

Smile Jamaica Ark-ives: June 15, 2019 Annotated Playlist; 64 sec.

Set 1:

  • The African Brothers – Lead Us Father; Want Some Freedom (Easy Star) ’74 3 hours of Father’s Day
  • Roots Radics – Time Capsule (RAS) ’82 Barrington Levy dubs
  • Charlie Ace – Father and Dreadlocks; 7″ (Studio One) JA
  • Dennis Brown – Created by the Father; Best of: The Niney Years (Heartbeat) ’79
  • Black Roots – The Father; In Session (Makasound) ’83 UK
  • Sylvan White – Mammy & Daddy; 7″ (Corner Stone Church of Music Congress) JA
  • Capital Letters – Daddy Was No Murderer; Headline News (Greensleeves) ’79 UK

Set 2:

  • Sister Carol – Mi Love the Father; Lyrically Potent (Heartbeat) ’96
  • Jah T – Grandfather Land; The Sound Doctor (Pressure Sounds) ’72 Lee “Scratch” Perry prod’n
  • Prince Alla – In My Father’s House; Sweet Sensations (Corner Stone) ’84
  • Freddy McKay – Father Will Cut You Off; 7″ (Money Disc) ’83 JA
  • Ian Sweetness – Almighty Father; All I Have Is Love (Easy Star) 2001
  • Dennis Bovell – Oh Mama, Oh Papa; LKJ Presents (LKJ) ’93 UK dubmaster

Set 3:

  • Cedric ‘Im Brooks & the Light of Saba – Song For My Father; Light of Saba (Honest Jon’s) ’76 nyah horns instrumental
  • Big Youth – Mammy Hot, Daddy Cool; Reggae Phenomenon (Trojan) ’77
  • White Mice – Love Mom and Dad; White Mice (Intelitec Muzk) ’88 youth
  • Alton Ellis – Papa; 7″ (Clintones) ’75
  • Impact All-Stars – Easy Come Dub; Dubwise & Otherwise 2 (Blood Fire) Dub compilation of the hour

Set 4:

  • Desmond Dekker – Honor Your Mother and Father; Israelites (Trojan) ’62
  • Errol Dunkley – Created by the Father; Darling Ooh (Attack) ’72
  • Queen Majeeda – Oh Daddy; Conscious (Heartbeat) ’93 dub poet
  • Fire Facts – Father Forgive Them; Remand Centre (Sky High) ’94

Set 5: Vinyl is Vital

  • Israel Vibration – Universal Father; Why You So Craven (Arrival) ’81 JA 

<Israel Vibration; 30 sec.>

  • Don Carlos – Ababa John I (Father Majesty); Spread Out
  • Michigan and Smiley – Sugar Daddy; Sugar Daddy (RAS) ’83 DC
  • Ras Michael – Don’t Sell Daddy No Whiskey; Love Thy Neighbour (Live & Learn) ’79 DC nyahbinghi
  • Jackie Mittoo – Dad Is Home; Macka Fat (Studio One) ’71 JA cover of Shep & the Limeliters Daddy’s Home

Set 6:

  • Linton Kwesi Johnson – Reggae fi Dada; acapella live (LKJ) ’94 live at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, London – UK dub poet

<Dub poem to father; 43 sec.>

  • Big Youth – Papa Was a Rolling Stone; Reggae Phenomenon (Trojan) ’77 Temptations cover
  • Gregory Isaacs – Created by the Father; Cool Ruler (Virgin) ’78
  • Barry Brown – Thank You Mama and Papa; Barry (Vista Sounds) ’83 UK vinyl
  • Merger – Father’s Children; Prisoner of Your Love (Takoma) ’84 Los Angeles vinyl
  • 4th Street Orchestra – The Grunwick Affair; Yuh Learn (EMI) ’77 dub album of the hour

Set 7:

  • Derrick Morgan – Don’t Call Me Daddy; The Legend of Derrick Morgan (Imperial) ’80 Can. vinyl
  • Johnny Clarke – Don’t Call I Daddy; Don’t Trouble Trouble (Attack) ’75 – cover of Derrick Morgan

<Don’t Call Me Daddy; 48 sec.>

  • The Maytals – Daddy; Sensational Ska (Jamaican Gold) ’65

Set 8:

  • Ky-Mani Marley – Dear Dad; 12″ (Shang) ’99
  • Winston Reedy – Message to Father; Dim the Lights (Inner Light) ’85 UK
  • African Head Charge – Healing Father; Songs of Praise (ON U Sound) ’91 UK
  • Robert Marley – Scandal Ska (Island) ’62 – Bob’s first dub
  • Bob Marley/Bill Laswell – Burnin’ & Lootin’; Dreams of Freedom (Axiom) ’97
  • Peter Tosh – Legalize It; While Relaxing (bootleg) March 14, 1979 – Live at the Bayou, Washington DC

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: June 1, 2019 – #2 is Musical Youth!

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Greetings,

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
  • Afro Omega – Don’t Stop; Love Emergency (Afro Omega) 2011 SLC w/ female vox
  • Junior Reid – Free That Little Tree; Hi Grade Ganja Anthems 3 (Greensleeves) ’94 herbtune
  • Flick Wilson – My Lady; 12″ (Greensleeves) ’80 UK

Set 5: Vinyl is Vital

  • Anthony Johnson – Mother, Mother; Reggae Feelings (Vista Sounds) ’83 UK –
  • Dilinger – Tribal War; Tribal War (New Cross) ’86 UK
  • Zulu Warriors – Chalwa Dub; Warrior Dub (Mr. Modo) ’89 UK herbtune
  • Nicodimus (sic) – Keep It In the Family; She Love It In the Morning (Hitbound) ’82 JA
  • Sinead O’Connor – Curly Locks; Throw Down Your Arms (That’s Why There’s Chocolate & Vanilla) 2005 UK – Jr. Byles cover

Set 6: Wailers Family Tree

  • Bob Marley & the Wailers – He Who Knows It Feels It; Best of Studio One (Studio One) ’66 JA vinyl

<Song history; 88 sec.>

  • Bunny Wailer – Fancy Curls; Hall of Fame (RAS) ’95 50 Bob covers for 50th
  • Soon Come/I’m the Toughest/Bush Doctor; Live at the Bayou (bootleg) Mar. 14, 1979 Wash’n DC
  • Black Uhuru – Ion Storm; Dub Factor (Mango) ’83 Dub Album of the Hour

Set 7: Rockers do Reggae

  • Rockers Hi-Fi w/ Ella Fitzgerald – Sunshine of Your Love; Groove Corporation Presents Remixes From Elephant House (Guidance) 2001 Cream cover
  • Daryl Jenifer – Away Away; In Search of Black Judas (ROIR) 2010 Bad Brains bassie
  • Jeff Beck Group – She’s a Woman; Live With the Jan Hammer Group (Epic) ’77
  • Blues Brothers – Groove Me; Briefcase Full of Blues (Atlantic) ’78 herbtune King Floyd cover

<75 pounds of lambsbread from Jamaica; 29 sec.>

Set 8: Mutant Dub

  • Bob Marley/Bill Laswell – So Much Trouble in the World; Dreams of Freedom (Axiom) ’97 ambient translations

<Bob not a fan of UFOs; 22 sec.>

  • Dub Syndicate – The Corporation; Ital Breakfast (ON U Sound) ’96 conspiracy theory
  • Alpha & Omega – Twelve Fruits; Tree of Life (A & 0) ’96 UK trance w/ female vox
  • Sugar Dee – Humble Mr. Babylon; 12″ (Know Thyself) 2012 UK
  • Roots Manuva feat. Wrongtom – Wol’ a Mine; Duppy Writer (Big Dada) 2010

Smile Jamaica Digital Dubplate: Roots Bash!

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Greetings,

Stepped away from the airwaves last week for a four day weekend. So I bunkered down in the Secret Dubratory and cooked up 3 hours of my favorite roots tunes for the massive.

Bless, Bobbylon

0-30 min.

  • 10 Foot Ganja Plant – Deliver Us Jah; Bass Chalice (ROIR) 2005 NY
  • Afro Omega – Move Like Light; Move Like Light (Afro Omega) 2012 SLC
  • Burning Spear – African Postman; Hail H.I.M. (Heartbeat) ’80
  • Culture – Lion Rock; Lion Rock (Heartbeat) ’82
  • Dub Skin – Heavy Load; No End in Time (Dubskin) 2009 Boulder, Collie-rado
  • Eek a Mouse – Virgin Girl; Live at Reggae Sunsplash (Genes) ’82 Montego Bay, JA

30-60 min.

  • Foundation – Beverly Hills; Flames (Mango) ’88
  • Gideon Jah Rubbaal – Natty Dread Locks a Superstar; Free Us Now (ACL) ’77
  • Heavy Manners – Turtle on Its Back; Heavier Than Now (NoVo) ’96 Chicago ska/reggae w/ female vox
  • Inner Circle – We ‘a’ Rockers; Best of (Island) ’79 (’92 comp.)
  • Jah Bull – Fuckery’s a Gwan; Press Along Rasta (Bull Don) ’96
  • King Sighta – Dollar fe a Reaffer (sic); Master of All (Jet Set) ’78
  • Love Joys – Let Me Rock You Now; Lovers Rock Reggae Style (Wackies) ’83 female duo

90 min. – 2 hr.

  • Mighty Diamonds – Back Weh Mafia; Ice on Fire (Virgin Front Line) ’76 Allen Toussaint prod’n
  • New Age Steppers feat. Ari Up – Fade Away; New Age Steppers (ON U Sound) ’80 Junior Byles cover w/ female lead vox
  • Johnny Osbourne – Man of Jahoviah; Fally Lover (Greensleeves) ’80
  • Prince Far I & the Arabs – A Message; Cry Tuff Dub Encounter Chapter 1 (ROIR) ’78
  • Queen Majeeda – Our Creator; Conscious (Heartbeat) ’93 female dub poet
  • Ranking Slackness – Bathroom Sex; Slackest LP (Techniques) ’80
  • Sly Dunbar – Sesame Street; Sly, Wicked & Slick (Virgin Front Line)  ’79 children’s TV theme
  • Thievery Corporation feat. Sleepy Wonder – Radio Retaliation; Radio Retaliation (ESL) 2008 DC

90 min. – 2 hr.

  • UB40 – Johnny Too Bad; Labour Love (Virgin) ’83 Slickers cover
  • Velvet Shadows – Wailing of Black People; Babylon a Fall Down (Trojan) ’77
  • Wailers Movement & I Roy – President Sadat; Chant Down Babylon (Paradise) ’80
  • X-O-Dus – English Black Boys; 12″ (Factory) ’80 UK
  • Yellowman – Strong Mi Strong; King Yellowman (Columbia) ’84 Bill Laswell prod’n
  • Zion Tribe – Herbissimo; Barre Chords (Zion Tribe) SLC herbtune ’97 

2 – 2 and 1/2 hrs.

  • The Beat (aka The English Beat) – Hands Off She’s Mine; I Just Can’t Stop It (Go Feet!) ’80 2 Tone Ska
  • The Jolly Brothers – Conscious Man (Extended); Conscious Man (Seven Leaf) ’77
  • The Meditations – Stoning Me Away; Anthology 1971-1979 (Nighthawk) ’78
  • The Pretenders – Private Life; The Pretenders (Sire) ’80
  • The Rolling Stones – Luxury; It’s Only Rock and Roll (Columbia) ’74
  • The Ruts – Give the Youths a Chance; Punk Singles (Captain Oi!) ’79 punk dub

2 and 1/2 – 3 hrs.

  • The Selecter – Jams Bond; Too Much Pressure (2 Tone) ’80 UK 2 Tone ska
  • The Marvels – Rock Steady; 100% Dynamite (Soul Jazz) ’71 Aretha Franklin cover w/ female vox
  • U Roy – Chalice in the Palace; Big Blunts (Tommy Boy) ’75
  • Jr. Byles – Fever; Curly Locks (Heartbeat) 70’s cover of Little Willie John
  • 311 – Who’s Got the Herb; Hempilation (NORML) ’95 H.R. herbtune
  • Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers – Pass It On; Hawaii Five-0 Soundtrack (CBS) 2011 Bob Marley cover
  • Jr. Reid – Concrete Castle King; History Of Tamoki Wambesi (Tamoki Wambesi) ’85
  • Joan Armatrading – I Can’t Lie to Myself; Walking Under Ladders (A & M) ’81 w/ Sly & Robbie

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: May 4, 2019: Kentucky Derby Stylee!

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Spark up a mint julep. Smile Jamaica celebrates the Kentucky Derby

Greetings,

Jamaicans love horse racing just like Americans do. One way to celebrate that love is through music.

So on behalf of the “Super Bowl” of American racing (to mix metaphors), the  I play my annual Jamaican horse racing set.

I always start with this song….

<The Selassie I Cup>

The horses and their odds of winning:

  • Babylon 2-1
  • Soul Youth 3-1
  • Rome is Even
  • The Pope 3-5
  • Dreadlocks 8-1
  • Baldhead 15-1
Jamaican race track

Listen to this clip to see who won!

<The Selassie I Cup: win, place and show; 20 sec.>

bless, Bobbylon

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: May 4, 2019 Annotated Playlist; 73 sec.

Set 1:

  • The Chantells – Children of Jah; Waiting in the Park (Phase One) ’78 UK vinyl
  • Zulu Warriors – Warrior Dub; Warrior Dub (Mr. Modo) ’89 UK vinyl dub album of the hour
  • Silvertones – Give Thanks; Stay Red (Esoldun) mid 70’s Black Ark/Lee “Scratch” Perry prod’n;
  • Prince Hammer – Dutty Man Skank; Rastafari Bible (Patate) late 70’s Deejay
  • The Nazarenes – Song of Sharing; Songs of Sharing (Heartbeat) 2004 Ethiopians outta Swedung
  • Bushman – Weed fi Bun (You Got Me Gone); Weed  Bun vol. 1 (Charm) 2005 4:20 Cannabis Service Announcement
  • 15 16 17 – Suddenly Happiness; 12” (DEP) ’78 UK: 2 sisters & a cousin

Set 2: Horse Racing

  • Mr. Bojangles – Selassie I Cup; 7” (Joe Gibbs Record Globe) Kentucky Derby/horseracing set
  • Race Fans – Bookie Man; 7” (Upset) ‘68
  • Dillinger – Caymanas Park; 7” (Well Charge) race track in Kingston, JA

<Caymanas Park in Jamaica>

  • The Pioneers – Longshot Kick de Bucket; Give & Take (Trojan) ‘68
  • The Specials – Longshot Kick de Bucket (Live): Too Much Too Young  (Receiver) ’79 Pioneers cover live at Aston Univ., UK
  • Bob Marley & the Wailers – Ride Natty Ride; 12” (Tuff Gong) ’80 JA
Jamaican race track

Set 3: Best of Smile Jamaica 29+ Years

  • Dambala – Future; Azania (Dada Music) ’83 – Best of Smile Jamaica 29+ Years
  • Cedella Marley Booker – Put It On (Lord I Thank You); Awake Zion (Rykodisc)
  • Pato Banton – My Opinion; Recaptured (Ariwa) ‘89
  • Pablo Moses – A Step Before Hell + dub; Pave the Way (Mango) ‘80
  • Sly & the Revolutionaries – Lambs Bread; Trojan Dub Box Set 2 (Trojan) ’80 Dub Album of the Hour
Bob’s mom. Smile Jamaica celebrates Mother’s Day Sat. May 11

Set 4:

  • Wingless Angels – No Dark There; Wingless Angels (Mindless) ’96 Keith Richards, Justin Hines and nyah drummers

<Wingless Angels; 41 sec.>

  • Lorna Asher – Straight to Your Heart; Straight to Your Heart (Twinkle) ‘99
  • Cornell Campbell & U Brown – Pride & Joy + Rock to the Rhythm; 12” (Mash It) Brooklyn
Wingless Angels feat. Keith Richards

Set 5: Vinyl is Vital

  • The Shakers – Emergency Call; Yankee Reggae (Asylum) ’76 female vox
  • Bim Sherman & the Voluntary – Dreaming; Century (Century) ’84 UK
  • Barry Brown – Ital Rock; I’m Still Waiting (Rocktone International) ’83 Can.
  • Laurel Aitken – Je T’aimerai Toujours (I Love You, Yes I Do); Eskapade en France (Unicorn) ’90 Fr. EP
  • Bankie Banx – Oh Caroline; Soothe Your Soul (Redemption) ’82 Cayman Islands
Rolling Stone Record Guide called Yankee Reggae the worst reggae LP ever released

Set 6: Wailers Family Tree

  • Bob Marley & the Wailers – Dancing Shoes; Best of Bob Marley & the Wailers (Studio One)  JA vinyl

<Dancing Shoes; 1 min. 28 sec.>

  • Bunny Wailer – Judge Not; Hall of Fame (RAS) ’95 50 songs for Bob’s 50th birthday
  • Peter Tosh – Burial; Live at the Bayou (bootleg) 3/14/1979 Wash’n DC
  • Peter Tosh & Mick Jagger – Honorary Citizen (Columbia) Request

Set 7: Rockers do Reggae

  • The Rolling Stones – Too Rude; Dirty Work (CBS) ’85 cover of Half Pint “Winsome”: Rockers do Reggae Set
  • Elvis Costello & the Attractions – Watching the Detectives; Live at Hollywood High Hip-O) June 4, 1978
  • Grace Jones – Sunset Sunrise + Dub; Hurricane + Dub (PIAS) 2011

Set 8: Mutant dub

  • Bob Marley/Bill Laswell – So Much Trouble in the World; Dreams of Freedom (Axiom) ’97 ambient dub; Mutant Dub Set
  • Thievery Corporation – The State of the Union; Babylon Rewound (ESL) 2004 DC rmx
  • Dry & Heavy – New Creation; From Creation (Beat) 2002 Jah-pon w/ female vox from Likkle Mai
  • Dub Syndicate – What Happened?; 10” (ON U Sound) ’93 UK picture sleeve

 

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: Jah-pril 27, 2019! Reggae Loves American Radio

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Greetings,

When I was a youth in Montana, radio in the 70’s and early 80’s was “format agnostic.” The one pop radio station we could receive out of Great Falls would mix a singer songwriter, like Jackson Browne, next to a rock artist like the Rolling Stones or Boston and then expect to hear some classic 70’s soul from the Spinners.

In the late 70’s it was not unreal to go from a Kiss rocker straight into thumping disco.

Radio is not that way any longer. Everything is separated and boxed in with narrow playlists.

So having nearly two decades of pop music knowledge, even in a rural place like Northern Montana, I have a keen ear for pop hits.

We even had disco in Montana

In Jamaica, even cheap transistor radios could pick up stations from Miami and New Orleans. So what I heard in rural Montana was also picked up in Jamaica.

So nearly every pop hit had a local Reggae “chucka chucka” cover. That guitar chop in Reggae comes because of wave distortion in the radio single. The modulation was thought to be a part of the song.

I cold do dozens of shows of covers and we hear some of these examples on today’s Smile Jamaica.

  • The Pioneers cover one hit wonder Steam
  • Junior Murvin falsetto on Curtis Mayfield
  • Lloyd Charmers AM hit by Tommy James; 40 sec.
  • The Clash turn the tables and cover Reggae – Willi Williams

From Fort Benton Montana to Kingston Jamaica inna rub a dub stylee!

bless, Bobbylon

<Pioneers cover Steam>

Set 1:

  • Dillinger – Rock to the Music; Tribal War (New Cross) ’86 UK vinyl
  • Glenmore Brown – South East Rock; Dube From the South East (Rhythm Foundation) Stevanger, Norway vinyl Dub Album of the Hour
  • Judy Mowatt – Sing Our Own Song; Sing Our Own Song (Shanachie) 2003 UB40 cover
  • General Plough – No Pity in the City; One and One = Two (JA) ’83
  • The Pioneers – Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye; Give & Take (Trojan) ’69 Steam soul cover
  • Prince Hammer – Legalise (Discomix); Rastafari Bible (Patate) ’76 Peter Tosh cover 4:20 Cannabis Service Announcement
  • Lee “Scatch” Perry & the Upsetters – Stay Dread; 10″ (Upsetter) ’75 UK herbtune

Set 2:

  • Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers – High Tide or Low Tide; Spirit of Music (Elektra) ’99 riddim shower (1) – cover of Dad’s
  • The Wailers – High Tide or Low Tide; Songs of Freedom (Tuff Gong) ’73 riddim shower (2) original

<High Tide or Low Tide; 49 sec.>

  • Candy McKenzie – Jah Knows; Lee “Scratch” Perry Presents Candy McKenzie (Trojan) ’70’s Black Ark prod’n
  • Junior Delahaye & Wackies Riddim Force – Mystic Revellation (sic); 12″ (Wackies) ’83 Bronx herbtune

Set 3:

  • Lloyd Charmers – Crimson and Clover; Psychedelic Reggae vol. 3 (Trybute) ’69 Tommy James & the Shondells cover
  • Soulettes – Shoo Be Doo; 7″ (Upsetter pre) Rita Marley’s rock steady group
  • UB40 – Don’t Break My Heart; Baggaridim (DEP) ’85
  • UB40 – Theme From Labour of Love; 12″ EP (DEP) ’85 UK – dub
  • Sly & the Revolutionaries – Burn Pipe Dub; Sensi Dub vol. 1 (Original) Dub Album of the Hour

Set 4:

  • Junior Murvin – Rasta Get Ready; Police & Thieves (Deluxe Edition) ’77 Curtis Mayfield cover
  • Ras David – Legalizer Dub; One Love Vibration (Gold Poet) ’95 Santa Barbara 420 dub
  • Gideon Zinger & U-Brown – So They Say + Can’t Keep a Good Man Down; Ire Hi-Fi (Play de Music) 2007 Germ.
  • Marcia Griffiths – Don’t Ever Leave; 12″ (Sheba) ’81 JA

Set 5: Vinyl Is Vital

  • Bob Marley & the Wailers – Love Won’t Be Mine; Best of Bob Marley & the Wailers (Studio One) ’65 JA

<Doo wop Bob 1 min. 28 sec.;>

  • Shaka Man – Tribute to Bob (If It Wasn’t For the Rasta Man); 2030 A.D. (Majicaa) LA Bob Marley tribute
  • Mother Liza – Ten to Ten; Mother Liza Meets Pappa Tullo (Vista Sounds) ’83 UK
  • Linval Thompson – Lick Up the Chalice; Look How Me Sexy (Greensleeves) ’82 UK herbtune
  • The Clash – Armagideon Time/Justice Tonight/Kick It Over; Black Market Clash (NuDisk) ’80 10″ EP

<10″ oil crisis; 1 min. 2 sec.>

Set 6: Best of Smile Jamaica 29+ Years

  • Aisha – The Creator; High Priestess (Ariwa) ’88 
  • Aswad – Bubbling; To the Top (Simba) ’86 UK
  • Burning Spear – Fire Man; (Heartbeat) ’83 aka Mr. Fire Coal Man
  • Naturalites – Lion inna Jungle; Rub-a-Dubble Reggae Part 2 (CSA) ’85 UK

Set 7: Wailers Family Tree

  • Peter Tosh – 400 Years/Stepping Razor – Live at The Bayou (bootleg) Mar. 14, 1979 Wash’n DC
  • Bunny Wailer – Rastaman Rides Again (Ride Natty Ride); Hall of Fame; RAS (1995) 50 Bob covers for his 50th birthday

 

Set 8: Mutant Dub

  • Bob Marley/Bill Laswell – Waiting in Vain; Dreams of Freedom (Axiom) ’97 ambient translations
  • Thievery Corporation/Boojoo Bazou – Under Me Sensi Remix; Outernational Sound (ESL) 2004
  • Heavyweight Dub Champion – Raise the Dead; Survival Guide for the End of Time (Champion Nation) 2002 Boulder, Collierado dub-hop
  • Dry & Heavy – Riders on the Storm; From Creation (Beat) 2002 Jah-pon Doors cov
  • Dub Syndicate – Not a World; 10″ (Lion & Roots) ’98 UK