If you listen at all to Smile Jamaica you might notice a few “trends”
Music never stops. Even when I chatter away
I am way too into 4:20, herbtunes, Seven Leaf
I’m getting to the point of being way into all things Extra Terrestrial
I don’t play much dancehall. I play contemporary dub and modern roots
I worship at the Black Wax Temple.
Chicks dig the 7 Inch
I don’t do Digital. I am a 2/3 CD 1/3 Vinyl selector/deejay/programmer on Smile Jamaica.
<lo-fi! no computa for I ‘n’ I; 5 sec.>
Christians got Ten. Muslims have Five. I only need Three.
Vinyl Commandments of Smile Jamaica
Commandment I – Thou Shalt Lead off each Ark-Ive Edition with a Vinyl Selection
Commandment II – Thou Shalt Play one Extra Loooong 12″ or 10″ piece of vinyl each half hour. Let the riddim stretch out to defy gravity. Sink down in the groove
Commandment III – Thou Shalt play a Vinyl is Vital (rhymes with Ital) set midway thru the 3 hour Ark-Ive
Juggle mi a juggle
Individual tracks from LPs (Long Players) or Extended Mix Vinyl on either 12″ or 10″ sizes. Just have not made room lately for the 7″ variety.
I had a listener Tweet me that I should show some love for the 45 RPM – 7″ vinyl
<Juggling Wax: 7″ Jamaican Jukebox. 38 sec.>
Better for you than Barbie, dawta!
So I did a quick tour of the Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives and grabbed 2 crocus bags full of vinyl. Seven inch stylee!: 16 sec.
2 crocus bags of Smile Jamaica’s secret stash of Black Wax: 7 inch 45s for juggling! That is not an oven mitt but my Grandfather’s vinyl dust cloth from when he sold records in his Montana hardware store
Flingin’ vinyl at 45 REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE; 12 sec.
The Real Revolutionary
The Power of Vinyl: Heavy Roots crapped out KRCL’s electrical system with a power outage. No mp3 has that shower of power
This 7″ 45 spun with such fury it caused a power outage at KRCL during Smile Jamaica! Digital mp3s obviously not allowed in Jah’s garden!
Here is how these 7″ Black Wax editions differ from the usual Smile Jamaica Ark-Ive Show
Jukebox and singles to be played in the dance by Jamaican dancehall selectors were expected to be short and snappy.
An average Smile Jamaica, 3 hours, plays between 30-35 tunes. It jumps to well over 40+ on 7″ only shows
<Why 7″s tend to be shorter in duration; 27 sec.>
2. You need a center adapter for the US and JA singles for the station Turntables
7 inch adapter: US and JA singles have wide mouth centers. UK 7″s do not
<Cratedigging: US/JA 7″s vs. UK 7″s; 64 sec.>
3. The rarest of the rare out of the Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives. Very few artists had the career for a full length album. But hundreds of great artists put forth one hit wonders on unique and boutique labels. The obscurity for sure-ty that enhances listening to a heavy cratedigger’s perspective on the Radio.
<One hit wonder; 37 sec.>
The obscure one shot boomshot. The true rarities featured out of the Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives. No LP, No CD, No iTunes
Here is what I featured from the big stack of Black Wax:
Dub Album of the Week: Front Line Dub (Virgin); compilation from the Virgin Front Line Dub LPs. So the music never has to stop
Secret Shame: Rasta Jamaicans with a “sweet tooth” for Kentucky Fried Chicken
<Lee Perry: Two buckets of chicken, keeps the drum kickin’; 7 sec.>
<That’s not very Ital, KFC! 87 sec..>
Two down, 48 to go!
Seven Leaf juggler: Two down, 48 to go!; 7 sec.
<Smile Jamaica Legalization Prediction: 6 legalizing states in 2014; 23 sec.>
Jah-laska. Smile Jamaica predicts legalize 2014
Reggae Prophecy: Bob Marley Who Colt the Game. Dominos motif on 2014 EU/NATO/Obama vs. Russia/Putin. 67 sec.
You sanction my gas, I sanction your food. How you like dem apples?. Who Colt the Game?
Reggae History Lessson: DJ Charley Ace and his Swing a Ling Mobile Record Shack
<Charley Ace. 58 sec.>
Charley Ace
Ancient Aliens Mutant Dub: Tenastelin tells you about my ancestors the Anunnaki
<Tenastelin Flying Sacuers; 3 min 57 sec.>
Make way for the Anunnaki – Returning to Earth in 2800AD
I’ll load the entire 3 hours (minus vinyl induced power outage time) tomorrow with the full playlist. Also gonna tag some of the unique art work of the 45’s on one of a kind record labels
<Countdown to the A-Pot-Calypse Love Song: World War III soundclip: #1; 35 sec.>
My friends call me Nelstradamus.
Not really, that is what I call myself to remind them of my dire political prophecies. Nelson + Nostradamus = Nelstradamus.
Nostradamus’s secret conduit to his predictions. The Seven Leaf vapors.
I remember saying to my coffee mates in 2003 that once we invaded Iraq, it would be a new Millennial Crusade. Like smashing your first right in the middle of a hornet’s nest. The Iraqis would most certainly not be greeting us with garlands of flowers and sweet meats.
Redder than Red – Perpetual Wars: North Africa/Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa, Central/South Asia. The real legacy of 9/11 and Iraq 2003
Perpetual war in dozens of West Asian, North African and Subcontinental countries. It’s quicker and easier to count the nations of Jah-frica who *aren’t* at war. Forget peace in the Holy Land. And will the last Christian Assyrian, Chaldean, Yacoubite, the indigenous people – my people – leaving Iraq and Syria please remember to turn out the lights.
Prince Far I: “Jonah went to Nineveh to warn the Nation. Tell them about Jah Love.” Jonah’s (Mar Yunis) tomb in Mosul was destroyed by ISIS jihadis
When Ukraine went hot at the end of the Sochi Olympics, I texted my pals: “World War III. Coming this summer.” They scoffed. I brooded. Sure enough right around the 100 year anniversary of World War Uno, (Aug. 1914) events are shaping up to see another European continental war of brother killing brother. We are back to the modern equivalent of Dr. Strangelove: “we can win a tactical nuclear war.” Yes we can? No effing way!
President Superfly stars in “Cold War the Sequel”: Jihad? More like Yeee-hawwwwd!
<Countdown to the A-Pot-Calypse Love Song: World War III soundclip #2; 21 sec.>
My remote viewing antennae are finely tuned via thousand upon thousand of Reggae prophecies predicting this would happen if mankind didn’t repent.
<Countdown to the A-Pot-Calypse Love Song: World War III soundclip #3; 21>
Rather than be depressed I chose to embrace a nihilistic approach by virtue of those same Reggae lyrics. Listen keenly to this tune I played on this week’s stream that lit up the phones like a Vegas jackpot live on air.
Out of Boston, Jah-suchusetts: “Either way, you’re gonna get probed!”
<Spiritual Rez – Let’s Go Out with a Bang; 2 min 48 sec.>
<A-Pot-Calypse Right Now!: Smile Jamaica intro; 63 sec.>
Lyrical satirical
Girl, they say the end is coming soon
They’re talking about impending doom and total annihilation
Girls, what if what they say is true
There’s nothing really left to do but each other
If the nuclear bombs get deployed tonight
You’ll be glad you got some Afternoon Delight
So take my hand and come into my room
If the end is coming we should be too
Oh yeah: Let’s go out with a bang!
Girl, the tidal wave’s approaching
We might as well start groping
It’s not too late
Girl, if we’re all going down
You might as well be going down
…On me
Get it beyond we’re not an Alien Tribe
All I want is what’s between those thighs
If the Spaceships have surrounded the Globe
Either way you’re gonna get probed
Oh yeah: Let’s go out with a bang!
People are dying
And we’re 69ing
It’s a total panic
And we’re getting tantric
Oh yeah: Let’s go out with a bang!
Fellow devotees of the Anunnaki. Best Reggae novelty song since Smoke Two Joints and Monster Hash. Smile Jamaica approved!
bless, robt
Check the Playlist for photos and soundbytes.
The July 26, 2014 Smile Jamaica Ark-Ive
Playlist:
Louise Bennett – Linstead Market; Jamaican Folk Songs Sung By Louise Bennett (Smithsonian Folkways); ’55 10” vinyl; NYC
Jah Shaka – Coronation Dub; Coronation Dub: Commandments of Dub – Chapter 9 (Jah Shaka); ’89 UK Dub Album of the Week
Dennis Brown – The Writing is on the Wall; Complete A & M Years (A & M) ‘81
Jimmy Cliff – American Plan; Club Paradise (Sony) ’86 Soundtrack
Niney & Max (Romeo) – Aily & Ailaloo; Blood and Fire (Trojan) ’71; 4:20 Cannabis Service Announcement
<2 Down, 48 to go!; 3 sec.>
Hollie Cook – Win or Lose; Twice (Mr. Bongo) 2014; Mutant dubstress UK***End of Set 1
Louise Bennett – Jamaica’s national treasure
Peter Tosh – Jahman inna Jamdung; Equal Rights (Legacy Edition) ’77; dubble disk rarity
<His Imperial Majesty Birthday>
<Peter Tosh: Jamdung definition; 35 sec.>
Dayjah Meets the Disciples – Rebirth (The Mix); King Size Dub Volume 1 (Echo Beach); ’95 female vox Jah-many
Carlton Livingston – Tale of Two Cities; 10”; 2010 UK mutant dub update
Bingui Jaa Jammy – Congo Natty; African Reggae (Putumayo); 2009 Burkina Faso West Africa***End of Set 2
Roots from the Mother Continent of Jah-frica. Found in Missoula, Jah-tana
Spiritual Rez – Let’s Go Out With a Bang; Apocalypse Whenever (Spiritual Rez) 2014 Armageddon love song
Lady Ann – Nice Like Me; Bad Gyal Inna Dance (Jump Up); 2008 J’can female deejay
Gyptian – Sensi; Hi Grade Ganja Anthems 3 (Greensleeves); 2010 herbtune set
Bunny Wailer – Saturday Night; Rule Dance Hall (Shanachie) ’87 Sam Cooke cover***End of Set 3
Fukashima, War inna Holy Land, Nukes over Ukraine, 777 Plane crashes every other day. “Let’s go out with a bang”
Bob Marley & the Wailers – No Woman, No Cry; Live Forever (Tuff Gong) dubble disk last live show: Pittsburgh, Jah-sylvania; 9/23/80
King General & Century – They Say (Sensimilla Can’t Smoke); 10” (Love Dub Music); 2006 mutant dub herb tune***End of Set 4
Happy Anniversary to I ‘n’ I: 26 Years of Reggae Radio: July 4, 1988: 3 O’Clock Roadblock
Greetings,
Monday July 4, 1988 I unveiled a Graveyard hour Reggae, World and Ska show called 3 O’Clock Roadblock. Thus, I ‘n’ I (WE) celebrate together 26 years. Give Thanks!
Before I ‘n’ I move forward, let’s see how last week’s Smile Jamaica Ark-Ive charted on Mixcloud:June 21, 2014
Yes I! Another Top Ten Black Wax result for 26 years of Love & Devotion at 33 and 1/3 or 45 REVOLUTIONS! per Minute
I moved to Utah to go to University Fall 1986. I had spent the previous 3 years in Bozeman, Jah-tana. Go Bobcats!
My last (and coldest) year at Montana State, I discovered their community/college radio station KGLT.
My musical tastes were sort of in limbo. I had just started subscribing to this new magazine, Spin.I was big into college rock: The Minutemen, (Double Nickels on the Dime,), The Replacements (Pleased to Meet Me) and Husker Du (New Day Rising).
When I wasn’t listening to the local radio, I was watching MTV when the station actually played music videos: The Cult, Big Audio Dynamite, Jesus and Mary Chain.
Before the Real World and all that junk, I watched this about two hours a night in the mid 80’s
I was alienated from most contemporary Rock (too many synth drums, Neil Young as a Republican), Hair Metal balladry (Perfect for the culturally bereft Reagan “Just Say No” era). The Clash fell apart.
And the only King of Pop for me is the King of Kings: The Negus; Negusa Negast; Lord of Lords, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah. Elect of God, ever-living Jah. Earth’s Rightful Ruler
<Smile Jamaica Reggae History Lesson: Definition of Negus. 17 sec.>
Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia. Born July 23, 1892. From the line of King David. My brother, David: also born July 23. Baraka!
So when I got my Student Loan check from Uncle Ron, I had some easy cash for these new fangled things called the Compact Disk. Moving from 25,000 people in Bozeman to a couple hundred thousand in Salt Lake City gave me more musical choices.
I bought a little blues, I picked up some quality world music. Mostly in Salt Lake stores long gone: Smokey’s Records, Raspberry Records, The Mad Platter. The (real) Cosmic Aeroplane.
My first Reggae acquisitions: Jimmy Cliff Harder They Come soundtrack and Reggae Greats. Bob Marley’s whole catalog had just been reissued on CD for midline price. Bought them all. Sly and Robbie – Taxi Fare: The very first CD purchase. Steel Pulse – True Democracy. UB40 – Labour of Love
Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: The first CD addition; Fall 1986; Smokey’s Records, Salt Lake City, Utah
***
As usual my timing sucked. When I was scouting Utah as a move, I dialed in to their excellent Indie station: KCGL. Listened to it every day all day when I relocated. Alas, about six weeks into Fall of 1986, it was bought out and converted to a religious station. WTF?
As Bob Marley said, “When one door closes, another will open.” A friend I had met in the dorms turned me on to Salt Lake’s Community station, KRCL.
That’s how I learned about Reggae Radio: from their Saturday Afternoon program, Smile Jamaica (then heard 1-4pm.)
My friend was a Jewish kid from Baltimore, computer programming major who had a really great CD collection and the stereo setup to make it pop. The dorms at the University of Utah were glorified closets encased in brick. Excellent environment for sound ricochet.
I told my buddy Neal that I had been, sort of, gravitating towards Reggae out of these compelling sub genres thanks to my radio consumption of Smile Jamaica.
He went to his book shelf and grabbed Black Uhuru’s Anthem off a rack. Popped it into his Nakamichi super duper CD player. Bose 901 speakers. Itched up the volume for a Friday night. And KABOOM!!!
Foundation album in the Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives. This release took me from casual observer to Reggae and Dub fanatic on the first listen!
Sly & Robbie were in high demand during the midpoint of this decade of wretched excess wiring the groove of synthesized drum & bass. Perfect for Roots Reggae. Dylan, Springsteen, Clapton and The Stones? Meh, not so much.
Michael Rose’s Afro Arab singing was right in line with my understanding of African vocalists like King Sunny, Youssou N’Dour and Fela Kuti.
Female singer Puma Jones’ a-syncopated harmonies clashed with Ducky Simpson’s growl foreshadowed my complete and never ending immersion in Reggae ever since. 28 years of collecting it. 26 years of promoting it on the extra terrestrial Radio waves.
Uhuru – Swahili for freedom. The late, great Puma Jones rockin’ the sexiest underarm hair since Patti Smith
Black Uhuru – Anthem. More than any of the 70s Roots or UB40’s pop groove.
This was protest music for me. Anthems for the underdogs. I had found something to synchronize my politics, too, as a life long anti-authoritarian Progressive who has voted Third Party since 1984 when I became old enough to vote.
Pretty much all my expendable income was and is going to Roots Reggae from Fall of 1986 till I join Jah’s Heavenly Choir.
“I see a Vision of Jah Rainbow in his Heavenly Abode”
I tell you how I got on KRCL with this Anniversary Preview Post. This Ark-Ive Stream Edition Podcast celebrates that legacy with All Vinyl.
Give thanks,
Hit the link above or below and feast your ears on these musical treats
Vinyl liberated from 112 degrees Las Vegas: Third World, Jimmy Riley, Josey Wales
Roots Dawtas. Hard hitting UK Dub poetesses
Seven Leaf and 420 Cannabis Service Announcement
<Seven Leaf Jah-sterity; 1 min 34 sec?>
Osterity: “Do as I say, not as I do”. Jah-sterity: Legalize It, I will advertise it”.
Mutant Dubwize to end the program. Black Wax stylee
Heavy Roots & Culture stretched out with Extended Mix dubjams
bless, robt
The Playlist:
Black Uhuru – What Is Life?; Anthem (Mango) ’84 US
The Scientist Meets Ted Sirota’s – Scientific Strut; Heavyweight Dub (Liberated Zone) 2013; Dub Album of the Week
Jimmy Riley – I Wish It Would Rain; Rydim Driven (Mango) ’81 US: Temptations soul cover
Misty in Roots – City Runnings; In Progess (People Unite) ’84 UK
Sister Netifa – Daughters of the Soil; Woman Determined (Aluta) ’88 UK female dub poet
John Holt – Police in Helicopter; 12” (Holt) ’83 4:20 Cannabis Service Announcement***End of Set 1
Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: 3 different Vinyl mixes of the first Reggae Grammy Winner: US, UK, Jamaican
Third World – The Story’s Been Told; 12” (Island) ’79 German pressing
Mighty Diamonds – One Brother Short; Vital Selection (Virgin Front Line) ’81 UK best of
Jean Binta Breeze – Tracks + Nanny; Tracks (LKJ) ’91 UK dub poet. Nanny national hero of Jamaica***End of Set 2
LKJ Production: UK female dub poet
Josey Wales – Who We Baby; 12” (Volcano) ‘83
The Selecter – Deep Water; Celebrate the Bullet (Chrysalis) ’81 2 Tone ska; Pauline Black vox
Niccodemus (sic) – Spar With Me; Dance Hall Style (Black Joy) ’82 UK***End of Set 3
2 Tone Brit Ska with Pauline Black on vox
10 Ft. Ganja Plant – Sing and Dance; Skycatcher (ROIR) 2013 Upstate Jah York
Sis Nya – Serious Time; Jah Music (Jah Shaka) ‘87 UK female vox
Michael Palmer – Ghetto Living; Ghetto Living (Bebo’s Music) ’85 Wheaton, Maryland
Barrington Spence – Jah Jah Train; Speak Softly (Trojan ‘76 UK***End of Set 4
Jah Jah Train a comin’ Better get on board!
Sister Carol – Liberation For the African; Liberation For Africa (Serious Gold) ’83 NYC Sevenleaf Vinyl set
Lovindeer – Free the Marijuana; De Blinkin’ Bus (TSOJ) ’82 JA
Lion Youth – Natty Bring de Couchi; Love Comes & Goes (Virgo Stomach) ‘81 UK clear vinyl
The Heptones – Sensemenia Collie; One Step Ahead (Sonic) JA***End of Set 5
The Anunnaki will return to Earth when we Free the Weed!
Carlton Livingston – 100 Lbs. of Collie; 10” (Roots Injection) 2010 mutant dub herbal update of his classic 420
Capital Letters – Fire; Headline News (Greensleeves) ’79 UK youth group
Junior Ross and the Spears – You Can’t Run; Babylon Fall (Stars) ’76 JA
Jennifer Lara – Hand to Mouth; High Times All Star Explosion (Alligator) ’85 Jah-cago; blues label/reggae ***End of Set 6
Before CNN: The CIA News Network
Ras Michael & the Sons of Negus – Black Vibes; Revelation (Trojan) ’82 UK niyabinghi drums
New Age Steppers feat. Ari Up – Stormy Weather; Foundation Steppers (ON U Sound) ’82 UK Billie Holiday feat. Female vox
Singers and Players feat. Sister P. – Holy Scripture; Vacuum Pumping ’88 UK mutant dub set
Motion Detector – Dubtrain; 12” (LSF) 2002 US red vinyl
The Outsider – Rumours of War; The Outsider Meets the High-Tech Roots Dyanmics (Jah Works) ’93 UK melodica dubs
“Legalize it, I will advertise it.” Two states down, 48 to go.
48. Idaho
49. Wyoming
50. Utah
The prohibition against Cannabis is much like saying the earth is flat. There is absolutely no compelling reason to keep this plant illegal much less the stone age (no pun) sentences handed down for a lickle stalk o’sensi grooming in your pocket. (Black Uhuru)
I remember the T shirt from back in the Reagan “Just Say No” Era about the DEA: “One seed is all we need to make you bleed.”
Deaths from cigarettes: 480,000 per year (1 in every 5 American deaths)
Deaths from alcohol: 88,000 per year
Deaths from narcotics: 40,000 of which 60% are from prescription opioids like Oxycontin
Deaths from marijuana consumption: 0 for all of mankind’s history
WTF? When I did radio interviews at KRCL on their listener call in program, Radioactive, I did several shows devoted to harm reduction and the cruelty and downright racism of the drug war.
You would have thought that all these baby boomers who lit up in the 60s would have come to fruition and at least decriminalized the Seven Leaf as they sunset into retirement. (I guess all of the politicians in Washington, DC were in their dorm rooms playing with their slide rules while all the other hippies were having fun and wasting their lives.)
Obama practically claims he invented hot boxing as a youth in Hawaii and now as a lame duck he won’t even reschedule Cannabis so it can be studied for the plant’s effects; good or bad. Lame indeed. In Reggae there is a saying, “Ask me no questions and I’ll tell you no lies”.
Every journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. The unthinkable happened when Colorado and Washington legalized it in 2012 despite legislative hostility and veiled threats.
The world didn’t collapse. Society didn’t implode. There weren’t murders and dead bodies strewn on the highways.
<Marijuana Killer of Youth PSA 1 min>
In fact Collie-rado made a nice score of 3.5 million on their 25% cut of the haul since Jan. 1. Crime didn’t go up. Tourism is increasing. Marijuana consumption and sales are going to become boringly routine. No more skulking about waiting for the man over an 8 track of schwag. You stop at the liquor store for a sixer or bottle of wine and then head to Weedmart for your smoke. How civilized.
The next two election cycles are going to see more states at least attempt to legalize it in addition to about a dozen others who have some level of medical marijuana laws pending or passed
Alaska, Arizona, Collie-fornya, Nevada, Oregon, Maine, Hashachusetts, Montana, Rhode Island and Vermont.
Collie-rado and Washington succeeded, in large part, because they promoted Cannabis as safer than alcohol. Or, “let’s tax it and regulate it just like alcohol”. In my opinion, those strategies are better because of their honest intent.
Citizens and politicians who don’t smoke want to think that responsible use will not come at a societal price. And local government entities, who have been slammed by the Great Recession, are looking for ways to fill the coffers now that the bubbles have burst. 15% excise tax and 10% sales tax are winning arguments.
The medical defense is more of a sticky wicket since so much of Cannabis health effects (or lack of harmful effects) are “conjecture”. Prohibition has made it so difficult for American universities and health agencies to actually conduct double blind studies. Incrementalism is fine but that grey area leaves casual users in limbo and seems to undermine the “intent” of the laws. It’s “medicinal” seems cynical and dishonest to non-users.
Legalization cuts the Gordian Knot and makes it easier to vote up or down on the merits of state regulation and clear cut rules of possession and consumption.
My Mom voted for Montana’s medical marijuana law. I asked her to vote for legalization if it comes up in 2014. She said, “If that’s the only way you will come home more often, I will vote yes.”
Here’s where I go for the Sensi Scorecard of: what’s up, polls, handicapping potential and anecdotal information.
Jon Walker of firedoglake.com writes a near daily posting called Just Say Nowthat will keep you informed of the progress of the Seven Leaf at the polls. Smile Jamaicaapproved!
If half of those states say yes (and the polling is looking good most everywhere; upper 40% and many states over 50%), legalization will be a regional phenomenon in the West, Mountain West and Northeast.
If California says yes, (the 8th largest economy in the world), the walls are gonna come tumbling down pretty much everywhere until we get a Federal Law. Selah!
My only fear is: what will the the total end of Cannabis prohibition do to the quality and quantity of my precious herbtunes?
bless, robt
From the back of a Rolling Stone ad I saw as a youth
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.
![Sylford_Walker_-_Lamb's_Bread- Vinyl Hel [Ras t Dread]](https://smilejamaicakrcl.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/sylford_walker_-_lambs_bread-vinyl-hel-ras-t-dread.jpg)
Smile Jamaica 