Tag Archives: ska

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: Jah-vember 3, 2018: Vote for We!

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Greetings,

Wow. That was quite the election without objection. Say what you want about Pres. 45, he motivates people to the polls. Although 5 billion dollars seems like quite a squandering of resources for such lack of choice.

But listening to Reggae for 3 plus decades, I learned to give the Hairy Eyeball to the isms and schisms.

So, this Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives delves into the real politik. And the same thing for breakfast.

I also think The Cream has it on the money too….

<Same thing for breakfast  & The Cream’s Politician; 85 sec.>

The Cream – Politician

I’m a political man
And I practice what I preach
I’m a political man
And I practice what I preach
So don’t deny me, baby
Not while you’re in my reach
I support the left
Though I’m leaning, leaning to the right
I support the left
Though I’m leaning to the right
But I’m just not there
When it’s coming to a fight
The Cream – I support the left, but I’m leaning to the right aka “The Same Thing for Breakfast”

Best outcome for I ‘n’ I

  1. Michigan legalized the collie weed
  2. Missouri medical MJ
  3. Utah Proposition 2 – Medical Marijuana puff puff passed

Now I get to say: 10 down, 40 to go!

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: Jah-vember 3, 2018 Annotated Playlist: 79 sec.

 bless, Bobbylon

Set 1:

  • Jimmy Riley – Poor Immigrants; Put the People First (Shanachie) ’82 Ho Ho Kus, NJ vinyl
  • Aggrovators – A Crabit Version; Johnny in the Echo Chamber (Attack) ’75 UK vinyl dub album of the hour
  • Dillinger – Daylight Saving Time; The Deejays Meet Downtown (Voice of Jamaica)
  • Yellowman & Fathead – Duppy or Gunman; Mister Yellowman (Shanachie) ’82 duppy = Jamaican ghost
  • Bob Andy & Marcia Griffiths – Still the Most; Sweet Memories ‘75
  • Black Roots – Tribal War (12” mix); Black Roots (Makasound) ’85 UK
  • IBA – Babylon Don’t Like; Many Lives (Mt. Nebo)  2006 4:20 Cannabis Service Announcement
  • Lee “Scratch” Perry – Lion a de Winner; 12” (Upsetter)

Set 2:

  • Bunny Wailer – Sun Is Shining; Hall of Fame (RAS) 50 Bob Marley covers for his 50th birthday
  • Sarah B Band – Mali’o; Realign My Mind (Sarah B Band) 2011 SLC group
  • Dennis Brown – Money in My Pocket; Words of Wisdom (Shanachie) ‘79
  • The Gladiators – Pocket Money; 12” (Virgin Front Line) ’81 UK

Set 3: Best of Smile Jamaica – 29 Years: UK Ska

  • The Selecter – Celebrate the Bullet; Celebrate the Bullet (Chrysalis) ’81 

<Celebrate the Bullet released the same week Reagan was shot; 40 sec.>

  • The Beat – Best Friend; I Just Can’t Stop It (Go Feet!) ‘80
  • General Public – Tenderness; All the Rage (IRS) ’84 Beat spinoff
  • Fun Boy Three – Farmyard Connection; Waiting (Chrysalis) ’84 two herb farmers named Peter & Bob
  • Aswad – Dub Fire; New Chapter of Dub (Mango) ‘82 Dub Album of the Hour

Set 4:

  • Peter Tosh – 400 Years; Live at My Father’s House (bootleg) Summer 1978, Roslyn, NY
  • Yabby You – Run Come Rally; One Love, One Heart (Shanachie) ’83 comp.
  • Gregory Isaacs – Coke Seller; Do Lord (Xterminator) ’88
  • Super Chick – Bees Man; 10” (Hitbound) ’83 JA

Set 5: Vinyl is Vital

  • The Wailing Wailers – Simmer Down; Wailing Wailers (Studio One) ’65 JA

<Simmer down, control your temper! 80 sec.>

  • Prince Far I – Tribute to Bob Marley; Voice of Thunder (Trojan) ’81 UK
  • Clint Eastwood – Ganja Baby; Jah Lights Shining; (Vista Sounds) ’79 UK
  • Mystic Youth feat. I-Skeeda & the Irie Ites – Relaxation; Best Wishes (Sunspot) youth in San Francisco feat. Female vox
  • Laurel Aitken – Witch Doctor From Amsterdam; Eskapade en France (Unicorn) ’90 Fr. EP

Set 6: Election Special

  • Keith Poppin – Same Thing For Breakfast; 7” (Spider Man) 
  • Clint Eastwood & General Saint – Vote For We; Stop That Train (Greensleeves) ‘83
  • The Heptones – Mr. President; Party Time (Mango) ’77 UK vinyl
  • Popa Georg (sic) – Vote Fe Me; 12” (Witty)
  • Bullwackie’s All-Stars – Recording Connection; Black World Dub (Wackie’s) ’79 Dub Album of the Hour

Set 7:

  • The Wailers – Slave Driver; Live 1973-1975 (Starbucks) 11/23/73 live at Leeds Polytechnic
  • Ken Boothe – Satisfaction; Freedo Street (Beverley’s) ’70 Rolling Stones cover
  • Aisha – I Know a Place; 12” (Ariwa) ’88 UK

Set 8: Mutant Dub

  • Blackalicious feat Niki Giovanni – Ego Trip; Nia (Mo Wax) ’99 female dub poet:
  • Benjamin Zephaniah – Palestine; Back to Roots (Acid Jazz) ’95 UK dub poet
  • Thievery Corporation – Revolution Solution (Brendan Lynch rmx); CD Single (ESL) 2004
  • Asian Dub Foundation – Return to Jericho (Dub Version); King Size Dub vol. 4 (Echo Beach) ‘98
  • Humble I & Weeding Dub – Guide Me; Sound of Reality (Control Tower) 2009 Fr.
  • Natacha Atlas – I Put a Spell on You; Ayeshtheni (Mantra) 2001 Screamin’ Jay Hawkins cover

Words of Wisdom:

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: Jah-Loween Digital Dubplate 2018!

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, 

Greetings,

While raising kasheesh for your station that rules the nation, KRCL, I hunkered down in my Secret Dubratory and cooked up a 3 hour Digital Dubplate tis the season.

Halloween? No Jah-loween. All my ripped audio from my Horror DVD collection trailers followed by vampires, ghosts, demons and duppies.

Boo-tiful, Bobbylon

Digital Dubplate Jah-loween 2018 Halloween movie trailers included:

  1. Halloween
  2. Frankenstein
  3. The Mummy
  4. War of the Worlds
  5. Wolfman
  6. Creature From the Black Lagoon
  7. Village of the Damned
  8. Carnival of Souls
  9. Fearless Vampire Killers
  10. The Abominable Dr. Phibes
  11. Deranged
  12. Young Frankenstein
  13. It’s Alive
  14. To the Devil a Daughter
  15. Nosferatu (1979)
  16. Humanoids From the Deep
  17. Motel Hell
  18. Thriller
  19. The Hunger
  20. Toxic Avenger
  21. Lifeforce
  22. Beetlejuice
  23. Night of the Creeps

0-30 min.

  • Max Romeo – Horrorzone; Horrorzone (Nu Roots) 2016
  • Little Roy – Frankenstein; Longtime (ON U Sound) ’96
  • Future Pigeon – The Mummy; Echodelic Sounds of Future Pigeon (Record Collect) 2006 LA
  • Lucky Dube – Dracula; Prisoner (Shanachie) ’90
  • Funky Porcini’s Zombie – Flesheater Boulevard; Jerry von Rooyen Remixes (Crippled Dick Hot Wax) 2000

30-60 min.

  • Scientist – Night of the Living Dead; Rids the World of the Evil Curse of the Vampires (Greensleeves) ’81
  • David Lindley & El Rayo-X – Werewolves of London; Very Greasy (Elektra) ’88
  • Tino – Loch Ness Monster Dub; Hallowe’en Dub (Tino Corp.) 2002
  • Aisha – Evil Spirits; High Priestess (Ariwa) ’86
  • Hollie Cook – Desdemona; Twice (Mr. Bongo) 2014

60-90 min.

  • Black Uhuru – Vampire; Sinsemilla (Mango) ’80
  • Twinkle Brothers – Evil Doers; New Songs For Jah (Twinkle) ’89
  • Alan Pillay – Demonic Forces; Wild Paarty Sounds (Cherry Red/ON U Sound) ’81
  • The Toasters – Frankenska; Thrill Me Up (Skaloid) ’88
  • Prince Buster – Ghost Dance; Jamaica’s Pride (Bluebeat) ’67
  • The Gorillaz – Dracula; Gorillaz (Virgin) 2001
Drinking Red Stripe in the boneyard

90 min. – 2 hr.

  • The Crystalites – Blackula; Black Magic Woman (Trojan)
  • Andrew Tosh – Evil Ones; Make Way For the Youth (Tomato) ’89
  • Capleton – Mark of the Beast; I Testament (Def Jam) ’97
  • Dub Chek – Monsta; Down Memory Gap Lane (Unitone World) 2001
  • Sly & Robbie – Theme from the Twilight Zone; Many Moods of Sly, Robbie & the Taxi Gang (Sonic) ’86

2 – 2 and 1/2 hrs.

  • Milton Henry – Them a Devil; Who Do You Think I Am (Wackies) ’85
  • Bomb the Bass feat. Benjamin Zephaniah & Sinead O’Connor – Empire; clear (Quango) ’95
  • Mystic Bowie & the Pallbearers – Voodoo Man; Rebirth (Zimbra) 2001
  • Singers & Players – Dungeon/Merchant Ship/Jah Army Band; Revenge of the Underdog (ON U Sound) ’82
Dungeon: Packed like sardines in a tin. When the boat overload, they threw some of us overboard

2 and 1/2 – 3 hrs.

  • Easy Star All-Stars feat. Mikey General & Spragga Benz – Thriller; Thrillah (Easy Star) 2012 Michael Jackson/Vincent Price cover
  • Sinead O’Connor – Vampire; Throw Down Your Arms (That’s Why There’s Chocolate & Vanilla) 2005 Devon Irons cover
  • Sky High & the Mau Mau – Cemetary Robbery; Origination (Sky High)
  • Pablo Gad – Blood Suckers; Blood Suckers (Reggae on Top) ’79
  • The Toyes – Monster Hash; The Toyes (CD Tunes) ’96 Boris Pickett cover

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: Sept. 28, 2018 (Podcast & Playlist): Lucky Dube and Dracula!

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Greetings,

It was October 2003. My bredrin Grizzlite and I headed up to Park City to catch one of my favorites from the 90’s: Lucky Dube. Terrific South African roots singer in the era of apartheid.

A huge favorite with the Pacific Islander community, the club was packed. Everyone singing along on a cool fall night in the mountains.

Grizz and I got a beer and angled ourselves and positioned ourselves on the patio with a view of the stage. Everyone bumping along to Lucky’s melodic Peter Tosh-esque vocals.

All of a sudden the packed dance floor scattered and the music screeched to a halt. A youth had been shot. Later I found out it was a gang assassination. Tribal war in the Polynesian community. Assassins were dispatched from California. They knew their target would be out in the open and vulnerable at a must see event: Lucky Dube is on a par with Bob Marley among the Island community.

Before we knew it, the paramedics had wheeled the victim pass Grizz and I on a gurney. One of the EMT’s was straddling his chest doing CPR. Right next to me, a massive Island dready stepped up and punched the dying man in the face, caving in his nose.

Murder at Park City Lucky Dube concert, Oct. 2003

As we head into Jah-loween season, would you like to know the song that Lucky was performing when the violence took place???

<Dracula; 1 min. 52 sec.>

The Park City show was Oct. 16, 2003. Four years later, nearly to the day: Oct. 18, 2007 Lucky Dube was cut down in a carjacking.

Lucky Dube carjacking

One of the many eerie and sad coincidences in 30 years of Reggae culture for I and I

bless,

Bobbylon

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: Sept. 29, 2018: Annotated Playlist

Set 1:

  • Zap Pow – This Is Reggae Music; Reggae Rules! (Rhino US) ’80 US vinyl
  • Agrovators – Kaya; Kaya Dub (Justice) ’78 JA vinyl dub album of the hour
  • Don Carlos & Gold – Harvest Time; Raving Tonight (RAS) ‘83
  • Hollie Cook – Superfast; Hollie Cook (Mr. Bongo) 2014
  • Israel Vibration – Licks and Kicks; Live Again! (RAS) ‘97 California live
  • The Ethiopians – Obeah Book; Slave Call (Heartbeat) ’77: Obeah = Jamaican black magic
  • Yellowman – Operation Eradication; One in a Million (Shanachie) ’82 4:20 Cannabis Service Announcement

<Operation Eradication in Jamaica; 67 sec.>

  • The Gladiators – Evil Doers; 12” (Virgin Front Line) ’77 UK
Jamaican army on their way to burn the weed fields. Tips from the locals: stand down wind of the bon fire

Set 2:

  • Dennis Brown – Africa We Want to Go; Reggae Nuggets (Mojo Magazine) 50th anniversary of UK’s Trojan Records
  • Bananarama – Tell Tale Signs; Deep Sea Skiving (London) ’83 UK new wave female group; bonus 12”
  • The Itals – Give This Love a Try; Modern Age (RAS) ‘98
  • Barry Brown – Dreadfull (sic) Day; 10” (Hitbound) ‘83 JA
Bananarama on Smile Jamaica? WTF?

Set 3: Best of Smile Jamaica 29 Years

  • Jimmy Cliff – Many Rivers to Cross; The Harder They Come Soundtrack (Mango) ‘72

<Reggae popularity: The Wailers Catch a Fire and The Harder They Come; 16 sec.>

  • Fred Locks – Wheat and Tears; Missing Link (VP) ‘78
  • Judy Mowatt – Get Up Chant; Love Is Overdue (Shanachie) ‘87
  • Ranking Dillinger – See and Blind; None Stop Disco Style (Abrahama) ‘78
  • 4th Street Orchestra – Higher Ranking; Scientific Higher Ranking Dubb (Rama) ’78 UK Dub Album of the Hour

Set 4:

  • Peter Tosh – Mystery Babylon; Scrolls of the Prophet (Columbia/Legacy) remix of Babylon Queendom
  • Bunny Wailer – Blackman Redemption; Hall of Fame (RAS) ’95 50 Bob Marley covers for his 50th Birthday
  • The Skatalites – Malcolm X; Rough Guide to Ska (Rough Guide) Request
  • Ranking Joe & Cha Cha – You’ll Never Know; 10” (Above Rock) 2010 UK ska rocksteady w/ female Chinese singer

Set 5: Vinyl ls Vital

  • The Wailing Wailers – Love or Affection; Wailing Wailers (Studio One) ’65 JA  

<Love or Affection; 1 min. 39 sec.>

  • Paulette Tajah – Last Night; Lovers Delight (Ariwa) ’83 UK 
  • Nigger Kojak & Liza – Two Bad Duppy; Showcase LP (Nigger Kojak) ’80 JA
  • Three Dimension – Roadblock; Roadblock (Nubian) ’87 UK herbtune

Set 6:

  • The Wailers – Slave Driver; Live 1973-1975 (Starbucks) 11/23/73 Live at Leeds (UK) Polytechnic

<UK Tour 1973; 62 sec.>

  • Dubblestandart feat. Ari Up – Surrender Dub; Return From Planet Dub (Collision) 2009 Jah-strian dub w/ female vox
  • Adrian Sherwood – Zero Zero One; 10” (Green Tea) 2001 UK mutant dub
  • Dub Specialist – Starring Dub; 17 Dub Shots From StudioOne (Heartbeat/Studio One) Dub Album of the Hour

Set 7: Jah-loween 

  • Lucky Dube – Dracula; Prisoner (Shanachie) ’90 South African 
  • Future Pigeon – The Mummy; Echdelic Sounds of Future Pigeon (Record Collection) 2005 LA
  • Sinead O’Connor – Vampire; Throw Down Your Arms (That’s Why There’s Chocolate & Vanilla) 2005 Devon Irons cover
  • Earth & Stone – The Devil Must Have Made You; Kool Roots (Pressure Sounds) ‘79
Murdered shortly after his SLC performance where a youth was murdered in Park City

Set 8: Mutant Dub

  • Tena Stelin – Flying Saucers; 7” (Mascot) ’99 UFOria

<Aliens in the Bible; 28 sec.>

  • Thievery Corporations – Warning Shots; It Takes a Thief (ESL) 2010 DC best of
  • Desmond Williams – Dread a the Roughest; Delights of the Garden (ESL)
  • Alpha & Omega – It Hurts + It Must Be Dub; Mystic Things (BSI) 2001 UK trance dub w/ female vox
  • Spiritual Rez – Let’s Go Out With a Bang; Apocalypse Whenever (Spiritual Rez) 2014 about Alien invasion

<When the Aliens attack. let’s go out with a bang! 47 sec.>

Words of Wisdom:

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: Sept. 8, 2018 (Podcast & Playlist) – Is KFC Ital?

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<Lee Perry’s ode to KFC; 27 sec.>

Thoughts of chicken keeps the drums kickin’

Thinking of the taste, listen to the drum and the bass

Greetings,

Those are the words of Lee “Scratch” Perry.

Two quick stories. There was a big name Reggae group coming to SLC and they had a list of Jamaican and ital juices, salads and other vegetarian delights they expected as part of their rider.

The promoter said, “Sorry guys. There’s no Caribbean market here.” So the group put in as a replacement: 6 bucks of Kentucky Fried Chicken and all the trimmings.

Now KFC is anything but Ital. But I imagine it is like those people who hear about In ‘n’ Out Burger. In Jamaica, something about KFC holds the fascination of the people. Rasta or otherwise.

Story 2: The first KFC franchise is actually in Salt Lake City:

KFC was founded by Colonel Harland Sanders, an entrepreneur who began selling fried chicken from his roadside restaurant in Corbin, Kentucky during the Great Depression. Sanders identified the potential of the restaurant franchising concept, and the first “Kentucky Fried Chicken” franchise opened in Utah in 1952.

So another big name Reggae group came to town. Some way, some how they learned the first Kentucky Fried Chicken (now KFC) was in Salt Lake.

After their soundcheck, they asked to see the first Franchise as if it were a shrine. I wondered did all these dreadlock Rastas go in for Regular or Extra Crispy? My guess is they put their Tams on their head and doubled back through the drive through

bless, Bobbylon

Smile Jamaica Annotated Playlist: Sept. 8, 2018; 47 Sec.

Set 1:

  • Tyrone Taylor – Live Table; 2 of a Kind (Tuff Gong) ’87 JA vinyl
  • Soul Syndicate – Ghetto-ology Dub (Black Roots) ’80  JA vinyl: Sugar Minott dub album of the hour
  • Bunny Wailer – Rasta Dread (Natty Dread); Hall of Fame (RAS) ’95 50 Bob Marley covers for Bob’s 50th birthday
  • Etana – On the Way; I Rise (VP) 2014 roots dawta
  • Lee Perry – Kentucky Skank; Double Seven (Trojan) ’73 about Kentucky Fried Chicken
  • Welton Irie – Bubbling Telephone; One and One = Two (JA) 4:20 Cannabis Service Announcement
  • Adrian Sherwood feat. Bim Sherman & Prince Far I  – Pass the Rizzla; 10″ (Green Tea) 2001 mutant dub herbtune

Set 2:

  • Peter Tosh – African; Kentucky Fried Rockers (bootleg) live at the Rupp Arena, Lexington KY

<Tosh opened for the Rolling Stones on the ’78 Some Girls tour; 58 sec.>

  • Dillinger – Don’t Watch Your Wife; Top Ranking  Dillinger (Rhino UK) ’77; dj to Hortense Ellis on Melody Life
  • Tchiya Amet – Reservtion Ragtime Blues; 
  • Earth Disciples – So Come On; 10″ (Music Works) early 80’s JA Gussie Clarke prod’n
Tosh was booed when he opened on the ’78 Stones tour

Set 3: Best of Smile Jamaica 28+ Years 

  • Third World – Tribal War; 96 Degrees in the Shade (Mango) ’76 
  • Hortense Ellis – Breakfast in Bed; I’m Still in Love With You (Heartbeat/Studio One) ’70 Dusty Springfield cover
  • Norris Reid – Protect Them; Rockers International (Greensleeves) ’80 Augustus Pablo prod’n
  • Black Uhuru – Sensimilla; Liberation Anthology (Island) herbtune
  • Mikey Dread – East Portland Dub; Dread at the Controls (Dread at the Controls) ’79 Dub Album of the Hour

Set 4: 7″ Jamaican Jukebox

<I collect 7″ 45 as an adult. Baseball cards as a youth; 18 sec.>

  • Danny Ray – Revolution Rock; 7″ (High Note) ’76 Clash original
  • Bobby Melody – Let It Be; 7″ (Errol T) Melodians update
  • Steve Baswell – I Am Getting Bad; 7′ (Phase One) ’77
  • Johnny Lover – Ital Locks; 7″ (Clocktower) ’75 dj to Curly Locks
  • Cedric ‘Im Brooks – Theme From Shaft; 7″ (Soul Jazz) Isaac Hayes cover
The Clash covered this on London Calling

Set 5: Vinyl Is Vital

  • The Wailing Wailers – Ten Commandments of Love; Wailing Wailers (Studio One) ’66 JA vinyl is vital set: Moonglows doo wop cover

<Wailers do doo wop; 74 sec.>

  • I Three – Sing Joy; Beginning (EMI America) ’86 US – Bob’s female back ups
  • Inner Circle – Tired Fe Lick Weed in a Bush; The Real Thing (Capitol) ’76 US herb tune
  • Icarus – Land of Tarot; State of Mind (Russian Roulette) ’84 UK
  • Armagideon – Spiral Galaxy; 12″ EP (Dubhead) ’98 UK mutant dub

Set 6: Rockers do Reggae

  • Cyndi Lauper – Witness; She’s So Unusual (Portrait) ’83 Rockers do Reggae Set
  • Garland Jeffreys feat. Big Youth – Graveyard Rock; Escape Artist (Epic) ’81 NYC multiracial rocker
  • Eric Clapton – Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door; Crossroads (Polydor) ’74 Bob Dylan cover
  • The Clash feat. Mikey Dread – One More Time + Dub; Sandinista! (Epic) ’80
  • King Jammy Meets Dry & Heavy in the Jaws of the Tiger – Do Dub Up Your Fight  (BSI) 2001 Dub Album of the Hour
Cyndi Lauper on Smile Jamaica WTR?

Set 7:

  • The Wailers – Stir It Up; Live 1973-1975 (Starbucks) live on the BBC; May 24, 1973 at the Paris Theatre; London

<Live on the BBC>

  • Phyllis Dillon – Woman of the Ghetto; Mojo and Trojan Present Reggae Nuggets (Mojo Magazine) ’72
  • Jah Rej – Binghi in the Jungle; 10″ (Jah Works) 2002 UK militant steppers
Free reggae CD with Sept. 2018 issue of Mojo Magazine

Set 8: Mutant Dub

  • Thievery Corporation feat. Shana Halligan – Love Has No Heart; Temple of I & I (ESL) 2017 DC dubbers: Mutant Dub Set
  • Young Gods – Dub the Sun (Mad Professor Mix); King Size Dub vol. 2 (Echo Beach) 2001
  • Destroy Babylon – Barriers; Shadow Army (MusicADD) 2008 NY
  • Tena Stelin – Intelligent Design; 10″ (Roots Hi-Tek) 2006 UK

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: Jah-gust 25, 2018 (Podcast & Playlist) – The Wailers of Mutant Dub!

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Not counting box sets, the most I have ever paid for a CD. $80

Greetings,

Advice after forty years of cratedigging: Buy low, sell high. I ‘n’ I built the Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives when people were shedding vinyl for these over priced gadgets called the compact disk.

Titles I bought for 4 bucks on Haight Ashbury fetches hundreds now on ebay and discogs.

It’s not that I’m cheap. I spend the GDP of small third world nations on music. But I believe a record that is worth hundreds that I paid less than a Lincoln for, makes the sound oh so sweet.

Vinyl to the left, CDs and books on the right: The Smile Jamaica Ark-ives

Yet I have wish lists. Things I can’t find cratedigging and must scope online. One of my “white whales” was the 8 track version of Thievery Corporations silky herb tune, Lebanese Blonde.

<$80 dollars for Lebanese Blonde; 55 sec.>

I was coming back from a cratedig in Missoula, Montana. I saw a disk on the new record rack that had a cool cover, name and song titles.

Thievery Corporation – Richest Man in Babylon

Heading back to Salt Lake from my parents’ house in Fort Benton, Montana, I detour through Missoula to cratedig in their cool indie stores: Rockin’ Rudy’s and Ear Candy.

I pushed it too far and hit the dreaded Monida Pass at sundown. Anyone travelling on I-15 heading North knows that pass right at the Idaho Montana border. Not a good place to be in a snow storm.

Twice in 25 years of driving that stretch I had to go 100 miles back to Butte, on icy roads, because the pass was closed to traffic.

Monida Pass

I left Missoula too late and hit this pass at the worst time: dusk. As the sun went down at 7,000 feet I watched the road ice up ahead of me.

What every Montana kid is prepared for yet still dreads. Driving over an iced free way with only the guard rails to keep you out of the ditch.

Shit, this is how people die. Slide off the road on Monida. You have about 15 minutes before your car is totally iced over and NO CELL SERVICE. 

He died doing what he loved: record shopping. 

All right. Here we go. My All Wheel Drive Subaru. This is what I bought you for. Slow way down to about 25 MPH and just pick your way through the sheer ice. Even with AWD, do not hit the brakes.

I soldiered through. What usually takes 15 minutes, took me over an hour. Foot off the gas, when a truck would go by kicking up crystals to make visibility almost zero.

Once you hit Spencer, Idaho on the other side of the Pass, the road thaws a little. All through this, I am listening to Richest Man in Babylon and focused on their supple riddims, heavy bass and international vocalists. Kept me from freaking out through the worst of the road hazards.

As soon as I got home, I ordered their entire catalog. So, yeah $80 for one of their rare singles. Priceless.

bless, Bobbylon

 Thievery Corporation led to my last half hour Mutant Dub Sets: 21 sec.

[audiomp3=”https://smilejamaicakrcl.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/dubstep082518.mp3″%5D%5B/audio%5D

Wailers of Mutant Dub

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives Annotated Playlist: Jah-gust 25, 2018; 89 sec.

Set 1:

  • Tinga Stewart – Fire; Key to Your Heart (Calabash) ’83 FL. vinyl
  • Augustus Pablo – El Rockers Chapter Three; Rockers International (Greensleeves) ’80 Dub Album of the Hour
  • Third World – 96 Degrees in the Shade (1865); 96 Degrees in the Shade (Mango) ’77

<Morant Bay Rebellion; 77 sec.> 

  • Aswad and Shabba Ranks – Fire; Lunatic Soundtrack (Mango) ’91
  • Zema – Check It Out; Strangers at the Gates (Melchizedek) ’97 So Cal female
  • Barry Brown – Sensemilla; Far East (Hitbound) ’81 4:20 Cannabis Service Announcement
  • Papa Face & the Fashionaires – Girls; 10″ (Top Notch) ’82 UK

Set 2:

  • Bunny Wailer – Work; Hall of Fame (RAS) ’95: 50 Bob Marley songs for his 50th birthday
  • Hollie Cook – Desdemona; Twice (Mr. Bongo) 2014 UK dubstress
  • Linton Kwesi Johnson – Sonny’s Lettah; Mi Revalueshenary Fren (LKJ) live poem in Nymegen, Netherlands

<Sus law in UK against black youths; 40 sec.>

  • GT Moore – Ganja Flower; 10″ (Jah Works) 2002 UK militant steppers herbtune

Set 3: Best of Smile Jamaica 28+ Years1

  • The Clash – Police on My Back; Sandinista! (Epic) ’80 Eddy Grant/Equals cover
  • Black Slate – Legalise Collie Herb; Amigo (Ensign) ’80 UK herbtune
  • Dhaima – Ina Jah Children; Uptown Top Ranking (Object Enterprises) ’77 female
  • Lenox Miller & Jah Coller – Better Must Come + Jah Coller Speakers His Mind; Jack Ruby Hi-Fi (Auralux) ’80 Jack Ruby prod’n; Junior Byles cover
  • Aisha & the Mad Professor – Children of Dub; There Is More to Life (Ariwa) 2005 Dub Album of the Hour

Set 4:

  • Peter Tosh – Pick Myself Up; Kentucky Fried Rockers (bootleg) opening for the Rolling Stones in Lexington, KY, 1978
  • Food-a-Rama- Angellina; 10″ (Hitbound) ’80 update of Ken Boothe’s Artibella

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Set 5: Vinyl is Vital

  • Wailing Wailers – Ska Jerk; Wailing Wailers (Studio One) ’65 JA: based on Junior Walker’s Shotgun

<Ska Jerk = Shotgun; 71 sec.>

  • John Holt – Police in Helicopter; Police in Helicopter (Greensleeves) ’83 UK herbtune
  • Mother Liza – Joy to Your Soul; Chant Down Babylon (Sonic) JA
  • Icarus – Sinking Deep; State of Mind (Russian Roulette) ’82 UK
  • Bim Sherman & the Voluntary – Drifint Away; Century (Century) ’84 UK

Set 6:

  • The Wailers – Stop That Train; Live 1973-1975 (Starbucks) May 24, 1973 live at the Paris Theatre London/Live on the BBC

<Wailers on the BBC; 69 sec.>

  • Sinead O’Connor – Prophet Has Arise; Throw Down Your Arms (That’s Why There’s Chocolate & Vanilla) 2005 Abyssinians cover
  • Equators – Feelin’ High; Hot (Stiff) ’81 UK ska herbtune
  • King Tubby – Bag a Wire; 10″ (Select Cuts) ’75
  • Herbman Band – Dub O Much; See Mi Yah (Funfundvierzig) ’91 Germ. Dub Album of the Hour

Set 7: Jamaican Jukebox of 45s

  • The Ability – Rasta Never Give Up; 7″ (Sky High) 7″ Jamaican Jukebox Set
  • Charley Ace – Ten Commandments of Joshua; 7″ (Scorpion) ’72 about Michael Manley; Prince Buster update

<Michael Manley as Joshua>

  • Cynthia Richards – Sentimental Reasons; 7″ (Duke Reid)
  • Bobby Hunt – Mother’s Love; 7″ (Flash) ’76
  • Benjamin Zephaniah – Uganda; Dub Ranting (Radical Wallpaper) ’81 UK dub poet, picture sleeve; 9 poems EP
  • Neville Martini – The Cliques; 7″ (Clandisc) ’76

Set 8: Mutant Dub

  • Thievery Corporation feat. Pamela Bricker – Around the World ; 8 Trk CD Single (4ad) ’98
  • Khato (Smith & Mighty rmx) – No Compromise; King Size Dub Chapter 4 (Echo Beach) ’98 female vox
  • Alpha & Omega – Africa; Watch & Pray (A & O) ’92 UK trance dub
  • Pama International – Float Like a Butterfly; Float Like a Butterfly (Asian Man) 2005 UK tribute to Muhammad Ali
  • Aldubb feat. Alcapone JJ – Free Sensimilla Now; 10″ (One Drop) 2009 Germ. herb dub
  • Dubcheck feat. Everton Sylvester – Reparation; Down Memory Gap Lane (Unitone World) 2001 w/ dub poet

Words of  Wisdom:

Smile Jamaica Ark-ives Jah-gust 11, 2018 (Podcast & Playlist): Smile Jamaica Joins the Space Force!

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Greetings,

As Judy Mowatt sang: Many are called but few are chosen. I have been offered a job. General Giorgio of the Space Force needs me.

Gen. Giorgio Tsoukalos, Leader of Trump’s Space Force. My new boss.

I will be the Minister of Lunar Agriculture; 103 sec.

From Space Dust to the Tree of Life

Scoffers tell I ‘n’ I that this is just more cash for the Military Industrial Complex. Maybe so, but as an Ancient Astronaut Theorist, I think the Anunnaki might return to put a stop their puny creation, mankind’s, weaponization of Space.

I plan to Make the Anunnaki Great Again! As a Sumerian Fundamentalist, I am with my people!

<Ancient Astronaut Theorists approve of the Space Force; 25 sec.>

So after negotiating my salary with The Cheeotlini* , I can  beam down Smile Jamaica from the Moon via weightless turntables; 99 sec.

*Pres. Trump listens to Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives while watching Fake News CNN with the sound off,

Marduk’s coming to wipe that smirk off your face, Space Cadet

bless, Min. Bobbylon

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: August 11, 2018: Annotated Playlist; 79 sec.

Set 1:

  • Hugh Griffiths – Reggae Rock Steady; Mother Africa (My-O-Lantic) ’86 UK vinyl
  • Deadly Headley – 35 Years From Alpha; 35 Years From Alpha (ON U Sound) ’82 UK vinyl sax album of the hour
  • Third World – 96 Degrees In the Shade; Sense of Purpose (Third World) ’80 UK vinyl

<1965 Degrees in the Shade: Entertainment for You, Martyrdom for me; 64 sec.>

  • Afro Omega – Set In the Sky; Love Emergency (Afro Omega) 2008 SLC dub w/ female vox
  • Winston Fergus – Ganja Defenders; 10″ EP (Dubwise) ’98 UK 4:20 Cannabis Service Announcement
  • Daweh Congo – Proverbs + Dub; Guidance + Guidance Dub (Charm) 2000 bonus herbs

Set 2:

  • Hollie Cook – 99; Twice (Mr. Bongo) 2014 UK dubstress
  • Black Uhuru – Happiness; Liberation Anthology (Island) Live at Soledad Prison on George Jackson Day ’82
  • Bunny Wailer – Mi and Dem; Hall of Fame (RAS) We and Dem cover; 50 tracks for Bob’s 50th birthday
  • Junior (Murvin) Soul – Super Love/Super Cool; 10″ (PK) ’75 cover of Curtis Mayfield’s “Give Me Your Love”

Set 3: Jamaican Jukebox 45’s

  • The Clash – Armgagideon Time; 7″ (Epic) ’80 UK pic sleeve; Willi Williams cover
  • Sister Nancy – Telephone Challice; 7″ (Volcano) herbtune
  • Ansel & the Meditatiosn – Tricked; 7″ (Scandal) ’76
  • Donovan Carless – Be Thankful; 7″ (Giant) William de Vaughn soul cover
  • Gladiators – Ain’t No Sunshine Dub; Jubilee (Melchizedek) Dub Album of the Hour

Set 4: Best of Smile Jamaica 28+ Years

  • Alpha & Omega – Prophecy Fulfilled; Watch & Pray (A & O) ’92 trance dub w/ female vox
  • Cultural Roots – Running Back to Me; Running Back to Me (Mango) ’88
  • Burning Spear – Farover; Farover (Heartbeat) ’83
  • Linton Kwesi Johnson & the Dub Band – Inglan is a Bitch + Bitch Dub; Independent Intavenshun (Island) ’80 Best of Singles

Set 5: Vinyl is Vital

  • Ken Boothe – Namibia; Two the Hard Way (Tuff Gong) ’87 JA
  • Niney the Observer – Duppy Man; Nuclear Jammin’ (Voiceprint) ’86 Chicago
  • Sophia George – Dance With You; Fresh (Winner) ’86 UK
  • Ranking Joe & Peter Tosh – Legalize It (Dub Club Mix + Version); 10″ (Echodelic) 2012 US – picture vinyl; herbtune

Set 6:

  • Bob Marley & the Wailers – Rastaman Chant; Live 1973-1975 (Starbuck) live on the BBC; 86 sec.
  • Faybiane Miranda – Prophecy; 12 the Hardway (Tribesman) ’77 female vox
  • Phillip Frazer – Never Let Go; 10″ (Jah Bible) ’79
  • Bush Chemists – Light Up Your Spliff; Light Up Your Spliff (Dubhead) ’96 UK dub album of the hour
Bob Marley inna Starbucks stylee?

Set 7:

  • Israel Vibration – Red Eyes; Live Again (RAS) ’97 San Francisco, herbtune

<Smoke from the Cali fires makes our eyes Red inna Utah; 67 sec.>

  • Tena Stelin – ID Chip; 10″ (Roots Hi-Tek) 2007 UK mutant dub conspiracist
Not how to prefer the red eye

Set 8: UFOria

  • Ancient Astronauts feat. Akua Naru – Last Night I Fell in Love With an Ancient Astronaut (ESL) 2011 Germ. w/ female vox
  • Thievery Corporation – Stargazer; Culture of Fear (ESL) 2011 DC dubbers
  • Michael Franti – Earth From Outer Space; All People (BooBoo Wax) 2013
  • Kingman + Jonah feat. Claudius Linton – Star Wars; Signtime (SunKing) 2008
  • Troubleman – Intergalactic You, Intergalactic Me (Far Out) 2010 Brazil

 

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: Jah-gust 4, 2018 (Podcast and Playlist) – 96 Degrees in the Shade!

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Smile Jamaica Ark-Ive Annotated Playlist: Jah-gust 4, 2018; 77 sec.

Set 1:

  • Joe Axumite – Home to Africa; 10” EP (Wackies) ’79 Bronx, NY vinyl
  • Creation Rebel – Starship Africa; Starship Africa (ON U Sound) ’80 UK dub vinyl album of the hour
  • Third World – 1865 (96 Degrees in the Shade); Reggae Sunsplash ’81 (Elektra) ‘81

<Jamaican revolutionaries on the gallows pole – 96 Degrees in the Shade; 44 sec.>

  • Zema – Firefall; Jubilee (Melchizedek) 2009 So Cal dawta
  • Keith Hudson – Darkest Night; Greatest Hits (Sky High) ‘74
  • Pato Banton – Don’t Sniff Coke; Live at Maritime Hall (2B1) 2001 in San Franciso: 4:20 Cannabis Service Announcement
  • Dillinger – Melting Pot; 12” (A & M) ’81 US picture sleeve

Set 2:

  • Bunny Wailer – Bad Card; Hall of Fame (RAS) ’95 – 50 Bob songs for Bob’s 50th birthday
  • Ijahman Levi – Bob & Friends Over There; Inside Out (Tree Roots) ’89 Reggae heroes tribute
  • Barbara Paige – Babylon Must Fall; Women in Reggae (Shanachie) ‘83
  • Winston Samuels – Moving On; 10” (Clintones)

Set 3: Best of Smile Jamaica 28+ Years

  • Rita Marley – Play, Play; Who Feels It Knows It (Shanachie) ’80 
  • Abyssinians – Good Lord; Satta Amassagana (Heartbeat) ‘76
  • Bingy Bunny & the Morwells – Jah Lion; Kingston 12 Toughie (RAS) ‘81
  • Black Uhuru – General Penitentiary; Black Uhuru (Virgin) ‘80
  • Jah “Pecker” Pelicaho & the Wailers – 21st Century Dub (ROIR) ’87 Jah-pon Dub Album of the Hour

Set 4:

  • The Specials – Too Hot; Too Much Too Young (Receiver) ‘79 2 Tone UK ska live at Aston University

<Violence in the British clubs: Racist skins vs. Rock against Racism; 23 sec.>  

  • Aswad – Ire Up; Aswad (Mango) ’76 UK
  • Hollie Cook – Looking For Real Love; Twice (Mr. Bongo) 2014 UK dawta
  • Earl Sixteen & Nick Manassah – Going to Africa + Out of Babylon; 10” (Merge) 2006 UK

Set 5: Vinyl is Vital

  • Wailing Wailers – One Love; Wailing Wailers (Studio One) ’66 JA

<One Love; 72 sec.>

 

  • Full Experience – Nar Soh, So It Stay; Aura Meets Lee “Scratch” Perry at Black Ark Studio  – ’76 Fr.
  • Niney the Observer – King Duppy; Nuclear Jammin’ (Voiceprint) ’86 Chicago
  • Peter Culture – Coconut Chalwah; Behold (Top Beat) 2002 UK 10”
  • Peter Tosh – Babylon Your Queendom is Falling; Dealing With the Shytstem (bootleg) 11/5/82 Live at the Roxy, LA CA

Set 6:

  • Bob Marley & the Wailers – Jah Live; Countryman (Mango) ’82 soundtrack
  • Norma Frazer – First Cut Is the Deepest; Full Up (Heartbeat/Studio One) ’67 Cat Stevens cover
  • The Gladiators – Happy Man 12”; Studio One Singles (Heartbeat/Studio One) ‘77

<Disco in Jamaica 33 sec.;>

  • Prince Lincoln & the Royal Rasses – Interstellar Overdub; Vortex Dub (Orange Street) ’79 Dub Album of the Hour

Set 7: Rockers do Reggae Set

  • Jerry Garcia Band – Stop That Train; Jerry Garcia Band (Arista) ’91 Peter Tosh cover

<Happy Birthday Jerry!44 sec. >

  • Johnny Nash – Guava Jelly; I Can See Clearly Now (CBS) ’72 Bob Marley cover
  • The Clash feat. Mikey Dread – Living in Fame; Sandinista! (Epic) ’80 w/ reggae toaster
  • Grace Jones – Sunset Sunrise; Hurricane + Hurricane Dub (Wall of Sound) 2011

Set 8: Mutant Dub

  • Beat Pharmacy – Keef; Earthly Delights (Deep Space) 2005 South Africa: Mutant Dub Set
  • The Orb feat. Aki Mora – Once More; Cydonia (Island) ’99 w/ female vox
  • Bush Chemists – Firing Dub; Light Up Your Spliff (Conscious Sounds) ’96 UK
  • Jalal – Mankind; 10” (ON U Sound) ’93 UK – Last Poets singer, picture sleeve
Last Poets – the original rappers