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Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: Jah-cember 7, 2019 – 3 Songs for 30 Years!

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Greetings,

KRCL celebrated 40 years on air with a party in downtown SLC. My tenure of that for Smile Jamaica is 30 years. (31 and 1/2 total).

I attended the birthday bash and it was great to see a lot of volunteers I hadn’t talked to since KRCL’s format change in 2008.

Plus there was a great love of what I ‘n’ I do with Roots Reggae and Dub with many listeners who were happy to meet me and pass on their thanks. Great to collect stories from people and how they discovered and continue to enjoy my sets on Smile Jamaica.

People love my commitment to vinyl!

The common thread is what Smile Jamaica means to their Saturday afternoon routines. For decades. Fathers and sons. Mom’s and dawtas. If I ‘n’ I had accepted every drink offer, I would have been a drunken mess! (However, it would have been downright rude to decline surreptitious hits of green vapor. Ask me no questions, and I’ll tell you no lies…)

It really was a validation of my joy of community radio that is still driven by independent music selection. Where you might hear a Scorpions Reggae jam followed by some UFO dubwize.

You ain’t gwan hear that on your Spotify playlist.

Spotify Reggae vs. Smile Jamaica. Computers or a human?

When my great friend and now KRCL station manager, Tristin Tabish asked me to spin a 15 minute set between bands, I ‘n’ I agreed.

This is essentially I ‘n’ I speech from the stage.

“KRCL celebrates 40 years of all killer no filler radio. It has been my pleasure to be a part of that ride for 30 plus years.

“And KRCL has always championed Reggae music from day 1. Dreadlock Holiday to Smile Jamaica. My bredrin Rutabaga Reese taught me about quality Roots Reggae. Much love to Papa Pilgrm on Nite Roots.”

“For my set, I ‘n’ I was asked to put together 15 minutes of Smile Jamaica. How do you distill 10,000 albums. 10,000 cds and 10,000 singles into 3 songs?”

“A little bit of Marley. A little bit of 420. A little bit of dubwise.”

And Selah! Did the crowd roar when that opening lick of Bob Marley’s Smile Jamaica blast forth on the club’s hi-fi!

Thank you KRCL. And thank you KRCL listeners for the kind words for this deejay on your station that rules the nation! Forward ever, backwards never.

bless, Bobbylon

Smile Jamaica: KRCL 40th Anniversary Set live and on-air; Dec. 4, 2019 at the Union; Salt Lake City, Utah (60 sec.)

  1. Bob Marley – Smile Jamaica (Marley)
  2. Rita Marley – One Draw (420)
  3. Yellowman – Strong Mi Strong (Dub – Bill Laswell mix)

Smile Jamaica Annotated Playlist: Jah-cember 7, 2019

Set 1:

  • Prince Far I & the Arabs – Foggy Road; Message From the King (Virgin Front Line) ’78 UK vinyl
  • Wackies Rhythm Force – African Roots Act I (Wackies) ’77 Bronx, NY vinyl dub album of the hour
  • Bob Marley & the Wailers – Smile Jamaica; Kaya (Deluxe Edition) ’77 Lee “Scratch” Perry mix: 40th Anniversary Party Mix (1) – Marley
  • Rita Marley – One Draw; Big Blunts vol. 1 (Tommy Boy) ’82 (2) – 420
  • Yellowman – Strong Mi Strong; King Yellowman (Columbia) ’84 (3) – dub/Bill Laswell mix
  • Culture – Legalisation + Ganja Time; Live in Africa (RAS) Dec. 15, 2000 live in Capetown, South Africa; 4:20 Cannabis Service Announcement

Set 2:

  • Meta and the Corner Stones – Cornerstone/ Forward Music (No Soundz) 2008 Senegalese
  • Sugar Minott – The Devil Is After Me/ Happy Together (Heartbeat) ’91
  • Hortense Ellis – Woman of the Ghetto; Impact! (Universal Sound) ’70? Marlena Shaw cover
  • Jolly Brothers – Conscious Man; 12″ (Ballstic) ’78 UK Lee “Scratch” Perry prod’n
Cratedig – Las Vegas 2019

Set 3: Best of Smile Jamaica 30 Years

  • Prince Buster – Judge Dread; Judge Dread – Rocksteady Hush Up (Melodisc) ’67
  • Burning Spear – Bad to Worst; Rocking Time (Studio One) ’74
  • Third World – Jah Glory; 96 Degrees in the Shade (Mango) ’76
  • Sheila Hylton – Bed’s Too Big Without You; Reggae Sunsplash ’81: Tribute to Bob Marley (Elektra) ’81; Police cover

Set 4:

  • Noel Phillips – Jah No Dead; Youthman Vibrations (Jammys) ’81 UK vinyl
  • The Congos – Ark of the Covenant; Heart of the Congos (Black Art) ’77 Lee “Scratch” Perry Black Ark prod’n
  • DJ Rupture feat. Sister Nancy – A Little More Oil; Special Gunpowder (Tigerbeat6) 2004 dubstep
  • Monyaka – Go Deh Yaka (Go Deh to the Top); 12″ (Easy Steet) ’83 NY
Cratedig – Las Vegas 2019

Set 5: Vinyl is Vital Christmas

  • Michigan & Smiley – LIttle Drummer Boy; Reggae Christmas (RAS) ’84 DC
  • Norwood Rockers – Rocking; Christmas Time (Studio One) JA instrumental medley
  • John Holt – Happy Xmas (War Is Over); Reggae Christmas Album (Trojan) ’86 UK – John Lennon cover
  • Mutabaruka – Postpone Christmas; High Times All-Star Explosion (Alligator) ’85 Chicago blues label
  • Jennifer Lara – Hands of the Lord; Christmas Stylee (Studio One) ’79? JA

Set 6: Wailers Family Tree

  • Bob Marley & the Wailers – Soul Shakedown Party; Best of (ALA) ’71 JA vinyl: Lesley Kong sides

<Lesley Kong producer who exploited The Wailers and died suddenly soon after; 1 min 51 sec>

  • Peter Tosh – Oh Bumba Klaat; Wanted (bootleg) Sept. 29, 1981 –  NYC at the Ritz
  • Bunny Wailer – So Much Things to Say; Hall of Fame (RAS) ’95 – 50 Bob songs for 50th birthday
  • Marcia Griffiths – Tribulation; 12″ (Solomonic) ’76 JA – Bunny Wailer prod’n

Set 7: Rockers do Reggae

  • Bad Brains – Jah Love; Into the Force (Megaforce) 2012: DC punk dub; Rockers do Reggae Set
  • H.R. – We Belong Together; Hey Wella (DC Hardcore) 2007
  • Ben Harper – With My Own Hands; CD Single (Virgin) 2003
  • Tom Tom Club – Bamboo Town; Close to the Bone (Sire) ’83


Set 8: Mutant Dub

  • Thievery Corporation feat. Mr. Lif – Culture of Fear (ESL) 2012 DC dubbers: Mutant Dub Set
  • Dub Syndicate feat. Big Youth – Emanuel; Fear of a Green Planet (Shanachie) ’98
  • Djosos Krost feat. Jah Bobby – Creation; No Sign of Bad (Quango) 2006 Norwegian dub w/ JA dub poet
  • Jonah Dan Meets the Bush Chemists – Guidance; Dubs From Zion Valley (Conscious Sounds/Abba Christos Tafari)
  • Bush Chemists – Respect Dubwise; Light Up Your Chalice (Dubhead) ’96
  • Alpha & Omega Meets Bangarang feat. Nishka – Show Me a Purpose; Show Me a Purpose (Hammerbass) 2004 UK trance dub w/ female vox

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: Jah-nuary 13, 2018 (Stream + Tracklist) – The Good Son!

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The Healing of the Nation

Greetings,

<Digital story on my parents’ excursion into Medical Marijuana; 1 min. 46 sec.>

As an amateur missionary for the benefits of medical marijuana, I had been relaying the story of my parents’ excursions into Seven Leaf pain relief on the past two episodes of Smile Jamaica.

My parents just became snowbirds from Northern Montana to Sun City West, Arizona

Christmas 2017 in the homeland

My Mom has knee pain, anxiety and sleep issues and my dad: neuropathy, back pain and carpal tunnel issues. Last week I told the story about taking my Dad in to get a Medical MJ card.

<Medical Marijuana for Ma and Pa; 90 sec.>

Took a week to get the card, and I was back in Utah. So they went to the dispensary and had a little shopping spree

  1. pain relief pills
  2. topical CBD ointment
  3. pain patch

Because they bought so much and were first time customers, they got a free vape pen. And bought a 4 to 1; CBD to THC cartridge.

Better than Walgreens or CVS

Long story short: they call me for guidance on how to work the vape pen. Trial and error and voila! My parents are vaping like Bob & Rita Marley.

And hour later I get another call….”We’re not feeling anything.” I said, you got the stuff that doesn’t “feel”.  Oh. Ok.

Last Sunday I call and looks like Mom wants to try a little more kick to her healing regimen. Why not? It’s medicinal and legal.

Last Friday my sister texts me: Mom and Dad just had a toke!

Me: Cheech & Chong!

Sis: 

Me: 

I had a listener call me after I told this story and we got into a discussion about having parents who are sick of the pills, cost and side effects of the Pharmaceutical Industrial Complex

Once the (recent) stigma of weed is overcome through the relief of daily pain and social anxiety, cannabis reclaims its rightful place in our 10,000 year history of the Seven Leaf plant.

Revelation 22:2King James Version (KJV)

In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

As I concluded my reasoning with the caller on the benefits of cannabis for our parents, he said, “You know Robert? You’re a good son.”

And I said, I really want my parents to enjoy their retirement pain free and unencumbered by the daily pill regimen they are currently under. However, I am definitely taking my vape pen with me on my next visit to Sun City West.

A little dab will do ya!

Bless, Bobbylon

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: Jah-nuary 13, 2018 – Annotated Playlist; 1 min. 20 sec.

Set 1:

  • Soul Syndicate – King’s Highway; High Times All-Star Explosion (Alligator) ’85 Chicago blues label
  • Winston Edwards – Natty Dub; Natty Locks Dub (Studio 16) ’74 UK vinyl dub album of the hour 
  • Bad Brains – I and I Survive; Rock For Light (Caroline) ’83
  • Rupie Dan and Jennifer Gad – Blazing Fire; Solid Foundation (Flag) ’92
  • Carlene Davis – The Harder They Come; Reggae Sunsplash ’81 – Tribute to Bob Marley (Elektra) ’81 Jimmy Cliff cover
  • Dub Syndicate – Higher Than High; 10″ (Lion & Roots) ’98 UK 4:20 Cannabis Service Announcement

Set 2: Wailers Family Tree

  • Peter Tosh & the Wailers – 400 Years; Peter Tosh & Friends (Upsetter0 ’70 Lee “Scratch” Perry prod’n

<400 Years  – The Middle Passage; 35 sec.>

  • Bunny Wailer – Forever Loving Jah; Hall of Fame (RAS) ’95 Bob Marley covers
  • Bob Marley & the Wailers – Natural Mystic; Exodus 40 (Tuff Gong) Live at the Rainbow Theatre, London; June 1977

<Exodus Live inna London June 1977; 46 sec.>

  • Rita Marley – That’s The Way; 12″ (Shanachie) ’80 US picture sleeve

Set 3:

  • Wingless Angels – Inviting You + Shady Tree; Wingless Angels II (Mindless) ’96 Keith Richards, Justin Hinds; nyah drums

<Keith Richards on Smile Jamaica? WTF?; 32 sec.>

  • UB40 – Don’t Break My Heart; LIttle Baggariddim (A & M) ’85 EP
  • King Kong – Unity; Rumble Jumble Life (Massive B) 2005
  • Grace Nelson – Jah Is Real; Ire Hi Fi – Play de Music (Plant Music) 2007 Germ.
  • Lee Perry & the Upsetters – Jah; Black Ark in Dub (Upsetter) ’77 Dub Album of the hour

Set 4:

  • Black Uhuru – Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner; Black Uhuru
  • Bush Chemists feat. Ras I – Borderline; Light Up Your Chalice (Conscious Sounds) ’99 UK mutant dub
  • Super Chick – Bees Man; 10″ (Channel One) ’83
Michael Rose, Puma Jones and Duckie Simpson – The group that got me into Reggae

Set 5: Vinyl is Vital

  • Sister Carol – International Style; Black Cinderella (Jah Life) ’84 Brooklyn
  • Laurel Aitken – Je t’aimerai toujours ( I Love You, Yes I Do!)  ; Eskapade en France (Unicorn) ’90 Fr. ska EP
  • The Specials – Sock it to ’em J.B.!; More Specials (2 Tone) ’80 UK tribute to neoliberal hitman, James Bond
  • Chalice; Dangerous Disturbances; Stand Up! (CSA) ’85 UK
  • Amp-Ech – Living Dead + Version; Against Injustice (Amp-Ech) ’87 JA
Ska praise to neoliberal hitman, James Bond

Set 6″ Roots Dawtas Rockers – Best of Smile Jamaica 28+ years

  • Patti Smith Group – Ain’t It Strange; Radio Ethiopia (Arista) ’76
  • Joan Armatrading – I Can’t Lie to Myself; Walking Under Ladders (A & M) ’81; feat. Sly & Robbie
  • Tom Tom Club – Bamboo Town; Close to the Bone (Sire) ’83; Tina & Chris from Talking Heads
  • Martha Velez – Bend Down Low; Escape from Babylon (Sire) ’76: Bob cover, Bob production, Wailers & I-Three. Lee Perry engineer
You’ve got dub in my proto-punk rock

Set 7:

  • Tapper Zukie – Chalice to Chalice; MPLA (Virgin Front Line) ’78 herbtune
  • Jimmy Cliff – I Can See Clearly Now; Cool Runnings Soundtrack (Chaos) ’93 cover of Johnny Nash 
  • Don Evans & the Paragons – Danger in Your Eyes; Full Up – More Hits From Studio One (Heartbeat/Studio One) ’76 
  • Sis Aesha (sic)  & Robbie Valentine – King Selassie I + Conditions; 10″ (Sip a Cup)  2001 UK
8 down, 42 to go!

Set 8: Mutant Dub

  • Luciano & Sis Sanae – What You Gonna Do Now + Free Jah Children; Abassi All-Stars Showcase (Universal Egg) 2006 UK
  • Alpha & Omega – Solomon and Sheba; Overstanding (A & O) ’92 UK trance dub
  • Dr. Israel & the Brooklyn Jungle Sound System – Afrika Youth; Black Rose Liberation (Baraka Foundation)  2001 Brooklyn
  • Dry & Heavy – Night Flight dub; Meet King Jammy in the Jaws of the Tiger (BSI)  2000 Jah-pon
  • Charlie P & the Dubateers – Lock Me Up + Dub; Hustle (Dubateers) 2011 UK

Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: May 7, 2016 (Stream + Tracklist) I Love My Mummy!

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Much love to my Mother, Jeannette

<Livicated to Jeanntte: Happy Mother’s Day Mom!>

Greetings,

Happy Mother’s Day edition of Smile Jamaica. I always start off with a beautiful cover of Tammy Wynette country stylee from Sonya Spence

Tammy Wynette

“No Charge”

My little girl came into the kitchen this evenin’,
While I was fixin’ supper,
And she handed me a piece of paper she’d been writin’ on,
And after wipin’ my hands on my apron,
I read it – and this is what it said:For mowin’ the yard – five dollars,
And for makin’ my own bed this week – one dollar,
And for goin’ to the store – fifty cents,
An’ playin’ with little sister, while you went to the store – twenty-five cents,
Takin’ out the trash – one dollar,
Gettin’ a good report card – five dollars,
And for rakin’ the yard – two dollars,
Total owed – fourteen dollars and seventy-five cents.Well, I looked at her standin’ there expectantly,
And a thousand mem’ries flashed through my mind,
So I picked up the pen, turnin’ the paper over,
This is what I wrote:For the nine months I carried you,
Growin’ inside me – NO CHARGE,
For the nights I’ve sat up with you,
Doctored you, prayed for you – NO CHARGE,
For the toys, food and clothes.
And for wiping your nose, there’s NO CHARGE,
When you add it all up.
The full cost of my love is NO CHARGE.Well, when she finished readin’,
She had great big old tears in her eyes,
And she looked up at me and said,
“Mama, I sure do love you.”
Then she took the pen,
And in great big letters,
She wrote: “PAID IN FULL.”When you add it all up,
The cost of real love is – NO CHARGE
***
Brings a tear to my eye. Spent a week with my folks moving into a new place in Phoenix. Took a day to cratedig and explore Tempe. On my way out, mom gives me a benjamin. “Have a happy cratedig.” Well that’s not exactly her words but more or less. Love that woman.
bless, robt
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Mother’s love: No charge but more precious than gold
Smile Jamaica Ark-Ives: Annotated Playlist May 7, 2016:

Set 1:

  • Barrington Spence – Jah Jah Train; Speak Softly (Trojan)  ’76 UK vinyl
  • A Nice Dub – Agrovators; Kaya Dub (Justice)  ’77 UK vinyl Dub Album of the Hour; Bunny Lee/King Tubby
  • Sonya Spence – No Charge; In the Dark (Skynote)  ’78; Happy Mother’s Day – Tammy Wynette cover

<No Charge for being Mom; 13 sec.>

  • Aswad – Wrapped Up; To the Top (Simba) ’86 UK

<1 of the first 10 CDs added to the Ark-Ive, 1987: Tower Records; 19 sec.>

  • Inner Circle – Curfew (3 O’clock Road Block); Jah Love (Music Club) ’74 Bob Marley cover
  • Barry Brown – Sensimilla; Far East (Hitbound) ’81: 4:20 Cannabis Service Announcement
  • Dennis Brown- Blood, Sweat & Tears; Love Has Found Its Way (A & M) ‘82

<Dennis Brown or Yellowman heir to Bob Marley?  25 sec.>

  • Kumina Mento Rasta – Wareika Hills Sound; 10” (Honest Jon’s)  2010 nyahbinghi instrumental celebrates Jamaican folk arts
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Livicate never deadicated: To all the Moms; especially my Mom, Jeannette and Sister Stacey

 

Set 2: Kentucky Skank (Kentucky Derby

  • Dillinger – Caymanas Park; 14K Gold Golden Hits (Scandal Bag) JA vinyl

<Caymanas Park Race Track in Jamaica; 11 sec.>

<Chinese jockeys on the mounts in Jamaica; 17 sec.>

  • Abyssinians – In a Kalda; Reunion (AO!) ’98; Kalda – Jamaican race track
  • The Pioneers – Long Shot Kick the Bucket; From the Beginning (Jet Star) ‘69
  • Mr. Bojangles – Selassie I Cup; 7” (Joe Gibbs Record Globe) ’77; horserace between: Babylon, Pope Pious and Dreadlocks

The Selassie I Cup; 14 sec.

  1. Babylon 2-1 odds
  2. Soul Youth 3-1
  3. Rome Even money
  4. Pope Pius 3-5, the big favorite; came up lam
  5. Dreadlocks 8-1
  6. Baldhead 15-1
  • The Winner: Dreadlock; 8 lengths!
  • Place: Baldhead
  • Show: Soul Youth
  • Pope Pius came up lame; 17 sec.
download (16)
Congratulations Nyquist. 2016 Kentucky Derby winner

Set 3: Best of Smile Jamaica – 26+ Years

  • U Roy – Control Tower; Rasta Ambassador (Virgin Front Line) ’78
  • Black Uhuru – Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner; Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (Heartbeat) ‘80

<Black Uhuru got me into Reggae more than Bob, Peter, Jimmy or UB40; 28 sec.>

  • Judy Mowatt – Rock Me; Love Is Overdue (Shanachie) ‘87
  • I Roy – Sister Nelly; Heart of a Lion (Virgin Front Line) ’78 nursery rhyme
  • Jah Shaka Meets Aswad – Addis Ababa; In Addis Ababa Studio (Jah Shaka) ’84 Dub Album of the Hour
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This album + Anthem made me a stone cold Reggae fanatic

Set 4: Wailers Family Tree

  • Peter Tosh – Reggaemyelitis; Honorary Citizen (Columbia) Best of Box Set; Request

<Reggaemyelitis – from the tips of your dreads to the bottom of your toes; 9 sec.>

  • Bunny Wailer – Love Fire; Retrospective (Shanachie) ’78 Best of
  • Bob Marley & the Wailers – Smile Jamaica (A & B-sides); Rastaman Vibration (Deluxe Edition) ‘76
$_35
Hear the song that gives the show its name!

Set 5: Vinyl Is Vital

  • Marcia Griffiths – Mark My Words; At Studio One (Studio One) JA vinyl 
  • Dandy Livingstone – Jamaica Is Fun; Hit With Me Music (Trojan) ’72 UK
  • Monty Montgomery – Stay Cool; Seeds (Fusion) Atlanta
  • Yabby You – Deliver Me From My Enemies; Babylon Soundtrack (Takoma) ’80 UK
  • Spliffy Dan – Jah Bless; Rockers Showcase Volume III (Rockers International) ’87 Philadelphia
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Marcia Griffiths – The Aretha Franklin of Reggae

Set 6: Roots Dawtas Rockers do Reggae

  • Patti Smith – Redondo Beach; Horses (Arista) ’76 
  • Joan Armatrading – I Can’t Lie to Myself; Sly & Robbie – Ultimate Collection (Hip-O) ‘81
  • Belle Stars – Miss World; 80’s Romance (Union Square) UK female New Wave

<Belle Stars – emerged out of 2 Tone ska in the UK; 11 sec.>

  • Tom Tom Club – Bamboo Town; Close to the Bone (Island) ’83 riddim section of Talking Heads
  • Scientist – 11 Guava Road Dub; King of Dub (Kingdom) ’81 Dub Album of the Hour
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Belle Stars UK Roots Dawtas dabble in some Reggae

Set 7:

  • Horace Andy – Better Collie; Prime of Horace Andy (Music Club)  ’75 herbtune
  • Pat Rhoden – Boogie on Reggae Woman; Just My Imagination (Trojan) ’75 Stevie Wonder cover
  • June Lodge – Someone Loves You Honey; Reggae Pulse 3 – Love Songs (RAS) ’80 Charley Pride country

<Forced to hear too much Country music growing up in Montana; 14 sec.>

  • Lucky Dube – Guns & Roses; Taxman (Shanachie) ’97

<Bad vibes: Murder at Park City show. Lucky killed shortly thereafter; 24 sec.>

City Weekly story on the Park City murder:

http://www.cityweekly.net/utah/the-gangs-of-zion/Content?oid=2128947

Everton Blender – Live Up; Live at the White River Reggae Bash (Heartbeat) ‘99

  • Pablo Gad – Crying Gad; 10” (Reggae on Top) 2002 UK militant steppers

<Militant Steppers definition; 10 sec.>

luckyduberip
Lucky Dube – killed in carjacking in Johannesburg South Africa

Set 8:

  • Botom Botom – Le Toit du Monde; This Is Not a Stereotype (Hammerbass) 2006 Fr. w/ female vox
  • 2 Bad Card Specialist – Weed Specialist (Audio Active rmx); CD Single (ON U Sound) ’95 UK/Jah-pon herbtune
  • New Age Steppers – Animal Space; New Age Steppers (Statik) Adrian Sherwood prod’n; Slits on the vox
  • Dub Gabriel feat. The Spaceape – Is This Revolution? (Jack Dangers Colonia Dub rmx); Raggabass Resistance (Destroy All Concepts) 2013 feat. Dub poet
  • Burial – UK; Untrue (Hyperdub)  2007 UK dubstep

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