Tag: Reggae
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Various Artists, The Vinyl Series Volume One, 2021 on Island
Great collection of Reggae / Ska / Rocksteady singles from the early days of Island Records, said to be hand-picked by label founder Chris Blackwell. There’s already been a Volume Two and Volume Three (going into the 70s) – not sure if there will be more or not. Somewhat idiosyncratically includes The Spencer Davis Group…
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Bob Marley and the Wailers, Shakedown, 1979 on ALA
This was originally released in August 1971 with the title The Best of the Wailers on Beverley’s Records – but it is not a greatest hits album. It was recorded in 1970 with Leslie Kong and has been reissued many times with many different labels. Here it is called Shakedown on the cover and Shake…
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The Wailers, Burnin’, 1973 on Island
Sixth LP from Marley and the Wailers, recorded at the same time as Catch a Fire. The front cover credits The Wailers, but this modern reissue credits Bob Marley & The Wailers on the labels. This was the last album before Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer all pursued solo careers. What a fantastic album,…
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Bob Marley and The Wailers, Live!, 1975 on Island / Tuff Gong
Recorded at the Lyceum Theatre in London, July 1975, and released by Island Records. Fantastic live album. The only thing wrong with this album is that isn’t a 2xLP or longer. My copy—not sure where I picked this up—is a post 2015 reissue by UMe on Tuff Gong labels, including a fold-out poster.
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UB40, Rat in the Kitchen, 1986 on A&M
Seventh UB40 full length, on A&M in the US and DEP International / Virgin elsewhere. Love the title track as well as “Sing our Own Song,” with the rallying cry of the African National Congress (“Amandla Awethu”). Got to see them around this time in Minneapolis – what a fantastic live show they put on,…
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Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, Conscious Party, 1988 on Virgin
Third LP from Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, which included Stephen, Sharon and Cedella plus Ziggy, all children of Bob and Rita Marley (who also adds backing vocals). Guests include Jerry Harrison and Tina Weymouth. Chris Franz and Weymouth also produced. Loved this album when it came out – fairly certain I had a…
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UB40, Labour of Love, 1983 on A&M
Fourth studio LP from UB40 – a collection of covers including their giant hit “Red Red Wine” – but don’t hold that against them. It’s really a fantastic album start to finish. “All of these songs were recorded by reggae artists between 1969 and 1972” – they came to “Red, Red, Wine” not via Neil…
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Bob Marley & The Wailers, Babylon By Bus, 1978 on Island
Wonderful live album recorded (despite the maps on the inner sleeves showing the US leg of the tour) in Paris, Copenhagen, London, and Amsterdam. It’s 2xLP but not a gatefold. It’s die-cut in the front windows of the bus, so depending on the order you put the printed inner sleeves you determine what shows through.…
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UB40, Little Baggariddim, 1985 on DEP International / A&M
Great EP by UB40 from the mid-eighties, including a duet with Chrissie Hynde covering Sonny & Cher’s “I Got You Babe,” with a dub version on side 2. There’s also a new version of “One In Ten” from Present Arms There’s a full album called Baggariddim – this EP was only released in the US…
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Desmond Dekker, The Israelites, 1969 on Pyramid
The title track was top 10 both in the UK and in the US in 1969, making Dekker one of the most visible early stars of reggae outside Jamaica. My copy is a 2016 mono reissue through BMG, reproducing the Pyramid label from the 1969 UK release. Via Reykjavik Record Shop in Iceland.
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Bob Marley & The Wailers, Legend (The Best Of Bob Marley & The Wailers), 1984 on Island Records.
This was required listening and a mandatory part of any healthy CD collecting heading into college in the 80s. It didn’t matter what musical subculture you came from, this was the lingua franca. I went on to many other Marley albums and deeper knowledge of Reggae and Caribbean music, but this was the one everyone…
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The Silvertones, Silver Bullets, 1973 on Trojan Records.
The Silvertones, Silver Bullets, 1973 on Trojan Records. My copy is a @vinylmeplease reissue from 2018. Great early 70s reggae produced by Lee “Scratch” Perry
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The Abyssinians, Forward, 1982 on Alligator Records.
The Abyssinians, Forward, 1982 on Alligator Records. With Sly and Robbie, Zoot Sims. Great roots/reggae record
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Jimmy Cliff, The Power and the Glory, 1983 on Columbia.
Jimmy Cliff, The Power and the Glory, 1983 on Columbia. Mid 80s reggae from the great James Chambers OM, aka Jimmy Cliff.
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UB40, Live, 1983 on DEP International.
UB40, Live, 1983 on DEP International. UK pressing, recorded on tour in Ireland in 1982. Love these early tunes: Burden of Shame, Tyler, One in Ten, Sardonicus. (Dont get me wrong, i also love Red Red Wine and later cover song UB40, but they were a killer political reggae band in the early 80s).
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Peter Tosh, Legalize It, 1976 on Columbia
Peter Tosh, Legalize It, 1976 on Columbia It’s 4:20 somewhere, right? This is a later pressing, but hard to date – 80s maybe. I’ve had it at least that long
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UB40, Signing Off, 1980 on Graduate Records.
UB40, Signing Off, 1980 on Graduate Records. Opens with “Tyler” (about Gary Tyler, sentenced to death at 17 in Louisiana, who served 41 years before being released in 2016), and includes: King (a tribute to MLK), Burden of Shame (“bloody deeds have been done in my name”) and Billie Holiday’s Strange Fruit. Resonating with me…