This is a continuation of a Jamaican music thread that I started a few days ago. If you'd like to start at the beginning, visit the original thread:
Jamaican Ska & Rocksteady: The Essentials.
When most people think of Jamaican music, they think of reggae. Reggae is just one of many genres, but it's a very important one. The certified king of Jamaican music, Bob Marley, was mostly a reggae artist. He's one of my favorite artists, and I highly recommend his entire catalog. But there are other great reggae artists out there.
Dub, another form of Jamaican music, started when producers began experimenting with recorded tracks, heightening the rhythm section and adding in effects. The kings of dub are King Tubby, Lee "Scratch" Perry and Augustus Pablo. Perry is not only a dub artist, but helped produce many roots reggae albums, and even recorded The Wailers during a pivotal period in their career.
Enough chatter; on with the list.
NOTE 1: Each album title is a hyperlink, so that you can listen to sound samples (where available) if you're curious.
Dub and Reggae*
Jimmy Cliff:
Jimmy Cliff. (1969 - 1970). If Jimmy Cliff can't put you in a good mood, you've got serious problems. Here's 25 tracks from his prime that will leave you with a perma-smile.
The Maytals:
Monkey Man & From the Roots. (1969 - 1970). The Maytals were at their peak in 1969 and 1970 when they recorded with Leslie Kong. "Funky Kingston" is their most popular album, but to my ears, these are their best tracks.
The Wailers:
The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers, Part 2. (1970 - 1971). Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer - the original Wailers - laid down some of the best music ever recorded on the island of Jamaica. Here's everything they recorded with Lee "Scratch" Perry between the demise of ska and their jump to a major label. Parts 1 and 3 are good too, but I'd recommend starting here.
Junior Byles:
Beat Down Babylon. (1971 - 1972). Junior Byles recorded with Lee "Scratch" Perry, aka The Upsetter, at the dawn of the 1970's. Crucial riddims here.
Jacob Miller:
Who Say Jah No Dread. (1974 - 1975). A legendary recording session with Augustus Pablo - six indelible cuts, plus six dub versions mixed by King Tubby. Classic roots.
Burning Spear:
Marcus Garvey. (1975). An extremely important album in the roots movement, "Marcus Garvey" is also one of the most popular albums to come out of Jamaica, and for good reason.
Abyssinians:
Satta Massagana. (1976). For the hardcore Rasta, The Abyssinians' debut is a must. You want roots? They'll give you roots right down to the core.
The Heptones:
Party Time. (1976). The Black Ark was Lee Perry's recording studio during the mid-to-late-seventies. The music produced at the Ark is like from another world. Prime example.
The Meditations: Message From the Meditations. (1976). Contains three tracks recorded with Perry at the Black Ark, plus seven others that are pretty great as well. (OOP)
Mighty Diamonds:
Right Time. (1976). If you want to start a roots collection, make this one of your first purchases. I have to admit the album cover is kinda cheesy, but the sounds are amazing.
Lee "Scratch" Perry:
Roast Fish Collie Weed & Corn Bread. (1976). Perry's best solo outing, and another of my all-time favorites. If you want Perry and nothing but Perry, get your hands on this.
Max Romeo:
War Ina Babylon. (1976). Another monumental production from the Black Ark. What more can I say 'cept that Perry is a mad genius. Max Romeo never sounded better. (OOP)
Lee "Scratch" Perry:
Arkology. (1976 - 1979). The best tracks from the days of the Black Ark condensed into a three CD set. A great place to start for those who want to get familiar with The Upsetter.
The Congos:
Heart of the Congos. (1977). Out of all the amazing things that came out of the Black Ark, this album may just top them all. Perry was picking up tracks from the extra-terrestrial squad.
Bob Marley and the Wailers:
Exodus. (1977). Rasta revolution reached its peak with "Exodus", the most hit-laden of Bob Marley's albums. But really, all of them are crucial.
Junior Murvin:
Police & Thieves. (1977). You guessed it, another Lee Perry production. Awesome, as they pretty much all are. Great title track. (OOP)
Peter Tosh:
Equal Rights. (1977). Peter Tosh almost stole the reggae throne from Bob Marley with this one. Better than "Legalize It", in my opinion.
Dr. Alimantado:
Best Dressed Chicken in Town. (1978). This album is a dub masterpiece, though most people are unaware it exists. Lee Perry engineers a few tracks, along with King Tubby and Scientist. Irie mon.
Culture:
Two Sevens Clash. (1978). A wonderfully complex and enlightening album, "Two Sevens Clash" may be the pinnacle achievement of the roots era. A must have.
The Gladiators:
Trench Town Mix Up. (1978). Just another extremely worthwhile album from the roots era. You will be happy with this one. Killer.
Various Artists:
The Harder They Come. (1967 - 1972). After of course Bob Marley, most people with a fleeting interest in reggae choose this album to add to their collection. It really may be the best soundtrack in existence. Every song is a 10.
Various Artists:
20 Reggae Classics. (1967 - 1976). Some overlap with the aforementioned soundtrack, but nevertheless one of the best Jamaican music compilations on the market.
And if you want an ultimate, all-encompasing Jamaican music compilation...
Various Artists:
Tougher Than Tough: The Story Of Jamaican Music. (1958 - 1993). This box set is possibly the most important collection of Jamaican music ever released. Every track is essential, and it's an incredible collection of music as well. You may not want to make it your first purchase - it's rather expensive - but at some point you need to own it.
* All of this information is from a guide to Jamaican music that I made earlier this year on Amazon.com.
NOTE 2: Although a lot of great Jamaican music was recorded in the '80s and '90s, the classic cuts - the foundations of the art form - were recorded during the 1960s and 1970s. So instead of going on to mention Black Uhuru, Steel Pulse and all them, I will stop here for now. (I mean, the list is getting pretty long, don't you think?)
P.S. You may be asking yourself, "What is a Jamaican music post doing in the rock forum?" Well, as of right now there aren't enough people on RadioMute interested in Jamaican, reggae or world music to warrant a designated forum. I was told to post all "reggae" posts in the "rock" forum. If you like Jamacian music, speak up. If we get enough people talking, the administrators may create a place for us.
. I usually catch some reggae music on the radio, and I stay on because it sounds ok. But this music was more upbeat, funky and not murky, so it`s more than just ok. It`s up there with Marley in producton, and this was more chill (which is good) . Next summer I`m listening to The Diamonds and Culture for sure!
