Distinctly Jamaican Christmas Mixes of Yesteryear

I have had numerous requests for mixes from specific previous years and I figured I'd make it easy for everyone but just re-uploading 'em all!  Enjoy!

The 2006 Jamaican Christmas Mix

1. Carlene Davis – Santa Claus (Do You Ever Come To The Ghetto)
2. King Stitt – Christmas Tree
3. Johnny Osbourne – Christmas Stylee
4. The Joe Gibbs Family – We Three Kings
5. Gregory Isaacs – Christmas Behind The Bars
6. Yellowman – Where Is Santa Claus?
7. Eek A Mouse – Christmas A Come
8. Cocoa Tea - Christmas Is Coming
9. The Aggrovators – Santa Claus Dub
10. Ras Pidow – Winter Storm
11. The Wailers – White Christmas
12. Toots & The Maytals – Christmas Feeling Ska
13. Alton Ellis & The Lipsticks – Merry Merry Christmas
14. Jacob Miller – On The Twelve Days Of Ismas
15. Trinity – Video Christmas
16. Eek A Mouse – The Night Before Christmas
17. Michael Palmer – Happy Merry Christmas
18. The Granville Williams Orchestra – Santa Claus Is Ska-Ing To Town
19. Tiger – Tiger Claus
20. Freddie McGregor – O Come Let Us Adore Him
21. Dillinger – Hi Fashion Christmas
22. Jacob Miller – Deck The Halls
23. Trinity – All I Want For Christmas
24. The Ethiopians – Ding Dong Bell
25. Rico And His Boys – Silent Night

 The 2007 Jamaican Christmas Mix

1. Jacob Miller - All I Want For Ismas
2. Horace Andy - Christmas Time
3. The Aggrovators - Santa Claus And The Aggrovators Conquer The Martians Inna Holiday Rockers Style
4. Kingstonians - Merry Christmas
5. Cocoa Tea - Please Come For Christmas
6. Mutabaruka - Postpone Christmas
7. Brent Dowe - Christmas In Jamaica
8. Steve Golding - Strictly Rock Christmas
9. Kashief Lindo - Someday At Christmas
10. Frank Cosmo - Merry Christmas
11. Al & The Vibrators - Merry Christmas
12. Lovindeer - It's Christmas Time Again
13. Jackie Mittoo - Joy Joy
14. The Cimarons - Holy Christmas
15. Ringo - Christmas Time
16. Little Kirk - Gee Whiz
17. Half Pint - Christmas Vibes
18. Gregory Isaacs - White Christmas
19. John Holt - Winter World Of Love
20. Sugar Minott - Christmas Jamboree
21. Peter Broggs - Twelve Days Of Christmas
22. Barrington Levy - Christmas Day
23. The Wailers - Sound The Trumpet
24. Little John - Save A Little For Christmas
25. Ernest Wilson - We Wish You A Merry Christmas

The 2008 Jamaican Christmas Mix


1. Nigger Kojak - Christmas Style
2. Bunny & Skully - White Christmas
3. Lord Nelson - Party For Santa Claus
4. The Wailers - Go, Tell It On The Mountain
5. Frankie Paul - Merry Christmas
6. Alton Ellis - Christmas Coming
7. Glen Adams - Xmas Rock
8. Michigan & Smiley - Little Drummer Boy
9. Desmond Dekker & The Aces - Christmas Day
10. Iron Phoenix - Natty Dread Christmas
11. Gregory Isaacs - It's Christmas Time Again
12. Johnny Clarke - I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
13. Winston Groovy - Merry Christmas
14. Jacob Miller - Silver Bells
15. Ray I - Natty No Santa Claus
16. Jah Walton - DJ Christmas
17. Toots & The Maytals - Happy Christmas
18. Horace Andy - Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem
19. The Silvertones - Bling Bling Christmas
20. Freddie McGregor - Irie Christmas
21. Charley Fresh - Jam Down Christmas
22. Tippa Lee & Rappa Roberts - Christmas Is Coming
23. Hortense Ellis - Black Christmas
24. Trinity - African Christmas
25. Richard Ace - Joyful Reggae

The 2009 Jamaican Christmas Mix

1. Tristan Palmer - Christmas Jamboree
2. Roman Stewart - Christmas Affair
3. Frank Cosmo - Greetings From Beverley's
4. General Trees - Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
5. Jackie Edwards - White Christmas
6. Shorty The President - Christmas Fair
7. Norman T. Washington - It's Christmas Time Again
8. Colin Roach & Anthony Malvo - Merry Christmas
9. J.C. Lodge - Joy To The World
10. Lloyd Seivright - Mary's Boy Child
11. Lui Lepke - Christmas Season
12. Winston Francis - Here Comes Santa
13. Verna Lee Powell - He Is My Santa Claus
14. Sandra Robinson & Lee Scratch Perry - Merry Christmas, Happy New Year
15. Ringo - Never Forget Christmas
16. Sonny Bradshaw - Peace And Love
17. Barry Brown - Christmas Christmas
18. Anthony Selassie - Rub A Dub Christmas
19. Hopeton & Primo - Peace On Earth
20. Tennessee Brown & The Silvertones - Jingle Bells
21. Don Cornell & The Eternals - Christmas Joy
22. Gable School Choir - Reggae Christmas
23. Neville Willoughby - Christmas In JA
24. Rupie Edwards - Christmas Rush
25. Go Home Productions - Karen Meets Roots Radics Uptown

The 2010 Jamaican Christmas Mix

1. Barrington Levy - Once A Year
2. Jah Thomas - Christmas Shopping
3. Tennessee Brown & The Silvertones - Little Drummer Boy
4. Gregory Isaacs - The Christmas Song
5. Sachmoore - Wuh You Got To Gimme For Christmas
6. Leon Danger & Mr. Culture - This Christmas
7. Chris Wayne - Silver Bells
8. Cedric Bravo w/Rico & The Five Stars - Merry Christmas
9. Norman T. Washington - Happy Christmas
10. Norman T. Washington - Happy Christmas Version
11. The Silent Choir - Silent Night
12. Alton Ellis - Praise Jah It's Christmas
13. Trinity - Santa Claus Comes Once A Year
14. Shinehead - Reggae Christmas Medley
15. Tyrone Taylor - Winter Wonderland
16. Admiral Bailey - Christmas Style
17. Ruddy Thomas - Reggae Happy Christmas
18. Tony Tuff - Christmas Irie
19. Little John - It's Christmas Time
20. Triston Palmer - Oh Holy Night
21. Arcanians - Christmas In Jamaica
22. Alton Ellis - Joy To The World
23. Delroy Melody - Christmas Time
24. King Everald - Santa Claus
25. Cimarons - Silent Night/White Christmas

 The 2011 Jamaican Christmas Mix

1. Dean Fraser - Deck The Halls
2. John C - We Three Kings
3. Ken Boothe - This Christmas
4. Glen Adams - Joyful Tidings
5. Byron Lee & The Dragonaires - Winter Wonderland Reggae
6. Don Drummond - Snowboy
7. Barrington Levy - Flash Your Dread
8. Trinity - Flash Your Dread (DJ Version)
9. Johnny Osbourne & Jennifer Lara - Christmas Medley
10. Horace Andy - Hark The Herald
11. D.D. Dennis - Christmas Message
12. Wain Nelson - Santa Claus
13. Lord Beginner - Christmas Morning The Rum Had Me Yawning
14. Raymond Harper - White Christmas
15. Jimpy - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
16. Eek A Mouse - Have A Merry Little Xmas
17. Niyah & The Sunflakes - Merry Christmas
18. Lovindeer - Christmas Feeling
19. Don Carlos - Jingle Bells
20. Tippa Lee, Nardo Ranks, Half Pint & David Brevett - Dedicated To Santa
21. Silvertones - Merry Merry Christmas
22. Dennis Brown - Ding Dong Merrily On High
23. Gregory Isaacs - Ding Dong Bell
24. Junior Roots - Christmas Time Again
25. Owen Gray - Collins Greetings

The 2012 Jamaican Christmas Mix - Seven Inches Of Christmas Joy

1.  Little John - Save A Little For Christmas
2.  Roman Stewart - Christmas Affair
3.  Jah Walton - DJ Christmas
4.  Don Cornel & The Eternals - Christmas Joy
5.  Barry Brown - Christmas Christmas
6.  Cocoa Tea - Christmas Is Coming
7.  Johnny Clarke - I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
8.  Verna Lee Powell - He Is My Santa Claus
9.  Glen Adams - Xmas Rock
10.  Trinity - Video Christmas
11.  Silent Choir - Silent Night
12.  Niyah & The Sunflakes - Merry Christmas
13.  Glen Adams - Joyful Tidings
14.  Mutabaruka - Postpone Christmas
15.  Tippa Lee, Nardo Ranks, Half Pint & David Brevett - Dedicated To Santa
16.  Nigger Kojak - Christmas Style
17.  Norman T. Washington - It's Christmas Time Again
18.  Owen Gray - Collins Greetings
19.  Cedric Bravo w/Rico & The Four Stars - Merry Christmas
20.  Leon Danger & Mr. Culture - This Christmas  

A Very 2013 Christmas Mix AKA The Jamaican Christmas Mix

Yes my friends, it is time for another Yuletide Season and that means only one thing around here... the Jamaican Christmas Mix!  And here it is, ready for your downloading and listening pleasure!  As I proclaimed two years ago, the days of the 25 track extravaganzas has long since passed but I've got an hours worth of Jamaican Christmas cheer for you to mix in with the eggnog!  Amazingly, I was also able to dredge a few gems out of the stripped mine of reggae Christmas music and mixed them in with the time-honored and beloved classics from years gone by.  So without further ado... let's get to the music!


We start things off with Inner Circle and the Fatman Riddim Section with a tune that may seem familiar but is actually the dub version of Jacob Miller's "Deck The Halls."  This one comes from a CD on the Blood & Fire label from 1999 called Heavyweight Dub/Killer Dub and unfortunately for many the title may hit a little close to home for some, it's called "Unemployment Rock."

Next up is the DJ take on Carlene Davis' "Santa Claus Do You Ever Come To The Ghetto" by Trinity and since it doesn't technically have a title, I'm giving it my own... let's call this "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town."  It was lifted from the 1981 various artists LP on the Mic label called Yard Style Christmas.

Jackie Mittoo is up next with a smooth tune that everyone knows and loves, presumably.  This is Jingle Bells and it comes from the Studio One LP called Christmas In Jamaica.  Not really much reggae going on here but Mittoo can make anything sound cool and to keep it from being lumped in its spelled "Gingle Bells" - but that may just be a typo.

Next up is DJ legend, King Stitt with a tune that I shared way back in 2006 and I felt was ready for another appearance.  The song is called "Christmas Tree" and it rocks just as much as it did when it was recorded way back in 1970!

Horace Andy follows it up with "O Little Town Of Bethlehem" from the VP Records CD reissue of the 1979 Joe Gibbs production Wish You A Merry Rockers Xmas.  Let me tell ya, this song gets better to me every year and I proudly proclaim that this is my favorite recorded rendition of this classic Christmas Carol, bar none!

Next up is a mash-up of sorts... haven't done one since the Aggrovators met Santa Claus Conquers The Martians years ago.  This one I'm gonna call "Scientist & The Roots Radics Meet Aretha Franklin On The Night Before Christmas Inna Winter Dub Stylee"  Yes, the Radics and Scientist are providing the backdrop for The Queen of Soul's modern interpretation of the classic story.  It is a good one, if I do say so myself.  

We follow that up with a set of ska Christmas classics!  The Wailers give us "Sound The Trumpet," The Granville Williams Orchestra provides "Santa Claus Is Ska-Ing To Town" and we wrap it up with The Maytals' "Christmas Feeling Ska."

Now excuse me while I bite my tongue for a second because next up is a.... wait for it... John Holt Christmas song.  I had badmouthed Mr. Holt's Christmas album for many years but I bit the bullet and threw one in the mix.  Its a cover version of John Lennon's "Happy Christmas (War Is Over)" and though it isn't my favorite track in the mix, it's pretty listenable.  I know that doesn't sound like a glowing recommendation but believe me, it works.

Freddie McGregor follows up Happy Christmas with a pretty nice tune called "Reggae Christmas" which comes from a album called Reggae Christmas from the early 90's I think, on the Famous Records label.

We're going early 90's with the next two... this comes from an album also called Reggae Christmas... are you seeing a trend here when it comes to naming these albums?  This album is from 1991 on the Profile Records label and the song is by Trevor Sparks and its called "Christmas Time."

We segue into the next tune on the same riddim, and off the same album and its by Bobo General and called "Christmas Daya."  I know this is beyond the scope of my usual coverage but when it comes to Christmas mixes, anything remotely enjoyable will make the cut.  That's not to belittle Bobo General's track because it is a good one.

Lloyd Lovindeer is back with a number he calls "Christmas Breeze" and it was lifted from his Christmas album called Caribbean Christmas Cheer on the TSOJ label.  A nice tune I'm sure you'll enjoy.

Let's take another run at Jingle Bells!  This time we're taking another ride with our old pal "Tennessee Brown" and it comes from the Reggae Christmas From Studio One CD.  It has more of a calypso flair but it is a lot of fun and I'm sure you'll remember it from a previous playlist.

One of the events that heralded the end of the 25 track Christmas extravaganzas was when I had used every track off Jacob Miller's classic Natty Christmas and with the ability to rehash previous favorites it makes the mix that much better.  One of my all-time reggae Christmas favorites "On The Twelve Days of Ismas," it's like visiting an old friend!

Kashief Lindo brings tears to my eyes again with "Someday At Christmas."  This song originally recorded by Stevie Wonder in 1967 never ceases to please - a beautiful rendition of an absolutely beautiful song that always makes me a little teary eyed.

We wrap up A Very 2013 Christmas Mix with a mento tune... this one is by the Jolly Boys and it comes from a single they released in 2011 called Jamaican Christmas on the Funzalo Records label.  The song is called "Long Time Ago In Bethlehem" and it is yet another beautiful rendition of a classic song and the perfect way to put the 2013 mix to bed.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy what you hear!  I want to wish everyone a merry, happy, healthy, peaceful, relaxing and joyous Christmas!  Lots of love my friends - see you again soon and God bless!

A VERY 2013 CHRISTMAS MIX

Coming Soon... the 2013 Jamaican Christmas Mix!

No need to wait in line!  No need for pushing, shoving, or fisticuffs!  You can avoid the crowds at your local Distinctly Jamaican Sounds retail outlet* and be in the know, like these two well-heeled gentlemen, who went online and downloaded it for free right here!  

Sorry... this image, again by my pal Roger Wilkerson, was too good not to give it an extravagant and overblown write-up... but I've got some good news for those of you out there who have been waiting for the latest installment of the Jamaican Christmas Mix anthology.  I have my latest holiday offering, which I've entitled, "A Very 2013 Christmas Mix," in the can as of this afternoon and after I put the final touches on the write-up and playlist it will be ready for your downloading and listening pleasure!  

And here's even more good news!  The 2013 Jamaican Christmas Mix includes a handful of "new" songs to go with the tried and true classics from years gone by.  Stay tuned!

*The Distinctly Jamaican Sounds Retail Store is completely fictitious, Any resemblance to real retail stores, open or closed, is purely coincidental. 

Junior Murvin Tribute

Putting together this mix brought tears to my eyes... it had been a while since I really listened to Junior Murvin's music, sure I would hear a few of his tunes scattered in throughout the week on the ipod in the car but this time I really listened.  Junior Murvin had amazing songwriting skills and the power and conviction in his lyrics, mostly delivered in that soothing trademark falsetto, really exemplify why reggae is so beautiful.  You can feel the genuine, heartfelt, true soul of the man in his music and it is a wonderful thing because Junior Murvin had things to say and they were all from the heart.  God bless Junior Murvin and may he rest in peace, he was a true legend.

This is what you're going to hear...

1.  Cool Out Son - Heavy Duty 7"
2.  Roots Train w/Dillinger - Arkology CD Set - Island
3.  Cross Over - Build The Ark LP Set - Trojan
4.  Solomon - Police And Thieves CD - Island
5.  Closer Together - Arkology CD Set - Island
6.  Strikes And Demonstrations - Muggers In The Street LP - Greensleeves
7.  Man Is The Fire - Bad Man Posse LP - Dread At The Controls
8.  Jah Took Six Days - Apartheid LP - Greensleeves
9.  Police And Thieves - Volcano Super Hits CD - Sonic Sounds
10.  Give Me Your Love - Darker Than Blue CD - Blood & Fire
11.  I Was Appointed - Police And Thieves CD - Island
12.  Magic Touch - Dawning of a New Era CD - Trojan
13.  Bad Weed - Upsetters 12"
14.  Rescue Jah Children - Police And Thieves CD - Island
15.  False Teachings - Produced And Directed By The Upsetter CD - Pressure Sounds

RIP Junior Murvin

Junior Murvin (1949 - 2013)

I just heard the sad news that Junior Murvin has died.  I will be putting together a tribute mix and posting it tomorrow morning! 

Here is the write-up that appeared on the Gleaner's website this morning...

"Legendary Jamaican reggae Musician, Junior Murvin, best known for the single 'Police and Thieves' is dead. 

The Portland-based singer reportedly died peacefully at his home at Summers Town Road in Port Antonio early this morning.

Murvin, whose real name is Murvin Junior Smith was born in Saint James in 1949, but following the death of his father, relocated to Port Antonio with his mother and other siblings. 

Murvin would later achieve fame as the falsetto singer of 'Police and Thieves', which was an international hit in 1976, produced by Lee 'Scratch' Perry. 

The legendary singer, who also sang with one of Jamaica’s leading bands in the 1990’s, 'Jah Postles', toured extensively several countries in Europe including Germany, England, and France, while blazing a trail in vintage reggae music. 

Murvin has scored with several other hits including: the ultra easy skank of 'Miss Kushie', the seminal 'Cool out Son', and others like 'I'm In Love', 'Bad Man Posse' and 'Muggers in the Street'.

At the time of his death, Junior Murvin was reportedly suffering from an advance stage of diabetes."

 RIP Junior Murvin

Friday the 13th - Ghost Dance

Check this out!  A fictitious Ghost Dance flyer!  Thanks Mark!  A little duppy stuff for a November!

Power House Megamix Part 1

Okay my friends, here's how we're gonna do this... I keep adding to the list of songs I want to include in this tribute to George Phang's Power House so I'm splitting it into two parts, perhaps three depending on the response.  I sometimes forget how much I love the Power House productions from this era and the sound that Sly & Robbie had, just verging on the digital, in the early 80s, just makes them absolutely classic!

I have wanted to do this mix for years but the problem was in the pressings so to speak... you see I have a ton of Power House vinyl and unfortunately most are plagued with poor, weak, scratchy or unusable sound and mixing them together and riding the levels would have been an absolute nightmare.  But five years ago VP Records stepped in and released 4, 2 CD sets that conveniently lumped the songs together by riddim but... more importantly they did something I had been hoping that someone would do for years - they restored the fidelity and quality of these classic dancehall tunes!  So a major belated hats-off to VP for their preservation efforts!

So let's get to the music... here's what you're going to hear!

1.  Freddie McGregor - Don't Hurt My Feelings
2.  Frankie Paul - FP Love
3.  Peter Metro - Hackle The Mike
4.  Johnny Osbourne - Mission
5.  Sugar Minott - Buy Out The Bar
6.  Leroy Smart - She Loves Me
7.  Little John - What A Bubbling
8.  Frankie Jones - Haul & Galong
9.  Leroy Smart - Bank Account
10.  Yellowman - Reggae Get The Grammy
11.  Josey Wales - Josey Ready
12.  Little John - Hey Lady
13.  Sugar Minott - Can't Get We Out
14.  Yellowman - Beat It
15.  Tenor Saw - If You Only Know
16.  Charlie Chaplin - Now A Days
17.  Michael Prophet - Appetizing
18.  Toyan - Cumina
19.  Toyan - DJ Crowd
20.  Barrington Levy - Money Move
21.  Frankie Paul - Tidal Wave

Power House Megamix Part 1

Coming Soon!

In an effort to revive Distinctly Jamaican Sounds as more than just a Halloween and Christmas music sharing site, I have decided to rekindle my love of blogging about Jamaican music on a more regular basis!  My first foray into getting this baby rollin' again will be a mix that is long-since overdue - my George Phang/Power House Megamix!  I started working on it this weekend and anticipate that it will be up and running later this week - there are a lot of great songs and riddims I want to touch on so it's a lot more involved than I originally anticipated!  So stay tuned - it should be a pretty cool mix!

The Complete Jamaican Halloween Spooktacular 2013!

Here, in its entirety, is the 2013 Jamaican Halloween Spooktacular!  Download, listen and enjoy!  

Happy Halloween!

Jamaican Halloween Spooktacular 2013 - Track Twenty-Three - Midnight Hour/Mask In The Dark

And so dear friends... we've reached the final track in the Jamaican Halloween Spooktacular 2013.  Like always it has been a lot of fun putting this mix together and sharing it with you and I hope it has provided enough creeps, spooks, chills and thrills to have made your October just a little more enjoyable.  Yes, we have reached the Big Day and like years past the fun is just beginning... for the kids at least.

I again will be in charge of transporting the kids around for trick or treating and this year I've got something diabolical up my sleeve for them - my sons have reached the age where I'm setting them up for the "trick or treat until you drop" technique which I used to practice many years ago... we've decided to forgo with the chintzy plastic bags and step up to the king-sized cotton pillowcase.  Trick or treating will not commence until either the pillowcase is full or their feet can't take another step, whichever comes first... and I will look on with a huge smile on my face and enjoy every moment!

A couple weeks ago my 9-year-old daughter gave me one of the biggest compliments I could ever wish to receive... She said "Dad, you're the King of Halloween." I had to fight the urge to hug her and tell her, with tears of joy streaming down my face, that that was the most beautiful thing anyone had ever said to me.  Bridget's simple words made me realize that all my efforts in helping them put together their costumes, and all the Halloween decorating around the house, and all the apple cider, and all the trips to the pumpkin patch, and all the scary movies (appropriate enough for them to watch of course), and all the spooky music, and all the trick or treating, and all the visits to the Halloween stores, and all the ghost stories (except for Me Ti Doughty Walker, which still terrifies the hell outta them), and all the pumpkin carving, and the yearly repeated viewings of "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown," and all the love I have exhibited for this one final day in October, have worked... they love it just as much as I always have.  Hopefully many, many years from now, when I'm dead and buried, they'll have fond memories of Dad's fanaticism for Halloween and carry on the traditions I have established with them with my grandchildren and future generations.  But enough about that... let's get to the final track!

We've got a double feature, so to speak, to wrap up the Spooktacular!  Horace Ferguson gives us his rendition of Wilson Pickett's "Midnight Hour" and we segue rather nicely into Clint Eastwood's "Mask In The Dark," taken from both sides of a GG Hits 12" circa 1983. 

2013's completely uncut Jamaican Halloween Spooktacular will be available soon for those who have not been keeping tabs on the daily posts, so watch out for it!

And I want to leave you with these words, stolen from Orson Welles' 1938 radio broadcast of "The War of the Worlds."  75 years later, it still wraps up the spirit of this holiday so succinctly and perfectly...

"This is Orson Welles, ladies and gentlemen, out of character, to assure you that The War of the Worlds has no further significance than as the holiday offering it was intended to be; The Mercury Theatre's own radio version of dressing up in a sheet and jumping out of a bush and saying "Boo!" Starting now, we couldn't soap all your windows and steal all your garden gates by tomorrow night, so we did the next best thing. We annihilated the world before your very ears and utterly destroyed the CBS. You will be relieved, I hope, to learn that we didn't mean it, and that both institutions are still open for business. So goodbye everybody, and remember please for the next day or so the terrible lesson you learned tonight. That grinning, glowing, globular invader of your living room is an inhabitant of the pumpkin patch, and if your doorbell rings and nobody's there, that was no Martian, it's Halloween."

Horace Ferguson - Midnight Hour/Clint Eastwood - Mask In The Dark

Happy Halloween!!

Jamaican Halloween Spooktacular 2013 - Track Twenty-Two - Zombie

We're nearing the end and again, we're keeping the digital vibes, this time even a little more closer to modern.  I found "Zombie" by Little General last October and unlike the multitude of modern dancehall tunes that use the word duppy as a descriptor for the end-result of violent activity, this tune is pretty lighthearted and fun.  The zombies referenced in the song are not the rise from their grave, thirsty for human blood and brains variety... give it a listen!  Not to mention, that once I heard the pipe organ introduction, complete with werewolf howls, I knew that I had a new addition to the ever-growing Duppy Tune Playlist... it comes to us from a 1995 12" on the U.K. based Boomerang label.

Little General - Zombie

Jamaican Halloween Spooktacular 2013 - Track Twenty-One - See Duppy Deh

We're keeping digital with the next one - the next track is called "See Duppy Deh" by the man who calls himself Uglyman.  I tried to do some research to determine the story behind Uglyman but I kept coming up at a dead end...  it's worth mentioning that Double Ugly or Uglyman was the stage name of 90's dancehall superstar Desmond "Ninjaman" Ballentine back in the late 80s, but I don't believe it's the same Ugly Man.  Anyway, this track comes from the "clash" LP Dance Hall Clash released on the Harry J label in 1986 and also featuring Little John.  "See Duppy Deh" is a pretty good digital duppy tune that I've been holding back on unleashing for a few years now... enjoy!

Uglyman - See Duppy Deh

Jamaican Halloween Spooktacular 2013 - Track Twenty - Ghostbuster

Welcome back!  We're getting down to brass tacks here with Halloween just three days away and we're going with a little Frankie Jones to get you in the trick-or-treating mood.  Frankie's version of "Ghostbuster," much like the other similar thematic takes by Early B, Pampidoo, etc., sound so much better than Ray Parker Jr.'s atrociously annoying theme from the 1984 movie, that it's truly a shame that Ivan Reitman didn't look beyond 80s pop for inspiration.  Besides, Ray Parker Jr. famously stole the music track from Huey Lewis anyway... and as you'll soon hear, I in turn stole the best part of Ray Parker Jr.'s track for the intro to the twentieth track in the 2013 Spooktacular.

Frankie Jones' "Ghostbuster" is a super smooth George Phang production on the Rocking Time riddim and comes from Frankie's 1986 LP Old Fire Stick on the Power House label.  Venkman, Stantz and Spengler would approve!

Frankie Jones - Ghostbuster

Jamaican Halloween Spooktacular 2013 - Track Nineteen - Dark Shadows

My god will we ever escape the reign of terror that is Barnabas Collins?!  Well actually, aside from the artwork, this Barry Brown tune "Dark Shadows," taken from his 1981 Vibes of Barry Brown LP on the Gorgon label, has nothing to do with the 1960s corny soap opera vampire.  But seriously, how could I resist the idea of using anything but Ol' Barnabas to illustrate track nineteen?  Barnabas Collins and Dark Shadows have been a part of the spooktacular line-up since the 2006 mix and I couldn't bear the idea of doing one without Barnie. 

Have a great weekend folks - we're getting down to the nitty gritty next week so be sure to check in before the big day next Thursday!  I may have something that I hope you'll enjoy.

Barry Brown - Dark Shadows

Jamaican Halloween Spooktacular 2013 - Track Eighteen - Anti Christ

Short and sweet... Much has been said and written about Vivian "Yabby You" Jackson and his masterful productions in the early 1970s but today's spooktacular tune speaks for itself.  "Antichrist" is simply a brilliant piece of work by Mr. Jackson that works well on so many levels, whether it be lyrically, musically or rhythmically, it just sounds and feels perfect.  I have the original 7" on the Vivian Jackson label but unfortunately it has seen better days, so I borrowed this track from the 1997 Blood & Fire release Jesus Dread with all of its fidelity intact! 

"Dem say fi love, an' dem live in hate

Dem say no steal, an' dem t'ief no hell

Dem say no lust, an' dem live like a whore

Me never hear such a ting before me say:

See dem deh, dem favor sheep but dem a wolf

See dem deh, dem favor Christ but dem an antichrist"

Vivian Jackson & The Prophets - Antichrist

Jamaican Halloween Spooktacular 2013 - Track Seventeen - Dub In Blood

Before I even started on this years mix I said to myself, I'm not going to let the lack of response here on Blogger be an issue... I'm going to keep my mouth shut and continue pushing forward, ignoring the urge to complain or any desire to institute the usual "woe is me" policy - but 6 days without a comment?!  Goddamn, it has to be a new record!  Come on people, drop me a note and keep me motivated here!

But that's enough about that... today's track is "Dub in Blood" by Skin, Flesh & Bones and it comes from the album also entitled Dub In Blood on the Sunshot label and released some time in the 1970s.  A pretty wicked-ass dub track and one that I have embellished with some audio from Dracula Prince of Darkness, one of my favorite Hammer Dracula films.  I don't know why but it seems like the scenes in the Dracula movie where the main characters are conspiring to destroy the evil bloodsucker and or learning the ways of a vampire, work best mixed in with the music.  One reason may be the fact that Christopher Lee spoke very little in most of the Dracula films and the other may be reggae's longstanding fight against injustice and combatting the evils in the world intent on keeping people in oppression, poverty and hunger, works well when it comes to fighting vampires too.  Or maybe... just maybe... I may be over-thinking all this!  See you tomorrow!

Skin, Flesh & Bones - Dub In Blood

Jamaican Halloween Spooktacular 2013 - Track Sixteen - Hear Duppy Laugh

Short and sweet... we're going old school for today's tune... this one is by Allan Swymmer & His Band and it's a mento cover of "Duppy Jamboree" and it's called "Hear Duppy Laugh."  Lyrically this one holds pretty true to Levi Williams' original but with that classic mento sound it simply adds a distinct element of timelessness.  

I happened across this track about a month ago when doing my monthly exhaustive search for more Spooktacular tunes and I was thrilled to add it to the mix... I always like to mix it up and give a more varied sampling of Jamaican music and this works wonders.  The album was recorded live at Frenchman's Cove, Port Antonio, Jamaica in August of 2006 and released as a CD in 2007 on the Upstart label. And aside from Mr. Swymmer on vocals it features Roy Harris on rumba box, Andrew Roblin on banjo and Melbourne the Drummer on drums, obviously.  A great CD that comes highly recommended by yours truly!

Allan Swymmer & His Band - Hear Duppy Laugh

Jamaican Halloween Spooktacular 2013 - Track Fifteen - Loch Ness Monster

Welcome back!  It's pretty common knowledge around this blog that I love the hell outta King Horror and it just wouldn't be October without a helping of this early reggae "screamer."  And believe me, you're gonna hear some screaming!  

Way back in 2006 I included "Loch Ness Monster" in the first Spooktacular and in the years that followed I covered all of his spooky horror-themed material ("Dracula Prince Of Darkness," "Frankenstein," "Ghost Hour," "The Vampire")... until now.  I had resigned myself to the fact that I wouldn't have enough King Horror tracks to last forever and I was delighted to unearth this gem a couple years ago when I did my King Horror mix.  This second, or alternate take of "Loch Ness Monster" was an added track on Trojan's 2003 CD release of the classic 1970 LP of the same name, and it's just as shriekingly entertaining as the original.  

If this is your first taste of King Horror you're in for a treat!  This is definitely reggae music with a late-night horror-host vibe that I'm sure you'll enjoy!  

King Horror - Loch Ness Monster

Spooktaculars From The Past - 2010-2011

The Jamaican Halloween Spooktacular 2010

  1.     James Eastwood – Darkest Night

2.     Santic All Stars – Hell Boat

3.     Carl Dawkins – Witchcraft

4.     Byron Lee – Duppy Jamboree

5.     Vin Gordon – Red Blood

6.     Caly Gibbs – Ghost Walk

7.     Tommy McCook – Dracula

8.     Tender Tones – Devil Woman

9.     Hippy Boys – Death Rides A Horse

10.    Derrick Morgan – A No Duppy

11.    James Bond – Duppyman Skank

12.    Jackie Mittoo – The Executioner

13.    Danny Hill – Annie Palmer

14.    Karl Bryan – Run For Your Life

15.    Skin Flesh & Bones – Bad Beast

16.    Positive – Vampire

17.    Keith Hudson – Satan Side

18.    Del Owen & Newts – Barnabas Collins

19.    Daddy Meeky – Duppy Story

20.    Lovindeer – Duppy Bye Bye

21.    Delroy Wilson – Things In the Dark

The Jamaican Halloween Spooktacular 2011

  1.     The Upsetters – Night Doctor

2.     Max Romeo – Copie Duppy

3.     Bob Skeng – Jack the Ripper

4.     Moses – When The Vampire…

5.     Boy Wonder – Cold Blood

6.     Three Tops – Bone Yard

7.     Joy Makers – Zombie Jamboree

8.     Ken Quatty – To Hell & Back

9.     Jackie Taylor – Midnight Organ

10.    King Horror – Ghost Hour

11.    Steve Stanley – Sudden Death

12.    Hot Rod All-Stars – 10 Commandments of the Devil

13.    Geoffery Chang – UFO

14.    Fish Clarke – Black Magic Woman

15.  The Dynamites – House of Darkness

16.  Trinity – Vampire

17.  Cannonball King – Thunderstorm

18.  Dr. Alimantado – I Shall Fear No Evil

19.  Barrington Levy – Deep in the Dark

20.  Delroy Wilson – Voodoo Man

21.  Larry Marshall – Duppyman Skank

2012's Spooktacular Will Follow Soon...

Jamaican Halloween Spooktacular 2013 - Track Fourteen - Waking The Dead

Okay folks, it's Friday and we've made it through another week of Spooktacular fun!  I hope you've been diggin' what you've been hearing thus far!  We're wrapping it up with something upbeat and dare I say, friggin' awesome!  This 1969 "skinhead" reggae scorcher comes to us from the man Karl "Cannonball King" Bryan, it's called "Waking The Dead" and is taken from a 7" on the Gas label.  Actually, the record label says the song is titled "Walking the Dead" but I am under the assumption that it's a typographical error because what sense does walking the dead make?  Mr. Bryan does an impeccable job as usual; simply an amazing saxophone jam complete with a supremely danceable shuffling beat make for a wonderful listening experience.  Have a great weekend and I'll see you again on Monday!

Karl "Cannonball" Bryan - Waking The Dead

Jamaican Halloween Spooktacular 2013 - Track Thirteen - Black Magic Spell

Short and sweet today... Is it just me or is every song ever written about witchcraft a love song?  Is the use of the term witchcraft and black magic always used as a metaphor for the mystical charm and allure of a woman?  Does it all stem from Adam & Eve?  Could these tunes be construed as being sexist?  To be honest, I don't have the answers and I have absolutely no desire to research the topic so I'll just let it go at that.  I'm just raising the questions.  :)

Anyway, today's track "Magic Spell" by Errol Dunkley fits the witchcraft/temptress/possibly sexist mold rather comfortably.  It comes from the album Love Is Amazing produced by Coxsone Dodd and on the Studio One label.  Believe me, I've added a lot of witchiness and it fits in rather nicely with the creepiness we got goin' on and to make it even more terrifying it's the thirteenth trembling track in the 2013 Spooktacular!  Mwuhahahahahahahahaha!

Errol Dunkley - Black Magic Spell

Jamaican Halloween Spooktacular 2013 - Track Twelve - Nightmares

Barry Dunn AKA Militant Barry originally got his start in the music business with the vocal group The Thrillers before branching out as a solo artist under the guidance of producers Phil Pratt and Al Campbell.  Militant Barry was not heavily recorded, most likely due to his involvement in production and promotion when he relocated to London in the mid-70s, but he did have a knack for recording timely songs with timely subject matter... he even recorded a song called "Pistol Boy" in tribute to Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious, questioning whether he was actually responsible for killing his girlfriend Nancy Spungen - how's that for crossover?!  "Nightmares" the twelfth track in the Spooktacular and taken from his album Militant Style on the Rasta Connection label, could also be considered timely.  

Nightmare is not an analysis of nocturnal visions but a fear of organ implantation.  Yes, you read that correct.  You see back in the 1970s, in the early days of organ transplantation it was feared that doctors and surgeons were preying on dying patients.  It was believed that the medical teams treating a terminal patient would stop doing what was best for their survival and would begin administering organ-preserving drugs that could potentially hasten the patients expiration and allow the ghoulish team of doctors, standing by with gore covered scalpels and operating smocks, unable to conceal their ghoulish bellowing laughter behind their jagged jackal-like teeth and flimsy surgical masks, to harvest the usable organs quicker.  So yeah, if you use my analogy, "Nightmare" works perfectly with the Spooktacular!

Militant Barry - Nightmares

Just a reminder, scroll down to access the complete Spooktaculars for 2008 & 2009, more will follow this weekend!

Jamaican Halloween Spooktacular 2013 - Track Eleven - Two Bad Duppy

When I was going through the playlists of the Spooktaculars from years past I was astonished that I hadn't used this one yet!  Kojak & Liza are finally here to serve up a ghostly groove with "Two Bad Duppy," lifted from their 1980 LP Showcase on the Gorgon label.  This is right up there with one of the coolest duppy tracks in my collection - a nice rub-a-dub ghost tale riding the same Hi Fashion riddim as yesterday's Graveyard Shift.  Of course like any self-respecting duppy tune it borrows the same call and response, "Man duppy laugh; ah hi... Woman duppy laugh; etc." famously used by Levi Williams in 1974 in his classic "Duppy Jamboree."    

Kojak & Liza - Two Bad Duppy

Jamaican Halloween Spooktacular 2013 - Track Ten - Graveyard Shift

Up next in our Marathon of Fright and kicking off our third week of Spooky fun is Scientist with his dubby take on the classic Hi-Fashion riddim.  This one is called "Graveyard Shift" and it is taken from the b-side of George Nooks' "Crucial Corporal," a 7" on the Black Solidarity label circa 1982 and I think you'll dig it.  This one has a slow, minimalistic, echoey build, which I happen to think is completely badass, if you'll excuse my language for a second, before it hits its stride and kicks into the tune we all know and love.  I have embellished the track with the trailer from the 1990 Stephen King penned film Graveyard Shift, which I remember plunking down my hard-earned, minimum wage paycheck money to go see when it came out nearly 25 years ago... 25 years ago?!  Wow, when did I get so old?  

Scientist & The Roots Radics - Graveyard Shift