Day 81 of 365 Day Jamaican Music Challenge - Don Carlos - Jah Hear My Plea

Born Ervin Spencer in 1952, the man who would later become known as Don Carlos, started his singing career in 1973 with Black Uhuru.  Carlos alongside Garth Dennis and Derrick "Ducky" Simpson received notable worldwide recognition in 1977 when Black Uhuru's album Love Crisis AKA Black Sounds Of Freedom, an album they had recorded for Prince Jammy, hit the street.   But Don Carlos didn't stick with the band and decided to give it a go as a solo performer and quickly became one of the sweetest voices of the early dancehall era and thankfully he is still active today!  The 81st track is called "Jah Hear My Plea" taken from his 1987 album Deeply Concerned on the RAS label.  An amazing song of struggle, perseverance and faith with an infectious rhythm that I know I'll have dancing around my head all day.

The Calm Before The Storm

We have yet to reach the fever pitch of "Snowmaggedon" induced craziness here in Maryland.  There have been no shortages of milk, bread and toilet paper as of yet but as this winter storm bears down on us, scenes of frantic desperation in the bleak aisles of the grocery store are guaranteed to ensue.  The same will hold true at the hardware store as frenzied shoppers fight over the last snow shovel, bag of ice-melt, bundle of firewood and for those who are financially able, shiny new snow blower.  Yes winter has finally arrived and though I dread the prospect of a potential foot or two of snow and the nightmarish commute home on Friday evening; the windshield wipers crunching back the slush, the heat and defrost on so high you feel like your face is melting off, the slips, the slides, the white knuckled hands on the wheel, the horrific vision of the car leaving the roadway and careening down a snow-covered embankment and into a frozen river… as you can probably tell I'm not a fan.  But, here it is nearing the end of January and this is our first snow event so we've been getting off pretty easy this year; shit, it was in the 70s on Christmas Day which is completely unheard of, I was wearing flip flops on Christmas Eve!  Well anyway, in honor of the dreaded winter storm I wanted to share another song today… this one is by Rastafari Elder Ras Pidow and it comes from his 1992 album Modern Antique on the RAS label and it's called "Winter Storm."  A mellow bit of dub poetry about the Rasta elder who had spent all of his life in Jamaica's tropical climate witnessing a snow storm for the very first time over a nice mellow version of Bob Marley's "Coming In From The Cold."  I really love this song, it gives this hell that we know as winter a completely different perspective.  Sadly, Ras Pidow passed away in 2001… a humble and wise man who is truly missed.

Day 80 of 365 Day Jamaican Music Challenge - Vivian Jackson & The Prophets - Love Of Jah

Vivian Jackson, better known as Yabby You, is up next with "Love Of Jah" taken from the splendid 1997 Blood & Fire release called Jesus Dread, which compiles a huge portion of Yabby's performances and productions from 1972-1977 into one glorious double CD set.  Today's track was originally recorded and released in 1975 on the Prophet label and it's a sweet tune!

 

Day 79 of 365 Day Jamaican Music Challenge - Max Romeo - Martin Luther King

We're up to the 79th track in the 365 Day Jamaican Music Challenge... and since today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day here in the United States I couldn't possibly come up with a better song in commemoration than Max Romeo's "Martin Luther King."  Taken from Romeo's 1978 album Reconstruction on the Dynamic label, it serves as a fitting musical tribute to a great man.  

Day 78 of 365 Day Jamaican Music Challenge - Burning Spear - Man In The Hills

Winston Rodney originally used the name Burning Spear for his vocal duo with bass singer Rupert Willington who recorded their first single "Door Peep" for Coxsone Dodd in 1969.  Shortly thereafter they became a trio when they were joined by tenor Delroy Hinds and went on to cut more tracks for Dodd and eventually for sound system operator Jack Ruby.  It was with Ruby that they unintentionally scored their big hit "Slavery Days" when the tune they had cut exclusively for use on the Ocho Rios based Jack Ruby Hi-Fi was released as a single.  Their third album, the absolute classic, Marcus Garvey, debuted in 1975 and immediately got the group noticed by Island Records, but upon its international release it was discovered that the folks over at Island had changed the speed on some tracks and remixed others.  This lead Rodney to establish his own Burning Music label so that he would have complete artistic control of any future releases.  The next year Burning Spear recorded and released the albums Garvey's Ghost and Man In The Hills.  The same year he also split with the other group members, took the name Burning Spear for himself and hasn't looked back since.  For the 78th tune in the 365 Day Jamaican Music Challenge we're gonna hear the title track from "Man In The Hills" and it has been a favorite Burning Spear song of mine for years.

 

The 11th Week Mix! Available For Your Uninterrupted Listening Pleasure!

The 11th Week Mix in its entirety... what you're gonna hear!

1.  Barrington Spence - Jah For All

2.  Big Youth - Train To Rhodesia

3.  Jah Stitch - Dread Back A Yard

4.  I-Roy - The First Cut Is The Deepest

5.  Mikey Dread - Break Down The Walls/Wall Street Rock

6.  Judy Mowatt - I Shall Sing

7.  Delroy Wilson - Can't Stop Me

ENJOY!

Week 12 is already underway!

Day 77 of 365 Day Jamaican Music Challenge - Delroy Wilson - Can't Stop Me

Day 77 and it's time for a little Delroy Wilson.  At the ripe age of 13 and under the auspices of Coxsone Dodd, Delroy Wilson (Oct. 1948 - March 1995) began his recording career at Studio One. He cut his first track "Emy Lou" in 1961 and emerged in the ska era as the first line of offensive armament in a feud amongst rival record producers Duke Reid and Prince Buster.  By the time rocksteady rolled around Wilson's voice had matured and he had a string of hits including "Dancing Mood," "Riding For A Fall" and "Conquer Me." Around that time he left Studio One and went on to record for Bunny Lee, Joe Gibbs and others and remained active until his untimely death in 1995.  Today's tune is called "Can't Stop Me," circa 1972, produced by Bunny Lee and originally released on the Jackpot label... it's a great soulful track!  

Day 76 of 365 Day Jamaican Music Challenge - Judy Mowatt - I Shall Sing

We're gonna step back a good 9 years from yesterday's tune and give you a sweet tune by Judy Mowatt and the Gaylettes called "I Shall Sing," originally written by Van Morrison.  Judy Mowatt, best known as one of the Wailers I-Threes, got started in music in the late 60s when she started singing with the vocal trio The Gaylettes alongside Beryl Lawson and Merle Clemonson.  This tune recorded and released in 1971 was incorrectly attributed to Julian and the Gaytones on its initial release in Jamaica on Sonia Pottinger's Gay Feet label and Jean and the Gaytones on its pressing in the UK on Trojan Records.  Regardless of that confusion, this is such a smooth song... the guitar work by who I'm assuming was Alvin Ranglin, is absolutely perfect!

Day 75 of 365 Day Jamaican Music Challenge - Mikey Dread - Break Down The Walls/Wall Street Rock

Plain and simple, I love this song!  I remember hearing this years ago on a Sunday evening reggae radio show and immediately went to my RAS Records catalog to order the album Best Sellers.  Over the years I have accumulated both the 7" and today's 12" single just because I have dug this tune for so long.  The 75th track in the 365 Day Jamaican Music Challenge is by Mikey Dread and it's called "Break Down The Walls" and it was lifted from good old-fashioned 1980 Dread At The Controls labeled vinyl.  Sweet vocals and an extended dub mix all in one... dig it!

Day 74 of 365 Day Jamaican Music Challenge - I Roy - The First Cut Is The Deepest

One more 70's DJ tune... this one is called "The First Cut Is The Deepest" by I-Roy.  Roy Samuel Reid derived his name, and to some extent his style, from U-Roy.  He was also heavily influenced in his early career by foundation DJ Dennis Alcapone.   I-Roy went on to record for Lee Perry, Bunny Lee, Glen Brown and Gussie Clarke and became one of the top DJs of the 1970s.  Today's tune is taken from I-Roy's 1973 album Presenting I-Roy originally pressed on the Gussie label and Trojan Records in the UK.  You're definitely going to confuse I-Roy's take with the original version Cat Stevens' recorded in the late 60s... this is pure reggae niceness.

By request... The Strictly Rub-A-Dub Mixes.

I've gotten a couple requests to re-up the Strictly Rub-A-Dub Mixes and I'm happy to oblige... it's hard to believe that I put these together 9 years ago but it really makes me happy to know that they are still in demand by you good people!  So, here they are once again!  Just click on the

 Strictly Rub-A-Dub Volume One

1. Don Carlos - Laser Beam
2. Papa Tullo - Nuff Stylee
3. Toyan - Over Me
4. Alton Ellis - Skateland Girl
5. Sugar Minott - Jah Is On My Mind
6. Charlie Chaplin - Diet Rock
7. Yellowman - Me A Don
8. Michael Palmer - Mixing And Blending
9. Josey Wales - Undercover Lover
10. Buro - Jolly Bus
11. Yellowman & Fathead - The Good, The Bad And The Ugly
12. John Holt - Police In Helicopter
13. Cultural Roots - Love Feelings
14. Sister Nancy - Bam Bam
15. Yami Bolo - When A Man In Love
16. Admiral Tibet - Trouble To A Man
17. General Echo - Arleen
18. Little John - Look What You Have Done
19. Brigadier Jerry - What Kind Of World
20. Technique All Stars - Stalag 17
21. Johnny Osbourne - Love Is Universal
22. Little John - Janet Sinclair
23. Little John & Billy Boyo - Janet Sinclair
24. Scientist - Dangerous Match 1
25. Leroy Smart - All Of My Love
26. Michigan & Smiley - What Type Of World
27. Al Campbell - Chant Rub A Dub
28. Yellowman & Fathead - Come We A Come
29. Lone Ranger - Gunshot Mek Daughter Drop
30. Toyan - Tribute To Entertainers
31. Barry Brown - Sweet 16
32. Peter Ranking & General Lucky - Island In The Sun
33. Ranking Dread - Love A Dub
34. Barrington Levy - Collie Weed
35. Blackskin - Hey Mr. Babylon
36. Lone Ranger - Barnabas Collins
37. Toyan - Please Mi Barister
38. Barrington Levy - Please Jah Jah
39. Yellowman - 2 To 6 Supermix
40. Yellowman - Why You Bad So

  

Strictly Rub-A-Dub Volume Two

1. Morwells – Keep It In The Family
2. Nicodemus – Keep It In Your Family
3. Frankie Paul – Baby Come Home
4. Peter Metro – Better She Gwan
5. Charlie Chaplin – Unfair
6. Yellowman – Better She Ga Lang
7. Frankie Paul – Worries In The Dance
8. Nicodemus – Bubble Nicodemus Bubble
9. Yellowman – I’m Getting Married
10. Yellowman – Getting Divorced
11. Don Carlos – I’m Not Crazy
12. Toyan – Spar With Me
13. Clarence Parks - Gun Man
14. Welton Irie – Put It Down
15. Al Campbell – Bad Boy
16. Simple Simon – Revolution Fighters
17. Sugar Minott – Have You Ever Found A Love
18. Barry Brown – Shoot Up
19. Don Carlos – Mr. Big Man
20. Wailing Souls – Things & Time
21. Charlie Chaplin – Tribute To Marvin Gaye
22. Captain Sinbad – Construction Plan
23. Jimmy Riley – Love & Devotion
24. General Echo – Drunken Master
25. Wayne Jarrett – Chip In
26. Michigan & Smiley – Downpression
27. Peter Metro – Water Jelly
28. Lee Van Cleef – Bam Salute
29. Yellowman – Bam Bam
30. Leroy Smart – She Love It In The Morning
31. Half Pint – Winsome
32. Lone Ranger – Tom Drunk
33. Yellowman & Peter Metro – The Girl Is Mine
34. Little John – Spin You Roll
35. Sister Nancy – Chalice
36. Josey Wales – It A Fi Burn
37. Yellowman – Jah Mek Us Fe A Purpose
38. Toyan – It Have Fi Light
39. Charlie Chaplin – Chalice
40. Yellowman - Sensemilla
 

Day 73 of 365 Day Jamaican Music Challenge - Jah Stitch - Dread Back A Yard

Like Big Youth, Melbourne James AKA Jah Stitch, got his start on Lord Tippertone and it's obvious his deejay style was strongly influenced by him.  Obviously we're sticking with the 70s again today and this one is called "Dread Back A Yard" produced by Bunny Lee and released in 1975 on the Attack label.

 

Day 72 of 365 Day Jamaican Music Challenge - Big Youth - Train To Rhodesia

Manley Augustus Buchanan, better known as Big Youth honed his toasting skills while working as a diesel mechanic at Kingston's Sheraton Hotel.  In 1970 he became the resident deejay with Lord Tippertone's Sound System and began attracting the attention of record producers.  After trying his hand with Lee Perry, Phil Pratt and Jimmy Radway and not meeting with much commercial success, he switched to recording with upcoming producer Gussie Clarke and scored a hit with "The Killer" on Horace Andy's Skylarking riddim.  Further success came with the classic "S-90 Skank" for Keith Hudson which featured the sounds of a revving motorcycle which had been brought into the recording studio.  It was his first #1 Jamaican hit and lead to future recording for a veritable whose who of 1970s reggae producers.  In 1975, Big Youth's album Dreadlocks Dread, a collection of tunes he originally pressed as singles and with some sweet instrumentals thrown in for good measure, was released on the Klik label and to this day I'm glad it was.  This was the first Big Youth album I ever heard and though some complain that the album only contains a few actual vocal tracks, I have to proclaim that this ranks right up there near the top of my all-time favorite reggae albums!  And for the 72nd track in the Jamaican Music Challenge, I have chosen Big Youth's "Train To Rhodesia" and if you've never heard it you're in for a treat because it is absolutely killer!  The driving rhythm itself is pure roots reggae bliss.

 

Day 71 of 365 Day Jamaican Music Challenge - Barrington Spence - Jah For All

Barrington Spence is one of those 70s-era roots singers who never really achieved the fame or notoriety he deserved... his 1976 album Speak Softly is in my opinion one of the most overlooked and under-appreciated recordings of the decade but one that I discovered years later and have enjoyed immensely ever since!  "Jah For All," comes from the aforementioned album, originally released on the TR International label, and is the 71st tune in the 365 Day Jamaican Music Challenge!   A sweet tune to start the 11th week!

The 10th Week Mix! Available For Your Uninterrupted Listening Pleasure!

The Tenth Week Mix available now for your uninterrupted listening pleasure!  What you're gonna hear...

1.  Early B - Sunday Dish

2.  Welton Irie - Come Nurse

3.  Eek A Mouse - Modeling Queen

4.  Leroy Smart - She Love It In The Morning

5.  Barry Brown - Not So Lucky

6.  Triston Palma - Spliff Tail

7.  Nicodemus - Jennifer Chant

The 11th Week in the 365 Day Jamaican Music Challenge begins tomorrow - be sure to stop by!

WEEK 10 MIX

Day 70 of 365 Day Jamaican Music Challenge - Nicodemus - Jennifer Chant

Short and sweet today for the 70th track... Rounding out the week with yet another early dancehall track... this one is called "Jennifer Chant" by the late great DJ Nicodemus and released circa 1983 on Ranking Trevor's Trevor Tanga label... good stuff, dig it!

Day 69 of 365 Day Jamaican Music Challenge - Triston Palma - Spliff Tail

We're gonna stick with the Storm riddim for the 69th tune in the challenge... one of my favorite riddims and a pretty tuff ganja tune from Triston Palma (or Palmer, depending on who you ask) who cut his first record for Bunny Lee when he was 8 years old before having a helluva career in the early dancehall era... at one point in the early 80s, Palma had 9 songs in the Jamaican Top 40 at one time!   This one is called "Spliff Tail" and it was released in 1979 on the Ossie Thomas' Black Solidarity label.

Day 68 of 365 Day Jamaican Music Challenge - Barry Brown - Not So Lucky

The late Barry Brown came to prominence in the 1970s under the wing of Bunny Lee and went on to have a successful career during the early dancehall era by working and recording with producers Linval Thompson, Niney The Observer, Sugar Minott, Junjo Lawes and even Coxsone Dodd.  During the time period, 1979-1984, Barry Brown released eleven albums and countless singles and secured himself the spot as one of the foremost singers of the time.  Unfortunately, addiction and subsequent health problems brought his career to a virtual standstill and Barry Brown tragically died inside a Kingston recording studio in May of 2004 when he fell and hit his head.  But we're not dwelling on that... let's get to the 68th song in the 365 Day Jamaican Music Challenge!  Barry Brown gives us a tune of ghetto perseverance called "Not So Lucky" a single from 1979 on the Black Roots label and riding the Storm riddim... absolute wickedness!

Day 67 of 365 Day Jamaican Music Challenge - Leroy Smart - She Love It In The Morning

Sticking with the early dancehall vibes for another track this week... this one is by the great Leroy Smart and it's called "She Love It In The Morning."  Produced and released by Mr. Smart himself in 1981 and pressed on his World Wide Success label... it's a pleasant ride on the classic Taxi riddim.  Enjoy!

Day 66 of 365 Day Jamaican Music Challenge - Eek A Mouse - Modeling Queen

Stepping up for the next tune is Eek A Mouse with a badass tune called "Modeling Queen" taken from his 1980 album Buble Up Yu Hip produced by Linval Thompson and released on the Thompson Sound label.  With the Roots Radics doing the backing and some seriously wicked hand-drumming, "Modeling Queen" ranks up there as maybe the greatest tune Eek A Mouse ever recorded... dig it!

Day 65 of 365 Day Jamaican Music Challenge - Welton Irie - Come Nurse

Welton Irie, born Welton Dobson, is in my opinion, one of those late 70s/early 80s that doesn't get the credit he deserves... this song called "Come Nurse" produced and released in 1981 on the Black & White label and riding the Pressure and Slide riddim is the perfect example of what Welton Irie could do with a tune by adding just the right amount of humor to make it an absolute classic!  Give it a listen!

Day 64 of 365 Day Jamaican Music Challenge - Early B - Sunday Dish

The perfect way to start off the tenth week of the 365 Day Jamaican Music Challenge... Earlando Arrington Neil AKA Early B with a tune paying tribute to the greatest meal of the week!  Produced by the great Jah Thomas and released on his Midnight Rock label in 1984, this is one of the late Early B's greatest hits. 

 

The 9th Week Mix! Available For Your Uninterrupted Listening Pleasure!

Week Nine... available for your uninterrupted listening!  What you're gonna hear...

1.  Keith Hudson - In The Rain

2.  Augustus Pablo - Natural Way

3.  King Tubby - Straight To Scratch Head

4.  Earl "Chinna" Smith - Forward The Hand of Time

5.  Freddie McKay - Dance Dis Ya Festival

6.  Culture - Peace Love And Harmony

7.  Dennis Brown - Get Myself Together

Be sure to stop back tomorrow for the start of Week 10!

ENJOY!

Day 63 of 365 Day Jamaican Music Challenge - Dennis Brown - Get Myself Together

Day 63 of 365... Dennis Brown gives us "Get Myself Together" another motivational tune for the new year and in my opinion, one of the sweetest mellow songs ever recorded.  Lyrically the same as Brown's earlier tune "To The Foundation" but the addition of the flute ust takes it to another level.  Taken from the 1985 LP Revolution on the Yvonne's label, kick back and enjoy!  It's the kind of song you wish would never end...

Day 62 of 365 Day Jamaican Music Challenge - Culture - Peace Love & Harmony

Happy 2016!  I hope your New Years Eve was eventful, mine was as low-key as ever... lots of bad pop music on the TV and kids banging pots and pans at the stroke of midnight, same as last year.  I always find that New Years Day is one of the saddest days of the year... the holidays are officially over and all we have to look forward to is 3 dark months of winter.  But it's also a time to be optimistic which brings us to today's song... number 62 of 365... Culture's "Peace Love & Harmony" taken from the 1988 album Nuff Crisis; a hopeful wish for all people worldwide in 2016... much love everyone!  Now if we could only do something about that damn hangover.