Saturday 30 July 2011

Reggae Blegging

I am mindful that my life lacks reggae. However, most of the compilations I can buy are filled with dreary pap. I have Natty Dread and Legend by Bob Marley, Bass Culture and Forces of Victory by Linton Kwesi Johnson and I have enough UB40 to be getting along with. Shamefully. I also have a decent ska collection, so I don't need any more of that.

I'm not desperate to buy vast swathes of albums, but I'm looking for interesting individual songs, I suspect that stuff from the early 70's to the mid 80's is probably a sweet spot.

As clues, I quite like Sinsemilla by Black Uhuru, Heads High by Mr Vegas, You don't love me by Dawn Penn and Montego Bay by Freddie Notes and the Rudies apart from the aforementioned bands.

I'm looking for stuff with a good beat and some kind of "hook".

Can anybody recommend their favourite reggae tracks?

27 comments:

mr_ceebs said...

DOC ALIMANTADO - Best Dressed Chiken in Town

Prince Far I - Bedward the Flying Preacher

Lee Scratch Perry - Disco Devil

Lady Virginia Droit de Seigneur said...

Anything by Peter Tosh is pretty good.

manwiddicombe said...

*cracks fingers*

You could try

54-46 by Toots and the Maytals
Pressure Drop by Toots and the Maytals
Chant a Psalm by Steel Pulse
Earth Angel by Frankie Paul (or Courtney Melody)
Uptown Top Ranking by Donna & Althea
Hypocrite by The Heptones
Wear you to the Ball by U-Roy
Know Fe Chat by Shinehead

Or check out Burning Spear, John Holt, Mighty Diamonds, Maxi Priest ........

Pat Nurse MA said...

Dub side of the Moon?

Michael Fowke said...

Good Thing Going - Sugar Minott

Mother and Child Reunion - Paul Simon

Haitian Divorce - Steely Dan

MalcolmCog said...

A really excellent album; Loch Ness Monster, various artists (many by Lee Scratch Perry)
And try Double Barrel, Dave & Ansell Collins.

Caratacus said...

I've always liked "Guns Fever" by Baba Brooks :-)

Anonymous said...

"Stop That Train" by Clint Eastwood & General Saint is extremely catchy.

sixtypoundsaweekcleaner said...

Anything by Prince Buster always gets me smiling, particularly "Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think."

Not sure if Prince Buster is technically reggae...but you know what I mean!

Tomfiglio said...

Agree with Lady Virginia - I like "Walk and Don't Look Back" with Mick Jagger

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o4Fgh0KW_4

Tomfiglio said...

Ku Klux Klan by Steel Pulse

"Pars", on the Warm Leatherette album by Grace Jones. Sly Dunbar drums, Robbie Shakespeare bass.

Obnoxio The Clown said...

I hate to say this, but so far nothing has quite hit the spot yet.

But I did find this.

Tomfiglio said...

forgot link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0cEjEvX9hY

Tomfiglio said...

Last one:

Michael Smith

Long Time

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQvlEqCLVLQ

NorthernSoul75 said...

"The Harder They Come" soundtrack...

HeartAttackSurvivor said...

No, you have to go way back - Lord Tanamo's "I'm in the mood for love" is sublime...

Nice fusion of rocksteady and r'n'b in Dr. Feelgood's "All through the city" too.

David Craggs said...

I Like this....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCrmgPv_3tE

Reg Legume said...

Here`s a list for yer Obo...

http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best_songs-Reggae.html

Pete said...

All the free reggae you could want here :

http://domcarlospear.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

Hollie Cook, daughter of Paul Cook of the Sex pistols has just released a ska/reggae album and mighty fine it is too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYzhfitBQDM

Anonymous said...

Check out Yellowman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EtSPUAFkeg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnkETE90_NA&feature=watch_response

Timac said...

Anything on the Wanted Dread or Alive album by Pete Tosh. I think I'm saying it's the last album Sly and Robbie did with him. I like the title track best if you have to pick one

steves said...

picture on the wall
by the natural ites

cracking tune

bloke in spain said...

Recently found Alpha Blondy (yes, it's a guy- comes from Cote d’Ivoire) & he's been enlivening the neighbours on a daily basis since.
For older stuff, King Tubby takes some beating.
Have a look at www.putumayo.com/ The Latin Reggae album's one I play a lot.
If you mail me a physical address I'll burn a DVD's worth for you.
britabroad4_á_gmail_*_com is a shortlife e-mail address

Francis Rex said...

Anything by Toots and the Maytals espec 5446 was my number
Also check out some of the Gaz Mayall complilations :he has out together some good tracks

work in progress said...

anything by toots, night nurse gregory isaacs,johnny too bad by the slickers, africa, black uhuru, happiness black uhuru, grace jones private life.enjoy!!!!!!!!!

Alan said...

Max Romeo & the upsetters - I chase the devil http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N505JczoEGI

Or anything by london underground - early ON U SOUND band
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnMWIg_sj68

Gotta love the lyric..."Italian bankers swing from London's bridges" anyone remember Roberto Calvi?