Reggae - any recommendations

floggg

Have recently caught the reggae bug after a couple of nights at a reggae stage at a festival. Am looking for some recommendations for some good artists/albums to acquire.

So far i have got the obvious, Bob Marley - Legend, and also Damian Marley - Welcome to Jamrock and Patrice - Nile. Looking for a few other recommendations - more in the Bob Marley/Patrice vein rather than the "toasting" (kinda of a jamican sing-song rapping style) artists or dancehall stuff.

That said, the Damian Marley albums is wicked, so if there are any "toasters" of that calibre i will def give them a whirl.

davylee

i have the best of eddy grant. Brilliant stuff. I was surprised to hear excellent songs i didint even know were his

The Pontiac

Lee 'Scratch' Perry. Perry is probably the most influential reggae and dub artists of them all. He's also a highly acclaimed producer.He's just an all-round genius in that whole genre really. A completely insane individual on top of all that..

ntlbell

Augustus Pablo
Horace Andy
king tubby

RastaRed

Apart from the main man(Bob), I recommend Peter Tosh,Steel Pulse,Black Uhuru,Toots&The Maytals, Damian and Stephen Marley

bullpost

linton kwesi johnson, Grace Jones, Jimmy Cliff

Andyculture

If you like a bit of reggae, weve just started a regular Sunday Reggae Session in the Twisted Pepper Abbey st. Dublin
6-11pm Entry is Free - ~Local Selectors playing Reggae 45's all evening

If your looking to check out some different Artists, look out for - Joe Higgs, Delroy Wilson, Culture, Max Romeo, Gregory Isaacs - too name but a few...

wixfjord

You should check out the new major lazer album. Not strictly speaking reggae, its dancehall but good. Diplo and Switch are the guys behind MIA and Santigold.

mudokon

It depends what sort of Reggae music you want. I mainly listen to 70's/80's Reggae.

So I have mentioned Big Youth, you could also try Beres Hammond, Johnny Clarke. If you are into something a bit newer try the Easy Star All Stars, They have done cover versions of Pink Floyd, Radiohead & the Beatles.

Check out the soundtrack for the film The Harder They Come as well, it's a good album.

I'll add more as I think of them.

Edit: I just added an Easy Star All Stars song into another thread, you can find it here.

Mensch Maschine

I caught the Reggae Bug last year. Love it now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyEwTM0n04c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z86XJtIPdHs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N505JczoEGI

And Ollie suggests Lee Perry. I love him. Here's an interesting vid of Jools Holland interviewing the madman at his old Black Ark studio in Jamaica. He's a true nut. Very clever man, great producer of the like's of Bob Marley etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6AZIVjbgqU

Sr. Pirotecnic

there are some great multi-artist compilations out there, the Soul Jazz 100% (etc) Dynamite albums and also the Don Letts one whose name escapes me. That's where I'd go first.

JLemmon

King Tubby for the Dub stuff to start, try the Dub gone crazy comps.
Junior Murvin - Police and Thieves
Dr. Alimantado - Best Dressed Chicken in Town
Some of the Trojan comps are good value, I like the 3 Dub boxes.
Emusic has a good bit of stuff up there for download,
Enjoy

Mixtape

There's an Irish Reggae band called Intinn. They're really good.

We filmed one of there gigs in the mezz and recorded an interview with them.

If you'd like to check them out, here's a link:

http://www.mixtape.ie/?p=174

Doc

Toots and The Maytals
Love these guys...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhjBiZSfM08

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eATaV2umnEs

mudokon

I know you didn't really want toasting but for those who do like it.

mudokon

One of my favourite songs.

mudokon

Thundercats Ho

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn6JEy884kI

Samba

Burning Spear

Don Carlos & Groundation

Steel Pulse

Gladiators

Abyssinians

Israel Vibration

Culture

Sly & Robbie

Max Romeo

Mighty Diamonds

Barrington Levy


I'm jealous that you will be listening to this stuff for the first time.....
Just as a warning, you don't tend to find all of the gems from these artists on youtube, just try and listen to albums before buying any.. some of them can be dodgy

Enjoy

Scubadevils

You could always try a twist of reggae/dub with some of the more recent electronic based artists and collaborations, amazing stuff... (not sure if the purists will dig it though!). Amazed actually that there is no reggae/dub section on boards, must be the only genre not catered for.

Rhythm & Sound

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mf2IJT7O-M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkS0yUxZ-go

Deadbeat

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViKhwnmfwKk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTmdvdAJlr4

And then also in the dub techno field, although the following track may as well be pure dub... taken from the amazing album, 'The Coldest Season'

Echospace

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ClkDbLXvdQ

mudokon

Samba wrote: »

Just as a warning, you don't tend to find all of the gems from these artists on youtube, just try and listen to albums before buying any.. some of them can be dodgy

I find that with a lot of albums in the reggae genre, a couple of really good tracks mixed in with some awful stuff.

therewillbe

ALBOROSIE, An Italian Rasta. Check him out. Went to see Damien Marley a few years back in the Olympia, What a gig !

The Pontiac

This is a great tune..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NHNIgYRKVQ

Vunderground

Rather than just throwing out a lot of names I suggest you have a look at the Trojan box sets on Amazon. A good way to find out which sort of reggae you like. No point in bying King Tubby if you find it's Lover's that you like.
The skinhead box is really good for starters

mudokon

Vunderground wrote: »

I suggest you have a look at the Trojan box sets.

+1, there are some good stuff on some of those compilations and they are good value as well.

This is a good album to start off with. It has a lot of the artists mentioned in this thread all on the one album. They are all good songs as well.

Samba

mudokon wrote: »

I find that with a lot of albums in the reggae genre, a couple of really good tracks mixed in with some awful stuff.

Yeah, really depends on the artist, but for the most part you're right.

Nothing grinds my gears more than awful cheesy sounding synth!

I remember going to a festival in Holland a few years back....Israel vibe were the first main act, I don't know whether they are too cheap to pay for a horn section! Or if they couldn't get someone....

Burning spear came on shortly afterwards with a full horn section. Just wow..blew Israel vibe away.

/end derailment.

Another gem, which has a selection of artists

http://www.amazon.com/Studio-One-Story-Various-Artists/dp/B00008GQPB

dasdog

Lots of good stuff already mentioned but on the Dub front I'd highly recommend Scientist:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMe-xXdY3Mk

Obleroza

why did no one mention Desmond Decker?

Also a good album to start with is the Harder They Come. Its a soundtrack to the movie of the same name. It is mainly the aforementioned jimmy Cliff but there are a few acts on it. Its the album that first brought reggae out of Jamaica.

bmoregan

Again, depends on what kind of Reggae you like. I'm absolutely no expert either, but the early UB40 stuff is fantastic. "One in Ten", "Present Arms" and "The earth dies screaming" could have been written in 2009.

And if you like "Red red wine" (I don't)... dont let the purists stop you from enjoying it :-)

tman

dasdog wrote: »

Lots of good stuff already mentioned but on the Dub front I'd highly recommend Scientist:

QFT
This album ranks as one of my favourite of all time... Utterly essential stuff!

mudokon

@ bmoregan. I like UB40 as well, it was their Labour of Love albums that made me want to listen to the original versions of the songs they had covered on them.

Baggariddim is UB40 sounding a little different if you haven't heard of it.

I like the 12" version of Red Red Wine because of the toasting on it.

floggg

Thanks for all the suggestions, will try and work my way through some of them.

At the minute, I am listening to the marley's a lot - damian, stephen and bob of course. Obviously listening to legend, but got exodus as well, great album.

I am also listening to german reggae as i said as well - gentleman and patrice in particular. Am still spreading my wings, so will keep exploring. Am happy to report that this seems to be more than just a passing fad - really loving the reggae. A real, feel good positive vibe!

showry

Vunderground wrote: »

Rather than just throwing out a lot of names I suggest you have a look at the Trojan box sets on Amazon. A good way to find out which sort of reggae you like. No point in bying King Tubby if you find it's Lover's that you like.
The skinhead box is really good for starters

They're practically giving away those box sets on itunes at the moment. I got the Lovers Rock one for 2.99 the other day.

Again, depends on what kind of Reggae you like. I'm absolutely no expert either, but the early UB40 stuff is fantastic. "One in Ten", "Present Arms" and "The earth dies screaming" could have been written in 2009.

And if you like "Red red wine" (I don't)... dont let the purists stop you from enjoying it :-)

+1 bmoregan - there's a lot of snobbishness directed at them but the early stuff is brilliant and Labour of Love moved me on from 2-Tone to reggae.

fuse

Felixdhc wrote: »

You could always try a twist of reggae/dub with some of the more recent electronic based artists and collaborations, amazing stuff... (not sure if the purists will dig it though!). Amazed actually that there is no reggae/dub section on boards, must be the only genre not catered for.

yeah I've been listening to some of this stuff recently, not all of it does it for me, but when they get it right it's great. Lots of potential for this style in the future I think!
Just got an album by Beat Pharmacy called Wikkid Times, its great.
Dreadlock Tales & Salmonella Dub have some good stuff too.
Liking the Rhythm & Sound tracks.

Scubadevils

fuse wrote: »

yeah I've been listening to some of this stuff recently, not all of it does it for me, but when they get it right it's great. Lots of potential for this style in the future I think!
Just got an album by Beat Pharmacy called Wikkid Times, its great.
Dreadlock Tales & Salmonella Dub have some good stuff too.
Liking the Rhythm & Sound tracks.

There are some great releases alright, Deadbeat being one - every album is excellent, highly recommended.

http://www.discogs.com/artist/Deadbeat

Didn't know Beat Pharmacy but looked up and saw that its Brendon Moeller, have a couple of his 12"s, one on the excellent Echocord label - cheers, must check that out now too.

Have you listened to any Yagya? -

http://www.discogs.com/artist/Yagya

fuse

Felixdhc wrote: »

Have you listened to any Yagya? -

http://www.discogs.com/artist/Yagya

No, looking forward to sounds good. Cheers

palethinboy

Lee Perry, King Tubby & any album that involves them is a good way to go, maybe get some Trojan Compilations & see what sort of Reggae you are into.
By listening to a mix CD you get a nice idea of the different artists & where to go next.

I love all this sort of stuff:

http://www.play.com/Music/CD/4-/168821/Trojan-Tighten-Up-Box-Set/Product.html

3 CD set for only €6.49

JacoStanley

Dave Barker. Great 'toaster and real nice singer also.

Rud

The Upsetters
Boris Gardiner

sabarka

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAutCL8MMP4

try the above link...fabulous Pablo moses....had so many brilliant songs...and also look for Misty in Roots on you tube......try Pablo Gad as well, and i'm not sure if anyone has mentioned the great Gregory Issacs....:D

dermothickey

Gregory Isaacs
Black Uhuru
The gladiators
Augustus Pablo
Jacob Miller
Jimmy Cliff
The Congos (one of my fav's) If you can start with the heart of the Congos
Peter Tosh
Bunny Wailer
The abyssinians
Alpha Blondy
U Roy
I Roy
Toots And the Maytals
Lee Perry
Junior Marvin
Max Romeo
Steel Pulse
Dillinger
Aswad some good ones there
Third World
Luciano

And to top it off " Burning Spear"

One more, Linton Kwesi Johnson- Poet and the roots, absolute class but very tough stuff

Enjoy exploring reggae

CrackisWhack

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

dermothickey

On buju, one of my favs of him, also covered by our own sinead o connor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kb-0Eo0Yk0o&NR=1

keanooo

You should come along to 'Dancehall Styles' in the Button Factory on Sundays. It will open you up to a whole new world of reggae.

floggg wrote: »

Have recently caught the reggae bug after a couple of nights at a reggae stage at a festival. Am looking for some recommendations for some good artists/albums to acquire.

So far i have got the obvious, Bob Marley - Legend, and also Damian Marley - Welcome to Jamrock and Patrice - Nile. Looking for a few other recommendations - more in the Bob Marley/Patrice vein rather than the "toasting" (kinda of a jamican sing-song rapping style) artists or dancehall stuff.

That said, the Damian Marley albums is wicked, so if there are any "toasters" of that calibre i will def give them a whirl.

Boom_Bap

Lee Scratch Perry and Max Romeo would be my recommends.
You might get into Mad Lion as well, he done alot of cross over hip hop stuff as well. Just mentioning this as floggg is known to lurk on the hip hop forum

mudokon

Sugar Minott doesn't seem to have been mentioned here, I just found out he passed away over a week ago. RIP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkWxzK1Bjog

themucaro

As said above, the Trojan box sets are a goldmine for this kind of music.

I came across Hopeton Lewis on it, fantastic song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQmENXQcU8E Take it Easy

I'm getting into the original stuff more and more, guys like Prince Buster are great.

Outside of the obvious names (Marley, Toots, Cliff) check out the Aggrolites, Easy All-Stars, Skatalites. Going to see some of those guys on the Day Zero day in Sziget, can't wait!