Hello! - Any Roots records and books recommendations please?

[Hotpie]

Hello one and all,

At 30 I'm young in terms of the music I love. Been loving Ska & Reggae for years but a bit more over the last few years. My tastes dart all over the place, but it has been stuck on Blue Beat and 60's Ska for a while now. Last week my mouse strayed onto the roots section of Dub Vendor... I love what I got!

I've always avoided the more religious rasta and digital type stuff even though it was a love of Marley and the samples of John Holt and Barrington Levy on the Jungle music I grew up with that got me into this style. But after tracing my musical lineage back, I think I'm ready to move forward now and would love your recommendations for some great, rootsy 45's that are available to pick up.

My knowledge on this area is seriously lacking. Between my Skinhead/Trojan reggae records and a few random modern bits like Prince Fatty, the Hempolics and couple of bits on Roots Garden I have a void that is only filled with some of Mr Marleys big chart toppers and Steel Pulse. They now have a few companions but this area is the daunting unknown.

Where do I start?...

[kalcidis]

Welcome Hotpie. I think that Ray Hurford's reggae album guide's are perfect for someone like you. It's short and good reviews divided into different topics. You can check them here:
https://sites.google.com/site/smallaxereggae/muzik-tree

Otherwise I would recommend you to start by checking some classic albums. If you're in to roots then the most classic names would probably be albums like this (I choose albums that should be easy to pick up):
Yabby You - Conquering Lion
King Tubby Meet Vivian Jackson (VJ is the same as Yabby You)
Augustus Pablo - King Tubby Meets Rockers Up Town
Twinkle Brothers - Countrymen
Culture - Two Sevens Clash
Wailing Souls - At Channel One (compilation from Pressure Sounds)
Hugh Mundell - Africa Must Be Free By 1983

edit: typo

[Hotpie]

That's great thanks, I'll take a look.

I know everyone's opinion will be different, but what would be the stand out top 10 roots singles?.. Not rare, but just the big hits that would have averted the radio and charts.

[Baba Jonah]

So many places to start so I'm gonna jump in with. . .

RISING SON FORGIVE THEM JAH Only Roots 7 inch (or New Flower 7 inch original press)

A great rootsy riddim, great dub mix too. As many a mic man has said "Dis one I n I personal favorite", one of many favorites of mine.

This tune is easily found now, but when I originally was searching for this tune it was not reissued, and kinda cheap until it rose greatly in price to 'silly money'. Now you can get it for around £6 and mint, good copy, from all good shops. I found some sort of bootleg 10 inch pressed on vinyl but sold as a 'dubplate', sounds amazing dropped at the right time in a session, but not that popular if your audience wants 'party reggae' which just goes to show that a tune you believe to be amazing can actually ruin your vibes as a selector as it clears the dance floor at a house party!!!! Definately a tune to have in the bag still.

Tunes like these get remade by modern producers too its always great to hear a classic vocal re-licked, often when you least expect it, drop on a big sound in a dance.

To be honest you can be recommended tunes and be overwhelmed by the sheer number of amazing roots tunes out there (I still feel like this even with a reasonable collection under my belt). Ska is also like this too.

Roots records contain a serious spiritual element so brace yourself if your not a fan of Rasta lyrics or topics its rebel music with
a serious lyric content usually so probably best stick to instrumentals if this is the case.

Good luck in your search, both these tunes can be picked up at the various record stalls at dances (check Kullar at Uni of Dub) as well as the usual reliable stores like DV, Jah Warrior's Reggae Music Store, and Tanty.

[Roman]

[SteveT]

I'd recommend getting the Rough Guide to Reggae by Steve Barrow and Peter Dalton.

This will basically tell you all the main albums from Ska, Rocksteady, roots, dub, dancehall. Perfect for someone starting out buying reggae.

[Well Charge]

The best written book I ever read on the subject of reggae (early 80s dancehall) was Beth Lesser's book. i forget the title. But it was a read that really transports you to that time & place.

[Hotpie]

Thanks all, I will have a little look. i actually have the rough guide, but because of its text book style I have only lightly dipped into it a few times when I got it. I shall have another pop!

Thanks for all your suggestions and help i will work through it!

[davesjukebox]

Well Charge, just had a look for that Beth Lesser book and found it free online. Here it is incase anyone else wants it - http://bethlesser.com/books/PDFs/RubADu ... Lesser.pdf

[Rockers Galore]

Ray Hurford's Roots 71-75 book is available again from the Muzik Tree website https://sites.google.com/site/smallaxereggae/muzik-tree
I would recommend all of his books for album / CD recommendations.

[Rockers Galore]

Beth Lessers publications are available here http://www.bethlesser.com/store/

[greenisland]

Easy Hotpie. For a book, other than 'Rough Guide..', look no further than 'Bass Culture' Lloyd Bradley. Well written and from a real fan. For music my roots music starters were ... 'Everything Crash' Ethiopians, the two Burning Spear LPs at Studio One, 'Forward' Abyssinians, 'Black Star Liner' Fred Locks and 'Rastafari' Ras Michael & The Sons Of Negus. Enjoy the journey. T.

[ian]

Hi Hotpie,

I've just scanned through the Dub Vendor revive 45's section and picked out a few all-time classic roots 7's from the 1970's...

http://www.dubvendor.co.uk/hugh-mundell---run-revolution-a-come--version-message--onlyroots-eu-7-24376-p.asp

http://www.dubvendor.co.uk/leroy-wallace---far-beyond--new-establishment---version-bongo-manstudio-one-ja-7-24325-p.asp

http://www.dubvendor.co.uk/larry-marshall---my-foreparent--version-amanda--onlyroots-eu-7-24096-p.asp

http://www.dubvendor.co.uk/gregory-isaacs---slave-master--version-africam-museum-uk-7-23650-p.asp

http://www.dubvendor.co.uk/earth--stone---sweet-africa--version--earthquake--gold-shop-us-7-21373-p.asp

http://www.dubvendor.co.uk/fred-locks---true-rastaman--version-jahlovemuzik--greensleeves-uk-7-21922-p.asp

http://www.dubvendor.co.uk/prince-far-i--culture---message-from-the-king--version-cry-tuff-uk-7-16328-p.asp

http://www.dubvendor.co.uk/tappa-zukie---mpla--version-jamaican-recordings-uk-7-16253-p.asp

http://www.dubvendor.co.uk/devon-irons---when-jah-come--version-black-art-uk-7-10498-p.asp

http://www.dubvendor.co.uk/desmond-young---warning--version-fe-me-time-uk-7-6292-p.asp

http://www.dubvendor.co.uk/eek-a-mouse---wicked-shall-not-reign--dub-eek-a-mouse-uk-7-7898-p.asp

http://www.dubvendor.co.uk/linval-thompson---jah-jah-is-the-conqueror--version-gorgan-ja-7-9306-p.asp

http://www.dubvendor.co.uk/max-romeo---one-step-forward--version-black-art-uk-7-10510-p.asp

http://www.dubvendor.co.uk/officials---babylonians--version-observer-uk-7-12833-p.asp


Try those for size and see how you get on...

Also whenever anyone asks about 70's roots recommendations, I always have to mention The Abyssinians debut LP which unfortunately is sold out at Dub Vendor.... http://www.dubvendor.co.uk/abyssinians---satta-massagana-heartbeat-cd-1320-p.asp But have a look round and you should be able to pick up a copy somewhere...

[SteveT]

The best written book I ever read on the subject of reggae (early 80s dancehall) was Beth Lesser's book. i forget the title. But it was a read that really transports you to that time & place.

Yes, I'm about three quarters through that book at the moment - had to print it off though. It is an excellent read, one of the best reggae books I have read. Highly recommended especially if your into sound system and early eighties style.

[Peter Dalton]

A website you might find useful is Zinc Fence. Lots of articles, reviews , interviews etc.