Reggae music: can you dig it?

Subject: RE: Reggae music: can you dig it?
From: Wesley S
Date: 24 May 00 - 10:08 AM

For some reason I tend to listen to Reggae music only when the weather is warm { and I listen to a lot more celtic music when the weather is cold}. The best shows I've seen were Peter Tosh and Black Uhuru with Sly and Robbie. Awesome mon.

Subject: RE: Reggae music: can you dig it?
From: Timbobbin
Date: 24 May 00 - 09:14 AM

I must have missed the previous thread as well. My favourite reggae artist is Lee Perry, he must also qualify as the strangest man in music. I would also highly reccommend George Faith, his album to be a lover is a classic.

Subject: RE: Reggae music: can you dig it?
From: Callie
Date: 24 May 00 - 12:40 AM

I was going to say that although I like reggae a bit the rhythm can get to me after a while (a one-album threshold). But today I was in a reasonably interesting work meeting at a local University when a reggae band started up in the courtyard. Suddenly the meeting became extraordinarily dull - I just wanted to get out there and dance!

Subject: RE: Reggae music: can you dig it?
From: hrodelbert
Date: 23 May 00 - 08:58 PM

In an interview with the drummer (at least one of the drummers) of 'Old Blind Dogs' he stated quite categorically that if you understand reggae you understand everything. I'm inclined to agree.

Subject: RE: Reggae music: can you dig it?
From: MK
Date: 23 May 00 - 12:26 PM

Having spent 6 consecutive months working a cruise ship back and forth from Miami to the Bahamas in the early 80s, whatever appreciation and enjoyment I might have had for reggae music was destroyed, through the constant sensory bombardment of it, 24/7, whenever a band wasn't playing.

Some of it I could handle (Marley, Tosh, Eddie Grant, etc.), but the stuff that sounds like a group of people having an ranting and raving argument, set to music ---PULLLLLLEASE!
I feel the same about reggae as I do about strychnine.
I can handle it only in very small doses.

Subject: RE: Reggae music: can you dig it?
From: lamarca
Date: 23 May 00 - 11:13 AM

I have a few reggae and ska albums that I listen to and like a whole lot (Jimmy Cliff's Harder They Fall, Marley's Catch a Fire, UB40, Toots and the Maytalls, The Skatelites, Lee Scratch Perry), but don't know that much about the genre. I particularly like Toots and the Maytall's reggae version of "Country Roads"

Country roads, take me home,
To the place where I was born
West Jamaica, mountain momma...

and Lee Scratch Perry's "Secret Laboratory" about the "Dub-dub Monster":

Rockin' and reelin' and havin' a ball,
Singin' and swingin', staightjacket and all...

I got to hear The Skatelites at a folk festival I was working last year, and really enjoyed the music (I think ska was the precursor of reggae); it's real feel-good dance music!

Subject: RE: Reggae music: can you dig it?
From: GUEST,Mrr
Date: 23 May 00 - 10:20 AM

I love reggae, and didn't see your earlier thread either. I especially like Peter Tosh and Bob Marley, but I think it's Jimmy Cliff's version of Rivers of Babylon that sends me. But I haven't heard the one to which you refer... or should that be reefer?

Subject: RE: Reggae music: can you dig it?
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 23 May 00 - 06:19 AM

When I was in St Lucia a couple of years ago the local acoustic folk duo, who did things like Island Woman, Banana Boat song, Jamaica Farewell, Sloop John B, also did nice versions of Woman no Cry and Red Red Wine which worked well in a "folk" context.
RtS

Subject: RE: Reggae music: can you dig it?
From: Brendy
Date: 23 May 00 - 05:39 AM

That wasn't me, by any chance, Racer? *bg*
I don't know 'The Melodian's' version of the song, but I remember 'Boney M''s version in the '70's and it nearly put me off forever.
I recovered, and when the mood takes me I can give rousing renditions of Tosh and Marley.

It is as strange for me, though, to sing songs which mention or refer to situations and places which hold no historical significance for me, as it is, I suppose for people who sing songs dealing with our history, that have no direct connection to it: I do not adhere to the Rastafarian religion, and Ethiopia is not my homeland.

However I relate to their difficult past as a people; their uprooting and their aspirations of a re-united homeland, as well as their pride in who they are.

I am wondering a little about your inclusion (or otherwise) of 'No Woman no Cry'. Are you saying that it is not a classic, or just that you don't want it included in any suggestions we might have because it already has attained that status?

My absolutely most favourite album of Marley's is 'Babylon by Bus' It was his final tour, and I saw him in Dalymount Park in Dublin on that tour.

There were loads of police about, all ready for the trouble. But it was as if a common consciousness descended on everybody, and everyone in the stadium filed out of the place very mellow indeed. I felt sorry in a way for the police, I remember. They weren't given the opportunity to brand us as 'subversive drug addicts'

B.
'Ain't got no birth ferciticate on me"

Subject: RE: Reggae music: can you dig it?
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 May 00 - 12:21 AM

Reggae has a special significance for me. My son-in-law is from Antigua and plays a lot of it. Two years ago, when he and my daughter had twin boys, I spent a month in Connecticut with them. Wayne introduced me to some great reggae by Peter Tosh, Marley, and Jimmy Cliff. In particular, I love Tosh's "Mystic Man" because Wayne told me, even though I am a woman, it always reminds him of me, since I tend to be a little mystical and vegetarian.

This gentle son-in-law also touched my heart by singing "No woman don' cry" to me the night before I was to leave, when I was sad about it. He made me a tape of all of their favourites, which soon became my favs, too...another one of which is "ReggaeMyLitis." I love reggae, esp. when I am in a certain mood.

Sorry I missed your earlier thread. Thanks for starting it again.

katlaughing

Subject: RE: Reggae music: can you dig it?
From: Racer
Date: 23 May 00 - 12:07 AM

I once heard an Irish balladeer doing reggae songs. I'll tell you what, you haven't lived until you've heard an Irish guy doing reggae songs. That is not to say that it was an altogether pleasurable experience. I can tell you though that it was one of the most surreal experiences I have ever been a part of (we all sang along). This guitar player/singer had this strange fascination with Bob Marley. The banjo player didn't look very happy though.

Isn't the percusionist from Old Blind Dogs a big reggae fanatic?

-Racer

Subject: RE: Reggae music: can you dig it?
From: sophocleese
Date: 22 May 00 - 10:35 PM

Well I don't know an awful lot of reggae. I have an older brother who listened to a lot years ago and on the basis of those memories I have a Bob Marley CD and a Gregory Isaacs one, which I like to listen to now and again. NO Woman No Cry is a lovely song. When I hear reggae I usually like the sound of it but I don't hear much.

Subject: Reggae music: can you dig it?
From:
Date: 22 May 00 - 10:30 PM

Last week I initiated a thread about Reggae. Response was ziltch. No problem. Whatever works for you. But has anyone here ever heard the Melodians sing "By the Rivers of Babylon" 'twas there we wept, when we rememberd Zion, but the wicked carried us away to captivity, and required from us a song. How can we sing a sad song in the strange land?" And there are other classics, not including "No Woman no Cry." Who has opinions about reggae, besides me?