Show Playlist 2/23/2010

A great collection of the early Trinidadian calypso gems recorded in the late 50s by one of the greatest calypsonians, Mighty Sparrow. I am amazed by the beautifully played fluid horn sounds! My favorite would be the politically charged "No, Doctor, No". The album is an assuring statement that Calypso really gave the people of the Caribbean a sense of power and originality. Great powerful songs. 

I played a cover of Otis Redding's "Try A Little Tenderness" off of this 1969 LP, Sparrow meets the Dragon. I have played plenty of Byron Lee & The Dragonairs' Early Reggae and Rocksteady tracks in my past shows, but actually the band started out in the late 50s as a calypso band, playing for tourists at various hotels and such. Therefore it comes as no surprise that the Dragonairs are playing calypso on this one, and playing it tight! 

El Michel's Affair "Creation"

The Aggrolites "Funky Fire"

The Lions "Think (About It)"

The Lions "Giving Up Food For Jah"

Dave Barker & The Upsetters "Do Your Thing"

James Brown "Let A Man Come In And Do The Popcorn"

Jackie Mittoo "Hot Tamale"

The Maytones "Loving Reggae"

Hortense Ellis "Can I Change My Mind"

Derrick Harriott "The Loser"

Dave & Ansel Collins "Monkey Spanner"

Sir Collins & Mickey "Shake Down"

The Upsetters "Jungle Lion"

Bob Marley "Sugar Sugar"

Youthman "Love"

Marvin Gaye & Jackie Mittoo "What's Going On"

Bagdad Cafe The Trench Town "New Days"

Risingtones "積恋雪岬"

Little Tempo "Shake It Up Baby"

The Miceteeth "Them!"

Hepcat "Tommy's Song"

Roland Alphonso "Four Corners"

The Ethiopians "Train To Skaville"

The Reggae Boys "The Reggae Train"

Rocking Time "It Just Is Inside"

Tommy McCook "Shadow Of Your Smile"

Joe Gibbs "Hijacked"

Ska Cubano "Big Bamboo"

Mighty Sparrow "Sparrow vs. Melody Picong"

Mighty Sparrow & The Dragonairs "Try A Little Tenderness"

Hopeton Lewis "Funky Kingston"

The Sand Dollars "Waterloo Sunset"

Jimmy London & The Impact All Stars "Loving Is A Hurting Thing"

Leona Collins, Sir Collins Junior, Steve Collins "Teach The World ABC"

The Clash "Career Opportunities (Sandinista Ver.)"

Davina Collins "Teach The World 123"

The Specials "Too Hot"

Lloyd Charmers & The Hippy Boys "House In Session"

The Maytones "Sentimental Reason"

Young Souls "Man A Wail"

Prince Buster "Rum And Coca Cola"

Folkes Brother "Oh Carolina"

Johnny Osbourne & The Sensations "Come Back Darling"

The Versatiles "Push It In"

Lloyd Charmers & The Hippy Boys "Soul At Large"

Augustus Pablo "Too Late"

The Soulmates "Jump To It"

The Black Stones "Out A Road"

Risingtones "Tenohira (Dub)"

Show Playlist 2/16/2010

The Aggrolites "You Got 5"

Toots & The Maytals "Funky Kingston"

Ken Boothe "Old Fashioned Way"

The Versatiles "Children Get Ready"

Slim Smith "Ain't Too Proud To Beg"

Cool Sticky & The Upsetters "Dry Acid"

The Boris Gardiner Happening featuring Leslie Buster "Ghetto Funk"

Busty Brown "Fight For Your Right"

Derrick Morgan "Hold Your Jack"

Laurel Aitken "Jesse James"

Jackie Mittoo "Fireball Rock"

Im & David "Money Maker"

Ken Boothe "I Wish It Would Be Peaceful Again"

Derrick Harriott & The Crystalites "Musical Madness"

The Kingstonians "Hold Down"

The Upsetters "Cold Sweat"

The Maytals "Don't Trouble Trouble"

Derrick Morgan "Stand By Me"

Tsuyoshi Kawakami & His Moodmakers "Moodrop"

Gladstone Anderson & The Mudies All Stars "Black Beat"

Little Tempo "Sky Stepper"

The Heavy Manners "Cut The Babylon System"

Westbound Train "Gone"

Rocking Time "It Went Out Somewhere"

Rhythm Doctors "Mark's Mood"

The Soul Captives "Ray's Mood"

The Miceteeth "Sensui"

A Million Bamboo "Lucky Sunday"

Osaka Monaurail "Alligator Bogaloo"

The Japonicans "Kuchinashi no Hana"

Ego-Wrappin' "Lemon"

The Slackers "Happy Song"

Laurel Aitken "Rude Boy Dreams"

The Selecter "Carry Go Bring Come"

The Chosen Few "Collie Stuff"

Carl Bradney "Stepping Into Darkness"

The Aggrolites "Faster Bullet"

Sidney, George, & Jackie "Papa Was A Rolling Stone"

The Aggronauts "Chicken Shake"

Prince Buster "Judge Dread"

Bob Andy "Going Home"

Desmond Dekker "Peace Of Mind"

The Wailers "Soul Shakedown Party"

Jackie Mittoo "Henry The Great"

Lloyd Charmers & The Hippy Boys "How Long (Will It Take)"

Westbound Train "Soul Revival"

Tsuyoshi Kawakami & His Modmakers "Evening Moon"

2/9/2010 Show Playlist

Yes! My scanner is working! Just to celebrate the fact that I have this amazing machine, I'm uploading images of a few of my 7-inch vinyls.

Up top, this one's a slow 'n smooth, sexy jam released by Truth & Soul Records. Without doubt one of the best deep-funk labels around today. "These Moments" by The Expressions.
"The Monster" by Beverley's All Stars.

This one's a bit of a gem, hidden as it's on the B side of an Ansel Collins instrumental track "Night of Love", which in my personal opinion, is a rather mediocre tune. This B side on the other hand, is a killer! Pure '69 skinhead reggae sound with a brilliant deejay (not quite sure who) laying out the right atmosphere, and not over-doing it like how some Lee Perry intros sound, for example. (Actually, try King Horror's "Loch Ness Monster" if you want to hear a great example of a completely over done deejay intro. Kinda scary!)
One of my favorite skinhead reggae tracks! A cover of The Beatles' "Don't Let Me Down" done so beautifully by Marcia Griffiths backed by the tight Harry J All-Stars. The B side is also a great gem, an instrumental version featuring (most likely) Winston Wright on the Hammond Organ! It's a treasure.

The Upstrokes "Greatful Head"

The Upstrokes "In My El Camino"

The Expressions "These Moments"

Byron Lee & The Dragonairs "Birth Control"

Dobby Dobson "Ride Me Donkey"

Prince Buster "Beg You Little More"

Ansel Collins "Night Of Love"

Carl Dawkins "True Love"

The Ethiopians "Reggae Hit The Town"

Marcia Griffiths "Feel Like Jumping"

Ken Boothe "Tomorrow"

Derrick Harriott "Look Over Your Shoulder"

The Heptones "Message From A Blackman"

Freddie McGregor "Get Involved"

Beverleys All Star "The Monster"

Chosen Few "Do Your Thing"

I Roy "Tougher Than Tough"

The Rebels "Rhodesia"

Jackie Mittoo "Soul Bird"

Chosen Few "I Love The Way You Love"

Pat Kelly "How Long"

Eric "Monty" Morris "No More Teardrops"

Laurel Aitken "Everybody Suffering"

The Paragons "Lonely and Blue"

Freedom Singers "Lovers Train"

Prince Buster "Too Hot"

The Wailers "Good Good Rudie"

Hugh Malcolm "Mortgage"

The Slickers "Mother Matty"

John Holt "Have You Ever Been To Heaven"

Tyrone Taylor "Delilah"

Toots & The Maytals "Alidina"

Ken Parker "It's Alright"

The Sparkers "Dip It Up"

The Web "Rated G"

The Tennors "Reggae Girl"

Boris Gardiner "Reggae Me Dis, Reggae Me Dat"

Harry J All Stars "Don't Let Me Down Version"

Toots & The Maytals "Pressure Drop"

Karl Bryan "Red Ash"

Jimmy Cliff "Harder They Come"

Ken Boothe "Satisfaction"

Prince Buster "The Scorcher"

The Melodians "Say Darling Say"

The Wailers "Habits"

Robert Marley "One Cup Of Coffee"

Tommy McCook & The Supersonics "Real Cool"

Tommy McCook & The Supersonics "Dreads Leaving Babylon"

Bobby Ellis & The Crystalites "Step Softly"

Phil Pratt All Stars "Victory"

The Ethiopians "The World Goes Ska"

The Uniques "My Conversation"

Clancy Eccles & The Dynamites "Mr. Midnight"

Betty Padgett "Never Never Never"

Boris Gardiner & The Love People "Darkness"

Gladstone Anderson & The Mudies All Stars "Leaving Rome"

Fishmans "Magic Love"

Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra "Silent By Your Side"

Show Playlist 2/2/2010

Let's talk "funky reggae". Alright, Jamaican music, especially the Rocksteady and the (Early) Reggae have always been greatly influenced by American Soul music. The radio airwaves coming from Miami reached the shores of Jamaica, and people were able to really follow American music without having to spend money on records. Naturally, there's been a great deal of mixing between sweet Jamaican sounds and sweet Soul music! With any style though, only a select few can really nail it down. Above is a compilation of Funky stuff done right by the reggae-soul maestro, Derrick Harriott, released (probably) in 1975. Great hair.

When it comes to Funksoulreggae, Jackie Mittoo is truly the originator and its master. Even in his teenage years working as the musical director at Studio One, his love for Soul & Funk came through quite obviously. This one right here, titled Wishbone was recorded in 1971 up in Toronto where he had relocated since 1969. His use of Canadian funk/soul musicians and an additional string section resulted in a reggae sound found nowhere else. I have learned to really respect Jackie's talent as an arranger. "There was a sophistication that was achieved through simple means", tells Jamaican jazz pianist Marjorie Whylie. "One didn't have to spend too much time intellectualizing and analyzing. The effect on one was immediate". I would like to call him the "architect of sound".

Great music. And yes, great hair.

Lyn Taitt & The Jets "Napoleon Solo"

Gladstone Anderson with Lyn Taitt & The Jets "Rainbow Valley"

Joe White "Rudies All Around"

Lee "Scratch" Perry with Lyn Taitt & The Jets "Soul Food"

Hopeton Lewis "Cool Collie"

The Kingstonians "Crime Don't Pay"

Ken Boothe "You Left The Water Running"

Prince Buster "Bye Bye Baby"

Derrick Harriott "Go Away Dream"

Jackie Mittoo "Freak Out"

Slim Smith "You've Got What It Takes"

Jackie Mittoo "Mother Funk"

Toots & The Maytals "Living In The Ghetto"

Byron Lee & The Dragonairs "Way Back Home"

Tommy McCook & The Supersonics "Real Cool"

Desmond Dekker & The Aces "Young Generation"

The Wailers "Do It Twice"

The Untouchables "Tighten Up"

The United Brothers "What More Can I Say?"

Freddie Notes & The Rudies "Down On The Farm"

Tsuyoshi Kawakami & His Moodmakers "I Wish You Love"

Linton Kwesi Johnson "Loraine"

Ego-Wrappin' "5 Gatsu no Clover"

Gladstone Anderson & Mudies All Stars "Mudies Groove"

Bagdad Cafe The Trenchtown "Rainy Days"

Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra "Utsukushiku Moeru Mori (Instrumental)"

Little Tempo & Yoko Fujita "Cha no Aji"

Little Tempo "Cha no Aji Dub"

Jackie Mittoo "Evening Time"

Rico Rodoriguez "Japanese Invasion"

Phillis Dillon "Boys And Girls Reggae"

Justin Hinds "Time Pass By"

Harry J All Stars "Spyrone"

The Victors "You Can't Stop Me"

Alton Ellis "Be True (To Yourself)"

Lee Perry "Skango"

Prince Buster "Cincinnati Kid (live?)"

Prince Buster "Pharaoh House Crash"

The Ethiopians "Mother's Tender Care"

The Ethiopians "Conditions Bad A Yard"

Ken Boothe "The One That I Love"

Winston Wright "Cool Down"

Toots & The Maytals "Just Tell Me"

Dennis Alcapone "DJ's Choice"

Lennie Hibbert "Village Soul"

Tommy McCook & The Supersonics "Twilight Rock"

Dermott Lynch "Hot Shot"

John Holt "Ali Baba"

The Techniques "There Comes A Time"

Desmond Dekker & Derrick Morgan "(What A) Revenge"

Soul Vendors "A House Is Not A Home"

Byron Lee & The Dragonairs "Soul Serenade"

The Upsetters "Bad Luck"

Nina Simone "Baltimore"

1/26/2010 Show Playlist

Gladstone Anderson & The Mudies All Stars "It May Sound Silly" (Moodisc 1972)

Beautiful record cover for a beautiful album! Gladdy's signature piano sound combined with the fine compositions of Harry Mudie, creating this special moment in reggae history. Gladdy returned with another edition of loungy lush reggae in 1977 with "Unlimited". Also an amazing album.

Here's "Transitions" by Boston's Westbound Train (Hellcat 2006). One of my favorite Jamaican influenced records to come out in the recent years. Very good. Lush sounds. I recommend.

I was all over the place this show, which isn't bad, but I'm thinking I'll probably be focussing more on the original, old school 60's & early 70's for my next show. It's a soul revival! Cheers.

Westbound Train "Soul Revival"

Easy Star All Stars & Kirsty Rock "She's Leaving Home"

Easy Star All Stars & Toots Hibbert "Let Down"

Toots & The Maytals with Bonnie Raitt "True Love Is Hard To Find"

Dionne Bromfield "Foolish Little Girl"

Amy Winehouse "Hey, Little Rich Girl"

The Debonaires "No Dice"

The Slackers "Say Your Name"

Hepcat "The Ronnie"

Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra "Ska Pedalada"

Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra "Call From Rio"

Ska Cubano "Marianao"

Bagdad Cafe The Trenchtown "New Days"

The Dynamics "Feel Like Making Love"

Little Tempo "Onsen Monogatari"

Serge Gainsbourg "Lola Rastaquouere"

Harry Mudie & King Tubby "Caught You Dubbing"

Gladstone Anderson & The Mudies All Stars "Gladdy's Workshop"

Rhythm Doctors "Evening Mood On Bond Street"

Sonny Bradshaw Seven "Groovin"

Menahan Street Band "Tired Of Fighting"

Bob & Marcia "One Woman"

Byron Lee & The Dragonaires "Shaft"

Byron Lee & The Dragonaires "Pipe Organ"

Hopeton Lewis "Take It Easy"

Mallory Williams "Dancing Groove"

The Soul Syndicate "Mariwana"

Boris Gardiner "Sledgehammer"

The Aggrolites "Musically On Top"

Dry & Heavy "Herbal Wise"

Toots & The Maytals "54-46"

10 ft. Ganja Plant "Engine Trouble"

The Skatalites "Guns Of Navarone"

Groove Corporation "Murder"

Blasta "Dub Of Green"

The Des All Stars "Walk With Des"

Winston Wright "Moon Invader"

King Horror (Laurel Aitken) "Zion I"

Rockamovya "Take This Night"

The Lions "Thin Man Skank"

Westbound Train "I Feel Fine"

The Slackers "Don't Wanna Go"

1/19/2010 Show Playlist

Yes, that is indeed a blue vinyl. Reggae Interpretation of Miles Davis' Kind Of Blue! Recorded under NYU music professor Jeremy Taylor's supervision back in 1981. Sadly Taylor passed away shortly after the session, resulting the record to never see the light, not until last year when Secret Stash Records decided to dig it up and deliver this gem to the people of the world. An ecstatic blend of Jazz and Reggae!

Josh Roseman "New Constellations-Live In Vienna" (Accurate Records 2007)

The theme underlying the first hour of today's set was "Jazz in Reggae". Of course the birth of reggae would not have happened if it weren't for Ska--a Jamaican edition of Swing Jazz and Boogie, which makes it only natural for all Jamaican music to have that Jazz quality. Here's Josh Roseman, an established Jazz Trombone player of Jamaican descent known for his works with Dave Holland etc... giving us a 21st century take on Don Drummond's brand of Ska-Jazz. The intensity of his 11 piece jazz band makes this record quite the listening experience. 

Jeremy Taylor "Blue In Green"

Josh Roseman "Satta Massaganna"

Jeremy Taylor "So What"

Lennie Hibbert "Creation"

Ernest Ranglin "Summer Time Rock Steady"

Monty Alexander & Ernest Ranglin "Love & Happiness"

The Soul Syndicate "Riot"

Gladstone Anderson with Lyn Taitt & The Jets "Chances"

Cedric 'Im' Brooks "Silent Force"

Ernest Ranglin "Ranglin Roots"

Marjorie Whylie "Drum Song"

Herbie Mann "Draw Your Breaks"

Sam Cooke "Don't You Drive Me Away"

The Upsetters "Bad Luck"

Jackie Mittoo "Totally Together"

Bob Andy "I've Got To Go Back Home"

Ken Boothe "I Wish It Would Be Peaceful Again"

Bob Marley & The Wailers "Rebel's Hop"

Bob Marley & The Wailers "Concrete Jungle" (pre-production mix)

Desmond Dekker "Too Much Too Soon"

Alton Ellis "What Does It Take"

The Ethiopians "Hang On (Don't Let Go)"

The Royals "Never See Come See"

Winston Wright & The Rhythm Rulers "Bratah"

Errol Dunkley "Love Brother"

G. G. Grossett "Wha Wha Who Wha"

Toots & The Maytals "Sit Right Down"

The Crashers "Music I Fight"

Ken Boothe "The One That I Love"

Slim Smith "I'll Be Around"

Johnny 'Dizzy' Moore "Sudden Destruction"

Alton Ellis "Something You've Got"

Lord Tanamo "I'm In The Mood For Ska"

Justin Hinds & The Dominos "Over The River"

The Wailers "One Cup Of Coffee"

Desmond Dekker "Get Up Adina"

Derrick Morgan "Don't Call Me Daddy"

Lee Perry "Feel Like Jumping"

Amos Clarke "Chatty Chatty Woman"

Don Drummond "Man In The Street"

The Maytals "My Daily Food"

The Riots "Yeah Yeah"

Peter Tosh "Maga Dog"

Owen Gray "Midnight Track"

The Melodies "My Girl"

Byron Lee & The Dragonairs "Girl I've Got A Date"

Don Drummond with The Baba Brooks Band "Spider"

The Inspirations "You Know What I Mean"

Desmond Dekker "It Is Not Easy"

The Lions "Givin' Up Food For Jah"

The Sand Dollars "Waterloo Sunset"

1/12/2010 Show Playlist

The sweet sounds of vibraphone reggae! Above is my latest addition to my vinyl collection. Yes! None other than Lennie Hibbert pounding away on the Vibes, crating this beautiful album-Creation. It is a very different kind of album, something you don't come across too often. Not only because of the lead instrument of choice, but because of the flavoring of the sounds you hear. For example, side A has only has one rocksteady-reggae track. The rest? A great blend of afro-beat/funk/jazz with a Caribbean twist. I will be introducing more tracks off this beauty in the coming weeks.

Released on the Studio-One label back in 1969, an incredible year for reggae.

Another recent addition to my collection is this one right here, Evening Time by the amazing Studio-One organist Jackie Mittoo. Featuring the backing band Soul Vendors which he led as a bandleader, he was just 20 years old when this record was recorded in 1968. Man! I gotta step it up.

I decided to play all Japanese ska/rocksteady/reggae from 4-5 pm, and got a lot of positive feedback. I will probably be doing something similar next week. (Japaregge! From Kawakami to the Ego-Wrappin' on the playlist below)

Lennie Hibbert "Village Soul"

Jackie Mittoo "Full Charge"

Melodians "Everybody Brawling"

Bruce Ruffin "Dry Up Your Tears"

The Wailers "Soon Come"

Spaceheater "No Freeway"

The Black Stones "Out A Road"

Delroy Wilson "Dancing Mood"

The Pioneers "Who The Cap Fits"

Carl Dawkins "Picture On The Wall"

Dave Barker & The Upsetters "Do Your Thing"

Ken Parker "It's Alright"

Jackie Mittoo "One Step Beyond"

Lennie Hibbert "Real Hot"

Jackie Mittoo "La-la Girls & Cha-cha Boys"

Roots Convention "Run Babylon Run"

Ken Boothe "That's The Way (Nature Planned It)"

The Creations "Get On Up"

Carl Dawkins "Hard To Handle"

Tsuyoshi Kawakami & His Moodmakers "I Fought The Law"

Bagdad Cafe The Trenchtown "Get It Together"

The Miceteeth "The Smiling"

Tsuyoshi Kawakami & His Moodmakers "I Wish You Love"

Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra "Rainy Thursday (Victor Rice Dub)"

Mute Beat "Rain Drops Keep Falling On My Head"

Mute Beat "Florina"

Dry & Heavy "T.K.O."

Little Tempo "Oblivion"

Rocking Time "Piano Ballad Pt. 2"

Dry & Heavy "I'm A Likkle Lioness"

Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra "Silent By Your Side"

Ego-Wrappin' "Mother Ship"

The Beverly's All Star "The Monster"

Lee Perry & The Upsetters "Eight For Eight"

Ken Boothe "Freedom Street"

Busty Brown "To Love Somebody"

The Upsetters "Soulful I"

The Silvertones "Endlessly"

The Bleechers "Check Him Out"

The Reggae Boys "The Wicked Must Survive"

The Kingstonians "Sufferer"

The Upsetters "Night Doctor"

Lee Perry "People Funny Boy"

Lee Perry "People Funny Fi True"

Pat Sachmo "Hello Dolly"

Bob Andy "You Don't Know"

The Wailers "Cheer Up"

Marcia Griffiths "Don't Let Me Down"

Rancid "Life Won't Wait"