An entry from Putumayo's archives, Putumayo Presents: Jamaica makes a stab at covering the vast majority of the styles of reggae available on the island nation. More specifically, it restricts that coverage to the more classic forms (omitting dancehall, hip-hop, fusion, and generally anything involving gun talk and slackness). Essentially everything happening in the reggae scene after the end of the rocksteady movement and up to the death of Peter Tosh is represented here. The album opens with the title track from the Toots ...
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An entry from Putumayo's archives, Putumayo Presents: Jamaica makes a stab at covering the vast majority of the styles of reggae available on the island nation. More specifically, it restricts that coverage to the more classic forms (omitting dancehall, hip-hop, fusion, and generally anything involving gun talk and slackness). Essentially everything happening in the reggae scene after the end of the rocksteady movement and up to the death of Peter Tosh is represented here. The album opens with the title track from the Toots & the Maytals album Reggae Got Soul, infusing a bit of American soul into the reggae base. Culture follows with an exposition on the Rastafarian faith and Jimmy Cliff mixes the political realm with the party realm in "Give the People What They Want." Ska veteran Rico Rodriguez adds in a relatively rare reggae instrumental and Joe Higgs, one-time vocal tutor to Bob Marley, tosses in a basic piece of his repertoire. Polio victims Israel Vibration contribute a number and Ras Michael adds in a piece of reggae with a deep connection to the proper nyahbinghi drumming forms. The Gladiators perform a relatively basic work and early dance reggae is represented by the powerhouse combination of Black Uhuru and Sly & Robbie. Finishing the album are a pair of works from two of the largest innovators from the island: a piece of the earliest dub from Augustus Pablo's first album and a more recent work from Peter Tosh (licensing difficulties prevented the inclusion of a Bob Marley number), post-Wailers. Overall, it's an outstanding effort at including the major forms and styles as well as the proper figures in the scene over the last 40 years or so. Give it a listen as an introductory set of music to the reggae genre as a whole and use it as a stepping stone into deeper exploration of the various artists presented. ~ Adam Greenberg, Rovi
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Add this copy of Jamaica to cart. $3.98, very good condition, Sold by HPB-Diamond rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2001 by Putumayo World Music.
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Seller's Description:
Very good. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Cases may show some wear. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of Jamaica to cart. $4.99, very good condition, Sold by HPB Inc. rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2001 by Putumayo World Music.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Cases may show some wear. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of Jamaica to cart. $4.99, very good condition, Sold by Half Price Books Inc rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2001 by Putumayo World Music.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Cases may show some wear. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
This collection contains some of the best Jamaican music ever recorded, by some of the most influential and talented Jamaican artists.
"Toots" Hibbert and his incredibly talented Maytals, start the thing off in fine fashion with "Reggae Got Soul", a Motown r&b influenced rocker.
Joseph Hill of Culture explains his childhood influences in "Why Am I a Rastaman", a truly classic cut. If you love bumping to the sound of "hard reggae", this is for you.
The Jimmy Cliff track "Give The People Wwhat They Want" is a perfect example of socially cognizant music that you can't resist dancing to...(He works some strange electronic sounds into the mix on this one)
One of the best cuts on the disc (and that's saying a lot) is an instrumental, Rico's "Midnight in Ethiopia". The bass and horns are in perfect sync, rich, deep and full... They create a melancholy feeling, but never lose the powerful and upbeat undercurrent..Amazing.
"Upside Down", by Joe Higgs is a peppy little song, reminiscient of some of Bobby McFerrin's or Johnny Nash's pop stuff.....Nothing really special, but a fun tune.
More seriously, Israel Vibration's "Apple" Craig gives one possible solution for a more peaceful society: more Reggae ( himself in particular) " 'pon your MTV!" in the classic "Rudeboy Shufflin'"
Ras Michael, a Nyabhingi/Burru (the drum sounds that make music instantly recognizable as reggae) drummer of the old school, presents a roots Rastafarian song of hope for those still struggling in poverty on "None a Jah Jah Children No Cry". The drumming in this song is truly awesome...
The Gladiator's cut "Streets of Freedom" is another classic by a wonderful group of musicians little known to any but hardcore Reggae fans..Here's hoping this review will convince others to seek out more of their excellent and pure reggae....
"Sponji Reggae" by Black Uhuru makes an appearance here...a great selection, and probably one that is familiar to the many people who love this band.
Augustus Pablo brings us the "dub" in "Point Blank" with his melodica, a strange instrument, part recorder, part keyboard, and in his hands, all reggae...Great Stuff!
And, to wrap it up, Mr.Tosh brings it hard (as usual) with "Mystery Babylon"...What can I say about this original Wailer? He's great, and melodic, and politically subversive (The queen of England probably wouldn't care for this tune) with, as nearly always, excellent results.
This compilation was released by Putumayo in 2001, but it's as good today as anything out there.
To those reggae neophytes who claim Marley's absence lessens the relevance of this collection, I gotta say: Expand your musical horizons, people. Bob Marley introduced the world at large to this music, but a true music lover will benefit by seeing what else is out there in this little known genre....
Also missing (but not missed by me) is any trace of the new "reggaeton" type sound. This disc is the "classic rock" for those of you like the Roots and the Rock and the Reggae.
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