mjp
Founding member
Aside from No Doubt, which is, of course, the fount from which all great reggae springs, check for anything from Jamaica released between 1973 and 1979. That is the era before Jamaica became overrun with cocaine and everyone lost their minds and started using drum machines. You can actually go back to 1970 or so, but the further back you go, the more primitive the sound, and your iPod might refuse to play it, thinking it's defective somehow.
But you should understand that asking for some "reggae" is like asking someone to recommend some "rock." There are a lot of different sounds. If you like good songs you can't go wrong with the Wailers. Anything with Bob Marley, Peter Tosh or Bunny Wailer's name on it (from that 73-79 period) is going to be good. Burning Spear, Culture...and 50 other groups or singers.
If want to lay around, smoke herb, stick it to Babylon and see where all this modern hip hop/trance/dance music got its start, get some dub (again, from the same period); Lee Scratch Perry, Augustus Pablo, I-Roy, U-Roy, King Tubby...etc., etc.
If you like the sound of a dozen people playing different sized hand drums (and who doesn't, right?) check out Ras Michael and the Sons and Daughters of Negus or Count Ossie and the Mystical Revelation of Rastafari. They play Nyabinghi music, which is usually all drums and chanting about Jah, so not exactly everyone's cup of tea.
These lists could go on, and really, they are only the tip of the iceberg. Once the 80's started roots reggae music died a quick and unceremonius death, so if you want some reggae that isn't really reggae, go for something more modern, like dancehall. It will have all those soulless BEATS, electronic squaks and people singing about guns, money and their cocks that the kids love so much.
But you should understand that asking for some "reggae" is like asking someone to recommend some "rock." There are a lot of different sounds. If you like good songs you can't go wrong with the Wailers. Anything with Bob Marley, Peter Tosh or Bunny Wailer's name on it (from that 73-79 period) is going to be good. Burning Spear, Culture...and 50 other groups or singers.
If want to lay around, smoke herb, stick it to Babylon and see where all this modern hip hop/trance/dance music got its start, get some dub (again, from the same period); Lee Scratch Perry, Augustus Pablo, I-Roy, U-Roy, King Tubby...etc., etc.
If you like the sound of a dozen people playing different sized hand drums (and who doesn't, right?) check out Ras Michael and the Sons and Daughters of Negus or Count Ossie and the Mystical Revelation of Rastafari. They play Nyabinghi music, which is usually all drums and chanting about Jah, so not exactly everyone's cup of tea.
These lists could go on, and really, they are only the tip of the iceberg. Once the 80's started roots reggae music died a quick and unceremonius death, so if you want some reggae that isn't really reggae, go for something more modern, like dancehall. It will have all those soulless BEATS, electronic squaks and people singing about guns, money and their cocks that the kids love so much.
