Here’s the newest offering in the ongoing effort to force spring through music. Couldn’t decide if Reggae or Hip Hop would be more effective, so I went with both. This is one 45 in a series put out by Taggy Matcher, each one a dancefloor grenade. For how much these two genres have in common, it’s surprising how few times they’ve been successfully combined.  Collect the 45’s or grab Taggy’s new album that compiles them all in one place - Reggae Hip Hop Series Volume 1 - and hop in your whip, pop it in your deck, snap your neck, and witness the fitness!

Artist:  Taggy Matcher
Album:  Reggae Hip Hop Series Volume 1
Year:  2010
Label:  Stix (France)

Welcome to full on summer!  These guys (The Paragons) were best known for the song “The Tide Is High” later covered by Blondie.  There is nothing I’d rather listen to as I reclaim my neglected back yard.  You’re wwwelcome!

Raw-ass reggae jam from the early nineties. I liken this track to what Wu-Tang would’ve scripted had they hailed from Brixton rather than Staten Island. Dark, raw, drugged-out and simple. In a word…Bliss. If you’re into to driving around your city at night smoking jazz cigarettes…this is your new soundtrack.

ARTIST: Tenastelin
TRACK: Burial Tonight
PRODUCER(S): Vibes Sounds, Blacka and Keithy Roots
YEAR: 1992

Snailboy got me in the mood for some island sounds and when that happens, this is one of my go-to cuts. By now I hope most of you know Mr. Spear. If not, go buy yourself his “Marcus Garvey” [+] album and get learnin’. This cut is from the proceeding album “Rocking Time” which came out on the legendary Studio One label. It’s an up-tempo number with a beautiful / haunting melody and a bouncy organ. It’s one of those cuts that sends shivers down yr spine… at least it did for me… Is that too personal? Fsssh… Don’t be uptight man!

Anyway, I really really really hope some phone company licenses this for an ad (hello? “CALL on you”? it’s a no-brainer). In the meantime, I guess we’ll just have to make due enjoying an amazing song on its own merits. If that’s even possible.

Artist: Burning Spear [+]
Album: Rocking Time [+]
Year: 1974
Label: Studio One [+]
Production: Coxsone Dodd [+]

Alas, the album appears to be out of print. Looks like the great SoulJazz label has a comp with this track available for purchase here.

I thought the Brobots could use a lil’ island flavah so I’m posting this chunk of early Dancehall to kick the recession blues. “Gimme Di Money” is a digi-dancehall slammer using the “Punnany” riddim created and made famous by King Jammy and features the youthful Risto Benji on vocals. The original “Punnany” riddim features Admiral Bailey sounding off about his need for punnany (yes….that punnany). Risto, being the young buck that he is, doesn’t have time for the ladies or chasing tail….he’s more concerned about being flush with that chedda! Show me a better track to bang while you’re out job hunting cuz the man just layed you off. Git it son!

Risto Benji is a great vocalist…even at his young age. He’s got the ferocity and nimbleness of guys twice his senior. I love that King Jammy early Digital Dancehall sound as well….just raw as hell and stripped to the bone…drum and bass…made for the floor and bootie clappin.

I pulled this from the ultimate King Jammy resource….an exhaustive 4 CD + 1 DVD tome called King Jammy: Selectors Choice. If you were ever curious about early Dancehall and one of it’s most beloved producers this is the place to start.

Here are the specifics:

ARTIST: Risto Benji
PRODUCER: King Jammy
TRACK: “Gimme Di Money”
YEAR: 1986/1987*

*I’m having a hard time finding info for this particular track….but I think this was around the time it was released