Playlist: January 1, 2005

CHANT DOWN BABYLON with Jesse I 106.7 PBS-FM > Melbourne, Australia January 1 > 2005 Welcoming in the new year with pure reggae music! Taking a look back at the top 5 new reggae releases of 2004, getting through some requests from the last couple weeks, and finishing up with something special in the second hour - an hour-long excerpt from Chant Down Sound's live session "Fully Loaded" at Deep 11 back in August. JESSE I'S TOP 5 ALBUMS OF 2004: 1. MIDNITE - Ainshant Maps (Afrikan Roots Lab) 2. MIDNITE - Scheme of Things (Rastafaria) 3. PRINCE MALACHI - Runaway Slave (Jet Star) 4. CHUKKI STARR - True Guidance (Ariwa) 5. GROUNDATION - We Free Again (Young Tree) HONORABLE MENTIONS: Chuck Fender "Better Days" on Jet Star deserves recognition, but I can't help but think of this as a 2003 album due to most of the big tunes being released last year. Turbulence's "Hail To The King" from late 2003 stands as his best full album so far, and only just missed out, as did Jah Mason's "Most Royal" on Jah Warrior. Capleton's "Reign of Fire" and Anthony B's "Powers of Creation" also would have been contenders if they weren't so inconsistant. Tanya Stephen's "Gangsta Blues" was good, but disappointing given the superior material she released on 7" this year. Now to the playlist itself: MIDNITE - Praise Jah (Scheme of Things: Rastafaria) GROUNDATION - Suffer The Right (We Free Again: Young Tree) CHUKKI STARR - Gwaan Dem Ways (True Guidance: Ariwa) PRINCE MALACHI - Runaway Slave (Runaway Slave: Jet Star) MIDNITE - Lianess (Scheme of Things: Rastafaria) MIDNITE - Livity (Ainshant Maps: Afrikan Roots Lab) MIDNITE - Drought (Ainshant Maps: Afrikan Roots Lab) FRANKIE PAUL - Tidal Wave (Powerhouse 7") --req JAH CURE - Love Of My Life (Ghetto Life: VP) THE CONGOS - Solid Foundation (Heart of the Congos: Blood and Fire) CHAT PON RIDDIM: Midnite's "Intense Pressure" on Rastafaria