Playlist: January 8, 2005

CHANT DOWN BABYLON with Jesse I 106.7 PBS-FM > Melbourne, Australia January 8 > 2005 Taking a look at the best 7" singles of 2004, with a run down of the top 5 dancehall riddims, and the top 15 new roots tunes. Please note that this is totally subjective, but does take into account crowd response both in the local Melbourne dancehalls, and on radio... TOP 5 DANCEHALL RIDDIMS OF 2004: 1. No 1 Punjabi (African Love) 2. Red Alert (South Rakkas) 3. Big Up (Taxi) 4. Stepz (Renaissance) 5. Gaula Gaula (Reggae Vibes) It was very hard to put these in any order, as there was no single stand-out riddim for me in 2004, and a lot of the riddims that were big in yard over the last year didn't do it for me personally. Honorable mentions: Makatak on Penetentiary only just missed out on a place, and although wicked, the Bubble Up on 40/40 was simply released too late in the year to have any impact on 2004. Other riddims worth a mention include Wassy Wassy on Orizen, Banjo on Size 8, Spanish Fly on Big Leauge, and Snypa on Boot Camp. TOP 15 NEW ROOTS SINGLES OF 2004: 1. I WAYNE - Living In Love (Gibbo) 2. JR GONG - Jamrock (Ghetto Youths) 3. MORGAN HERITAGE - Uncomfortable (Big Yard) 4. RICHIE SPICE - The Way You're Living (Pow Pow) 5. RICHIE SPICE - High Grade Inna Mi Chalice (Dirtworx) 6. CAPLETON - Ton Load (Digital B) 7. FANTAN MOJAH - Hail To The King (Down Sound) 8. JAH CURE - Longing For (Don Corleon) 9. RICHIE SPICE - Marijuana (5th Element) 10. FREDDIE McGREGOR & ASSASSIN - Youth Well Cold (Penthouse) 11. JR KELLY - Rasta Should Be Deeper (Hi Score) 12. TURBULENCE - It's So Bright (Star Trail) 13. TURBULENCE - Love Her Forever (Pow Pow) 14. I WAYNE - Can't Satisfy Her (Loyal Soldiers) 15. FREDDIE McGREGOR - Coming In Tough (Digital B) Honorable Mentions: Bushman & Morgan Heitage - Try (Digital B) Ras Shiloh and Gentleman - Blessing From Jah (Digital B) Lutan Fyah - Bits and Pieces (Pow Pow) Natty King - Mr Greedy (Insight) Anthony B - Higher Level (Rashanco) Norris Man - Life Style (Dirtworx) Finally, the playlist itself, in order: BURNING SPEAR - Door Peeper (Creation Rebel: Heartbeat) JAH MASON - Keep It As It Was (Reggae Vibes 7") VYBZ KARTEL - Ride In (Reggae Vibes 7") WARD 21 - Sitting On Chrome (Reggae Vibes 7") SEAN PAUL - Legalize It (Renassaince 7") CECILE - Hi Five (Renassaince 7") ASSASSIN - Idiot Ting Dat (Renassaince 7") CAPLETON - Or Wha (Renassaince 7") WAYNE MARSHALL - Big Up (Taxi 7") DEGREE - D'Music (Taxi 7") BOUNTY KILLER - No More Suffering (Taxi 7") SIZZLA - Only Takes Time (South Rakkas Crew 7") DETERMINE - Hands Off (South Rakkas Crew 7") PREDATOR - Mad Sick (South Rakkas Crew 7") CAPLETON & CHRISTOPHER - The Levels (African Love 7") ELEPHANT MAN & PINCHERS - Needle Eye (African Love 7") NADIA & ISHWAR - No 1 Punjabi (African Love 7") FREDDIE McGREGOR - Coming In Tough (Digital B) I WAYNE - Can't Satisfy Her (Loyal Soldiers) TURBULENCE - Love Her Forever (Pow Pow) TURBULENCE - It's So Bright (Star Trail) JR KELLY - Rasta Should Be Deeper (Hi Score) FREDDIE McGREGOR & ASSASSIN - Youth Well Cold (Penthouse) RICHIE SPICE - Marijuana (5th Element) JAH CURE - Longing For (Don Corleon) FANTAN MOJAH - Hail To The King (Down Sound) CAPLETON - Ton Load (Digital B) RICHIE SPICE - High Grade Inna Mi Chalice (Dirtworx) RICHIE SPICE - The Way You're Living (Pow Pow) MORGAN HERITAGE - Uncomfortable (Big Yard) JR GONG - Jamrock (Ghetto Youths) I WAYNE - Living In Love (Gibbo)