BABYLON BURNING with Jesse I
106.7 PBS-FM > Melbourne, Australia
5-7 PM > JANUARY 3 > 2009

The annual "best of" show, where I run through the best singles of the year...
While this is VERY subjective, it does take into account feedback from the
local dancehalls, and sales at the Higher Level Record Shack. As usual I
haven't included more that one tune on a particular riddim, so some big tunes
won't appear where edged out by another.


JESSE I'S TOP 20 NEW ROOTS SINGLES OF 2008

1. MORGAN HERITAGE - Nothing To Smile About (No Doubt 7")
2. MORGAN HERITAGE - Rasta We Seh (Birch 7")
3. QUEEN IFRIKA - Keep It To Yourself (Don Corleon 7")
4. PRESSURE & BERES HAMMOND - Putting Up Resistance (Don Corleon)
5. MILLION STYLEZ - Police In Helicopter (Necessary Mayhem 7")
6. MR WILLIAMS - Babylon In Helicopter (Necessary Mayhem 7")
7. CHEZIDEK - Call Pon Dem (Massive B 7")
8. VEGAS - Must Come A Road (A Team 7")
9. TARRUS RILEY - Jah Help Our Souls (Maximum Sound 7")
10. TARRUS RILEY & JIMMY RILEY - Pull Up Selector (Taxi 7")
11. LUCIANO - Business Lock (Soul Vybz 7")
12. MUNGA - They Don't Care (Soundbank 7")
13. SIZZLA - Rasta Man Chant (Dill-Ox 7")
14. ANTHONY B - Can't Stop The Fire (Rootdown 7")
15. TARRUS RILEY - One Two Order (VP 7") 2007
16. ELOQUENT - Gun Alone Dem Glorify (Birch 7")
17. BUSY SIGNAL - Unknown Numbers (Juke Boxx 7")
18. BUSY SIGNAL - Trading Places (Juke Boxx)
19. PERFECT & CHEZIDEK - Journey (Irievibrations pre-release mix)
20. PRINCE MALACHI - Gideon Road (Oneness 7")

Honorable Mentions:
Collie Buddz "Hustle" on the same riddim as Vegas' "Must Come A Road" was an
even bigger tune, but was never released on vinyl... for the same reason Tarrus
Riley's "Stop Watching" on the Fat Eyes cut of General Penitentiary is missing,
as well as Konshens' "Rasta Imposter".


JESSE I'S TOP 10 DANCEHALL SINGLES 2008

Please note that I've used a fairly broad definition of dancehall here, as the
lines between dancehall, hiphop and r&b have become increasingly blurred...

1. MAVADO - On The Rock (Yard Vybz)
2. BUGLE & SERANI - Doh (Daseca)
3. MUNGA - Wanted (Juke Boxx)
4. ASSASSIN - Wha Do Dem Guy Deh (Boardhouse)
5. SERANI - No Games (TJ)
6. BUGLE - What I'm Gonna Do (Daseca)
7. BUSY SIGNAL - Jail (Jam II)
8. COLLIE BUDZ - Rise It (Massive B )
9. ERUP - Click My Finger (Truckback)
10. DEMARCO - Fallen Soldiers (Star Kutt 7")

Honorable Mentions:
Movado's So Special was just as big as Serani's No Games, but less suitable for
radio play... likewise tunes such as Mavado's Nuh Bleach Wid Cream and Munga's
Beat It deserve mention but didn't make it onto the countdown. Mention must be
made of Michael Rose's massive Shoot Out, which only missed out due to it being
a 2007 release... sameway for Demarco's Duppy Know Who Fi Frighten...