Tag Archives: 2003

December 27, 2003

The annual review - the best of 2003. Looking at the albums, riddims, and roots singles that made the most impact in my year... TOP 5 ALBUMS OF 2003 > 5) CAPLETON - Praises To The King (Praises to the King: VP) 4) GROUNDATION - Babylon Rule Dem (Hebron Gate: Young Tree) 3) DEZARIE - Gracious Mama Africa (Gracious Mama Africa: Afrikan Roots Lab) 2) SIZZLA - Solid As A Rock (Da Real Thing: Digital B/VP) 1) JAH CURE - Ghetto Life (Ghetto Life: VP) TOP 5 BASHMENT DANCEHALL RIDDIMS OF 2003 (honorable mentions: Bagdad, All Out, Krazy, Good to Go, Amerik) 5) Egyptian riddim on Blaxxx: Vybz Kartel - Sweet To The Belly Wayne Marshall - I Will Love The Girls Sean Paul - Get With It Girls 4) Baba riddim on Free Willy: Determine - I Love Her Shabba Ranks - Just Do It 3) Salsa riddim on Big Yard: Elephant Man - We Nah Pet Dem Kid Kurrupt - Wickedest Ride Cecile - Give It To Me 2) Timetravel on 40/40: Vybz Kartel - Send On Determine - Fake Badman Bounty Killer - Many Gal 1) Coolie Dance on High Society: Cecile - Give It To Me Sean Paul - Feel Alright TOP 10 ROOTS SINGLES OF 2003 > 10) TANYA STEPHENS - Tonight (Xterminator) 9) CAPLETON - Mek A Try 8) LUCIANO - Love and Devotion (Pow Pow) 7) RAS SHILOH - Long Live The King (Reggae Vibes) 6) KID KURRUPT - Duckily Muckily Pass Through (Calibud) 5) TURBULENCE - Burn Dem Again (Lustre Kings) 4) TURBULENCE - Facts (Minor 7, Flat 5) 3) NATURAL BLACK - Bun Down Rome (Addis) 2) BUJU BANTON - If Jah Was Like Man (Digital B) 1) SIZZLA - Just One Of Those Days (Digital B)

December 20, 2003

The "Week of Musical Distraction" at PBS, with musicians playing live to air from Studio 5 during every show... special guests of Chant Down Babylon were Melbourne's "Red Eyes". Respect due! Other highlights included new albums from Sizzla, Luciano, and Mikey General. COUNT OSSIE & M.R.R. - Wicked Babylon (Tales of Mozambique: Dynamic) THE WAILERS - Put It On (Songs of Freedom: Island) U ROY - Glory To The Father (Augustus Pablo & Friends: Ras) MISTY IN ROOTS - True Rasta (Capefest 2004 promo) JIMMY RILEY - Majority Rule (Babylon A Fall Down: Trojan) THE GATHERERS - Words of my Mouth (Jungle Lion: Music Club) LUCIANO - Gideon War (Visions: Jet Star) MIKEY GENERAL - Red Green and Gold (Red Green and Gold: VP) SIZZLA - Mine and Only (Light of my World: Jet Star) SIZZLA - The One (Rise to the Ocassion: Greensleeves) RAS SHILOH - Little Black Boy (Babylon You Doom: Shiloh B) CHAT PON RIDDIM: "Scientist Meets The Space Invaders" on Greensleeves

December 13, 2003

Highlights include the excellent "Stress" riddim on Calibud... soft new roots on the Penthouse label... and a small tribute to Garnett Silk... DILLINGER & JOHNNY CLARKE - Babylon Yard (Gangster, Prankster, Rasta: Music Club) THE TENNORS - Baby Come Home (Rock Steady Classics: Nighthawk) BOB MARLEY - Who Colt The Game (Ascension 7") PETER TOSH - Equal Rights (Equal Rights: Columbia) WAILING SOULS - Jah Jah Give Us Life To Live (Very Best Of: Greensleeves) PRINCE FARI - Dealing With Cultivation (Long Life: Virgin Frontline) --req CARLTON LIVINGSTON - Trodding (Retrospect: Jah Life) JR DELGADO - Fort Augustus (Original Guerilla Music: Soundboy) YELLOWMAN - I'm Getting Married (Forward: Greensleeves) --req SISTER NANCY - One Two (One Two: Techniques) MUTABARUKA - Hard Time Loving (Check It: Ras) BENJAMIN ZEPHINIAH - Blood Sucker (Belly of the Beast: Ariwa) DILLINGA & PITT - Give Thanks and Praise (unreleased promo) NORRIS MAN - My Princess (Pure Music 7") --req BERES HAMMOND - Come Back Home / Mama Africa (Live In NY 2001) GARNETT SILK - Mama Africa (Live at Reggae Sunsplash 1994: Tabou 1) GARNETT SILK - Let Them Talk (Live at Reggae Sunsplash 1994: Tabou 1) GARNETT SILK - Blessed Be The Almighty (Live at Reggae Sunsplash 1994: Tabou 1) TORCH - I've Got Love (Penthouse 7") NICKY BURT & ASSASSIN - Nobody Else (Penthouse 7") BERES HAMMOND - My Pride and Joy (Penthouse 7") BUJU BANTON - Go If You Want (Penthouse 7") JAHMALI - Give Thanks and Praises (Calibud 7") CAPLETON - Never Let Dem Stop You (Calibud 7") LUCIANO, LUTAN FYAH, TAFFARI - Peace (Tell It From The Heart: Minor 7, Flat 5) LUCIANO - Stay Away (Germaican 7") SIZZLA - Pure Love (Germaican 7") ANTHONY B & SEEED - Water Pumpee (Germaican 7") MIDNITE & I GRADE - Thank The Lord (Vijan: I Grade) CHAT PON RIDDIM: Gondwana's "Phat Cherimoya Dub"

December 6, 2003

Highlights include the killer new "Love Jah and Live" riddim from Sheldon "Calibud" Stewart... the brand new "Dreamweaver" from Diwali producer Lenky... the latest Midnite and I Grade collaboration, and a prerelease of Abja's forthcoming album on the I Grade label... and nuff Gladiators by special request following their great show in Melbourne last Wednesday night... JOHNNY CLARKE - Move Out Of Babylon (Black Foundation: Heartbeat) SLIM SMITH - Born To Love (Born To Love: Heartbeat) FREDDIE McGREGOR - Bandulu (Bobby Babylon: Heartbeat) JOHNNY OSBOURNE - Truths and Rights (Truths and Rights: Heartbeat) -req GLEN WASHINGTON - Glory Allelujah (Brother to Brother: Studio One) GLADIATORS - Looks Is Decieving (Dreadlocks The Time Is Now: Virgin Frontline) -req GLADIATORS - Bellyfull (Trenchtown Mix Up: Virgin) -req GLADIATORS - Marcus Garvey Time (Back To Roots: Tabou 1) -req LEROY SIBBLES - Love and Happiness (Strictly Roots: Micron) MICHAEL PROPHET - Righteous Are The Conqueror (Arrival 7") TRINITY - Pope Paul Dead (Thompson Sound 7") LINTON KWESI JOHNSON - Independent Intavenshan (Independent Intavenshan: Island) RANKING JOE - Step It Pon The Rastaman Scene (Dub Side of the Moon: Easy Star) -req ABJA - War (Inna Red I Hour: I Grade) MIDNITE & I GRADE - Cradle of Joy (Vijan: I Grade) MIDNITE & I GRADE - Structa (Vijan: I Grade) PASHON - Roaring Lioness (HMG 7") -req MORGAN HERITAGE, LMS, ANT B, JR KELLY - Never Go Under (HMG 7") KID KURRUPT - Duckily Muckily Pass Through (Calibud 7") TANYA STEPHENS - Can't Help It (Calibud 7") NORRIS MAN - Life So Nice (Calibud 7") TURBULENCE - We Must Mek It (Calibud 7") BOUNTY KILLER - Hot Like Fire (40/40 7") DEGREE - Go Deh Go Deh (40/40 7") VYBZ CARTEL - Visa (40/40 7") SPRAGGA BENZ - Real War (40/40 7") BUSHMAN - Wondering (Rollin 7") JR KELLY - Folly (Rollin 7") WARRIOR KING - Keep The Faith (Calibud 7")

November 29, 2003

Broadcasting live from the Queenscliff Music Festival! A great day of live radio by the beach, surrounded by good music and nuff people... highlights included an interview with Gladiators lead singer Albert Griffiths... and new releases from Jr Kelly and Wayne Marshall... and Bob Marley live at the Roxy 1976. JOHNNY CLARKE - Channel One Is A Joker (A Ruffer Version: Trojan) ALTON ELLIS - It's A Shame (Darker Than Blue: Blood and Fire) --req LITTLE ROY - Hardest Fighter (Rebel Music: Trojan) THE MORWELLS - Swing and Dine (Burning Up: Trojan) KING TUBBY & THE MORWELLS - Concord Dub (Dub Me: Blood and Fire) JOHNNY CLARKE - Fire and Brimstone A Go Bun Wicked (Dreader Dread: Blood and Fire) --req BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS - Want More (Live at the Roxy: Tuff Gong) THE GLADIATORS - Dreadlocks The Time Is Now (Dreadlocks The Time Is Now: Virgin) THE GLADIATORS - Hello Carol (Trenchtown Mixup: Virgin) THE GLADIATORS - Looks Is Deceiving (Dreadlocks The Time Is Now: Virgin) THE GLADIATORS - Mix Up (Dreadlocks The Time Is Now: Virgin) PRINCE FARI - Right Way (Long Life: Virgin) BURNING SPEAR - No More War (Chant Down Babylon: Island) LINTON KWESI JOHNSON - License Fi Kill (More Time: LKJ) DEZARIE - Poverty (Gracious Mama Africa: Natural Mystic) GARNETT SILK - Cry of my People (Silky Mood) MORGAN HERITAGE - What Man Can Say (Protect Us Jah: Brickwall) SIZZLA - Too Much To Bear (Black Woman and Child: Greensleeves) --req JR KELLY - Just Another Blend (Smile: VP) JR KELLY - Can't Meditate (Smile: VP) CAPLETON - More Prophet (More Fire: VP) --req WAYNE MARSHALL - Marshall Town (Marshall Law: VP) WARRIOR KING - Love Jah and Live (Virtous Woman: VP) BERES HAMMOND - Do The Right Thing (Collectors Series: Penthouse) DON CARLOS - Ababjanai (Groove With Me: Orange Street) --req

November 22, 2003

Featuring classic Peter Tosh in support of Buy Nothing Day... the River Nile riddim on Kickin... Rashanco's recut of the "Wicked In Bed" riddim... SYLFORD WALKER - Chant Down Babylon (Lambs Bread International: Blood and Fire) TOMMY McCOOK - The Big Boss of Dubs (Brass Rockers: Trojan) SUGAR MINOTT - Riding West (Collector's Collection: Heartbeat) --req GREGORY ISAACS - Tribute To Wa De (Cool Ruler Rides Again: Music club) THE CHANTELLS - Stumbling Block (Waiting In The Park: Phase One) PETER TOSH - The Day The Dollar Die (The Best of: EMI) PETER TOSH - Bush Doctor (Bush Doctor: Rolling Stone) MIDNITE - Bushman (Unpolished: Rastafaria) ARMY - Ghetto Life (Struggler: Dubrise) HUGH MUNDELL - Jah Will Provide (Africa Must Be Free By 1983: Ras) --req TOMMY McCOOK - Mine Eyes (Blazing Horns: Blood and Fire) THE GLADIATORS - Tribulation (Bongo Red: Heartbeat) THE GLADIATORS - Eli Eli (Trenchtown Mixup: Virgin) THE GLADIATORS - Guts (Back To Roots: Tabou 1) THE GLADIATORS - Bellyfull (Trenchtown Mixup: Virgin) TANYA STEPHENS - Tonight (Xterminator 7") BRANDO - Look Out (Rashanco 7") GEORGE NOOKS - Come Back Home (Rashanco 7") MICHIGAN - Tired (Rashanco 7") EARTH WORM & GUINY PEPPER - Chalice (Purple Skunk 7") SIZZLA - All I Need (Purple Skunk 7") ELEPHANT MAN - All The Way (Purple Skunk 7") BARRINGTON LEVY - Here I Come (Kings of Reggae: Nocturne) --req HALF PINT - Love What A Gwaan (Treasure Chest 7") JAH MASON - Now and Forever (Treasure Chest 7") SIZZLA - Love Alone (Kickin 7") JAHMALI - Giving Thanks (Kickin 7") NATURAL BLACK - Not Your Enemy (Kickin 7") NORRIS MAN - Bless If You Love (Kickin 7") CHUCK FENDA & RICHIE SPICE - Fake Smile (Kickin 7") JAH MASON & DONIKI - Your Eyes (Kickin 7") CHAT PON RIDDIM: Tommy McCook's "Brass Rockers" on Trojan

November 15, 2003

A beautiful day in Melbourne... highlights included some killer anti-war tunes from Natural Black and Cocoa Tea... and a new heavyweight roots riddim on the Addis label... YAMI BOLO - Accident (Rebelution: Zion High) RHYTHM & SOUND - Mash Down Version (The Versions: BMG) BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS - Sun Is Shining (Kaya: Island) --req PRINCE ALLA - Sun Is Shining (Only Love Can Conquer: Blood & Fire) BARRINGTON LEVY - Warm and Sunny Day (Total Recall vol 10: VP) JAH STITCH - No Dread Can't Dead (Original Ragga Muffin: Blood & Fire) JOHNNY CLARKE - Love Up Your Brothers and Sisters (Dreader Dread: Blood & Fire) --req TOMMY McCOOK - Blazing Horns (Blazing Horns: Blood and Fire) VIVIAN JACKSON & THE PROPHETS - Fire In A Kingston (Jesus Dread: Blood and Fire) BURNING SPEAR - Follow Marcus Garvey (Hail HIM: Heartbeat) WAILING SOULS - A Fool Will Fall (Firehouse Rock: Shanachie) THE GLADIATORS - Jah Works (Dreadlocks The Time Is Now: Virgin Frontline) THE GLADIATORS - Bellyfull (Dreadlocks The Time Is Now: Virgin Frontline) THE GLADIATORS - Soul Rebel (Dreadlocks The Time Is Now: Virgin Frontline) --req QUEEN OMEGA - Hypocrites and Parasites (Queen Omega: Green House Family) JENNIFER LARA - Queen In My Empire (The Artists: BMG) SECRET MASTERS w' KYLIE AULDIST - One Phone Call (The Lost Dub Tapes) --req TERROR FABULOUS - High Grade Weed (Ball A Fire Muzik 7") MICHAEL ROSE - Innocent Youth (Ball A Fire Muzik 7") NATURAL BLACK - No War (Ball A Fire Muzik 7") COCOA TEA - No War (Togetherness 7") SIZZLA - Solid As A Rock remix (Foreign Remix 7") CAPLETON - Baghdad (Stone Love 7") NATURAL BLACK - Bun Down Rome (Addis 7") ADMIRAL TIBET - Valley Of Division (Addis 7") TURBULENCE - After All (Addis 7") CHAT PON RIDDIM: Rhythm and Sound "The Versions" on BMG

November 8, 2003

Highlights include the blazing new Tommy McCook compilation on Blood and Fire... killer new roots from Jah Warrior... and the great news that the Gladiators will soon be performing in Melbourne. SYLFORD WALKER - Babylonians (Lambs Bread International: Blood & Fire) GLEN BROWN & KING TUBBY - Assack Lawn No.1 Dub Vers 2 (Termination Dub: B&F) WELTON IRIE - Jah Come (Lambs Bread International: Blood & Fire) LLOYD PARKES - Slaving (Rebel Music: Trojan) TOMMY McCOOK - Everyday Sax (Tenor In Roots: Blood and Fire) TOMMY McCOOK - Ites of Zion (Blazing Horns: Blood and Fire) JACKIE MITTOO - Hot Milk (Champion In The Arena: Blood and Fire) THE GLADIATORS - Bongo Red (Bongo Red: Studio One) THE GLADIATORS - Hearsay (Vital Selection: Virgin Frontline) BOB MARLEY & WAILERS - Caution (Songs of Freedom: Island) KIDDUS I - Graduation In Zion (Rockers: Island) --req DON CARLOS - I'm In Love (Prison Oval Clash: Tamoki Wambesi Dove) --req CHARLIE CHAPLIN - Don't Run (Prison Oval Clash: Tamoki Wambesi Dove) CORNEL CAMPBELL - King In My Empire (Rhythm and Sound: BMG) SLYVIA TELLA - Plastic Smile (Stringray 7") AL CAMPBELL - Live Up (Stringray 7") PREZIDENT BROWN - War Ina Town (Stringray 7") MYKAL SOMER - Mama Miga (Element of Surprise: ERC) MADA NILE - Another Day (The Life: Sound V.I.Zion) SABBATICAL AHDAH - If Jah Didn't Love I (Wake Up Call: SPM) NASIO FONTAINE - African Spirit (Living In The Positive: Higher Love) U ROY, DENNIS BROWN, CHEB AISSA - Half 3 The Hard Way (Serious Matter: Tabou 1) BERES HAMMOND - Shiver (Live In New York: VP) --req BERES HAMMOND & CULTURE BROWN - Militancy (Forward 7") WARRIOR KING - Virtous Woman (Virtous Woman: VP) --req LMJ - We Are Blessed (Nuclear 7") UTAN GREEN - Most Wanted (Nuclear 7") JR KELLY - Beauty (Nuclear 7") TURBULENCE - The Children (Nuclear 7") LUTAN FYAH - Let Righteousness Be Your Guide (Jah Warrior 7") JAH MASON - No Joke (Jah Warrior 7") JAH WARRIOR - Righteousness Dub (Jah Warrior 7") CHAT PON RIDDIM: Glen Brown and King Tubby "Termination Dub" on Blood and Fire