Are we standing in the presence of greatness?

May 19, 2013 by marleyrkives

I am not one who bestows superlatives upon every decent, working reggae outfit that passes through these times. As a student of this reggae music, I am keenly aware of true greatness in the works of The Wailers, The Heptones, The Viceroys, The Abyssinians, and artists like Dennis Brown, Dobby Dobson, Gregory Isaacs, and others.

However, there is a new standard being set in reggae right now and we are very blessed to bear witness to it. In MIDNITE, I believe we are truly witnessing a resetting of the dial. The shear number of albums produced by MIDNITE is approaching the extraordinary: more than 50 long plays in 14 years. What is striking though is that, at least over the past several years, they have consistently released 2 LPs per year. And the material is not throw away by any means. In fact, the quality of the material gets stronger every year! As if that is not impressive enough, they tour in excess of 200 days per year. Their shows routinely run 3-4 hours. I simply cannot recall another band as prolific as this one. In my opinion, last year’s Children of Jah was dreads and shoulders above any other reggae release of 2012. It was not even close.

The band, formed in Washington, DC in the mid 1990s by brothers Ron and Vaughn Benjamin, play a style of music characterized as the “chant and call” style which gives their music a spiritually intense and an overtly Rastafari movement feel. Many find their style of music foreign and too far removed from the classic reggae sound. The lyrics are centrally focused on the plights of the oppressed, the inherent faults of the current political, economic and social settings on a global scale, and the redemption available to mankind through a life dedicated to Jah.

I could go on and on about this band’s greatness among the greats of the past 25 years. They have to be the greatest, most prolific reggae roots band in the business, right?

Read my review of 2012′s ‘Children of Jah,’ which I named the best reggae album of the year.

And listen to the new album, which is absolutely amazing. They seem to have re-invented themselves once again with 2013′s ‘Be Strong.’ Please note that this is a preview of the new album and not every song is included. You can buy the album at most online retailers.

Ini Kamoze Live in Los Angeles 1985

May 19, 2013 by marleyrkives

Here is a great show that was recently seeded to http://www.reggaetraders.net by my man chico. Ini Kamoze is one of the bright shining stars of 1980s reggae. Part of Sly & Robbie’s Taxi crew, he decimates the stage at LA’s Music Machine during this live performance. Also included with the download is a 7-song opening set by the mighty High Times Players. Enjoy!

Many thanks to chico for sharing this rare piece of reggae history.

Tracklist

1. Ini Kamoze – Statement
2. Ini Kamoze – General
3. Ini Kamoze – Trouble you a trouble me
4. Ini Kamoze – Call a Taxi
5. Ini Kamoze – Settle with me
6. Ini Kamoze – Babylon Babylon
7. MC – Roger Steffens
8. Ini Kamoze – World a Music
9. MC – Roger Steffens

DOWNLOAD FLAC AUDIO

Black Echoes magazine (February 14, 1976)

May 19, 2013 by marleyrkives

MIDNIGHT RAVER BLOG’S co-editors Glen Lockley and Peter van Arnhem have shared with all of us their own very rare personal copies of Black Echoes magazine. Black Echoes was a popular black music and culture magazine which is no longer in print. The magazine was one of the first to cover reggae artists in the early to mid 1970s. The great thing about Black Echoes, apart from the amazing reporting on reggae roots and culture, was that it featured many different artists besides Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. There is a ton of history in these pages. Give thanks to Glen and Peter for their crucial works in making these articles available to the reggae massive for the very first time.

Here, they present the many great reggae articles featured in the February 14, 1976 issue of Black Echoes. To read these articles in our digital document library click HERE.

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EXCLUSIVE! Linval Thompson Inna Fine Style (A Midnight Raver Mix)

May 19, 2013 by marleyrkives

Linval Thompson was the baddest producer in the land at one time. This is a man who could do nothing except produce smash hits. Here are 23 selections from his vast archive of reggae gold. As a producer, he was so prolific that I could do a 3-volume mix and still have a ton of stuff left over. It’s insane. This mix is not for the weak at heart. Every tune deadly….

1. Linval Thompson – Rock Me In Dub
2. Barrington Levy – Sensimilla
3. Roots Radics – Channel One In Dub
4. The Viceroys – They Can’t Stop Us Now
5. Triston Palma – Happy Song
6. Sugar Minott – Move Up
7. Linval Thompson – In Dub
8. The Wailing Souls – You Can Stay
9. Don Carlos – Sweet Africa
10. Wayne Wade – Poor & Humble
11. Barrington Levy – Jah Help Us
12. Johnny Osbourne – Night Fall (Extended Mix)
13. Barry Brown – Love Is What The World Wants (Extended Mix)
14. Linval Thompson & Barrington Levy – Bad Boys
15. Dennis Brown – Give A Little
16. Eek A Mouse – Sensi Party
17. Johnny Clarke – They Can’t Stop Me
18. Rod Taylor – Jah Jah Is Calling
19. Junior Reid – Mr. Big Man
20. Freddy McKay – Guide Us Jah
21. Anthony Johnson – Africa
22. Freddie McGregor – Jah Help The People
23. Gregory Isaacs – Tenement Yard

Delroy Williams “Idren Feel Nice”/”Version” (Message) plus press archives 1976

May 16, 2013 by marleyrkives

Here we have another 7″ from my collection. Delroy Williams “Idren Feel Nice,” produced by Augustus Pablo, features Williams’ vocal over a classic Augustus Pablo rockers riddim – pure niceness this one. The version on the flip side is murderous. Just check the drum shots at the end. Sounds like someone cuttin’ loose with a sawed-off shotgun…Deep roots vibes here.

Also included are 3 articles from New Musical Express and Melody Maker published 1976 which refer to Pablo and roots rockers reggae.