I really dig reggae but have been in a rut recently. The big name artists: Peter Tosh, Burning Spear, Bob Marley are what i am most familiar with. I have been listening to the reggae station on XM radio and have determined there is a ton out there that i also really dig. Case in point, tonight i heard a song by Cocoa Tea and Buju Banton which i also really dug.


So, i need recommendations. Thanks!

I'm a big fan of the dub style so some of my favorites are:


Augusto Pablo- East of the River Nile

Augustus Pablo- King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown

Pretty much any of the early Lee Perry Upsetter records but especially, Blackboard Jungle Dub and Kung Fu Meets the Dragon

The Scientist- Rids the World of the Curse of the Evil Vampires

For roots I like:

Black Uhuru- Red

Burning Spear- Marcus Garvey and Man in the Hills

Israel Vibration- Unconquered People and Strength of My Life

Black Uhuru- Red

I really like the early Lee Perry produced Bob Marley too that you don't hear as much, it's a lot more soulful and raw than his later work, African Herbsman and Soul Rebels are two of the best from this period.

For some smooth mellow sounds try Wayne Wonder. For Dancehall style,can't go wrong with Shabba Ranks or SuperCat

My friend is in a Reggae type band, sort of a reggae - rock mix called The Aggrolites. Excellent band.

That's a great album.
And another killer one.

The This Is Reggae Music series is a wonderful introduction to some fantastic music, but I suppose those are antiquated by now. The Rockers soundtrack, likewise.

Aren't most of the Trojan compilations pretty much mandatory, also?

Gotta throw in some Steel Pulse in there.

Black Uhuru is great stuff.

Check out some older material from the Trojan label. They have some cheap priced 3 CD sets running all styles. The Trojan UK Hits set is very good.

Lots of good recs already.. here is another essential reggae album:

The Congos - Heart Of The Congos

Jacob Miller
Culture
Dennis Brown
Jimmy Cliff
Toots & The Maytals
Johnnie Clarke
Yellowman

Agreed, listened to True Democracy a number of times lately.

Also make sure you get a copy of the soundtrack to The Harder They Come immediately.

Two classic artists not yet mentioned:

Scratch Perry
Gregory Isaacs

Mishka, who just put out a new album in February.

One of his songs was a "discovery download" on iTunes a couple of weeks ago, nice song ("Above the Bones").

What about UB40, or is that too mainstream and uncool for purists?

"I can't help falling in love"
"Here I am"
"Red Red Wine"
"I've got you, babe"

Their covers overshadow their original success, but what can you say?

Countryman by Willie Nelson. Seriously!

Can't believe no one's mentioned the soundtrack for "The Harder They Come", arguably the most influential reggae album ever.

I wouldn't call them rock at all, but you got one thing right: excellent band.

But yeah, if the OP ends up digging them, there's other great reggae/ska bands out there these days like The Slackers, Hepcat, Westbound Train, The Pietasters, Bedouin Soundclash...although that stuff might be a bit more up-tempo than what you're looking for.

Post #10

Culture's Harder than the Rest and Two Sevens Clash... absolutely essential and superlative. Metro's Dub compilations (like Dub: More Bass Culture) are very good as well.

Another vote for Black Uhuru - the 2-disc anthology is an excellent overview. Also: Handsworth Revolution by Steel Pulse and the essential Blackheart Man by Bunny Wailer.

My wife likes Organic Garden Veggie, but I really like the Robusto Chopped Tomato Olive Oil & Garlic Pasta Sauce.

I can't stand them myself. I think it's cool that reggae remains practically the only genre established by people of African heritage that has by and large managed to avoid appropriation by Europeans/Americans.

Just in case: "African Herbsman" by Bob Marley & the Wailers (mostly produced by Lee "Scratch" Perry) is, in my opinion, their best album, even though it's technically a compilation. Be sure to check it out.

I like Sean Paul

They have a few good originals, including "One in Ten", "Rat in Mi Kitchen", and "Food For Thought".