Jamaica became an independent country in 1962 and for the past 50 years has been an international musical powerhouse, moving from ska to rock steady to reggae, roots and dancehall and beyond. General Moses (Legends of Ska) joined Brad Wrolstad on this week’s African Rhythms for a two hour survey of the evolution of Jamaican music featuring cuts from Prince Buster, Derrick Morgan, Alton Ellis, The Ethiopians, Desmond Dekker, Freddie McGregor, Black Uhuru, Jacob Miller and a host of others. You can hear the show (available for two weeks after broadcast) and see the playlist at the KFAI site.
| Lord Lebby – Sweet Jamaica album: Dip & Fall Back: Classic Jamaican Mento; label: Trojan |
| The Skatalites – Phoenix City album: Phoenix City: History of the World’s Greatest Ska; label: Trojan |
| Lynn Taitt & the Baba Brooks Band – Magnificent Ska album: Ska After Ska After Ska; label: Heartbeat |
| Alton Ellis – Dance Crasher album: Be True to Yourself; label: Trojan |
| Derrick Morgan – Tougher Than Tough album: Rare & Unreleased Original 1960s Ska; label: Erni |
| Prince Buster – Buster’s Shack album: 7″; label: Prince Buster |
| Prince Buster – Too Hot album: 7″; label: Prince Buster |
| The Ethiopians – Train to Skaville album: Let’s Do Rocksteady; label: Trojan |
| Toots & the Maytals – 54-46 That’s My Number album: Let’s Do Rocksteady; label: Trojan |
| Ken Boothe – Say You album: Roots of Reggae: Rock Steady; label: Rhino |
| Derrick Harriott – The Loser album: Trojan Rock Steady Box; label: Trojan |
| Alton Ellis – Rock Steady album: Roots of Reggae: Rock Steady; label: Rhino |
| The Jamaicans – Ba Ba Boom album: Trojan Rock Steady Box; label: Trojan |
| Desmond Dekker & the Aces – Intensified ’68 album: Let’s Do Rocksteady; label: Trojan |
| Black Uhuru – I Love King Selassie album: Love Crisis; label: Greensleeves |
| Freddie McGregor – Africa Here I Come album: Studio One Roots; label: Soul Jazz |
| Burning Spear – The Invasion/Black Wa Da Da album: The Best of Burning Spear; label: Island |
| Freddie McGregor – Joggin’ album: Tougher Than Tough; label: Mango |
| Gregory Isaacs – Sinner Man album: The Winner; label: Trojan |
| The Gladiators – Jah Works album: Proverbial Reggae; label: Front Line |
| The Wailers – Get Up, Stand Up album: Burnin’; label: Island |
| Jacob Miller & Inner Circle – Tired Fe Lick Weed In a Bush album: Forward Jah Jah Children; label: Trojan |
| The Viceroys – Yah Oh Yah Oh album: King Jammy: A Man & his Music; label: Ras |
| The Upsetters – Curly Dub album: Super Ape; label: Island |
| Jimmy Cliff – Guns of Brixton album: 7″; label: Collective Sounds |
| Barrington Levy – Good Loving album: Teach The Youth; label: 17 North Parade |
Tags: African Rhythms, Alton Ellis, Black Uhuru, Derrick Morgan, Desmond Dekker, Freddie McGregor, Jacob Miller, KFAI, Prince Buster, the Ethiopians
