The Upsetters -- Hard To Handle

Enjoy!

LimeLinx

Most of the Reggae re-makes of the great soul tunes usually sound quite unimaginative -- but I find this cover of Hard To Handle refreshing. The lead singer on this track is Carl Dawkins, which at first I thought was not true. I couldn't remember having ever heard him as raspy as in this song. But when I re-listened to some of his other songs, I noticed that he used a bit of this raspiness in other songs, too. Not quite as intensely, though as in Hard To Handle. He probably had Big O. in mind when he covered this song. 

Reggae In Your Baggy

Let's Hear some Tuesday Reggae!

Go To FileFactory.com

http://www.filefactory.com/f/d44785db2135697c/

Nicky Thomas -- New Morning

Let's start the new week with a Reggae song by Nicky Thomas.

Here's a short bio of the artist:

Nicky Thomas was born Cecil Nicholas Thomas in Portland, Jamaica, in 1949. His first hit in the islands was "Run Nigel Run," produced by Derrick Harriot in 1969, but Thomas' most successful songs were recorded with producer Joe Gibbs, including the wonderful "Love of the Common People," which rode its reggae-pop sound into the U.K. Top Ten in 1970. Following a tour of Britain in support of the single that same year, Thomas decided to stay, and he continued to release his brand of pop-infused reggae from the U.K. until his death in 1990. Sort of a poor man's Jimmy Cliff, Thomas produced a small but infectious body of work, and he deserves to be remembered on the strength of "Love of the Common People" alone, as well as for songs like "BBC," a harsh criticism of Radio 1's treatment of Jamaican reggae artists. ~ Steve Leggett, Rovi

Enjoy!

The Kingstonians -- Singer Man

It is springtime! I love the world, and I think I found a song that expresses how I feel today. 

Prince Buster -- A Change Is Gonna Come

Give me some Reggae! Please!

... and Prince Buster it will be

Shark Wilson & The Basement Heaters

Make It Reggae!

Matumbi -- Law of the Land

Some very soulful Reggae from Matumbi, a group from the UK.

Law of the Land is my favorite Tempts song of the post David Ruffin era. I was quite surprised to hear such a good Reggae cover of it. Law of The Land actually was the song that made me curious about the music of the Temptations and had me look into their repertoire. I've heard Matumbi for the first time today, and I know I will be looking for more material by this group with such a unique style.

Matumbi is one of the early British Reggae bands that never managed to break into the US market. They formed in 1972 in London. At that time Jamaican roots Reggae was on its way to the top. The Reggae Matumbi played was tailored to the taste of the British scene emphasizing the softer more soulful style laced with a touch of Pop. They are considered pioneers who prepared the British audience for the arrival of lots of new Reggae groups.

Have a reggaeful Monday you all!

Joya Landis -- Moonlight Lover, Angel Of The Morning, When The Lights Are Low.

You just have to love Joya. The first song I ever heard by her was "When The Lights Are Low." I could listen to that song all day long without ever tiring of it. Her voice is so pleasantly different from what one gets to hear nowadays: it is sexy without sounding cheap, very feminine yet not sweet. I don't know why I haven't posted her earlier.

But here she is!

"American based singer Joya Landis recorded an early reggae version of Angel of the morning in 1968. The Jamaican single was on the Treasure Isle label. The UK single (on Trojan TR 622) had Love Letters by Phyllis Dillon & Alton Ellis on the b-side. It also appeared on the compilation album Soul Of Jamaica a.k.a. Come Rock With Me In Jamaica, 1968 and on the Trojan compilation album Tighten Up, Volume 1, 1968. It was produced by Arthur Reid."

Enjoy!