Eighties Reggae Music: A Brief History

Eighties reggae music was a time when the genre was experimenting with new sounds and styles. This brief history takes a look at some of the biggest hits and most influential artists of the decade.

Introduction

In the late seventies and throughout the eighties, reggae music enjoyed a period of great popularity in the United Kingdom. The decade saw a number of huge hits, both from Jamaican artists and British reggae bands. This article takes a look at some of the biggest names and moments in eighties reggae music.

Jamaican artists such as Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff had been popular in the UK since the seventies, but it was in the eighties that they achieved mainstream success. Cliff’s song “Sunshine Reggae” was a huge hit in 1983, while Marley’s album Legend, released posthumously in 1984, reached number one on the UK album chart.

Another Jamaican artist who found success in the UK in the eighties was Aswad, whose single “Don’t Turn Around” was anumber one hit in 1988. Other Jamaican artists who had hits in the UK during this period included Maxi Priest, Bananarama, UB40, and Grace Jones.

British reggae bands such as Musical Youth and Matumbi also found success in the UK charts during the eighties. Musical Youth’s 1982 single “Pass The Dutchie” reached number one, while Matumbi’s 1981 album Seven Seals reached number two on the UK album chart.

The eighties also saw a number of other moments that helped to cement reggae’s place in British popular culture. These include Bob Marley being posthumously awarded an honorary knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II in 1981, and UB40’s hit single “Red Red Wine” being used as theme tune for British sitcom Duty Free.

The Roots of Eighties Reggae Music

Reggae music originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The genre was heavily influenced by ska, rocksteady, and R&B. Reggae evolved from these genres, and by the early 1970s, it had become its own distinct genre. Reggae music became popular in the 1970s and 1980s, with artists such as Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Buju Banton becoming household names.

The late 1970s and early 1980s: the birth of Eighties Reggae music

The late 1970s and early 1980s saw the birth of what would come to be known as Eighties Reggae music. This new style of Reggae was influenced by the emerging electronic music scene, as well as by the Punk and New Wave movements that were sweeping the UK and Europe at the time.Eighties Reggae music is characterized by its use of synthesizers and drum machines, as well as by its often political lyrics.

The early Eighties Reggae scene was centered around a number of key figures, chief among them being Aswad, Black Uhuru, and Junior Murvin. These artists helped to shape the sound of Eighties Reggae music and bring it to a wider audience.

Aswad’s album ‘New Chapter’ (1981) is widely regarded as one of the seminal albums of Eighties Reggae, helping to establish the genre’s sound with its use of dub rhythms and sparse instrumentation. Black Uhuru’s ‘Red’ (1984) album was also hugely influential, winning a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album and helping to bring Eighties Reggae music to a wider audience.

Junior Murvin’s ‘Police and Thieves’ (1976) is another key album in the development of Eighties Reggae music, with its conscious lyrics and catchy melody helping to make it one of the most popular songs of the decade.

The influence of Jamaican music on Eighties Reggae music

The roots of Eighties Reggae music can be traced back to the late Seventies, when a new form of Jamaican music, called Dancehall, began to take shape. This new style was more electronic and faster-paced than the traditional Reggae that had been popular up until that point. Dancehall quickly became the dominant force in Jamaican music, and its influence can be heard in the way that Eighties Reggae artists would often use drum machines and synthesizers to create their own unique sound.

In the early Eighties, a number of British-based Reggae artists started to experiment with this new sound, and they soon began to create their own genre of music, which came to be known as ‘Two Tone’. This new style blended the energy of Dancehall with the soulfulness of traditional Reggae, and it proved to be enormously popular with both black and white audiences in Britain. The Specials and Madness were two of the most successful Two Tone bands, and they helped spearhead a whole new wave of British-based Reggae music that would come to dominate the charts throughout the decade.

The Development of Eighties Reggae Music

Reggae music emerged in the late 1960s, with the release of several singles including Toots and the Maytals’ “Do the Reggay” and The Pioneers’ “Long Shot Kick de Bucket”. The genre was further developed in the 1970s, with the rise of artists such as Bob Marley and the Wailers, Jimmy Cliff, and Max Romeo. The sound of Eighties Reggae music was developed in the UK, with the help of producers such as Jah Shaka and Mad Professor.

The popularity of Eighties Reggae music in the UK

The popularity of Eighties Reggae music in the UK
During the 1980s, reggae’s popularity in the UK continued to grow, with artists such as Aswad, Maxi Priest and UB40 having mainstream success. The genre also began to gain a following among skinheads, MODs and football hooligans, who adopted it as their own. This led to a number of clashes between fans of different genres at gigs and in clubs, with violence often breaking out.

In 1985, The Clash released their album ‘Combat Rock’, which featured the track ‘Straight to Hell’. The song was seen as a tribute to the trojan sound systems that played reggae music throughout the UK, and it helped to further popularise the genre amongst white youth.

In 1986, ‘Shut Up and Dance’ by Aswad topped the charts in the UK, becoming one of the first reggae tracks to do so. This was followed by hits from Maxi Priest (‘Wild World’) and UB40 (‘Red Red Wine’), cementing reggae’s place in the British mainstream.

Throughout the rest of the decade, a number of other reggae artists found success in the UK charts, including Pato Banton, Shaggy and Inner Circle. Reggae also began to influence other genres of music, with many dance and pop acts incorporating elements of Jamaican sounds into their own tracks.

The popularity of Eighties Reggae music in the US

Although reggae music originated in Jamaica, it quickly became popular in the United States in the early 1980s. This was due in part to the success of Bob Marley, who was the first reggae artist to gain international acclaim. Marley’s success helped to Introduce reggae music to a wider audience and increase its popularity in the US.

Eighties reggae music was also influenced by the rise of hip hop and disco. This can be heard in the incorporation of electronic elements and slower tempos that are characteristic of many Eighties reggae songs. Some of the most popular Eighties reggae songs include “Buffalo Soldier” by Bob Marley, “No Woman, No Cry” by Fugees, and “Jah Love” by Bounty Killer.

The popularity of Eighties Reggae music in the US waned in the early 1990s, but the genre has experienced a resurgence in recent years. This is due in part to the popularity of dancehall music, which is a subgenre of Reggae that originated in Jamaica in the late 1970s. Many modern Reggae artists have incorporated dancehall elements into their music, helping to broaden the appeal of Reggae music and increase its popularity among a new generation of listeners.

The Legacy of Eighties Reggae Music

Reggae music has its origins in the 1960s, but the genre exploded in the 1980s. Eighties reggae music was a time when the music was used as a tool for social and political change. The lyrics of the songs were often about struggles for equality, freedom, and justice. The music was a way for people to express their dissatisfaction with the government and the world around them.

The influence of Eighties Reggae music on contemporary Reggae music

Eighties Reggae music was a time of change and innovation in the genre. Artists such as Yellowman, Eek-A-Mouse, and Buju Banton brought a new energy and style to the music that would influence the sound of Reggae for years to come. The popularity of Reggae music exploded in the Eighties, thanks in part to the rise of Dancehall music. The hard-hitting beats and catchy melodies of Dancehall quickly caught on with Reggae fans around the world, and the sound of Eighties Reggae is still audible in contemporary Dancehall tracks.

The influence of Eighties Reggae music on popular culture

Eighties reggae music was a huge influence on popular culture, with its easy-going, catchy tunes and positive lyrics. The genre quickly gained popularity around the world, and reggae artists became household names. The music of the Eighties also had a lasting effect on other genres, with many artists incorporating reggae influences into their own music.

Today, Eighties reggae music is still widely listened to and loved by fans old and new. Its positive message and infectious tunes continue to inspire people all over the world.