The Reggae Box: Disc One

The Reggae Box is a compilation album of reggae music released in 1994. The album consists of three discs, each containing ten tracks. Disc one features songs by artists such as Bob Marley, Dennis Brown, and Gregory Isaacs.

The Birth of Reggae

Ska

The forerunner to reggae, ska was the dominant musical form in Jamaica in the 1960s. ska is a quick, upbeat music that was often played by bandw in parties and clubs. The musicians used a lot of improvisation, and the horns were particularly important in the sound. Ska is still popular in Jamaica today, and has been influential on many other genres of music, including reggae, rocksteady, 2 Tone, and even rap.

Rocksteady

Rocksteady is a music genre that originated in Jamaica around 1966. The term rocksteady comes from a comment made by Alton Ellis during the recording of his 1968 hit single “Rock Steady”. Ellis was asked what kind of music he was singing, and he replied: “It’s rocksteady.” The term used to describe this new type of Jamaican popular music was derived from the African-Jamaican patois word ‘doorock’, which means to ‘go slowly’ or ‘rock gently’.

Rocksteady developed from the earlier ska and mento genres, and is considered to be the direct predecessor to reggae. Like ska, rocksteady was sung in Jamaican Patois, but unlike ska, rocksteady was slower, with a 2/4 time signature.

The leading figures in the development of rocksteady were Duke Reid and Lloyd Bradley. Reid manufactured pre-recorded hits at his Treasure Isle studio that were sold on 78 rpm records; he also built up a stable of artists who would record them. Bradley helped to develop the sound by playing bass on many of the earliest Treasure Isle recordings.

By 1967, rocksteady had replaced ska as Jamaica’s most popular music. It remained the dominant form of Jamaican popular music until 1968, when it was replaced by reggae.

The Golden Age of Reggae

The Reggae Box is a 3-disc box set that was released in 2001. It features some of the greatest reggae songs from the 1970s. This was a time when reggae was at its peak, with many great artists such as Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer, and Peter Tosh. If you’re a fan of reggae, then this box set is a must-have.

The Wailers

The Wailers were a Jamaican reggae band created by Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer. The Wailers are considered to be one of the best and most influential reggae bands of all time.

The Wailers originally started out as a ska band in 1963. They switched to rocksteady in 1965 and then to reggae in 1967. The Wailers released their debut album, “Catch A Fire”, in 1973. The album was very successful, especially in the United Kingdom, where it reached number eight on the UK Albums Chart.

The Wailers’ next album, “Burnin’”, was released in October 1973. The album included the singles “Get Up, Stand Up” and “I Shot the Sheriff”. “I Shot the Sheriff” became a worldwide hit, reaching number one in the Netherlands and number two in the United States.

In 1974, The Wailers released their third album, “Natty Dread”. The album included the singles “No Woman, No Cry” and “Rebel Music (3 O’Clock Roadblock)”. “No Woman, No Cry” became a worldwide hit, reaching number eight in the United Kingdom and number two in the United States.

The Wailers’ fourth album, “Rastaman Vibration”, was released in 1976. The album included the singles “Roots, Rock, Reggae” and “Johnny Was”. “Roots, Rock, Reggae” became a worldwide hit, reaching number nine in the United Kingdom and number seventeen in the United States.

The Wailers disbanded after Bob Marley died of cancer on May 11th 1981 at the age of 36.

Bob Marley

Marley’s music was greatly affected by the political climate of Jamaica, and his affiliation with the Rastafari movement was evident in his lyrics. His best-known hits include “I Shot the Sheriff”, “No Woman, No Cry”, “Could You Be Loved”, “Stir It Up”, and “Get Up, Stand Up”. He also promoted the spiritual and medicinal uses of cannabis in his lyrics. Marley died in Miami, Florida on May 11, 1981 at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital after battling cancer for nearly a year.

Toots and the Maytals

Toots and the Maytals are credited with having started the ska, rocksteady and reggae genres. Toots Hibbert’s powerful voice has been described as “one of the most recognizable voices in reggae”. The group was originally called The Beauticians, but changed their name in the early 1960s. They achieved international fame with their string of hits that began in 1966 with “Bam Bam”, followed by “ Pressure Drop”, “Sweet and Dandy” and “Do the Reggae”. In 1968 they had a huge hit with “Monkey Man”. Other well-known songs include: “Funky Kingston”, which was used in the soundtrack for the film Animal House; “Reggae Got Soul”, which was featured in the soundtrack for the film I Laugh in the Face of Danger; and “Reggae Night”, which was included in the soundtrack for the film Rhinestone. Toots and the Maytals have been credited with starting the ska, rocksteady and reggae genres of music.

The Roots of Reggae

Reggae is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term reggae is derived from the word “raggedy”, which was used to describe the music of the time. Reggae is a style of music that is influenced by ska, rocksteady, and African music. Reggae is characterized by a heavy bass line and a strong rhythmic groove.

The Rastafari Movement

The Rastafari movement, also known as Rastafarianism and Ras Tafari, is a religious movement that developed in Jamaica in the 1930s. adherents of the Rastafari movement are called Rastas.

The movement originated among poor and working-class Jamaicans, who were mostly of African descent. It was founded by Leonard Howell, who was later considered to be the first Ras Tafari Makonnen. The movement espouses a number of beliefs, including that Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia (whom they worship as Jah or Jehovah), is the Messiah and rightful ruler of the world; that black people are the chosen people of God; and that marijuana is a holy sacrament.

Rastafari has since spread to other countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, Ghana, and Sierra Leone. It is estimated that there are approximately one million Rastas worldwide.

Marcus Garvey

Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Jr. was born in St. Ann’s Bay, Jamaica on August 17, 1887. He was the youngest of 11 children born to Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Sr., a mason, and Sarah Jane Richards, a domestic worker. When he was 14, Marcus began working as a printer’s apprentice at the Jamaican Times. He later became a journeyman Printer with the Government Printing Office. In 1910, Garvey left Jamaica and travelled to Central America where he worked as a newspaper correspondent for the Winnipeg Tribune and later the New York Age.

In 1912, Marcus Garvey returned to Jamaica and founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA). The UNIA was dedicated to promoting black pride and black economic independence. In 1914, Marcus Garvey sailed to England where he studied at Birkbeck College and later toured Europe.

In 1920, Marcus Garvey returned to the United States and embarked on a tour of over 30 cities in an effort to promote the UNIA. During this time, he also founded the Negro World newspaper which became the official organ of the UNIA. In 1921, Marcus Garvey organized the first International Convention of Negro Peoples of the World in New York City.

In 1922, Marcus Garvey was indicted on charges of mail fraud. He was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison. While in prison, Marcus Garvey continued to write and publish articles for the Negro World newspaper. He also continued to work for the UNIA; organizing branches across the United States.

In 1925, Marcus Garvey was deported back to Jamaica where he continued to work for the UNIA until his death on June 10, 1940.

The Reggae Revival

The Reggae Revival is a subgenre of reggae that developed in the late 1970s. The Reggae Revival is sometimes referred to as “Roots Reggae Revival” because of its focus on traditional Jamaican roots reggae. The Reggae Revival subgenre is usually characterized by a slower tempo, increased use of harmonies, and more conscious lyrics.

The Slickers

The Slickers were a reggae vocal trio, most popular in the 1970s. The Slickers’ best known song is “Johnny Too Bad”, which was later covered by The Clash on their 1978 album, Give ‘Em Enough Rope.

The group was formed in Kingston, Jamaica in the early 1970s, and originally consisted of Derrick Anderson (lead vocals), Winston Scott (tenor vocals) and Carlton Barrett (baritone vocals). The group’s name was taken from a popular brand of shoes at the time.

The Heptones

The Heptones are a Jamaican rocksteady and reggae vocal trio, whose recording career began in the 1960s and is ongoing. The Heptones are one of the better-known trios of that era, and recorded numerous hits including “I Hold the Handle”, “Pretty Looks Isn’t All”, and “Book of Rules”.

Current members Earl Morgan and Leroy Sibbles (who both sang lead and harmonies) were joined by Barry Llewelyn in 1969 to form The Heptones. They first recorded for producer Coxsone Dodd at Studio One, with Morgan’s “Get in the Groove” appearing on the 1968 compilation Soul of Jamaica.

The Maytals

The Maytals are a Jamaican group and one of the best known ska and rocksteady vocal groups. The Maytals were formed in the early 1960s and skyrocketed to success with their 1966 hit single, “Do the Reggay.” The song’s success brought them international attention and led to a string of hits throughout the late 1960s and 1970s, including “Sweet and Dandy,” “Monkey Man,” and “Pressure Drop.” The Maytals were one of the most important groups in the history of Jamaican music, helping to spread the popularity of ska and rocksteady around the world. In 2018, they were awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.