The Reggae Thread

[stewblack]

Interesting discussion @Reggaebass and @SumOne

As I get older I find myself craving what, for want of a better word, I call authenticity. I speak not of composition but more of the sound. Real instruments played live in a ratty old studio. For reggae and some other musical genres, it's a vital part of the experience 

[Leonard Smalls]

5 minutes ago, stewblack said:

authenticity

Here's my entry for this month's BC compo compo... In order to be as authentic as poss I should have bought an old Fender through a big valve amp, then mixed everything using tape delays and valve mixing desks and whatever else. However, as I have none of that stuff, just a Sandberg bass, a Helix, an Impulse keyboard and battered Squier Strat plus Ableton on a PC and a host of VSTs and plug-ins. But I did play the bassline in 1 with no further overdubs so that might be a touch authentic!

 

 

[Reggaebass]

1 hour ago, Leonard Smalls said:

Here's my entry for this month's BC compo compo... In order to be as authentic as poss I should have bought an old Fender through a big valve amp, then mixed everything using tape delays and valve mixing desks and whatever else. However, as I have none of that stuff, just a Sandberg bass, a Helix, an Impulse keyboard and battered Squier Strat plus Ableton on a PC and a host of VSTs and plug-ins. But I did play the bassline in 1 with no further overdubs so that might be a touch authentic!

 

 

Nice work Leonard, I’d happily listen to that, good luck with your entry 

[SumOne]

'To celebrate the legendary roots reggae band - Misty In Roots’ 50th anniversary, are set to reissue their classic back catalogue, starting with their classic debut album - Live At The Counter Eurovision ‘79.' (Bandcamp link)

 

....which is good news as geting their records (either physically or digitally) isn't easy.

 

50th anniversary live shows later this year too. ♨️

 

 

[Piers_Williamson]

On 19/08/2025 at 15:07, Leonard Smalls said:

Here's my entry for this month's BC compo compo... In order to be as authentic as poss I should have bought an old Fender through a big valve amp, then mixed everything using tape delays and valve mixing desks and whatever else. However, as I have none of that stuff, just a Sandberg bass, a Helix, an Impulse keyboard and battered Squier Strat plus Ableton on a PC and a host of VSTs and plug-ins. But I did play the bassline in 1 with no further overdubs so that might be a touch authentic!

 

 

Is that you in the pic (on El Cap)?

[Leonard Smalls]

58 minutes ago, Piers_Williamson said:

Is that you in the pic (on El Cap)

No! Never been. Fell over 100' near Holyhead once though...

[GisserD]

 

[SumOne]

New Adrian Sherwood album 'The Collapse of Everything' has just been released.

 

The title track gives a good idea of what the album is like: 

 

[Reggaebass]

3 hours ago, SumOne said:

New Adrian Sherwood album 'The Collapse of Everything' has just been released.

 

The title track gives a good idea of what the album is like: 

 

Thanks for that one, I’ve got a bit of a drive now so will check that out 

[SumOne]

The Heptones, Good Life

 

 

... nice bassline to play along to. 

[SumOne]

Pablo Gad, Trafalgar Square (Album)

 

 

[Reggaebass]

25 minutes ago, SumOne said:

Pablo Gad, Trafalgar Square (Album)

 

 

Thanks for that one, hard times is one of my all time favourites 

[GisserD]

 

[SumOne]

Linval Thompson Meets Lone Ark - Marijuana Sessions in Dub (also called 'Linval Thompson meets Roberto Sanchez At the Ark' ....seems to be a running theme of Linval Dub albums having multiple names....but don't get Scientist started on that!).

 

https://alonereggaeshop.bandcamp.com/album/linval-thompson-meets-roberto-s-nchez-at-the-ark-marijuana-sessions-in-dub-lp

 

 

 

"After having backed Linval Thompson during shows in Spain, France and Portugal in 2009, the link between Jamaican producer Linval Thompson and Roberto Sánchez of the Lone Ark Riddim Force has become a strong one. They have collaborated on various recordings and releases for multiple labels. Linval also shared original material he produced at Channel One in the late ’70s and early ’80s, including a lot of material that hadn’t been dubbed. Among the files he sent was a significant portion of the riddims recorded in the sessions for his self-produced second album, I Love Marijuana, released in 1978. This album is a must-listen for any serious roots reggae enthusiast!

 

Therefore, it was inevitable that some day a project featuring dubs would be unveiled. And here it is. Entitled Marijuana Sessions In Dub, this 10-track dub album was mixed by Roberto Sánchez out of Linval Thompson’s original 1978 Channel One/King Tubby’s tapes. Most of the riddims come from his first self-produced sessions for the I Love Marijuana album. Only a limited number of tracks from that album have been previously released as 7-inch singles, alongside their dub counterparts, or as part of other albums. This compilation marks the first time that many of these tracks have been officially dubbed for an album. The album features a lineup of renowned musicians from that era, including Aston “Family Man” Barrett, Leroy “Horse Mouth” Wallace, Carlton “Santa” Davis, Earl “Chinna” Smith, “Ossie” Hibbert, Ansel Collins, and Sly Dunbar.

 

Marijuana Sessions In Dub features seven dubs of tunes included in the original album. Although some of the songs were dubbed before on 7″ or dub LPs, some of them are dubbed here for the first time. Included are dubs of I love Marijuana, Big Big Girl, Not Follow Fashion, Just Another Girl, Dread Are The Controller, Roots Lady and Starlight.

 

The three last tracks of the set are dub versions of songs from the same Channel One period, including Cheater Dub, which is a different version of Lion Dub from the Negrea Love Dub album. Linval’s classic album remains a cornerstone of the reggae genre, and Roberto Sanchez’s dub edits are of equally high caliber, reflecting the exceptional quality of the original material. Each track has been mixed while honoring the original sound and adhering to the dub tradition. This was achieved by utilizing an analog delay and spring reverb on an MCI mixing board, along with the use of an original Altec low pass filter.

 

One for fans of vintage dub music."

[Reggaebass]

Yeah great one there thanks sumone, heavy bassline there I’m liking that,

linval has always been one of my favourite artists and I follow Roberto , when they got together it was a perfect match I think, I’ve messaged roberto many times and he’s always replied, really nice guy