E08: Beat Down Babylon – Reggae Arrives

Hear the full episode here:

In this week's episode Jeremy and Tim focus on the birth of Reggae in Jamaica. Beginning with the island's first popular music, Ska, we hear how the music of Alton Ellis and Desmond Decker transformed into Rocksteady, with it's slower pulse, rootsy feel and serious lyrical turn. Set against the backdrop of Kingston's high crime rate and Rudeboy culture, Tim and Jeremy recount how this music took on the feeling of suffering and anguish many Jamaicans experienced in their lives. We hear how these musicians began to look less to America for their musical inspirations than to the island's Mento folk traditions as the Reggae sound began to crystalize in the late '60s.

Also in this episode, we are introduced to the pioneering producer and performer Lee 'Scratch' Perry (more from him next episode), explore the emerging link between Reggae music and Michael Manley's socialist People's National Party, and consider the problematic gender and sexual politics of a genre so focused on emancipation and liberation. Join us next time as we dive deep into Dub...

Produced and edited by Matt Huxley.  

Tracklist:

Alton Ellis and the Flames - Girl I Have Got A Date
Alton Ellis - Rock Steady
Desmond Dekker & The Aces – Israelites
Lee 'Scratch' Perry - People Funny Boy
Junior Byles - Beat Down Babylon
The Abyssinians - Satta Massagana
Marcia Griffiths - The First Cut is the Deepest

Books:
Lloyd Bradley - Bass Culture: When Reggae Was King