Roots Archives Forum

I was really into jungle when I was younger, and my uncle who is a dub fan played me a load of Tubby records, and I started exploring backwards, so to speak. Also I loved the Basic Channel guys, and their R&S project, and their drawing atention to the Wackies was quite important for me, so much of what I listen to comes from Wackies nowadays. Curiously I've never listened to alot of Bob Marley.

the force

@patrickp
Never got the Marley / Wailers thing either. It's just a fact. No need to explain and well worth stating.
When you tell someone that you like reggae and they say Bob Marley! do you also cringe?

I first discovered Pato Banton then it went on from there

I have been absolutely blessed when it comes to reggae. I am of Jamaican heritage, my parents came to england in the late 50's. I lived with Aunts, Uncles and cousins in a large house. Upstairs there was a'gram' and there was one downstairs. My Uncle being a bit older was into ska/rock steady. My older cousins were into the new emerging reggae sound. So there was a variety of stuff all over the house Max Romeo, Eric Donaldson, John Holt, Alton Ellis, etc. Classic labels all over the place too - Pama, Bullit, Escort, Fab, Trojan.

I was fascinated by the records, especially the Tighten Up LP series - the one with the woman covered in strategically placed dolly mixture!!!

As the years rolled my father would make at least one trip a year back to Jamaica. His brother knew I loved records and started sending records back with dad. I still have them - original JA pressings Exodus LP and numerous 7" on Channel One, Studio One, etc.

First record I personally bought was Irie Feeling by Rupie Edwards on Cactus 7". Bought it from WH Smiths in Kilburn High Road in 1973. I've never stopped since. My Saturday mornings were spent in local record shops in NW London, Gangsterville, Hawkeye, Orbitone, Burning Sounds, Dub Vendor, etc.

My parents went back home to Jamaica in 2002 and I visit twice a year. On my return the suitcases are jam packed with old vinyl and some new stuff. I'm not into collecting for collecting sake and am in the looooong process of digitising my stuff so they can be stored and accessed very easily.

bought the 'one way system' album by dub syndicate when i was 14 without ever hearing dub before and it blew my little mind.at a school music lesson we were asked to present a piece of music to listen to and discuss.at the time there were a lot of 'new kids on the block' fans at the time (god i feel old).and after hearing that sweet echo and reverb they were all speechless.it was a beautiful sight.needless to say i've been hooked ever since.

my mom would always bring me back cassettes from ja, the kind home ade from street vendors,never knew any of the artist names as they were always mixed tapes with no mention

Lexington Kentucky has a movie house called the Kentucky Theatre. They play a lot of art house/midnight moives. I saw a film there called The Harder They Come

when i was 17/18 i got into it by borrowing a compact audio disc from my mother from Gregory Isaacs. i listened once and ignored the cd somehow for a month.

but when i heard Rhythm & Sound play on the Biomix movie at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmmhhD0N_oY i found out that the sound (especially the drum programming) was very familiar from what i heard the first listen. so i popped the Isaacs back in and played Rumours to death.

from here the search begun.

Hello,all...1st post
I got into reggae through John Peel in the late 70`s. I`ve still got a few of the vinyl i bought back then,but sadly lost most( or had them nicked at parties ). One i really miss is Naturality by The Gladiators. Haven`t been able to find it on cd. Still got The Regulars Victim lp...which is where i took my 'name' from.