Roots Archives Forum

i'd be interested to know what the first reggae record you ever bought is. i'm sure different archivers got into reggae at different times, so the styles would have been different, or maybe you started with a classic. the first reggae record i ever bought was bob marleys 'kaya' LP. i still hold this album as one of marleys best, dreamy riddims kept me locked on and locked in. i was about 14 i think, 1983 ish. anyway here i am all these years later, still lovin it. it started me on a life long love of reggae. big up bob marley.

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ital kemar

great topic ital kemar...

For those of us who loves collecting records, there's always special memories with the first record of your collection...

My first CD I bought about almost 9 years ago...

I already had a lot of tapes with albums like the twinkle brothers "rasta pon top" and the gladiators "dreadlocks the time is now", besides one yellowman compilation, and all the bob marley island albums... but I never had any money to buy a CD or LP... besides the fact that good reggae records was pretty hard to find those days without internet (and even with it...)

So I started to work with my dad and started earning my own money... and my job was in the downtown streets, going to banks, paying bills and carrying papers... and I always managed to do things as quick as possible so that I could have a bit of time to check record stores to see if they have something interesting...

Untill one day I entered this small shopping to go to the toilet and found on the downstairs floor, hidden before the toilets, one small record shop specialized in classical music and imported records... Of course I went to check out the store (after the toilet, obvious...) and to my surprise I found a little section with about 20 reggae titles, including quite a few good ones like burning spear and gladiators....

On this day, not only I bought "The Gladiators - Bongo Red: At Studio One" CD, wich was the first I ever bought, but I also found out that they had a huge catalog of artists from all major record labels and some others, and many reggae names between them... From that day on, I'd go there every single day I had time, and keep looking over the catalog to order titles I liked...

For three years I bought regularly with them, at least one CD a month (sometimes even more when $$$ allowed me...), untill they closed the store when the dollar exchange reached over 3 brazilian Reais...

Then it was time for the internet to help me out;;;

Blessings,

My first was on the old Blue Beat label and was by Prince Buster the track title cant remember.

Israel Vibration the Same song on Top Ranking Label in the end of 78 or begin of 79!
Before that i buy punk records etc.


Lion

i had already bought some ska titles, but the first reggae-ish one was "roots" by the israelites and i was probably 14 as well.

ital kemar - SNAP!

My first ever reggae purchase was Kaya on the original Island vinyl by Marley. And I agree, it is one of his best.

First dub record was, of course, Leggo Dub. Bought second hand from a friend who needed cash for weed and then regretted it from that day on.

I remember all this despite it being in 1978 and yet I can't remember what the first reggae vinyl I bought was when I started collecting it again just two years ago! But I do remember that when I returned to buying reggae it was first with CDs, and that the first purchase was a Black Uhuru boxed set. One disk of that set is stuck firm in my car stereo, It seems the car likes it too much to give it back!

And just like Lion, I also buy only Punk before I got into reggae music.

bob marley - catch a fire in 1979

hey leggo, have 3 or 4 blue beat 7's that are looking for a good home. not my style. no charge. pm me your address and they're in the postbox monday.

The soundtrack to The Harder They Come (1972).

http://www.roots-archives.com/release/1788

Although it was probably more like 1975 when I bought it. It took that long for the movie to make it to Northern California where I lived. It seemed like a good way to get something from several great artists at once, and I was pretty broke.

gunosantos, I have "Rasta Pon Top" on a 12-inch with "It Gwine Dread'a" along with dubs of each. The date on it is 1981, and I probably bought it then. It isn't in the Archives though. Great stuff!

ital kemar, leggo rocker no doubt will give those 7-inch a good home, but in the unlikely case he doesn't want them...

James

Sorry, but yes, I am warming up a spot for the 7s already!

However, if The Mighty Zorch sees this post he'll be very very jealous as he likes his Blue Beat. he's my brother and the authority on early music on leggo Rockers Hi Fi - as well as being the creator of a very fine reggae LP all of his own - see:

http://www.roots-archives.com/forum/read.php?2,19777


And 'Rasta Pon Top' - you are talking of a Disco 12 inch right? If yes, what label is that on?