Roots Archives Forum

Hi Folks,
just listening to this fantastic album by Killer Miller + RAY I to get in the right Xmas mood - but who is this RAY I ???
Any information of this guy???

»**Ray I**
*Worked for Tantone and Virgo in the mid seventies. Did most of his best known work for Derrick Harriott, with whom he recorded his debut album ›Rasta Revival‹ released in Jamaica in 1978 on Move & Groove. ›Good Couple‹ a 7" on that label being a popular tune*«

From;
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/smallaxe/DJs.htm

Thanx kalcidis for the info + link!

By the way what´s your favorite Xmas albums/songs?
Any recommendations???

I rarely listen to reggae Christmas-compilations. Much because I'm an atheist with no real interest in the event.

Having said that I do have that specific album with Ray I and Miller on Top Ranking and another showcase album (I think) from Tommy Cowans MC-label. They're OK. Nothing more.

The single Natty Dread Xmas with Iron Phoenix is a good song though. Nothing fantastic (especially not a $100+ 7" as it seems to be) but a good song on a heavy rhythm.

Yeah, its quite strange to mix regage and christmas, seeing Jacob Miller with a Santa Claus hat is... surprising... but why not... seem to be a real festivity in JA...

Have this LP and honestly, don't like it at all. Too "happy reggae" for me. As I've said in another thread where we were making a comparison between Hugh Mundell and Killer Miller, Miller's work has ups and downs. To me, Natty Christmas is a down, I really don't understand why this album is reissued when others killer's are not, i guess it's a matter of rights owners.

So this is christmas, another year over and time to be "happy" and a little sentimental too.
But with Killer Miller telling us ,all he wants for IsMas is some collie + Ray I`s toasting, it is great stuff to survive all these religious + commercial things about Xmas! At least for me.

Ray-I's Winey Tiney 7" regularly goes for 'Under a Dollar' at Ernie B's and is one of the best tunes you can get at that price. He also performed Weatherman Skank for Carlton Patterson which ought to still be widely available on CD and LP.

Regarding Jacob, his affected stammering vocal style may not be to everyone's taste. But I was fortunate enough to see the man performing 'back in the days' and was glad of the experience. You could see he was loving every minute on stage - a big man in more ways than one, and with boundless energy. I don't know whether it's due to that particular experience, but ever since I've found it difficult to listen to him without smiling. Somehow Jacob's natural happiness in front of the microphone shines through the recordings, and it must be infectious.

Reggae Xmas songs generally don't work for me, but some are OK if you see them for what they are - mostly cheesy novelties. So, for example, The Cimarons covering Christmas Carols can be a bit tedious whereas a song like "Santa Ketch Up Inna Mango Tree" isn't such a drag.

VC