Roots Archives Forum

List your favorite "one rhythm" albums!

one rhythm albums killed reggae. they are completely uncreative and basicly dollar tree quality.

well said star! I agree

my favorite One rhythm album is Worries in the dance

star wrote:one rhythm albums killed reggae. they are completely uncreative and basicly dollar tree quality.

So when all the versions weren't compiled on one disc, the many many versions over one riddim ( a practice dating back to the seventies) weren't also uncreative and dollar tree mentality? Or is it just the fact they're on one disc that changes things? Versions are the essence of reggae. One riddim albums didn't kill anything. There were always lots of versions on each riddim.

Worries in the Dance is a killer indeed. Too bad the title track is missing from it.

Other personal favourites are;
Prisoner of War - Vol. 1 - The Plan (Vena LP)
Prisoner of War - Vol. 2 - The Escape (Vena LP)
Tempo Explosion (Black Victory LP)
Morgan Heritage Family & Friends Vol. 1 (Artists Only! LP)
DJ Explosion Ina Dancehall Style (Techniques LP)

"Yamaha Skank", the original and best by far. Also great is "Shank I Sheck".

BTW Flashman I totally agree with your sentiments. Version has always been the essence of reggae. Back in the day you`d rarely go to a dance or hear a radio show that didn`t include a version excursion.

I think it acually showed the creativity of the Jamaican music scene that so many great records could be made by recycling old riddims.

A practice that today, some 30 odd years later, is still alive and kicking.

yes flashman thats the idea. when they werent on one album diffrent producers added there own style to them and there wasn't 15 diffrent vocals on the same version. the fact that producers make one riddim and compile a whole album on it is wasteful of potentially good lyrics. I dont want to hear 5 killer tracks on the same version it just gets boring. artists should be trying to voice over original riddims and restart the reggae revolution.

General,
Shank I Sheck,
also Hypocrites is great.

5 killer tracks on one rhythm? Sounds great to me. If the rhythm's good. To answer the original question: Joyride and Fly De Gate work pretty well, I think