Roots Archives Forum

What are the best books to read about reggae or the rastafarian movement? I love to read about the history, but I have trouble finding good books. Thanks

Check out Bass Culture (When Reggae Was King) by LLoyd Bradley - ISBN 0-140-23763-1 - published by Penguin.

Bass Culture is an absolute must read. Also good:

Jah Music by Sebastian Clarke.

http://www.roots-archives.com/forum/rea ... 56#msg-456
Bass Culture was the biggest disappointment of all the books listed. Too much weaving in and out of politics and some basic inaccuracies took away from an otherwise OK read.

I highly recommend:

"Solid Foundation:An Oral History of Reggae" by David Katz. This books covers the history of Reggae and is built around interviews with most of the major players in the history of the music. This book receives my highest recomendation.

Also by Katz is "People Funny Boy:The Genius of Lee "Scratch" Perry. As a bio its not the best in the sense that there is too much extraneous info about everybody mentioned. But its this info that makes it a great source of info if not the easiest read.

Some others I've read are:

"Make the Town and Tell the People: Dancehall Culture in Jamaica" by Norman C. Stolzoff a scholarly monograph on Sound System Culture.informative more than entertaining

"Reggae Explosion : The Story of Jamaican Music"
by Chris Salewicz, Adrian Boot

"Reggae : The Story of Jamaican Music"
by Lloyd Bradley

"The Rough Guide to Reggae 3" by Steve Barrow, Peter Dalton-a guide to recorded Reggae interspersed with brief historical sketches of important styles and artists.

Hope these help. I know I've read others. I've read basically everything I could get my hands on about Reggae. I'll try and get back to you with some more stuff.

Ites,
Papa D

Bass Culture, When Reggae Was King should read
Bass Culture, Reggae **IS** King (tu)

Thank you for the recomendations. I was also wondering if there were any good books about marcus garvey? i know he himself was a big reader and very inteligent man. just trying to broaden my understanding...

Thanks!

I've read RASTA HEART, A Journey into One Love, which i enjoyed very much. Its written by Robert Roskind, a old-hippie who discovers Jamaica, reggae and Rasta. Very intruiging is the concept of One Love which is explained to him by several true Rasta's.

http://www.rastaheart.com/

I just read the "Rastafari Livity" Basic Information text...CCRUCIAL! It has everything you need to know about the movement and culture.

Solid Foundation by Katz is disappointing in a sense. Too much needless biography of every character mentioned, but very little on Isaacs and Prince Fari