I woke up with this reggae tune on repeat in my head. Might as well post it. I love the fact it’s two chords all the way through, except for the very last part of the last chorus.

Song with sleeve.

Time to play something more danceable on the Tuuur 10k installment. I find it increasingly hard to write insightful or funny pieces of proza with the posts here, so today you just have to deal with the links to Concrete Jungle by Bob Marley and The Wailers.

1975, with fellow Wailers Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh.
later on, with the I Threes.

UB40, back when they were still a real reggae band. Used to play this album a lot on my old Dual quadrophonic turntable.

Youtube – clip with fruit

UB40 on the verge of becoming main stream commercial. I like the fact that Astro sings this; somehow that gives this a more authentic reggae feel.

Youtube – Studioversion with cd cover.

A very good reggae version of Pink Floyd’s mega hit Money, from the tribute album Dub Side of the Moon. It’s not easy playing a 7/8th beat reggae style, but this band pulls it off.

Youtube – fanvid…

Another one from way back when…

Youtube – official clip.

Another reggae song, celebrating the summer… I remember when this came out. A happy, good time song.

Youtube – official clip.

In 1980, UB40 still was a classic reggae band, singing protest songs and coming from unemployed situations. This was the first single I ever bought on my own. I loved it to death. Now is the first time in years I listen to it, but it moves me still.

Youtube – somewhat warbly clip.

Youtube – live in he 1980s, also warbly.

More reggae is what we need! Bob Marley is the epitome of classic reggae. The Wailers were the best, either with Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer as backing singers or with the I Threes, you can’t get it any better. I can’t sit still whenever this turns up on the radio, really!
Plus, it has a powerful and still actual message.

Youtube – studio version.

Youtube – live in 1973, not exactly a tight performance…

Youtube – live in 1979… the I Threes give me goose bumps!

This was a dutch reggaeband that hit the big time in the Netherlands during the early eighties. There were beatlemania like situations at their gigs at the time, with fainting teenage girls and screaming fans. If you cut the hype, what remains is great reggae songs played by excellent musicians. Although they quit in 1984, I still play their songs a lot.

Youtube – clip of a live version at the final gig in 1984.