Dawning Of A New Era

It's early days, yet... but, already the tone has changed, and more has been accomplished in two days than in the last eight years. Positively, that is.

Yes... NOW, i am proud to be American.

Thank You, Mister President.
Time to step up, People.


"Double Barrel" - Dave & Ansel - Story Of Jamaican Music [Mango]
"Glory Of Love" - Dave & Ansel - Double Barrel [RAS]
"I'll Take You There" - Staples Singers - Can You Dig It? Vol. 3 [Rhino]
"I'll Take You There" - General Public - 12" [Epic]
"the Liquidator" - Harry J's All Stars - Story Of Jamaican Music [Mango]

"Work" - Bob Marley & the Wailers - Uprising [Island]
"Trod On" - Luciano - The Biggest Reggae One Drop Anthems [Greensleeves]
"Living Drum" - MidniteBand with Youssoupha Sidibe - For All [Sacred Sounds]
"Enter The Kingdom Of Zion" - Anthony B - Story Of Jamaican Music [Greensleeves]
...with Horace Andy
"Reincarnate" - Bobby Ellis - Trojan Suedehead Box Set [Trojan]

...a parting shot at our former Dictators:

"Hit The Road Jack" - Big Youth - Ride Like Lightning [Trojan]
"War Party" - Eddy Grant - Killer On The Rampage [Portrait]
"Aid Travel With A Bomb" - Sister Breeze - Heartbeat Reggae [Heartbeat]
"Move Out Of My Way" - Bunny Clarke - Shocks Of Mighty [ATTACK!]
"(Dawning Of A) New Era" - The Specials - The Specials [Chrysalis]
"Natty Dread Taking Over" - Culture - Two Seven Clash [JGM]
"Move Out Of My Way version" - Upsetters - Shocks Of Mighty [ATACK!]

"Ease Off" - Tarrus Riley - Challenges [VP]
"Dun Dem" - Fanton Mojah - Stronger [Greensleeves]
"I Am Not Afraid" - Etana - The Strong One [VP]
"Peace Conference Inna Westen Kingston" - Trinity - Shanty Town Determination [Blood and Fire]
"Satta Massagana" - Abyssinians - Satta Massagana [Hearteat]
"Give Praises" - Big Youth - Ride Like Lightning [Trojan]

"Green Pepper" - Dr. Ring Ding - Dandimite! [MOON]
"I Don't Want To Know" - Pietasters - All Day [Indication]
"Stay Out Late" - Dr. Ring Ding - Dandimite! [MOON]
"Don't Touch Me" - NIcky Thomas - Explosive Rock Steady [Heartbeat]
"How Long Do I Have To Wait For You?" - Sharon Jones - Daptones Remixed [Daptone]
...by Victor "Ticklah" Axelrod, Easy Star All Stars

"Dub The Frequencies" - Golgol Bordello - Super Taranta! [Side Onde Dummy]
...and greetings to our followers in eastern Europe.
"Mission In Progress" - Morgan Heritage - Mission In Progress [VP]

Watch The Middle East/9Jan09 playlist

Unholiness in the "Holy Land".

in this conflagration, there is no "moral high ground". blood spilled in history ever insists that blood be spilled, now.

reggae music teaches Oneness. that's my church.

"S-90 Skank" - Big Youth - Ride Like Lightning [Trojan]

"Z-90" - Trinity - Shanty Town Determination [Blood and Fire]

"The Middle East" - Israel Vibration - Strength Of My Life [RAS]
"Jerusalem" - Matisyahu - Youth
"People So Evil" - Busy Signal - Loaded [VP]
"Screwface" - Bob Marley & the Wailers - Songs Of Freedom [Island]
"Time Has Come" - Slim Smith - Time Has Come [Justice]
"Rock El Casbah" - Rachid Taha - Rebel Music [MOJO]
"Mustapha Dance" - the Clash - Rock The Casbah 12" B-side [Epic]

"Iron Sharpen Iron" - Culture - Harder Than The Rest [Shanachie]
"Wires To Riot" - Burning Babylon - BEAT BEAT BEAT [Sound Shack]
"My Hope" - Anthony B. - My Hope [Minor 7 Flat 5]
"Roots" - Etana - The Strong One [VP]

"Turn Me Loose" - the Meditations - Deeper Roots [Heartbeat]
"Rock And A Hard Place" - Pinchers - Renegade Rockers [DUBMATIX]
"Crime And Corruption" - Lucky Dube - Retrospective [RYKO]
"The Plane Land" - Richie Spice - Gideon Boot [VP]
"Quarter Pound Of Ishens" - Trinity - Shanty Town Determination [Blood and Fire]
"Sunshine Day" - Osibisa - Putumayo World Party [Putumayo]"Freedom" - Dub Specialist - Dub Specialist [Heartbeat]

"How Long Do I Have to Wait For You" - Sharon Jones & Dap Kings - Ticklah Remix [Daptone]
"Hold Down" - Kingstonians - Sufferer [Trojan]
"Shirley" - Larry Marshall - I Admire You [Heartbeat]
"Dub Is My woman" - Larry Marshall - ...In Dub [Heartbeat]

"It's True" - Alton Ellis - Sunday Coming [Heartbeat]
"Ain't No Sunshine" - Boris Gardner - Soulful Experience [Vampi Soul]
"Sitting In The Park" - Slim Smith - The Time Has Come [Justice]
"Big Youth" - Prince Buster - The Message [Prince Buster]

goodbye, 2008: Wake Up And Live

not a "Best Of"... but, All of the Best.

"S-90 Skank" Big Youth Ride Like Lightning [Trojan]
"Wake Up And Live" Bob Marley & the Wailers Survival [Island]
"Smile" Silvertones When Rhythm Was King [Heartbeat]
"Sunshine Day" Osibisa World Party [Putumayo]
"Why Oh Why" Ernest Wilson When Rhythm Was King [Heartbeat]
"Why Oh Why version" Ernest Wilson Version Dread [Heartbeat]

"Paper Planes" M.I.A. Kala [XL]
daughter of a Tamil Tiger sings from experience.
"Rock And A Hard Place" Pinchers Renegade Rocker [Dubmatix]
"I Am Not Afraid" Etana The Strong One [VP]
"Rock With Me" Peter Tosh Honorary Citizen [Columbia]
"Kung Fu Fighting" Carl Douglas and Noiseshaper Rough Out There [Echo Beach)]
"Natty Kung Fu" Dillinger When Rhythm Was King [Heartbeat]

"Riot" Wyclef Jean Carnival Vol II: Memoirs Of An Immigrant [Columbia]
"Push Some Air" John Brown's Body Amplify [Easy Star]
"Propaganda War" Taj Weekes Deidem [Spectra]
"Nothing To Smile About" Morgan Heritage Mission In Progress [VP]
"See The Light" Toots and the Maytals Light Your Light [Fantasy]
"Gideon Boot" Richie Spice Gideon Boot [VP]

"Starring Dub" Dub Specialist Dub Specialist DUB [Heartbeat]

"The Message" Prince Buster The Message [Prince Buster]
original vinyl from Prince Buster's Soul Shack.
"Sound System" Michael Franti and Spearhead All Rebel Rockers [ANTI]
"Ease Off" Tarrus Riley Challenges [VP]
"Blazing Fire" Derrick Morgan I Am The Ruler [Trojan]
...dissed by Prince Buster as a "Blackhead Chinee"
"Banana Walk" Dub Specialist Dub Specialist DUB [Heartbeat]

religion and war... one feeds the other in the Holy Land:
"The Israelites" Desmond Dekker King Kong Collection [Mango]
"Rock El Casbah" Rachid Taha Rebel Music [MOJO]
"Selassie Bring It On" Midnite with Youssoupha Sidibe For All [Sacred Sounds]
"Precious Memories" Justin Hinds and the Dominos Jezebel