Translate

Pageviews last month

Showing posts with label BOOK CLUB. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BOOK CLUB. Show all posts

BOOK CLUB PICK .... Global Reggae


 

These plenary lectures from the “Global Reggae” conference convened at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica eloquently exemplify the breadth and depth of current scholarship on Jamaican popular music. Radiating from the Jamaican centre, these illuminating essays highlight the “glocalization” of reggae – its global dispersal and adaptation in diverse local contexts of consumption and transformation.




The languages of Jamaican popular music, both literal and metaphorical, are first imitated in pursuit of an undeniable “originality”. Over time, as the music is indigenized, the Jamaican model loses its authority to varying degrees. The revolutionary ethos of reggae music is translated into local languages that articulate the particular politics of new cultural contexts. Echoes of the Jamaican source gradually fade. But new hybrid sounds return to their Jamaican origins, engendering polyvocal, cross-cultural dialogue.




From the inter/disciplinary perspectives of historical sociology, musicology, history, media studies, literature, anthropology, sociology, cultural studies, the creative/cultural industries and, above all, the metaphorical “life sciences”, the contributors to this definitive volume lucidly articulate a cultural politics that acknowledges the far-reaching creativity of small-islanders with ancestral memories of continents of origin.




The globalization of reggae music and its “wild child” dancehall is, indeed, an affirmation of the unquantifiable potential of the Jamaican people to reclaim identities and establish ties of affiliation that are not circumscribed by the Caribbean Sea: To the world!


TAP ON IMAGE TO VIEW BOOK STORE

Co-published with Institute of Caribbean Studies and the Prince Claus Fund.






BOOK CLUB PICK: Dub in Babylon: Understanding the Evolution and Significance of Dub Reggae in Jamaica and Britain from King Tubby to Post-Punk



Since the late 1980s, dub reggae and the methods linked to it have been widely used by dance and ambient music producers. But the term first referred to a remix method developed in Jamaica as early as 1967. Recording engineers made reggae tracks where the producer’s work was often more clear than the musicians’ work; these heavily worked tracks were called versions. The methods used to make versions soon grew into what is now called dub.





The term in this sense appeared in 1972 and was mostly the result of experiments by recording engineer Osbourne Ruddock, also known as King Tubby. Over the years, dub has changed, especially in the UK. In fact, much modern music, from hip hop to trance and from ambient sound to experimental electronica and drum ’n bass, owes a debt to remix culture shaped mainly by dub methods. Even so, although it is clearly an important genre, its value is rarely fully understood or recognized.


TAP ON IMAGE TO GO TO STORE




BOOK CLUB PICK: Dub Revolution: Jamaica's Sonic Innovators and the Birth of Remix Culture

 

Dub Revolution explores the most innovative and sonically adventurous sub-genre of reggae: dub. Dub emerged in the early 1970s through the work of legendary producers like Lee 'Scratch' Perry, Prince Jammy, Scientist, Mad Professor, and in particular the late King Tubby, who was tragically murdered at a young age. 


TAP ON IMAGE TO GO THERE


Adopted by punks in London and later a crucial influence on underground dance music culture both there and in New York, the culture and legacy of dub still echoes and resonates today, reverberating from sound systems in Kingston and around the world. It's no exaggeration to say that without dub, there would be no hip-hop or house music.​


TAP ON IMAGE TO GO TO STORE


The revolution of dub marks the birth of the remix and the emergence of the studio as an instrument in itself, a place where songs and their constituent parts could be pulled apart and re-shaped into wild new cosmic sounds. The history of dub is also inseparable from the often violent and troubled history of post-colonial Jamaica, gang culture and Kingston's relationship with Britain and the USA. David Katz's monumental and forensic history of a musical form that continues to astonish and sound like the future five decades after its inception stands as the authoritative book on a form that continues to fascinate generation after generation.



BOOK CLUB PICK: Reggae en Español: Diasporic Cultural Production in Panama (Reframing Media, Technology, and Culture in Latin/o America)


 

Tracing the origins and cultural impact of an Afro-Panamanian musical genre


In Reggae en Español, Sonja Stephenson Watson chronicles the emergence and influence of a complex and rich musical genre that has become emblematic of Afro-Panamanian identity. Born in Panama in the late 1970s when artists of West Indian ancestry infused Jamaican reggae rhythms with Spanish lyrics and Panamanian folk music, reggae en español is shown in this book to be a powerful narrative of migration, hybridity, and resistance that compels recognition of Blackness as central to Panamanian history and culture.


TAP ON IMAGE TO CHECK OUT BOOK

This is the first book to document the origin story of this genre and its diasporic linkages. Watson explores how reggae en español emerged from transnational circuits, drawing influences from Africa, the Caribbean, Central America, and the United States. She illustrates how artists such as El General, Renato, Nando Boom, El Maleante, Rude Girl, and Chicho Man have used music to address issues of race, place, and identity, while inserting Black voices into national narratives that have historically excluded them. This book offers a groundbreaking perspective on how music can shape identity and connect communities across borders.


TAP ON IMAGE TO CHECK OUT BOOK




BOOK CLUB PICK: The Reggae Trivia & Quiz Book: 250 Questions on the Artists, Songs, Albums, Sounds and History of Reggae (Cool Quiz Books)


 

How well do you know reggae—from ska and rocksteady to roots, dub, dancehall and beyond?


The Reggae Trivia & Quiz Book takes you through the artists, recordings, studios, sound systems and events that shaped one of the world’s most influential musical traditions.




Test your knowledge of reggae legends, landmark albums, classic songs, pioneering producers and the music’s journey from Jamaica to an international audience.



TAP ON IMAGE TO GO THERE


Inside you will find:


• 250 multiple-choice questions

• 13 themed rounds covering reggae’s sounds and history

• Questions about artists, songs, albums, producers and record labels

• Complete answers with informative background notes

• A balanced mixture of accessible questions and tougher challenges


TAP ON IMAGE TO GO THERE

Whether you are a lifelong reggae collector, a casual listener or simply love a good music quiz, this book offers hours of entertainment. Play alone, challenge your friends or use the questions to host your own reggae quiz night.


Copyright Disclaimer

This is an independent publication created for entertainment and educational purposes. It is not authorised, sponsored, endorsed by or affiliated with any artist, performer, estate, record label, publisher or other rights holder mentioned in the book.


The names of artists, groups, songs, albums, record labels and organisations are used solely for identification, historical discussion and factual commentary. All trademarks, copyrighted works and other intellectual property remain the property of their respective owners. No ownership or endorsement is claimed or implied.





BOOK CLUB PICK: Echoes of Ska: Rhythms That Shaped Two Nations


 

Echoes of Ska: Rhythms That Shaped Two Nations — A Chronicle of Jamaican Origins and British Revival



From the humid studios of Kingston to the grey streets of Coventry, Echoes of Ska follows the complete cultural and musical journey of ska across six decades. Paul Davies reconstructs the story through its people, places, and recordings — from the Windrush generation’s arrival and the birth of Bluebeat Britain, to the rise of 2‑Tone and the enduring legacy that shaped modern British identity.


Each chapter forms a documentary lens on a different stage of the movement:

Kingston to London charts the first pulse of migration and sound.

Windrush Rhythms explores identity and adaptation in post‑war Britain.

Bluebeat Britain examines the underground trade of records and shops.

The British Teenager Meets Ska captures youth culture’s first encounter with the off‑beat.

Prince Buster in the British Imagination and The Sound of the Streets trace ska’s myth and its urban soundtrack.

Rocksteady and the Slow Revolution and Trojan Time document the transition to reggae and the rise of a British empire of rhythm.

Coventry Calling and The Specials mark the birth of 2‑Tone and Britain’s new social conscience.


Later chapters follow Madness, The Selecter, The Bodysnatchers, The Beat, Rico and Bad Manners, the touring years, the press, the politics, and the eventual fade — before closing with revival, nostalgia, and ska’s national memory.




The appendices — including a Canon of 100 Foundational Ska Recordings, a Chronological Album Timeline (1959–2020), and a Ska Historiography (1959–2020) — provide a complete archival framework for researchers and collectors alike.


TAP ON IMAGE TO GO TO STORE





BOOK CLUB PICK: The Complete Guide to Reggae Production and History: Ska · Rocksteady · Roots · Dub · Dancehall · DJ



Want to capture that warm, deep, authentic reggae sound in your home studio? This comprehensive studio reference covers every aspect of recording reggae music — from the drum and bass foundation of roots reggae to the electronic production techniques of modern dancehall. 


TAP ON IMAGE TO GO TO STORE



Written by a working studio musician and producer, this guide gives you the exact microphone placements, signal chains, plugin settings, and mixing workflows used to achieve professional results. Inside you'll find: instrument-by-instrument recording chapters (drums, bass, guitar, organ, horns, vocals), 60+ years of genre history from Federal Studios Kingston to today, key player profiles, complete parameter reference tables for studio hardware and plugins, and mastering chains tuned specifically for reggae's demanding low-end requirements.\



TAP ON IMAGE TO GO TO STORE

From Federal Studios Kingston to the Modern Home Studio.





BOOK CLUB PICK: Pressure Drop: Reggae in the Seventies

 


Pressure Drop chronicles reggae’s most tumultuous and influential decade. Beginning in 1970 and unfolding across the world, reggae flourished against a backdrop of political upheaval, gang warfare, Black Nationalism, racial and class discrimination and grinding poverty. 


TAP ON IMAGE TO GO TOI STORE


The music that developed as rocksteady and early reggae gave birth to deejays, dub, rockers, lovers rock, early dancehall and 2 Tone was by turns brutal and revelatory.

TAP ON IMAGE TO GO TO STORE

Including an extensive analysis of the decade’s major singles and albums, Pressure Drop includes eyewitness accounts and experiences of the decade from the likes of Burning Spear, Chris Blackwell, Gregory Isaacs, Bunny Wailer, Jimmy Cliff, Black Uhuru, U-Roy, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, Augustus Pablo, Toots and the Maytals, Desmond Dekker, Sly & Robbie, Dennis Bovell, Don Letts and members of the Specials, as well as first-hand anecdotes of Bob Marley and Peter Tosh.





BOOK CLUB PICK: Dub Revolution: Jamaica’s Sonic Innovators and the Birth of Remix Culture

 


Dub Revolution explores the most innovative and sonically adventurous sub-genre of reggae: dub. Dub emerged in the early 1970s through the work of legendary producers like Lee 'Scratch' Perry, Prince Jammy, Scientist, Mad Professor, and in particular the late King Tubby, who was tragically murdered at a young age. 


TAP ON IMAGE TO GO THERE

Adopted by punks in London and later a crucial influence on underground dance music culture both there and in New York, the culture and legacy of dub still echoes and resonates today, reverberating from sound systems in Kingston and around the world. It's no exaggeration to say that without dub, there would be no hip-hop or house music.




​The evolution of dub marks the birth of the remix and the emergence of the studio as an instrument in itself, a place where songs and their constituent parts could be pulled apart and re-shaped into wild new cosmic sounds. 


TAP ON IMAGE TO GO THERE


The history of dub is also inseparable from the often violent and troubled history of post-colonial Jamaica, gang culture and Kingston's relationship with Britain and the USA. David Katz's monumental and forensic history of a musical form that continues to astonish and sound like the future five decades after its inception stands as the authoritative book on a form that continues to fascinate generation after generation.



BOOK CLUB PICK: Reggae Larger Than Life: The Ultimate Reggae Music Fun and Games Book


Reggae Larger than Life: The Ultimate Reggae Music Fun and Games Book (First Edition) is packed full of excitement and many ‘I did not know that’ moments. These are bound to satisfy Reggae fans all over the world. With 250 exciting objective type questions, crossword puzzles, matching games and other fun activities that pay homage to the artistes, writers, producers and labels, the book is sure to leave you with lasting memories and thrills. 





These questions and games also provide the perfect platform for you to show off your Reggae music knowledge in front of your chosen audience. Each question will arouse your desire to have another and yet another one. Try this question and see for yourself…Born in Nine Miles in the Jamaican parish of St Ann in 1945, this “Buffalo Soldier” Reggae superstar was given a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award, posthumously, in the United States on February 21, 2001. Who was he?(a) Peter Tosh(b) Bob Marley(c) Delroy Wilson(d) Dennis BrownThere are 249 more questions where that one came from. 



Engaging with the questions and games is an entertaining way of strengthening your knowledge of Reggae, which is one of the fastest growing music genres around the world. So, if you are looking to enjoy a light moment at home, at a bar, a pub, a members’ club or other social settings, this book is definitely for you.Even if you are embarking on a long journey such as a coach or train excursion, a flight or a cruise, this is a great source of fun and inspiration for families, friends, work colleagues and many other groups. 



You could even use this easy to read book as a handy reference guide, as you journey along Reggae’s historical corridors. In this edition of Reggae Larger than Life, three of the most talented artistes of our time: Jack Radics, Da’Ville and G Whizz also share their sharp and inspiring musical insights. You won’t want to miss this.I was brought up on a diet of great Reggae music. I thought I had seen all the possible ways that this genre could be enjoyed. But, this book shows that Reggae is indeed larger than life – Richie B (Radio disc jockey and Reggae chart compiler).Reggae and Dancehall music is in our bones and we just love the way it keeps us going. This book is bound to reinforce that – Da’Ville (Reggae/R’n’B singer).Reggae Larger than Life is yet another interesting by-product of the music of Jamaica. It is a real source of fun and education – G Whizz (Reggae/R’n’B artiste).

TAP ON IMAGE TO GO TO STORE




Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)