Charts the course of this rhythmic revolution that began on the tiny island of Jamaica & took over the world. Many illustrations are from the Island Records archives.

Jamaican music, from a Caribbean island of just 3 mil. people, has had a huge effect on the rest of the world. Spearheaded by the popularity of reggae & the figurehead of Bob Marley, its reverberating rhythms have found a resonance with a diverse international audience. This book charts the course of this extraordinary cultural revolution, from the emergence in the 1950s of the fiercely competitive sound systems, through ska, the birth of reggae, dub, roots reggae & the impact of Bob Marley to recent developments, including dancehall, ragga & jungle. A potent cocktail of drama, turbulence, pride & protest. Unpub. transcripts of interviews with key figures introduce the authentic voice of reggae history to the book. 400 striking images.

This book collects the best of Ben Watson's music and culture writing from 1985-2002, including reviews and essays on significant music--jazz, pop, punk, and classical--written from the author's distinctive "militant aesthetix" point of view; plus reflections on the intersection of madness and music, the world after 9/11, and much more. A major collection by a major critic of the modern music scene.

In When Rock Met Reggae, Steven Blush takes a spirited, cross-genre perspective in this "illuminating chronicle" (Booklist) of the crossover of Jamaican, British, and American sounds that changed the face of popular music. Library Journal notes that "Blush’s nimble outline of the interplay between reggae and British punk will appeal to music fans.” Bringing the same incisive, cross-genre perspective he offered in When Rock Met Disco, Steven Blush gives a spirited survey of the crossover of Jamaican, British, and American sounds that changed the face of popular music in When Rock Met Reggae. The inspiration of ska, rock-steady, dub, and reggae—heard on independent recordings played on “soundsystems” from Kingston and Brixton—created a new rock tonality and attitude, spanning from Eric Clapton to The Clash. Meanwhile, the “Two Tone” sounds—traversing The Specials, Madness, and UB40—fueled the ‘90s ska revival of Sublime, No Doubt, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and beyond. Attentive to the racial, political, and artistic aspects of this intricate story, Blush gives a memorable account of one of the most fertile cross-pollinations in pop music history.

This book explores the history of reggae in modern Britain from the time it emerged as a cultural force in the 1970s. As basslines from Jamaica reverberated across the Atlantic, so they were received and transmitted by the UK’s Afro-Caribbean community. From roots to lovers’ rock, from deejays harnessing the dancehall crowd to dub poets reporting back from the socio-economic front line, British reggae soundtracked the inner-city experience of black youth. In time, reggae’s influence permeated the wider culture, informing the sounds and the language of popular music whilst also retaining a connection to the street-level sound systems, clubs and centres that provided space to create, protest and innovate. This book is therefore a testament to struggle and ingenuity, a collection of essays tracing reggae’s importance to both the culture and the politics of late twentieth and early twenty-first century Britain.

In its 114th year, Billboard remains the world's premier weekly music publication and a diverse digital, events, brand, content and data licensing platform. Billboard publishes the most trusted charts and offers unrivaled reporting about the latest music, video, gaming, media, digital and mobile entertainment issues and trends.

The Rough Guide to Jamaica is the ultimate travel guide to the most captivating of the Caribbean islands. From dining by the sea to dancing under the stars, we've picked out the best of Jamaica, with full-colour pictures offering a taste of what to expect. Detailed practical advice covers everything from restaurants and accommodation to tipping and tours; an events calendar details the island's legendary reggae shows, and insiders' tips ensure that you'll discover the island beyond the resorts. The Rough Guide to Jamaica also provides the lowdown on each part of island, including the white-sand beaches and watersports of Negril and Montego Bay; the lush rainforest retreats of Portland; the hip hotels of the unspoiled south coast; unforgettable hikes in the cool Blue Mountain peaks; and Kingston's electrifying arts and nightlife scene. Explore every corner of Jamaica with clear, detailed maps that will help you navigate with ease. Make the most of your trip with The Rough Guide to Jamaica.

With exclusive access to Strummer's friends, relatives, and fellow musicians, music journalist Chris Salewicz penetrates the soul of an rock 'n roll icon. The Clash was--and still is--one of the most important groups of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Indebted to rockabilly, reggae, Memphis soul, cowboy justice, and '60s protest, the overtly political band railed against war, racism, and a dead-end economy, and in the process imparted a conscience to punk. Their eponymous first record and London Calling still rank in Rolling Stone's top-ten best albums of all time, and in 2003 they were officially inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Joe Strummer was the Clash's front man, a rock-and-roll hero seen by many as the personification of outlaw integrity and street cool. The political heart of the Clash, Strummer synthesized gritty toughness and poetic sensitivity in a manner that still resonates with listeners, and his untimely death in December 2002 shook the world, further solidifying his iconic status. Salewicz was a friend to Strummer for close to three decades and has covered the Clash's career and the entire punk movement from its inception. He uses his vantage point to write Redemption Song, the definitive biography of Strummer, charting his enormous worldwide success, his bleak years in the wilderness after the Clash's bitter breakup, and his triumphant return to stardom at the end of his life. Salewicz argues for Strummer's place in a long line of protest singers that includes Woody Guthrie, John Lennon, and Bob Marley, and examines by turns Strummer's and punk's ongoing cultural influence.

In the past 30 years, most Caribbean poetry written in English has come to the US in the lyrics of reggae music, but that is only one aspect of a tradition characterized by continuing tension within a diverse heritage. Interviews in this collection reflect a range of Caribbean voices from several generations, from those poets influenced by a dynamic interplay between the popular culture of reggae music and yard theater to those whose work is closer to classical forms of literature and oral narrative. Dawes teaches English at the University of South Carolina. Annotation copyrighted by Book News Inc., Portland, OR