February 28, 2021

Do you remember the days of slavery?

March 1 is the 76th birthday of Winston Rodney, the reggae singer better known as Burning Spear.  Burning Spear is the living embodiment of roots reggae; his music is the deepest, the most meditative, and at the same time the most politically charged music that's ever been made in Jamaica.
 
In celebration of his birthday, I'm going to spin a set of some of my favorite Burning Spear music.  A proper tribute to him would take hours, so use this set as a launching pad for your own exploration of this brilliant artist.
 
Also this week (Monday March 1, 3:00-5:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards at wrir.org/listen, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site): my favorite reggae singles of early 2021, a tribute to toaster U-Roy who passed away on February 17, a cynical look at the former Yugoslavia on the occasion of Bosnia & Herzegovina's Independence Day, Afropop from Mali and Senegal, and a wonderful new Ghanaian highlife single from Florence Adooni.



Artist | Country | Song | Recording | Label | Year
 
Oliver Lake | USA | Separation | Matador Of 1st & 1st | Passin' Thru | 1997
Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros | England UK | Global A Go-Go | Global A Go-Go | Hellcat | 2001
 
Khalia | Jamaica-England UK | Hallelujah | Hallelujah - Single | K-Licious Music | 2020
Khalia | Jamaica-England UK | Free | Free - Single | K-Licious Music | 2021
Tanya Stephens | Jamaica | Good Good | Good Good - Single | Tad's | 2021
Phonosonics | Canada | Rocksteady Heavyweights | Rocksteady Heavyweights - Single | self-released | 2020
 
Burning Spear | Jamaica | Joe Frazier | Joe Frazier - Single | Iron Side | 1972
Burning Spear | Jamaica | Black Disciples | Dry & Heavy | Mango | 1977
Burning Spear | Jamaica | Cry Blood Africa | Hail H.I.M. | EMI | 1980
Burning Spear | Jamaica | Slavery Days | Marcus Garvey | Island | 1975
 
Hugh Roy & John Holt with Tommy McCook & The Supersonics | Jamaica | Wear You To The Ball | Wear You To The Ball - Single | Treasure Isle | 1970
Big Youth | Jamaica | The Killer | The Killer - Single | Puppy | 1972
Winston Williams | Jamaica | Sweet Like Candy | Sweet Like Candy - Single | Smash | 1970
Dennis Alcapone | Jamaica | Spanish Amigo | Spanish Amigo - Single | Inbidimts | 1970
King Stitt | Jamaica | Lee Van Cleef | Lee Van Cleef - Single | New Beat | 1969
 
Magnifico | Slovenia | The Land Of Champions | Grande Finale | Arih | 2007
Emir Kusturica & The No Smoking Orchestra | Ex-Yugoslavia | Devil In The Business Class | Unza Unza Time | Barclay | 2000
Emir Kusturica & The No Smoking Orchestra | Ex-Yugoslavia | Unza Unza Time | Unza Unza Time | Barclay | 2000
Dubioza Kolektiv | Bosnia & Herzegovina | Take My Job Away | #fakenews | Menart | 2020
 
Anansy Cisse | Mali | Mina | Anoura | Riverboat | 2021
Amadou & Mariam | Mali | Chantez Chantez | Tje Ni Mousso | Polydor | 1999
Ben Zabo | Mali | Wari Vo | Ben Zabo | Glitterbeat | 2012
Siselabonga | Switzerland-Senegal | Yow Me De | Warnama | self-released | 2020
 
Florence Adooni | Ghana | Mam Pe'ela Su'ure | Mam Pe'ela Su'ure / Naba Aferda - Single | Philophon | 2021
K. Frimpong & His Cubano Fiestas | Ghana | Kyen Kyen Bi Adi M'awu | Blue Album | Continental / Secret Stash | 1976
Pat Thomas & Ebo Taylor | Ghana | Ene Nyame Nam A, Mensuro | Sweeter Than Honey: Calypso "Mahuno" and High Lifes Celebration | Pan African | 1980

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