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houseofreggae.bsky.social
House of Reggae
@houseofreggae.bsky.social
2.7K followers 990 following 6.6K posts
Taking a leisurely stroll through my vinyl record collection to share a few of my favourite Jamaican tunes and trivia, just like I used to do a few years ago in the House of Reggae podcast... https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/houseofreggae
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houseofreggae.bsky.social
Remembering bass maestro Robbie Shakespeare who was born on this day in 1953.

Robbie played on thousands of records over the decades. Here's just one. A mighty 12" that he also produced alongside Sly Dunbar...

youtu.be/qyZqimgClVk?...

#reggae #reggaesky #vinyl #music #musicsky
12" of Black Uhuru - Guess Who's Coming To Dinner on D-Roy label. Released in 1979. Produced by Sly & Robbie.
September 27, 2026 at 12:17 PM
houseofreggae.bsky.social
Never liked this one, even though it's one of my favourite compilations. Its only redeeming feature is the red and yellow spine makes it easy to find on a packed record shelf...
Cover of Rebel Music - An Anthology Of Reggae Music double LP.
September 27, 2026 at 7:46 AM
houseofreggae.bsky.social
And finally here is the version.

This was mixed by Lynford Anderson and features Seeco Patterson on percussion, Carlton Barrett on drums, Peter Tosh on organ, Bob Marley on guitar and Bunny Wailer playing the bass...

youtu.be/qlvYWnfAyF0?...

#reggae #reggaesky #vinyl #music #musicsky #bobmarley
7" of Bob Marley And The Wailers - Grooving Kgn. 12 on Green Door label. Released in 1971. Produced by Bob Marley.
September 26, 2026 at 8:54 PM
houseofreggae.bsky.social
3 weeks later Trench Town Rock was released on the Green Door label in the UK. It would also be released in the US on the G&C label.

youtu.be/FL_BshgpNmo?...

#reggae #reggaesky #vinyl #music #musicsky #bobmarley
7" of Bob Marley And The Wailers - Trench Town Rock on Green Door label. Released in 1971. Produced by Bob Marley.
September 26, 2026 at 5:46 PM
houseofreggae.bsky.social
#OTD 55 years ago

Bob Marley & The Wailers top the Jamaican Hit Parade with Trench Town Rock.

They had self-produced it at the Dynamic studio and released it on their Tuff Gong label.

It would remain at the top of the chart for 4 weeks...

#reggae #reggaesky #vinyl #music #musicsky #bobmarley
Top 10 of the Jamaican Hit Parade as published in The Sunday Gleaner on 26th September 1971. Scan of the chart can be found on the fan website - https://wailerstimeline.com/
September 26, 2026 at 12:57 PM
houseofreggae.bsky.social
And finally, here's the dub version...

youtu.be/gWlemMO7qYA?...

#reggae #reggaesky #vinyl #music #musicsky #dub
7" of Upsetter - Dub In Peace on Mango label. Released in 1976. Recorded at Black Ark. Produced by Lee Perry.
September 25, 2026 at 9:05 PM
houseofreggae.bsky.social
Lee Perry's Black Ark productions take up 7 places in this chart, including Nos. 2, 3 & 4.

Here is the record at No.4. A great DJ cut of Max Romeo's War Ina Babylon...

youtu.be/Qtc7rKbcwZE?...

#reggae #reggaesky #vinyl #music #musicsky
7" of James Brown - Stop The War In A Babylon on Mango label. Released in 1976. Recorded at Black Ark. Produced by Lee Perry.
September 25, 2026 at 6:44 PM
houseofreggae.bsky.social
#OTD 50 years ago.

The Reggae 7" singles chart as published in Black Echoes.

Junior Murvin's 2 month stay at the top of the chart is finally over as Tapper Zukie's MPLA, which itself had been in the chart for the same time, finally takes the top spot...

#reggae #reggaesky #vinyl #music #musicsky
Top 20 Reggae 7" singles chart as published in Black Echoes on 25th September 1976. The singles in this chart are reggae tunes released on UK labels rather than Jamaican imports. You can find this chart and more on the great website www.ukreggaehistory.com
September 25, 2026 at 4:39 PM
houseofreggae.bsky.social
Jackie Jackson also recorded extensively for producer Leslie Kong, playing bass on many of his biggest hits like Desmond Dekker's Israelites, Toots & The Maytals' Pressure Drop and The Melodians' Rivers Of Babylon...

youtu.be/BXf1j8Hz2bU?...

#reggae #reggaesky #vinyl #music #musicsky
7" of The Melodians - Rivers Of Babylon on Summit label. Released in 1970. Produced by Leslie Kong.
September 24, 2026 at 9:01 PM
houseofreggae.bsky.social
Jackie Jackson's rocksteady basslines at Treasure Isle are now part of the foundation of reggae music.

One of my favourites is The Melodians' You Have Caught Me, which 3 years later also underpinned this U Roy classic...

youtu.be/GuOq7pw6ak0?...

#reggae #reggaesky #vinyl #music #musicsky
7" of Hugh (U) Roy - Version Galore on Duke Reid label. Released in 1970. Produced by Duke Reid.
September 24, 2026 at 6:29 PM
houseofreggae.bsky.social
Very sad to hear foundation bass player Jackie Jackson died yesterday aged 79.

Jackie's very first recording at Treasure Isle in 1966 was playing the now legendary bassline on Alton Ellis' Girl I've Got A Date.

RIP Jackie 🙏

youtu.be/XpXT4YI0qRc?...

#reggae #reggaesky #vinyl #music #musicsky
7" of Alton Ellis and The Flames - I've Got A Date on Doctor Bird label. Released in 1967. Produced by Duke Reid.
September 24, 2026 at 4:02 PM
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Happy 57th birthday to Junior Kelly.

This infectious 7" was a big hit for Junior. It was picked up by VP Records who also released an LP of the same name in 2001.

It's on a modern update of The Wailers Stir It Up rhythm...

youtu.be/OO-iyfOge3U?...

#reggae #reggaesky #vinyl #music #musicsky
7" of Junior Kelly - Love So Nice on VP Records label. Released circa 2001. Produced by M. Stanford.
September 23, 2026 at 4:53 PM
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And here's the B side, another harmony-filled love song from one of the very best vocal groups...

youtu.be/yCRP5awOgHM?...

#reggae #reggaesky #vinyl #music #musicsky
7" of The Melodians - Love Makes The World Goes Round on Randy's label. Released in 1973. Produced by Duke Reid.
September 22, 2026 at 7:01 PM
houseofreggae.bsky.social
The Melodians recorded Passion Love at Treasure Isle in late '72. It is a gorgeous harmony-filled love song.

They re-recorded it a few more times over the next couple of decades, but this original remains my favourite...

youtu.be/Jf9NqY8jZck?...

#reggae #reggaesky #vinyl #music #musicsky
7" of The Melodians - Passion Love on Randy's label. Released in 1973. Produced by Duke Reid.
September 22, 2026 at 4:43 PM
houseofreggae.bsky.social
Excellent. Foundation sounds!
I've got a few of those adverts for the Soul Vendors tour in '67..
September 22, 2026 at 12:50 PM
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And here's the flip side, which sees U Roy DJ'ing on The Three Tops 1967 rocksteady hit Do It Right...

youtu.be/Ci5zUTZIQhw?...

#reggae #reggaesky #vinyl #music #musicsky #uroy
7" of Hugh (U) Roy - Do It Right on Duke Reid label. Released in 1971. Produced by Duke Reid.
September 21, 2026 at 6:40 PM
houseofreggae.bsky.social
And finally, that same week in Melody Maker was this article explaining the new reggae phenomenon...

#reggae #reggaesky #music #musicsky
Article published in Melody Maker dated 20th September 1969. Headlined 'Reggae, steady go! MM looks at the growing influence of Reggae.' The article is accompanied by a photo of Max Romeo and was written under the pseudonym 'Ornette Denardo'.
September 21, 2026 at 6:23 PM
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Remembering DJ legend U Roy who was born on this day in 1942.

U Roy had 8 Top 10 hits in the JA chart in 1970, including 3 No.1's. He carried over that success into 1971 with this Top 10 single on The Paragons Only A Smile...

youtu.be/iLwvmTqMOao?...

#reggae #reggaesky #vinyl #music #musicsky
7" of Hugh (U) Roy - Flashing My Whip on Duke Reid label. Released in 1971. Produced by Duke Reid.
September 21, 2026 at 4:36 PM
houseofreggae.bsky.social
And here's a couple of reviews of the concert in the following week's music press...

#reggae #reggaesky #music #musicsky
Concert review by Royston Eldridge in Melody Maker 27th September 1969 titled 'Caribbean Fest'. Concert review by Gordon Coxhill in New Musical Express 27th September 1969 titled 'I'm So Glad I Didn't Walk Out And Miss Johnny Nash'. It also has photos of Johnny Nash, Max Romeo and Desmond Dekker.
September 21, 2026 at 11:15 AM
houseofreggae.bsky.social
#OTD in 1969

Wembley hosted the first Caribbean Music Festival.

The second one in April 1970 was filmed by Horace Ové for the great concert film 'Reggae'. Here's the advert for the long-forgotten first one in Sept '69...

#reggae #reggaesky #music #musicsky
Advert for the Caribbean Music Festival at Empire Pool, Wembley on Sunday 21st September 1969. Star appearances by Johnny Nash, Desmond Dekker, Jackie Edwards, Jimmy James, Max Romeo, Jimmy Cliff, Count Prince Miller, Tony Tribe, Black Velvet, Derrick Morgan, Mohawks, Pat Kelly, Skatalites, Root & Jenny Jackson.
September 21, 2026 at 6:21 AM
houseofreggae.bsky.social
5/6

No.4 - Jiving Juniors - Over The River

Derrick Harriott leads the Jiving Juniors on this Revival inspired tune, featuring Rico on trombone and Dennis Sindrey on guitar.

This had previously been No.1 in early May...

youtu.be/g0pKZ3ZaMUk?...

#reggae #reggaesky #vinyl #music #musicsky #ska
7" of The Jiving Juniors - Over The River on Blue Beat label. Music by Herson & his City Slickers. Released in 1961. Produced by Coxsone Dodd.
September 20, 2026 at 12:17 PM
houseofreggae.bsky.social
4/6

No.3 - Clancy Eccles - River Jordan

Pianist Herman Sang leads his City Slickers in playing a Nyahbinghi inspired rhythm to back up Clancy Eccles' Old Testament sermon...

youtu.be/8LcKboPTnHA?...

#reggae #reggaesky #vinyl #music #musicsky #ska
7" of Clancy Eccles - River Jordon on Blue Beat label. Music by Hersan and his City Slickers. Released in 1961. Produced by Coxsone Dodd.
September 20, 2026 at 12:15 PM
houseofreggae.bsky.social
3/6

No.2 - Higgs & Wilson - Come On Home

An early repatriation tune as Joe Higgs and Roy Wilson call on 'my people' to come on home to Zion. This is backed up by Nyahbinghi drums, piano and Rico playing the trombone...

youtu.be/R2GPQ0GCrFI?...

#reggae #reggaesky #vinyl #music #musicsky #ska
7" of Higgs & Wilson - Come On Home on WIRL Records label. Released in 1961. Produced by Edward Seaga.
September 20, 2026 at 12:12 PM
houseofreggae.bsky.social
2/6

No.1 - Folkes Brothers - Oh Carolina

Prince Buster invited Count Ossie and his group of drummers to the JBC studio to record the Nyahbinghi rhythm on this landmark record which spent 5 weeks at No.1...

youtu.be/gxhkE6Qj7NA?...

#reggae #reggaesky #vinyl #music #musicsky #ska
7" of The Folkes Brothers - Oh Carolina on Buster Wild Bells label. Released in 1961. Produced by Prine Buster.
September 20, 2026 at 12:10 PM
houseofreggae.bsky.social
1/6 🧵

A year or two before ska and a decade before roots reggae, the Jamaican 7" singles chart on 18th June 1961 saw Nyahbinghi rhythms and Revival lyrics take over.

Here's a short thread looking at the top 4 singles...

#reggae #reggaesky #vinyl #music #musicsky #ska #jamaica
Sunday Gleaner 18th June 1961 Jamaican Hit Parade 01 Folks Brothers - Oh Carolina 02 Higgs & Wilson - Come On Home 03 Clancy Eccles - River Jordan 04 Jiving Juniors - Over The River 05 Ernie K-Doe - Mother-In-Law 06 Owen Gray - Sinners Weep 07 Ben E. King - Stand By Me 08 Wilfred Edwards - Whenever There’s Moonlight 09 Brook Benton - Think Twice 10 Titus Turner - Miss Rubberneck Jones
September 20, 2026 at 12:09 PM