Ben E. King’s 1961 classic, “Stand By Me” is the inspiration for Sean Kingston’s pop smash, “Beautiful Girls.” So naturally, the program starts off with the original. The rest of the program features remixes, some authorized and some not, and some clean and some graphic. I’ve marked #28 as “explicit” on iTunes. Parents use caution yada yada yada. And I didn’t even play the raunchiest cut by Beniton da Menace.

Playlist:
Ben E. King – Stand By Me
Sean Kingston, Fabolous, Lil Boosie – Beautiful Girls
Collie Buddz – Get Recycle
Sean Kingston & Vybz Kartel – Beautiful Girls
Sean Kingston & Lil Mama – Beautiful
Brick & Lace – Heart Breaker
JoJo – Beautiful Girl
Sean Kingston – Beautiful Girls (Shamelesch Bubbling Remix)
Sean Kingston & Pitbull – Beautiful Girls

The Golden Touch studio is set up for interviews and my first guest is a staple in London’s reggae scene. Earlier this evening, Neil “Mad Professor” Fraser took some time out of his studio work to speak to me about the British lovers rock scene during the late ’70s and ’80s. This is gold. Also, Reggae Rhythm Update is now a dot com–RhythmUpdate.com. All previous URLs work and subscriptions are intact so there is no need to do any updating.

Playlist:
Jocelyn Brown – Daydreaming
Mad Professor – Daydreaming About Dub
John McLean – If I Gave My Heart to You
Sandra Cross – Country Living
Slim Linton – Two’s Company
Intense – On My Mind
Carroll Thompson – The Other Side of Love
Kofi – Black Pride

It’s Thursday night, October 18, 2007, and I read the news of Lucky Dube’s death less than an hour ago. It hit me pretty hard because he’s one the artists whose music and lyrics I respect. I thought of calling someone or getting on the internet to post a message or read what others were saying, and then it hit me. What an opportunity I have, being able to record a postcast right here at home, and then get it out there instantly. #26 is free of hype and frills. It’s just an opportunity for me to talk about Lucky Dube, who I have seen in concert and talked to on the phone, and play his music in remembrance. After listening to it, I hope you can feel at least somewhat bit better.

Playlist:
Lucky Dube – You Stand Alone
Lucky Dube – The Other Side
Lucky Dube – House of Exile
Lucky Dube & Khanyisile Maphumulo – Release Me

Per listener request, I present the “Left with a Broken Heart” rhythm. Some people are surprised to find out that Dennis Brown’s “Revolution” and Barrington Levy’s “Here I Come” are actually versions of “Left with a Broken Heart.” But listen to the basslines and you’ll hear “Left with a Broken Heart” without the bridge and chorus changes. Many rhythm updates are just portions of a song’s bassline–usually the most memorable section–repeated over and over.

Playlist:
Paragons – Left with a Broken Heart
Johnny Clarke – Left with a Broken Heart
Ken Boothe – Left with a Broken Heart
Dennis Brown – Revolution
Sly & Robbie – Revolution Dub
Dennis Brown – If This World Were Mine
Sister Carol – Murdee and Stylee
Barrington Levy – Black Roses
Barrington Levy – Here I Come
Barrington Levy – Come
Junior Reid – Youth Man
Kashief Lindo – Gold Trap
Mr. Vegas – Where I Wanna Be
Queen Omega – Uprising
George Nooks – Left with a Broken Heart
Luciano – Freedom Fighters
Lukie D & Bounty Killer – Kill Another Sound
Burru Banton – Man Guinep

Welcome back to Reggae Rhythm Update from wherever you are in the world. I’ve been on vacation this week, doing things like attending the Topsfield Fair–America’s oldest agricultural fair, going to the beach, taking walks, and later today, bowling down some candlepins (there’s a Massachusetts reference for ya), and then tonight in Boston, seeing my favorite indie pro wrestling league, Ring of Honor. On today’s show, I explore two rhythms, Johnny Clarke’s “Ride on Girl” and the Shark’s “How Could I Live.” Dennis Brown covered the song for Joe Gibbs in 1978 and changed the name to “How Could I Leave.” I also play some great, late ’70s Aswad and Bim Sherman tunes. Enjoy, and please write a review at the iTunes store for Reggae Rhythm Update.

Playlist:
Bim Sherman – Lovers Leap
Bim Sherman – Lovers Leap Part 2
Johnny Clarke – Ride on Girl
Augustus Pablo – Death Trap Dub
U Brown – Gal So Bad
Aswad – Playing Games
Dennis Brown – How Could I Leave 12″
Prince Mohammed – Bubbling Love
The Sharks – How Could I Live 12″
Culture – How Can I Leave Jah
Garnet Silk – Blessed Be the Almighty
Junior Kelly – A Place for Rasta
Richie Stephens – How Could I Leave
Luciano – Father God