Released on Jun 12 2008
#51 - Fathers of Reggae Part 2
On this episode, I honor more of reggae’s founding fathers. After listening back to the show, I realized I made a mistake regarding an engineer on the Abyssinians - Satta Massagana album. I said Clive Chin but the correct name is Clive Hunt. If you missed Fathers of Reggae Part 1, please check episode #36 for a show featuring Gregory Isaacs, Bob Marley, and Freddie McGregor.
Wailers - Dreamland
Bunny Wailer - Roots Radics Rockers Reggae
Bunny Wailer - Roots Radics Dub
Bunny Wailer - Rock ‘n’ Groove
Abyssinians - Declaration of Rights
Abyssinians - Declaration Version
Abyssinians - Y Mas Gan
Abyssinians - Y Mas Gan Version
Abyssinians - Satta Massagana
Delroy Wilson - I Don’t Know Why
Delroy Wilson - Better Must Come
Delroy Wilson - It’s a Shame
Reggae Rhythm Update reaches a small milestone with 50 episodes. First up is one of my favorite rhythms, Alton Ellis’ precious and short, “A Fool.” After that, it’s another version excursion with Otis Gayle’s version of the Spinners’ “I’ll Be Around.” Both of these are Studio One rhythms. One correction: At the 1:42 mark I say, “90 minutes of Studio One brilliance.” I meant to say “90 seconds…” in reference to the very short Alton Ellis track that is about to end.
This all instrumental show begins at the foundation, with the immortal Studio One rhythm, “Rockfort Rock.” After that it’s all ’70s instrumentals, some of them dread, funky, and soulful like Negril’s “Rasta,” and some of them sugary sweet like Familyman’s “Well Pleased” and Jackie Mittoo’s “Ram Jam.” Listen to the horn, keyboard, and guitar leads while moving to the rhythm section. Back then, it took a great band to make a great song.
One of the great things about doing this show is that I get to speak to some of my musical heroes. Half Pint is one of those artists that I discovered while doing my radio show at Emerson College in Boston. Starting one night, young ladies would call and request his new song at the time, “Substitute Lover.” That song turned out to be one of my all-time favorites, along with “Level the Vibes,” with which I’d open my show week after week. With last night’s performance in Los Angeles, Half Pint began his U.S. tour. Visit 
