Excluding The Wailers, who is your favourite Roots Reggae band?

Melodians

 

There is no shortage of fantastic Jamaican vocal harmony groups, roots or otherwise.

 

Sly and Robbie (anything they're on)

 

Absolutely. 'Jamaican Studio Bands' need a thread too!

 

Heard Handsworth Revolution not long ago. It really stands up.

 

The Congos, then probably Burning Spear (although I agree this is just Winston Rodney).

Also, this isn't roots reggae, but I feel that Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers brought reggae into the 80s and 90s in a way that was perhaps more tasteful and successful than some of the other groups of that time.

 

the burning spear.

 

10 excellent Britsish Roots "bands" and some recommendations:

Steel Pulse ("Handsworth Revolution" the best British Reggae LP)
Aswad ("Showcase")
Misty In Roots ("Live At The Counter Eurovision '79")
Black Slate (Personally I don't think their LPs really do them justice, supposedly they are working on a best of)
UB40 ("Signing Off" They may have become a pop band, one could say the same about Aswad and Steel Pulse, but they started off playing Roots Reggae, plus they probably fit in well on this forum.)

Ones I have to declare an interest in, but if you don't promote your own releases who will:
Black Roots (Anthology)
Capital Letters ("Reality" not 100% Roots, but still good)
Black Symbol (We should have an anthology out early next year, the best UK band you've never heard of.)
Sceptre (My current avatar and an outstanding album although 3 tracks are Lovers Rock)
Eclipse ("Corrupted Society")

There are dozens, maybe hundreds of excellent British bands, the problem is that half of them didn't release anything and 40% only released a single or two so basically most of the music isn't documented.

 

All the bands of different musicians around the great Lee 'Scratch' Perry!

 

Agreed. Great live album. John Peel's all time favourite, I think. Why has this and the other MIR albums not been reissued on CD recently. There must be a market for them, as they go for silly money on ebay.

 

Good post. This thread is more reminiscent of favorite reggae artists in general

 

• Burning Spear
• Gregory Issacs
• Steel Pulse
• Peter Tosh
• Toure Kunda

 

Firstly all the master tapes were destroyed in a fire, secondly you have to get everyone involved to agree.

 

Would Jackie Mittoo/Skatalites count? If so, I go with him/them.

 

I think the Ska in Skatalites would give you a clue........so I would say no

 

You really should check out Bristol Archive and Reggae Archive Records releases as much of which you mention has been and/or is being released currently. Also, Black Slate has re-emerged, has been performing, and has a new release out--"World Citizen".

 

But! what about:



Or

 

Toots and the Maytals.
Burning Spear.
Steel Pulse.
Black Uhuru.

 

Many bands already mentioned, but only a few are strictly roots. If pushed to name only a few I would go for The Abbysinians. Satta Massaganna is one of my favorite Jamaican albums ever.
I don´t consider The Maytals, Steel Pulse and Black Uhuru as roots bands. They were all great, but no roots. And Burning Spear and Pete Tosh are solo artists.

 

Steel Pulse had a great run from Handsworth through Earth Crisis. Spotty afterward, but still great live.

 

How is this not "Roots"?:



Serious question. School me.

 

Has to be The Ethiopians (if it's not Marley has to be ska, for me).

 

10 ft ganja plant, modern band but traditional jamaican dub/reggae. Good stuff imo.

 

They are my choice. Handsworth Revolution and Tribute To The Martyrs are excellent albums.

 

Thanks for the recommendation, but I am part of Bristol Archive and Reggae Archive Records and I've met Black Slate as we wanted to do an album with them, the one that hopefully they will do themselves.