Early reggae

Early reggae , often equated with the term skinhead reggae , describes the early phase of reggae , before it develops further through the influence of the Rastafarian movement on the one hand or through the focus on success in the worldwide music charts on the other. Early Reggae emerged from Rocksteady in Jamaica in mid-1968 and changed to Roots Reggae from around 1972 .

definition

Characteristic of early reggae are the continuous eighth notes on the hi-hat , which can be found in the bass . The style is rougher and faster than the Rocksteady with its z. Sometimes smooth, soul- oriented vocal harmonies, on the other hand, however, rhythmically denser and more complex than Ska . So he inherits from both styles and goes beyond them at the same time. A heavy use of effects such as delay , reverb and phaser on the guitar and organ are typical . Among the most important hit suppliers of that phase - along with Jimmy Cliff and Desmond Dekker - groups such as The Ethiopians , Toots & the Maytals , The Melodians and The Pioneers (among others). All of these formations had the typical trio line-up. The popularity of instrumental pieces is also noticeable , e.g. B. The Upsetters Return of Django (1968), Harry J. & the All-Stars Liquidator (1969) and Dave & Ansel Collins Double Barrel (1971). The latter even made it to number 1 in the English charts.

Similar to Rocksteady and Ska, it is controversial which was the first reggae recording. Maybe it was Derrick Morgan with the reissue of his old ska hit, Fat Man (1968). It is also unknown where the name “reggae” comes from. It could be onomatopoeic for the sound of the muted rhythm guitar or it could come from “streggae”, a slang expression for prostitutes. The first song, with the word “Reggae” in the title, is (in a different spelling) Do the Reggay (1968) by Toots & the Maytals . It has been popular for a while to use the term in song titles; B. Reggae Hit the Town (1968) by the Ethiopians and Reggae in Your Jeggae (1969) by Dandy Livingstone .

In terms of lyrics, love songs are still very popular. In addition, there are increasingly songs with sexist and suggestive content (e.g. Wet Dream by Max Romeo (1968)). In the beginning, the themes of Rasta philosophy emerged: social criticism (e.g. Everything Crash by the Ethiopians (1968)) as well as religious and spiritual content (especially with Justin Hinds ).

Producers played an important role in the music business of that time . They usually have their own studio and a permanent studio band that provides the instrumental sound. Changing singers or singing groups are hired for a fixed fee to make a record. Usually singles are published , which suits the buying behavior of the financially weak target group. Back then, LPs were almost exclusively compilations of previously released singles. This production method is similar to that of Motown , only the equipment in Jamaica is more primitive, so that the sound even less meets today's hi-fi standards. But it is precisely this lo-fi quality that makes fans of the style particularly attractive, which they definitely don't want to miss.

You b

The emergence of dub also fell in the period of early reggae . Key figures here are music producers King Tubby and Lee 'Scratch' Perry . Back then it was common for the instrumental version of the piece to be published on the B-side of a single. With this instrumental version in the mobile discos of Jamaica, the sound systems , the Deejay mixes his rap- like chant live. The idea is to press this “deejaying” back onto the plate yourself. U-Roy's Wake the Town (1970) is considered the first such dub recording . Other first generation deejays are I-Roy , Dennis Alcapone , King Stitt and Big Youth .

Skinhead reggae

In England , especially London , early reggae is heard mainly by skinheads . They meet with Jamaican immigrants in the suburbs and get enthusiastic about their music from then on. The closeness is also evident in some song titles, such as B. in Skinhead Moonstomp and Skinhead Girl by Symarip (1969), Skinhead, a Message to You by Desmond Riley or in Skinheads Don't Fear by the Hot Rod Allstars. Has therefore been, and is still in skinhead circles early reggae and skinhead reggae called.

Reggae’s first commercial successes

The first worldwide hit of reggae is Israelites by Desmond Dekker (among others number 1 in Germany and England). Not least because of this success, some reggae stars such as Dekker himself, Jimmy Cliff , Laurel Aitken or Derrick Morgan move to England. A top ten success there ultimately brings far higher sales figures than a number 1 in Jamaica. In order to adapt reggae to European musical tastes, the sound is smoothed and provided with strings. Examples such as Jimmy Cliff's Wonderful World, Beautiful People (1969, 5th place in England) and Young Gifted & Black by Bob & Marcia (1970, 5th place) show that this calculation works. The musical diversity and originality suffer from this. This can be compared with the development from funk music to discomusic. Other stars with such a more commercial sound are John Holt and Ken Boothe .

A musical highlight of Early Reggae is the collaboration between Bob Marley and producer Lee Perry . Marley, at that time already at the height of his creative power as a singer and songwriter, can be accompanied by Perry's excellent studio band The Upsetters. The band with the brothers Carlton and Aston Barrett on drums and bass would later become the nucleus of Marley's own band " The Wailers ". With these recordings, Marley did not have the commercial success that he should be granted in the coming years. Many fans consider it Marley's best work because of its authentic sound. It produced, among others Sun Is Shining , Duppy Conqueror (both 1970) and Do not Rock My Boat (1971). Marley would re-record many of these songs on his later records. The recordings are z. Partly published on the LP African Herbsman and can be found today on countless (cheap) samplers and compilations.

In 1972 a film is made that is dedicated to early reggae in its straightforward, unadulterated form: The Harder They Come . Main actor Jimmy Cliff plays a rude boy and reggae singer who gets on the wrong track in the slums of Kingston and is shot by the police in the end. In addition to Cliff himself, Desmond Dekker, Toots & the Maytals and The Slickers are also involved in the soundtrack .

The further development of reggae

In the years '71 -'73 the transition from Early Reggae to Roots-Reggae takes place , during this time, for example, the Abyssinians recorded Leggo Beast (1972). One of the first pure roots reggae albums is Bob Marley's record Catch a Fire from 1973. The tempo becomes much slower, even slower than it was with Rocksteady (easy to recognize in the title track of Catch a Fire , Slave Driver ). It is Bob Marley's first record to be released by a large record company, a major label , on Island Records . At the same time, it is also his first LP that is not a compilation of singles. This already indicates the change in production methods that will take place in the period that followed. Part of this change is also that the producer is losing influence over the singer and songwriter. Studio gimmicks and effects take a back seat, instead the song text gains in importance. Logically, the instrumental pieces that were so popular at the time of Early Reggae are also disappearing. The new style is rapidly gaining popularity across Europe and, to a lesser extent, in the United States . The skinheads are turning away, reggae is developing from a fad in England to a phenomenon of political importance in Africa and South America .

literature

Marc Griffiths: Boss Sounds. Classic Skinhead Reggae; ST Publishing, Dunoon, 1994.
Steve Barrow & Peter Dalton: The Rough Guide to Reggae; Rough Guides, London, 2001.
Michael de Koningh & Lawrence Cane-Honeyset: Young, gifted and black - The story of Trojan Records; Sanctuary Publishing, London, 2003.
Lloyd Bradley: Bass Culture. When Reggae was King; Penguin Books, London, 2001. German translation: Bass Culture. The triumphant advance of reggae. Hannibal Verlag, St. Andrä-Wölker 2003