DJ Sherrine Top Ten
And now on to this weeks Top Ten! This weeks Top Ten is from DJ Sherrine!!
Being asked to give you my top 10 reggae tracks presented me with an extremely hard task.
Narrowing my choices down, from the many subgenres and reggae eras that have influenced my
versatile taste and I am lucky to have in my record collection, has required some tough choices! Growing up in a house filled with reggae I was fortunate to be introduced to this fantastic sound and rhythm that moves my soul completely – even before I was born. I tend to buy vinyl purely as this is my preferred physical format to play.
Bunny Wailer – Rise and Shine
I’m starting with this one because I remember hearing it when I was a teenager played by my
Great Uncle Ivor. I had forgotten it as the years in my life moved forward, only to be reunited with it when I was given his record collection a few years back. The joy I felt when I recognised the green sleeve and put the needle on this original pressed cut wax! It has to be this epic roots record Rise and Shine by Bunny Walier released in 1981. ‘Rise and Shine’ speaks volumes: the earthiness of the roots chants, as the words tell a deep story. Close your eyes, let the empathy vibrations move your aura and connect to the underlying beats.
Koffee – Raggamuffin
This starlet is a little firecracker and plenty of good things are coming for this gifted lady. So I’m choosing her first hit ‘Raggamuffin’, I first heard this tune on 1xtra and I was truly hooked and had to find out more about this artist. The beat defo gets you swaying your hips and your head nodding. This is a floor filler for sure.. “When the music hits me.”
Salute/Room In The Sky – Catch the Dub
I bought this record originally for the A side by Little Roy, who I love. Then I flipped the record over to the B side and I discovered the dub version in all its glory. What’s not to love? It jumps right in with the drumming rhythmic beats, the frenzied siren, and gradually takes you on a journey, with the echo screaming out and then dubbing throughout. A well-constructed tune.
Marcia Griffiths – Where were you
Marcia Griffiths is an all time favourite artist of mine. She has a catalogue of records that are true classics but the one record that I love would have to be ‘Where Were You’. With the blaring whizzing trumpet intro and the percussion of the drums, it drops into that nice reggae rhythm beat as her voice glides over the hypnotic and heightened sounds as the brass takes centre point and the rattle… rattles!
Little Roy – ‘Come As You Are’ (from the album ‘Battle for Seattle’)
I was truly impressed by this album, it was introduced to me by my work colleague Denise. A
fantastic cover of Nirvana, it has that old time feel to it, with each instrument taking centre stage and building up layer upon layer of tight reggae and ska influenced sounds, produced by Prince Fatty and arranged by Mutant HiFi. Little Roy did a brilliant job on this album and made it his own. Uplifting.
Aisha – The Creator
Aisha, what an empress! Her voice is mesmerizing, compelling and this is a big tune released in the mid 80’s, The Creator! She defo knows how to hold your attention with the flicker of her distinctive voice. With a driving beat and a relentless rhythm that is timeless classic, this has been held up as one of the greatest reggae tunes and ahead of it time, from the Ariwa records label.
Doreen Shaffer – This Love
Now this song sings sunshine to me and is perfectly formed for chilling on a Sunday. It takes me to my happy place. The song is called ‘This Love’ and it makes me fall in love without being in love – thanks to its delicate light touches and simple flowing, grooving sounds. The arrangement of the 4/4 beat and her beautiful tones complement each other superbly. Great Lovers Rock record.
Impact All Stars – Ordinary Version
You defo want to slide into the rhythm when you hear this B side of a Lloyd Parks song cut at
Randy’s. I love how they leave the introduction of studio talking on this record. It gives great depth, with the cheeky whistling and the build-up, operating the bass, then dropping the drums and bringing the guitar in. ‘Ordinary Version’ is the recipe for a great reggae tune.
The Dynamics – Seven Nation Army
Another cover version. ‘ Seven Nation Army’, was a brave choice to take on, doing a classic cover of this highly recognisable White Stripes record. They have treated it with respect and twist on modern reggae sounds. Playing it simple and flaccid at the beginning with the bass and drums and then rippling into a tangent and structuring the lashing reggae beats. Great combo and respect to this song for pushing the boundaries.
Sonya Spence – Peace and Unity
Her words speak volumes, openly, with the lyrics: ‘So come on brothers and sisters, let’s join hands and hearts.’ It’s something to guide you on the road of peace and uniting together, a message to the people, with a slow mesmerizing melody and the pace of the rolling bass and the ghost notes of the drums, graceful played, finely in tune with each other. Released in 2013.
Martin Campbell – Got to Pray
This old time tune had me hooked from the beginning. It was not regarded as a classic when it was first released in 1991 and was not well received in the reggae world when it came out. What madness! this is a fantastic reggae tune that is not trying too hard to be something that it is not, while taking its easy with its rhythmic ingredients in reggae resonance. I love the expression in his voice entwining it all together. It is perfectly balanced.
With special thanks to everyone who supported and loves the music I play, + keep supporting all the record shops
and thanks going out to Angus Taylor.
Thanks so much Sherrine!! Love it!!