Tag: reggae

705. Jimmy Cliff

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(January 2026) Episode 705 is JIMMY CLIFF. I started this episode after his recent passing. I never knew much about him so it was fun to learn about his music and eventful life. He and Bob Marley are the two most responsible for popularizing reggae beyond Jamaica. But Cliff had a wider musical palette, going into pop styles and multiple collaborations with other diverse artists. His recording output was rather prolific, his last album coming only a few years ago.

Favorite album: The Harder They Come

Favorite song: Wonderful World, Beautiful People

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: The early 70s seem to be his peak period.

359. Bob Marley

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(September 2021) Episode 359 is BOB MARLEY and the Wailers.  Is there any artist whose music is so universally enjoyed and adored?  You can’t not feel chill and happy. Even though we have been over-saturated by his hits, they still get you humming and toe-tapping.

Favorite album: Burnin’

Favorite song: Three Little Birds

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: a greatest hits compilation will satisfy

357. The Slits

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(September 2021) Episode 357 is THE SLITS. Started out as a formative female UK punk band but soon transitioned to a wild-sounding post-punk, new wave sound with a strong dub substrate sung in a Nico* accent.

Favourite album: Cut

Favourite song: Shoplifting

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: An acquired taste, but a must-have if you’re into the UK punk/new wave thing.

* They covered “Femme Fatale” in a live recording, with (German-born) Ari Up pronouncing “clown” as “clonn” just as Nico did.

285. Bad Brains

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(September 2020) Episode 285 is BAD BRAINS.  Ground-breaking and iconic, a D.C. original.  Who would think of combining punk and reggae?  Not surprisingly, I like the early punk material best, and the reggae is good, but the metal phase is a mixed affair (for which I find H.R.’s voice ill-fitting, not unlike Dave Mustaine with Megadeth). 

Favorite album: Bad Brains (Black Dots, the collection of early singles, is the best, but I can’t count it as it’s a compilation)

Favorite song: Don’t Bother Me

Compared to expectations: same