Zero to 180 – Three Minute Magic

Discoveries of a Pop Music Archaeologist

Category: Early reggae

Dub reggae +/- version
Zeroto180

Sonia Pottinger: Jamaica’s First Female Record Producer

Trailblazing, by definition, can be a lonely enterprise — but someone has to move civilization forward.  Therefore, hats off to Jamaica’s first woman music producer, Sonia Pottinger, who managed to navigate a path through a field that is still overwhelmingly dominated by men and left future generations a legacy of

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"Ital Vibes"
Zeroto180

“Ital Vibes”: Vibraphonic Reggae

Reggae is another realm of popular music where the vibraphone so rarely makes a foray.  As a result, Jamaican vibraphonist, Lennie Hibbert, pretty much has the field all to himself, as the intersection of reggae and the vibes essentially begins and ends with this one soul. Hibbert’s theme song –

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"Christmas Time Is Here"
Zeroto180

Claymation Christmas (Is Here)

Someone went to great effort to animate “Christmas Time Is Here” by The Heptones in this charming claymation-style video: “Christmas Time Is Here“ The Heptones (196?) * This song provokes the question – Where exactly does rocksteady end and reggae begin? * “Christmas Time Is Here” can be found on Studio

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Early reggae
Zeroto180

Horace Ové & UK Reggae, 1970

Thanks to Courtney Tulloch‘s original review in the March 4, 1971 edition of Rolling Stone for tipping me to a 1970 documentary entitled, Reggae, that was directed by Trinidadian-born British filmmaker, photographer, painter & writer, Horace Ové.  Originally broadcast on BBC TV, Ove’s documentary deserves credit for being, as Marco on

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"Tea for Two"
Zeroto180

“Tea for Two”: Heptones at Studio One

Tip of the hat to Joe’s Record Paradise, Silver Spring’s legendary music store (that also sells 8-tracks, cassettes, 78s, books, magazines, videos – and includes a shrine to one-time Silver Spring resident, Root Boy Slim, plus lots of other great DC music memorabilia) for a sweet deal on a stack

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"Press Along Nyah"
Zeroto180

The Earliest Reggae Recording?

Three years ago, someone paid $99 for this great single by Larry (Marshall) & Alvin (Leslie) that was recorded in 1970 at Clement “Coxsone” Dodd’s legendary Studio One: “Press Along Nyah“ Larry & Alvin (1970) Last year The Jamaica Observer checked in with Larry Marshall (now residing in Florida), who

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"Bangarang Festival"
Zeroto180

“Bangarang Festival”: The Sound of 1969

Very little information seems to exist about this Jamaica Independence Festival song contribution that bears the classic sound of vintage 1969 reggae – “Bangarang Festival” – from The Peter Ashbourne Affair: Bangarang Festival – Peter Ashbourne Affair [Pssst:  Click the triangle to play “Bangarang Festival” by The Peter Ashbourne Affair.]

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"Midnight Confessions"
Zeroto180

“Midnight Confessions”: Breezy Pop Recast as Menacing Dub

I’d have to agree with the lone reviewer on Amazon UK who says that Treasure Isle Dub is his favorite dub album “by quite a margin” and points out this interesting fact: “Available as mp3 on The Complete Treasure Isle Dub Collection with another 12 tracks besides.” King Tubby vs.

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"Blue Boot"
Zeroto180

“Blue Boot”: Next-Generation Musical Footware

A key transitional moment in the history of popular music largely went unnoticed when Eric Donaldson took the baton from early rock & roll pioneer, Carl Perkins – author of “Blue Suede Shoes” – upon the release of this great single from 1972 on the Jaguar label, “Blue Boot“: “Blue

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"Weather Report"
Zeroto180

“Weather Report”: Play the Simon & Garfunkel Game

Here’s a fun game – a public service of Zero to 180 – that you can play with a group of friends: Get a time piece (or watch with a second hand) Click the triangle below to play “Weather Report” by The Tennors. Make note of how much time elapses

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