1. King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown
Have to pay homage, honor & respect to the beginning of it all for me. What King Tubby was doing in the early 70’s still blows my mind to this day. He is the inventor of Dub which is one of the main ingredients in all genres of electronic dance music. All hail the King!
2. Bad Brains ‘I Luv I Jah’
Ok I lied. This is actually where it started for me since I was listening to the Bad Brains before I found King Tubby. I got into the Bad Brains for their hardcore sound when I just just a young skater youth. It blew me away that this same band could include a couple reggae songs on their albums and live sets without losing the crowd or listener. The amount of reggae fans that came from this hardcore scene because of the Bad Brains is countless. Not everyone heard reggae music first through Bob Marley. Not to take anything away from Bob of course.
3. The Police ‘Can’t Stand Losing You’
I have a serious lying issue today. Ok this is where reggae music really and truly started for me. Before King Tubby. Before the Bad Brains. When I was really young (like 7-8 years old) I heard this on the radio in the car with my family. It really affected me even though I had no idea that it was reggae music. I just knew I loved it and needed more. This guy that was building our shed made me cassette copies of the Police first few albums. They were my first real musical love.
4. Newcleus ‘Jam On It’
I kind of have a fucked up time line theme going on here for the music that influenced me early on. ‘Rappers Delight’ & ‘Apache’ were very cool but the electronic elements that ‘Jam On It’ was composed from really hit me on the inside. When the cardboard got busted out, this was the song of choice to play on repeat to breakdance too. And forever installed the vibrations of the drum machine into my soul.
5. Bobby Konders ‘Nervous Acid’
Now we are getting into the thick of it. This song defined everything I loved about the acid house and rave parties I was going to. ‘Nervous Acid’ can still be played in the dancehall and be the biggest song of your set. A true timeless masterpiece. The crazy thing is that I didn’t even know until years later that this is the same Bobby Kondors from Massive B Reggae SoundSystem which I give the highest ratings to. Been trying forever to have him play a house set for us in Philly so Bobby if you are reading this… 🙂
6. Orbital ‘Chime’
All I have to say is that when I first heard this I was under the influence of some really good acid (a few times lol). Heard this in the car, boombox, the rave and our beach house on repeat. I felt god’s presence every time. And I still do. Minus the acid. Note that Orbital’s ‘Belfast’ comes in a very close second to ‘Chime’.
7. Renegade Soundwave ‘The Phantom’
There was a point early on in my DJ career where it was all about finding the the rare house break B side inside cuts. These cuts were played in those 6a-noon set times. This is one of the anthems for that period in time for me and my crew (Circle). Tough riddem but telling a story and taking the listener/dancer on a journey same way. Plus I love that the sample comes from Peter Metro’s 80’s dancehall smash ’Nuh Put It Deh’.
8. Rhythm & Sound feat Tikiman ‘Never Tell You’
This was a major game changer for me when it came out in 1996. It was everything I was seeking for production inspiration fusing house, techno & reggae/dub music. This came out the same year I started to take production more serious. Two years later Worship Recordings came to fruition and my partner Zack and I released ‘Beating Heart’ as Solomonic Sound System.
9. Solomonic Sound ‘Children Of Dub (Yotam Avni Remix 2018)’
When selecting music to play for friends coming back for a night cap at the studio I always throw in something new that I am working on. Or in this case a remix of one of our best selling releases by one of my favorite current producers (Yotam Avni). He nailed it and inspired Joe-ski, Jay Tripwire and a couple others to start their interpretations of this classic from 2001. I can’t wait to hear them all and play for friends on the late night studio listening session powered by a nice spliff.
10. Chronixx ’Skankin Sweet’
I find it extremely difficult to complete a list like this. 10 songs isn’t enough for any list imo. Not even by breaking into genres would I be satisfied with my list. Number 10 came up way too quick but I will obey the guidelines and leave you with one of my (and the world of reggae music) current favorites. Chronixx is one of the major artists reviving culture reggae music In Jamaica and I love him for it. The production on this song is absolutely stellar in every aspect. Respect…
![Chronixx - "Skankin' Sweet" [Official Video] | Chronology](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/049km3Vc02c/0.jpg)
