Roots Reggae

Roots reggae on vinyl: rhythm and message from Jamaica

In short: Roots reggae developed above all in seventies Jamaica: slow, heavy rhythm, deep bass and lyrics about faith, poverty and justice, often shaped by the Rastafari movement. Bob Marley & The Wailers carried it around the world, and Burning Spear, Dennis Brown and Gregory Isaacs gave it their voices. The Vinyl Room currently has 85 roots reggae records.

What is roots reggae?

Alongside the singers came the DJs, who talked and toasted over the rhythms – here Big Youth with “Natty Cultural Dread” and I. Roy. Count Ossie and the Mystic Revelation Of Rastafari combine Nyabinghi drumming with jazz on “Tales Of Mozambique”.

Producers such as Lee Perry shaped the sound in the studio. The tradition lives on, for example with Protoje from today’s Jamaican scene.

What to look for

Many roots reggae records came out both in Jamaica and in Britain, where labels such as Island and Trojan released them. Jamaican and British pressings differ in label and sleeve – which edition it is is noted with each copy.

From our stock

First pressings

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→ Bob Marley & The Wailers · Big Youth · Dub · Reggae on vinyl · How to spot a first pressing · Grading explained

FAQ

What is roots reggae? Reggae from Jamaica, especially the seventies, with a heavy rhythm and lyrics about faith, poverty and justice.

What does roots reggae have to do with Rastafari? Many of the musicians were Rastafari, and their songs draw on its faith and imagery.

Who are the big names? Among others Bob Marley & The Wailers, Burning Spear, Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs and DJs such as Big Youth.

Why are there so many British pressings? Because labels such as Island and Trojan released Jamaican reggae in Britain.