Product Description

Reggae-a potent blend of Caribbean folk, American rock 'n' soul, Rastafarianism, and politics-is more than just a style of music: it's a cultural movement. With more than 400 illustrations, Reggae Explosion charts the course of the rhythmic revolution that began on Jamaica and took over the world. Reggae authorities Chris Salewicz and Adrian Boot tell the stories behind the distinct sound and capture the contrasts that typify its birthplace: the poverty, societal strife, deep spiritualism, and energy of Jamaica. Culled from the world's most comprehensive collection of reggae memorabilia, hundreds of images document the past 50 years of ska and dub, dancehall, even drum 'n' bass.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1321940 in Books
• Published on: 2002-10-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 224 pages

Review
"Reggae Explosion is an exceptional celebration of cultural upheaval and artistic destiny, as well as a book no sincere fan of the music would want to be without." -- Billboard Magazine

About the Author
Chris Salewicz has been writing on reggae and other world music for more than 20 years. He is the author of Punk: The Illustrated History of a Music Revolution and co-author, with Adrian Boot, of Bob Marley: Songs of Freedom. He lives in London.

Adrian Boot is co-founder of the ReggaeXplosion Archive and one of the world's leading experts on reggae. He was the long-time photographer of Bob Marley and the Wailers. He lives in London.

Chris Blackwell is the founder of Island Records, which has played a pivotal role in the worldwide spread of reggae. He lives in Jamaica

Customer Reviews

Give praises...
This book does what it sets out to achieve. It is a thorough history of Jamaican music and its progression. While slightly general at times, it covers the course of Jamaican music from the mid-20th century up to today- ska, rocksteady, roots, dancehall and much more. But what makes this book great is the pictures. There are so many photos and illustrations which give you a real sense of what all these musicians were like. There are also collages of many pictures for certain notable artists (like Burning Spear, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Luciano, etc., Marley gets his own chapter full of photos) In fact the book is just packed with photos, i don't even know if they could have stuffed many more in it.

The book goes into how Jamaican music has impacted many other musical genres and cultures around the globe. For instance, the fact that the DJ and MC has its origins in the selectors and dj's of Jamaica. The modern ideas of electronic music can also be traced back to the origins of dub and other production techniques developed in Jamaica (notably by King Tubby & Lee Perry). This island of a few million has impacted the entire world in ways that are still not completely realized. The roots movements especially has affected my life in significant ways for the better. This is a very quality book, full of excellent photos, interesting text, and an overall good ting. Solid stuff, pick it up an feel irie.

Lotsa nice pictures....
...but if you're looking for a decent history of reggae and reggae artists, this is NOT the place to start. Best to start with the ROUGH GUIDE TO REGGAE or Lloyd Bradley's THIS IS REGGAE MUSIC.

excellent history of jamacian music

I LOVED THE INFORMATIVE INFO ON JAMAICAN MUSIC. THE BOOK IS A EXCELLENT READ,ALSO THERE ARE SOME VERY BEATIFUL PICTURES. ANYONE WHO ENJOYS JAMAICA, WILL ENJOY THIS BOOK. IT IS A COFFEE TABLE BOOK, FOR EVERYONE TO ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!
ONE LOVE NYIAH