We're Jammin'

I've touched on my love for reggae and ska before, and lately I've been into it more.  My interest waxes and wanes, but never goes away.  Clapton's cover of "I Shot the Sheriff" was probably the first reggae-ish song I heard, but jeez, there were a lot of songs in the '70s and '80s that were influenced by ska and reggae.  The Police were very into those sounds; think of "Can't Stand Losing You," "Message In A Bottle,"or "Walking On The Moon"- reggae is front and center, even if at the time I didn't know what to call it.   There was The Clash, of course, and there were others bringing reggae into the mainstream- Paul Simon with "Mother and Child Reunion," even Led Zeppelin.  I quickly moved on to Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff, and then got into ska, and the rest is history.


Musical Youth- Pass The Dutchie

A sanitized cover of "Pass the Kutchie" by the Mighty Diamonds, an early reggae group.  I heard this a lot when it came out in 1982, and it, along with other songs of that era, brought reggae into the mainstream for me and others.



Eddie Grant- Electric Avenue

A big hit, again in 1982. 



The Police- Walking on the Moon

One of many Police songs with strong reggae influences.



Led Zeppelin- D'yer Mak'er

I would have had no idea this was essentially a reggae song, and I bet most early listeners were oblivious too.  But it helped plant seeds, and the roots infiltrated pop pretty quickly.