For this mid summer Stormy Monday we have a roots reggae mix, just right for these steamy days. First up is a show opening pair from Peter Tosh in the late seventies, just before he turned a little too heavily toward synthesizers, 400 Years > Steppin’ Razor. You’ve gotta love Tosh’s outrage and indignation, not to mention the machine gun guitar skills he wielded without reservation.
A more recent performance from Culture at WOMAD in 2000 gives us Zion Gate, a great tune with killer bass and nice ranting about “cooking reggae” and “raw reggae music”. A shade of Marley comes from a sparse 2001 Trey Anastasio Band version of Mellow Mood, and we close out the week with my personal favorite, Burning Spear’s sprawling jam of Red, Green & Gold > Happy Day. As always, enjoy!
