Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
405th out of 699 books
—
479 voters
Bass Culture: When Reggae Was King
'Jamaican music at last has the book it deserves' Prince Buster, from his Foreword
'The first comprehensive history of every aspect of reggae (and) it could be the last that talked to those who were there at stage one...Bradley leaves no stone unturned in a coruscating rollercoaster ride through murder, major label gripes, ganja paranoia and racism, ending with Luciano hopi...more
'The first comprehensive history of every aspect of reggae (and) it could be the last that talked to those who were there at stage one...Bradley leaves no stone unturned in a coruscating rollercoaster ride through murder, major label gripes, ganja paranoia and racism, ending with Luciano hopi...more
Paperback, 540 pages
Published
2001
by Penguin Books
(first published 2000)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
203)
This is not only a comprehensive examination of Jamaican music but a well-written and informative tome on subjects as varied as Rastafarianism, Jamaican independence and politics, as well as emigration, particularly of Jamaicans to the UK.
Musically, it starts with the Sound Systems of 1950’s Kingston and delves deeply into 60’s Ska and Rocksteady before moving into Reggae’s golden age of the 1970’s. Fans will know that, contrary to much conventional wisdom, it doesn’t all sound the same and with...more
Musically, it starts with the Sound Systems of 1950’s Kingston and delves deeply into 60’s Ska and Rocksteady before moving into Reggae’s golden age of the 1970’s. Fans will know that, contrary to much conventional wisdom, it doesn’t all sound the same and with...more
Jul 13, 2007
kevin
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
dj's, reggae fans, people with an interest in recent jamaican history
Shelves:
non-fiction
Astonishingly comprehensive history of Jamaican popular music from the early 1950s through the end of the century. Strong analysis makes connections between Jamaica's tumultuous post-colonial development and the emergence of a remarkably unique cultural economy. Best of all, the text is littered with specific references to tracks, artists, and labels for the curious record collector, DJ, or music fanatic to use in a mad reggae scavenger hunt.
Coverage of later developments in dancehall (digital,...more
Coverage of later developments in dancehall (digital,...more
Utilises a mixture of social and cultural analysis aligned to verbatim quotes from many of the key players - this is a compelling read which has inspired me to dust off many an old vinyl classic and go and re-purchase (and investigate new avenues) from the golden age of reggae.
For fans and non-fans of reggae alike, a comprehensive history of the influential musical form the political landscape with which it's inextricably intertwined. Lovingly researched, it just needs a companion CD set.
An invigorating and educational history on not only the sounds but the politics and places that created the backbone of modern music, written lucidly and intelligently.
not bad, a good approach to the argument. the italian version which i read is unfortunately poorly translated and without any notes or suggested discography for reference.
Utterly indispensable for anyone wanting to gain a greater insight into the story of Jamaican music. One of the finest music books I have read, Bradley's passion for the subject spills out of every page. Superb.
A must read although very scathing and dismissive about Dancehall and anything after 1980. But one of the best non-fiction books I've ever read.
Fantastic ....if you only read one book on Reggae make it this one !
Fascinating read this ...
It illustrates really well how Reggae was/is influenced by the constant social and political turmoil in Jamaica and vice versa, meaning you don't have to know anything about Reggae (like me) to find it interesting.
If you are curious as to what sound system culture is, how the Rasta movement began, or to know what 'toasting' is then this is recommended.
It illustrates really well how Reggae was/is influenced by the constant social and political turmoil in Jamaica and vice versa, meaning you don't have to know anything about Reggae (like me) to find it interesting.
If you are curious as to what sound system culture is, how the Rasta movement began, or to know what 'toasting' is then this is recommended.
At first this book might seem too detailed but give it time. This is a crucial text for anyone interested in the history of Jamaican music. As a fan, I've gleaned a fair amount of history over the years but this book brought the story together and provided many new discoveries, especially the history of reggae in England.
Mar 08, 2008
Korri
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
musicians, cultural historians, and anyone who likes good dub
This is a wonderful history of reggae with emphasis not just on lyrics, the standard preoccupation of histories of music, but the sound of the music itself. Much of the information derives from the informal interviews Bradley conducted with the early sound system men.
Dec 12, 2007
Andrew
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone interested in reggae.
Shelves:
non-fiction
Certainly not perfect; Bradley loses interest around the rise of dancehall/ragga, but as a history of the pre-digital Jamaican music scene it's superb. Well researched with so much historical and cultural context as well as details about tons of key records.
A strictly amazing history of reggae: fact-filled, broad in analysis, wryly humored, coherent--what more could one want? Plus, it passes my personal test of great music non-fiction: I know it will be putting a dent in my wallet.
An exhaustive journey through jamaican roots, from the soulful US R&B's influence to the experimentations of the Caribean British musicians.
Great discovery.
Great discovery.
Very informative book on Jamaican music. Covers a lot of ground, highly recommended for anyone interested in Ska, Roots, Rocksteady, Dub, Reggae, etc.
No less than superb ! Which means, of course, that Lloyd agrees with me.
This might be the best book I have read on the history of reggae.
May 19, 2013
Mat Fidge
added it
May 14, 2013
Greg
marked it as to-read
May 08, 2013
Bladimir Gallegos
marked it as to-read
Apr 29, 2013
Dennis
is currently reading it
Apr 24, 2013
Eileen
marked it as to-read
Apr 24, 2013
Redmonkees
marked it as to-read
Apr 21, 2013
Jay Larson
marked it as to-read
Apr 11, 2013
inverted_a
marked it as to-read
Apr 09, 2013
Matti
is currently reading it
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Apr 15, 2010 08:55am