Bass Culture: When Reggae Was King

by Lloyd Bradley

'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 hoping for a return to good songs and good singers. And if UB 40 get a mention, I missed it. Isn`t that recommendation enough for you?' Mojo

'Switches between informed analysis and intoxicating aural history...With epic contributions from major players such as PrinceBuster, Horace Andy, Bunny Lee and Dennis Bovell' GQ

'Fascinating...written with passion, style and gusto. This is a book many musicians would benefit from reading' Jah Wobble, Independent on Sunday

'A compelling social and musical history running from Fifties soundsystem roots to contemporary dancehall...filled to the brim with anecdotes to keep the most hardened music-head happy' Face

'A classic...Hilarious in places, peppered with social and historical comment in others, this is a fascinating account detailing how reggae evolved in Jamaica and became a global phenomenon' New Nation

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, History, Biography, Cultural

608 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2000

Reviews

[Steve Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 within the genre there’s a wide range of styles from Roots to Dub to Lover’s Rock and Dancehall.

At 540 pages long, this is probably a book for the passionate fan rather than those looking for an introduction to the music or Jamaica itself; the latter may well be better off with some kind of Rough Guide or suchlike.

Those curious about the subject and willing to make the effort are in for a very rewarding read indeed. (If you think toasters are just an appliance for preparing your breakfast then prepare to enlightened.) There’s little more than one chapter on Bob Marley so the more discerning aficionado is likely to find plenty of interest and learn a thing or two along the way; particularly with the diversity of related topics covered.

Preferring reggae’s social commentary aspect to the full on Jah worship, I particularly enjoyed the sections on UK roots music (albeit very London-oriented). If there is a weakness, it is that the book first published in 2000, appears to tail off, with the second half of the 80’s and the 90’s looking like a footnote to what has gone before.

Bass Culture has been so thoroughly researched that it would be very harsh to criticize Lloyd Bradley for this. Perhaps the music went into a period of decline in the digital age, as the author and others appear to believe, or maybe their time had simply gone and a younger writer will be better placed to pick up the story with the same passion and knowledge Bradley has for the earlier periods.

But for coverage of Jamaican music and its context from the 50’s through to the early 80’s, I have no hesitation in awarding Bass Culture the full complement of five stars.

[Jon Tran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bass Culture is an extensive history of reggae and the genres that preceded it - ska, rock-steady, and dub. Bass Culture covers reggae's roots in Jamaica as well as its history in the US and UK, hitting on all the major players - Lee "Scratch" Perry, Burning Spear, Jimmy Cliff, and of course Bob Marley - along the way. Beyond the musical history of reggae, Bass Culture catalogs the cultural, religious (chiefly via Rastafarianism), and societal impacts reggae has had on Jamaica and the world. I was curious about reggae before reading this book, but now have a love for the music.

[Nenad Pekez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is what you call a book about musical genre. Simply put, this is PhD in reggae. There are so many beautiful insights from legends such as Prince Buster, Jimmy Cliff, Sly Dunbar, Dennis Bovell and others. Above all, it takes you behind the scene, revealing the connection between music and economy, society, religion and other important factors. Its all about the facts. This book certainly changed the way I look at the reggae and I am now appreciatte it even more (even though I have been hardcore reggae fan for many years now) because there is a real understanding on what reggae is and what is not, who are the core guys and who are not. Reggae music is a universe for itself and the best thing about it, there is so much more to be written about. UK reggae is included a lot in the book, but it deserves a book for itself. It would be nice if Lloyd gives more insights to UK scene in the future, it would be great to see what there is in underground of that scene. All in all, this is simply the book about the reggae that anyone who considers oneself to be a reggae fan, must read.

[Jumanah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A comprehensive history of Jamaican music from the 1930s approximately. It intertwines politics & culture of the time fluidly to culminate in a very holistic telling of life in Jamaica with music at its heart.

Recommend to anyone interested in the meaning behind reggae.

5/5

[S D · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're interested enough in Reggae and Jamaica to read 500+ pages, this book is everything and anything you'll want. Meticulous attention to detail without sacrificing any of the excitement and turmoil that came out of the birth of Jamaica as an independent nation and reggae as one of its greatest exports.

If that's not your thing uhhhhhh dont read it

[Bryce Galloway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazingly in depth book. Bradley has already done exhaustive reading but supplements this with extensive firsthand interviews in the UK, US and Jamaica. Transcribed interview quotes will run for two or three pages at times, making the book half conventional history/half oral history. Political and economic contexts are thoroughly discussed to give the reader the full context. So many things I had the vaguest understanding of have now been thoroughly enriched: the evolution of the Jamaican sound system clashes, ska, dancehall, reggae, Rastafarianism, roots, dub, versioning, toasting, lovers rock and more, across Jamaica but with excursions to see how the Windrush generation and their children reworked things in the UK (or in the case of lovers rock, invented something of their own).
Bradley’s also brave enough to query the real musical significance of Bob Marley, suggesting that he was in some ways a less connected figurehead than some other contenders. Bradley reserves the word ‘genius’ for Lee “Scratch” Perry.
The penultimate chapter Johnny Dollar is however depressing as fuck, as it discusses a break in the throughline, spawning the guns and poonany, gangsterism, cocaine, and commerce of Slackness. In fact, the only flaw with the book is that Bradley is so determined to finish on a positive note that he overeggs the final chapter about the return to soulful Rasta roots. The interview with Luciano that closes the book is a little dull and self-righteous for all its attempts to wash out the sour taste of Slackness. Four and half stars if Goodreads would allow...

[didi · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Immediately Dennis came up with a heart with an arrow through it - a pink heart - as a logo. And then John Kpiaye, our guitarist had written this song, [sings] I'm in love with a dreadlocks and I never felt this way before ... Brilliant. That's it. Had to be the first record on the Lovers' Rock label, "In Love with a Dreadlocks". But we had nobody to sing it, and this is where it got a bit like the early days of Motown. We had these three girls who had come in separately to the first audition - one of whom was Caron Wheeler, who went on to sing with Soul II Soul - and Dennis said, "Right. You, you and you. You should all be together in a group and we'll call it Brown Sugar." "In Love with a Dreadlocks" by Brown Sugar - it had all the ingredients of soppy lovers, and women being as sentimental as they are... and then guys, who obviously wanted to stay in with women, who would normally slag off that kind of soppy rendition, went for it too.

[sebas tian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maravilloso libro. Queda en evidencia la rigurosidad de la investigación realizada por el autor desde el primer capítulo. Aborda la relación que tuvo la música reggae en su desarrollo y transformación con eventos políticos, sociales, económicos, religiosos, migratorios y raciales.
Un texto cuya lectura puede acompañarse con una banda sonora rica en posibilidades (como la historia misma del género musical).
Como si todo lo anterior no fuera ya suficiente, el autor comparte también un glosario y un listado de lecturas recomendadas para profundizar en el estudio de la cultura reggae o de Jamaica en general.

[Glenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Could be the best reggae history available. I have a couple more on the shelf, but this one is a very strong contender.

[Jessy Reese · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thorough and serious in its treatment of Reggae, yet highly accessible and almost conversational in tone. Took me a long time to read because I don't have a History Brain. A very impressive feat of research and truly required reading for anyone interested in any of reggae's subgenres or the sociopolitical history of Jamaica. Some small disappointments as Bradley obviously had a deeply emotional bias for roots reggae, a patronising understanding of women's contributions to the genre (esp in the UK!), and no interest in the fruitful scene in New York. But it's already a big book so to be honest he might have just run out of space. Still earns its place as the defining book on the subject.

[Juanchu Chu · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best music book I've ever read, it's a extremely well written story of Jamaica's musical and sociopolitical history since right before independence up to the end of last century. At no point the book gets boring thanks to the narration and the eloquent interviewees.

If I was forced to point something I didn't like: In the last chapters, dissing gansta rap as 'art' with quotation marks struck me as a bit narrow-minded, and also I missed having a bit more of closure on the current status of the key players from the 70s (for example, King Tubby's murder isn't even mentioned).

But all and all, I can't recommend this book enough.

[Javi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probablemente el mejor libro sobre los orígenes del reggae (aunque es el único que he leído por el momento). No solamente tiene las referencias musicales necesarias para profundizar en el género (ayudado de una playlist de Spotify de una biblioteca barcelonesa por la que doy gracias todos los días) también por el transfondo sociológico y político de Jamaica y el Reino Unido que de verdad aterrizan todo el género haciéndolo comprensible a cualquiera por alejado que esté. Imprescindible. el único pero es que la edición española tiene la letra casi demasiado pequeña, estad prevenidos.

[Mark Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoying this authoritative but readable account of Jamaican music, starting with the sound systems of the late 1950's ; full of insight and it will drive me back to the music.Have just got to the point in the narrative pre-Marley,where ska morphs into rocksteady,and how the music gradually shook off its American R&B forms,and begins to find its authentic voice. The number of great recordings referenced is already outstripping my ability to keep up on Spotify with them all.:-) Lovely stuff.

[Ali Miremadi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good cultural history of ska-rocksteady-reggae-digitalJamaicanstuffuptothenineties. Wonderfully positive ethos - the artists Bradley admires get plenty of room; the ones he despises just get a brief mention or are omitted. Would much rather read someone who has committed views like Bradley than a fence-sitter. I’d like it if he updated it to expand on UK dub reggae and I’m sure many would like more on Marley but it is a terrific music book regardless.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comprehensive, insightful, educational history of a unique art form. I’ve listened to lots of reggae for years and still learned tons from this book. Brilliant.

[Chris Browning · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone with a pretty catholic music taste, one of my biggest weak spots has always been reggae. I’ve never taken to Bob Marley, and where Ska feels familiar enough to sixties soul for me to understand what’s going on, reggae can feel a bit alienating and overwhelming for a novice. And, let’s be honest, a very white and middle class novice at that

So it’s rare for me to read a music history on a subject that I know very little about - I have a smattering of Lee Scratch Perry and Dub in my collection but haven’t really engaged much with it - so this is all new to me. But Bradley is a fantastic writer and as good on musical history as he is cultural and political context. He’s also a funny, engaging writer who’s unafraid to be opinionated without ever overwhelming you with said opinions. I’d be very interested in an update of the book, but there’s a distinct impression that Bradley chose the right time to make this because enough of the main players have now passed on to make it a valuable record of the most creative, fertile and inventive periods of the genre. It’s particularly good on dub, which I suspect will be my in here, and never dumbs down the subject or excludes a novice from it either. A brilliant history, and even more so for someone who knows next to nothing about the subject

[Etienne Stekelenburg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is not just about reggae, this book is everything you want to know about reggae. It's about Jamaica, it's culture, politics and everyting that goes with it. About how New Orleans jazz and R&B was transformed into Ska, Blue Beat and how to dance Rock Steady because you get tired from dancing on Ska tracks all the time. How that American music evolves into reggae and how reggae turns into English pop and Lovers Rock and goes back to American airwave friendly Soul and Funk Reggae.

It's about the pioneers, the DJ's, the Rude Boy wars, Bob Marley's role in politics and his influence on spreading reggae around the globe, the election violence, the drugs and how all these aspects of Jamaican life was used in lyrics and reggae culture.

Have your Spotify or your Youtube ready to listen to all of those important reggae highlights that are mentioned in the book. You learn about how styles change from the earliest Blue Beat and Ska to the latest Dancehall and Ragga. A treat to the ears listening to the artists and their songs while you read about them.

A must-read for Reggae fans.

[Sabrina Gambino · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some really fascinating chapters but it mostly felt like a list of names and songs and for someone who is at an entry level of interest, it felt like it was dragging a lot of the time. I really liked the mention of the music, but without actually sitting at my computer and listening, it just feels like someone trying to describe music to you... Here's a playlist of all the songs Bradley mentions https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3fz.... It was great to see the evolution through the music mentioned. I got to learn about Reggae's roots in Jazz, and now I have been listening to Jazz all the time. Learning about the Rastafari movement was eye-opening. It has lots of mentions of political and social events, which makes this very much of a history book. Now I can understand lyrical themes in my favorite songs much better. Overall, maybe I'd recommend this book to someone who is already past entry-level interest.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's worth noting that this is the history of Jamaican popular music, not just reggae, which maybe accounts for 25% of the total book. Still, it's fascinating reading. Perhaps the biggest positive surprise for me was Bradley's retelling of the economic and political context that shaped Jamaican music, especially during the 60s and 70s, as well as the Jamaican music scene in the UK, primarily London, during that time. The biggest negative for me was the realization that the music industry in Jamaica was less about unfettered artistry and more about putting food on the table. A lot of the music was highly derivative, reusing the same beats over and over again. It leaves the reader sensing that the music was highly commoditized. The book also serves up a number of back-handed compliments to Bob Marley who, according to Bradley, didn't make real reggae. Instead it was reggae for a rock audience. Bob was revered in Jamaica, but his music wasn't. That seems incredibly petty to this reader.

[Alvaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me da la impresión de que este es el libro definitivo sobre la música popular jamaicana; pese a la interesante bibliografía que ofrece al final, Bass Culture es tan exhaustivo que es más que suficiente para tener un conocimiento notable sobre el tema. Una biografia de Marley y un libro que ahonde más en el dancehall y en la posible influencia que ha tenido Jamaica en la música del resto del Caribe (supongo que por algo lo llaman reggaeton) serían los dos únicos suplementos que recomendaría.

Bass Culture se esfuerza en narrar la evolución de la música de forma paralela a la de la sociedad y la política de la isla, que es tan particular que siempre resulta una lectura bastante entretenida. Como es obvio, escuchar los temas mencionados a lo largo del libro mientras es el complemento perfecto a la lectura.

[Alexander Santisteban · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un viaje largo y algo pesado, por más de cinco décadas, a través de enormes parlantes de madera que golpean fuerte con un bajo que se parece mucho al latido de un corazón, de un pueblo. Un ritmo algo pegajoso lleno de sonidos graves y una fuerte percusión que nos hace acordar la esencia del viaje, la esencia que se encuentra hace 500 años, en medio de esclavitud, frustración y rebelión.
Voces marginadas en busca de consuelo, unión y libertad, materializados en un disco de vinilo, en un cd y finalmente en una memoria sd... Desde el Ska pasando por el rocksteady hasta convertirse en Reggae... Bass Culture: La historia del reggae, un excelente libro para todos los amantes, coleccionistas y curiosos de este gran género musical.

[Dan Clifford · Rating 5 out of 5]

logged back into Goodreads purely to recommend this - it is one of the best books about music I have ever read. as a kid I loved reading narratives of "and then the Beatles invented this w this album" etc, which I def still love, but lately I have been more fascinated by the economic/sociopolitical background that created the music I love. this masterfully interweaves those threads in with the leading lights of reggae, as well as many figures I had never heard of outside of this book. he also goes to page 380-something without significantly discussing Bob Marley's solo work, and does so with the most nuance I have ever heard applied to Bob.

I devour music books like nothing else and so I devoured this in a few days. I can't wait to read it again in a few years

[Maya Guadarrama · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amo mucho este libro.
Tiene una manera preciosa de transmitir ese sentimiento de los jamaicanos hacia la música. Porque para ellos la música es símbolo de comunidad, resistencia, unión y fuerza. Jamaica le dio un gran legado a la cultura mundial: El reggae, un ritmo tan bello y con un gran trasfondo que evidentemente tuvo que influenciar otros géneros musicales.

En definitiva es un gran viaje por la isla caribeña y por Inglaterra.
El libro es extenso y tiene mucha información, así que hay que darse tiempo para disfrutarlo. Sugiero poner en tu playlist las canciones que va mencionando el autor durante todo este viaje será experiencia completa. <3

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and enjoyable review/history of Jamaican music with lots of direct quotations from those in the thick of it. Like all such cultural histories, it's hard to establish the full truth of what is said and the author freely admits at times that he may be partisan (I'm pretty sure he is). However, despite my already having some knowledge, this book gave me greater insight into some of the twists and turns of reggae's development and some of the participants that I knew only a little of. My criticism would be that, in order to give thematic structure to the chapters, he loses some of the clear chronology and we find ourselves either repeating stuff or losing the connections.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very detailed history of the development of reggae from the early soundsystem days in the 1950s to Ska, rocksteady, roots reggae and dancehall. Also, excellent on the social history of Jamaica, Rastafari, the black diaspora and the development of the UK reggae scene. Particularly enjoyed how links were made with the political and social context and its direct influence on the music. I'm left with so many ideas of amazing music to check out. Essential resource for all music heads!

[RuloZetaka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Apenas voy por la mitad y me parece un libro precioso y excelente. Una investigación exhaustiva que nos lleva de la mano por cada playa, barrio, palmera y gueto de Jamaica a través del soundsystem y la producción musical. Un libro indispensable, para leerse escuchando reggae y haciendo incontables playlists de música producida en Jamaica. Seguir leyendo y seguir escuchando se vuelve una necesidad que aletarga el proceso de lectura.

[Andrés Alejandro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hay relativo consenso en que este libro es lo mejor y más completo en idioma español acerca del reggae. Asiento totalmente. Quizás lo único que se le podría criticar es que su recorrido histórico sólo llega hasta fines de la década de los 90, pero ciertamente eso no es culpa de Bradley sino de la desidia de las editoriales locales al no traducirlo antes.

Pese al evidente conocimiento que despliega Bradley sobre el reggae y su cuna, Jamaica, es un libro increíblemente amable con el lector que apenas si conoce los grandes (y más comerciales) nombres del género: Marley, Tosh, Perry, Cliff, Tubby, la producción de Studio One o la camada inglesa liderada por Aswad y Black Uhuru. Desde sus primeras páginas, Bass Culture se dedica a ampliar esta visión, contextualizarla, mostrarte a los verdaderos ingenieros del género y entregarte las herramientas necesarias para entender el porqué desde esta isla tan golpeada por la pobreza y la explotación primermundista surgió el género musical más influyente del último tercio del siglo XX. El relato es entretenido, dinámico y a ratos "ametrallador", pero siempre cristalino: como si pudieras estar bailando en el sound system mientras sientes a la distancia el pollo dorándose en una parrilla y los bajos retumbando en tu tórax.

Recomiendo leerlo con youtube o spotify abierto para ir buscando los cientos de títulos con que Bradley va sonorizando su relato. Una playlist o una discografía recomendada hubiese convertido este libro imprescindible en algo sencillamente perfecto. One love, one heart.

[Damon Rycroft · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sometimes this book is great and filled with interesting information but more often than not it’s just paragraphs after paragraph filled with names, just lists of names, the same names you read in a previous chapter, there is only so many times each name needs to be said

[Mickey McIntosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an outstanding book. The most in depth look on Reggae music. From its roots in Jamaica to its conquest of the UK and the USA, this tells the story about the whole genre and it's impact on society and culture. Music fans will want to read this.

[Grant McDougall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superb book that brilliantly articulates the history and significance of the music. Many insightful and revealing interviews throughout. Would've liked a recommended discography at the end, but apart from that, this book is a great overview on reggae.