# Favorite Reggae Song **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 24, 2017, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-reggae-song/789716 "2017-06-24T01:02:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NetTrekker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nettrekker/32/2909_2.png) [@NetTrekker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NetTrekker)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-reggae-song/789716/1 "2017-06-24T01:02:26Z")
I’ve never been a big fan of the genre (tropical vibes notwithstanding) but I just stumbled onto a reggae song that has become my favorite (you will be amazed): What's yours? ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-reggae-song/789716/2 "2017-06-24T01:49:44Z")
Some obvious choices follow, and I’ll admit that reggae, ska, rocksteady, dancehall etc all work in my head the same, so if your definition is strict then I’m sorry. (Billy Joel, tho) Toots and the Maytals _Pressure Drop_ Dawn Penn \*No No No\* - this is probably my fave, tbh The Skatelites \*Guns of Navarone\* Barrington Levy \*Murderer\* [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/W9mvTNh-plY/hqdefault.jpg "Barrington Levy - Murderer") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9mvTNh-plY) Sister Nancy _Bam Bam_ [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qXnT3LFTc-s/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AG-AoAC8AGKAgwIABABGD4gZSg0MA8=&rs=AOn4CLBsEjsmM9_eENxeoxs8kR_M5isZ9w "Sister Nancy - BAM BAM") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXnT3LFTc-s) Alton Ellis _Rocksteady_ [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YQKIyiSgFA) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-reggae-song/789716/3 "2017-06-24T02:40:58Z")
> [@NetTrekker](#): > > I’ve never been a big fan of the genre (tropical vibes notwithstanding) but I just stumbled onto a reggae song that has become my favorite (you will be amazed): > > What's yours? Well, that was certainly … different. My first thought, too (not being an expert in the genre), was _Pressure Drop_ by Toots and the Maytalls (and I like pretty much every cover of it, too.) Also, _The Harder They Come_ by Jimmy Cliff. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xGE4dnrPPZQ/hqdefault.jpg ""The Harder They Come" Jimmy Cliff") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGE4dnrPPZQ) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-reggae-song/789716/4 "2017-06-24T02:41:57Z")
[Stairway To Heaven](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zKP9Q3vgJk) ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-reggae-song/789716/5 "2017-06-24T03:41:03Z")
The reggae, ska etc stuff that originated in the Caribbean cross-fertilised with the UK skinhead and later punk scene really quite splendidly. The Specials _A Message to You Rudy_ The Selecter \*On My Radio\* The Beat \*Mirror in the Bathroom\* [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/f_-7fqUMuyg/hqdefault.jpg "mirror in the bathroom the Beat") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_-7fqUMuyg) Madness _The Prince_ [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/T_srIE-YAb8/hqdefault.jpg "Madness - The Prince 1979") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_srIE-YAb8) UB40 _One in Ten_ [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/usYgf8cVfvU/maxresdefault.jpg "UB40 - One in Ten") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usYgf8cVfvU) ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-reggae-song/789716/6 "2017-06-24T08:38:24Z")
Long Shot Kick The Bucket - Pioneers. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssA2no1WAY4) (It’s about a horse race, if you were wondering) ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-reggae-song/789716/7 "2017-06-24T12:03:04Z")
Too many to choose from! Love the old Trojan stuff like Dandy Livingstone _Suzanne Beware of the Devil_ or Dave & Ansel Collins _Double Barrel_ [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hy-_voUuDQ) Also Bunny Wailer Dance Rock [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/kJE6jM1BZ-Q/hqdefault.jpg "Bunny Wailer - Dance Rock") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJE6jM1BZ-Q) Dreamland [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Y2gMoTluckw/hqdefault.jpg "Bunny Wailer - Dreamland") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2gMoTluckw) ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-reggae-song/789716/8 "2017-06-24T12:48:09Z")
_Buy Me A Condo_ by Weird Al Yancovic. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-reggae-song/789716/9 "2017-06-24T13:21:01Z")
[Israelites](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=%23&ved=0ahUKEwiAt_36yNbUAhXHND4KHdpGCTgQxa8BCB0wAA&usg=AFQjCNF1sHlk2z9QIx28jtvfnGP_UlkifA) by Desmond Dekker and the Aces. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-reggae-song/789716/10 "2017-06-24T13:30:24Z")
Right, way too many to mention (especially now that it’s summer). Here’s a good one: [LEE SCRATCH PERRY - Curly Locks (Arkology III) - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUaWWFDEyvk). The real stuff. PS. HUGE Dawn Penn fan here! ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-reggae-song/789716/11 "2017-06-24T13:45:53Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > The reggae, ska etc stuff that originated in the Caribbean cross-fertilised with the UK skinhead and later punk scene really quite splendidly. > > The Specials _A Message to You Rudy_… It always cracks me up when I hear that used in a financial commercial, just because it has the line “Better think of your future”. I always sing the next line: “Before you go to jail.” For anyone who likes reggae and hasn’t heard the more recent Toots album full of guests (True Love?) … go find it. Clapton playing on Pressure Drop, duets with Willie and Shaggy, it’s wonderful. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-reggae-song/789716/12 "2017-06-24T14:04:45Z")
[Down St. Thomas Way](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpbPsaY6aG0) I’m trading the city for a tropical tree, And if you meet anyone who’s asking for me. Tell all and each, That they can reach, Me on the beach down St Thomas way. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-reggae-song/789716/13 "2017-06-24T15:01:00Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > [Stairway To Heaven](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zKP9Q3vgJk) This is fun too: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sjh0JuyovP4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sjh0JuyovP4) ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-reggae-song/789716/14 "2017-06-24T15:05:32Z")
I’m going to go with a another Toots & The Maytals song, [Funky Kingston](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U79o7qwul48). That said I also don’t mind listening to some of the great Bob Marley tunes either. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-reggae-song/789716/15 "2017-06-24T16:59:13Z")
There’s a holy trinity for me from Bob Marley. [Stir it up](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3UqvWk8-uw) [Redemption Song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrY9eHkXTa4) and the live version of [“no woman no cry”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHlSE9j5FGY), alongside “purple rain” that must be in the running for best live single release ever. and an honorable mention to the Clash and “[white man in Hammersmith palais](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96UtZPLiT90)” and many many others. I do love a bit of reggae and ska. ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-reggae-song/789716/16 "2017-06-24T17:47:53Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > [Israelites](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=%23&ved=0ahUKEwiAt_36yNbUAhXHND4KHdpGCTgQxa8BCB0wAA&usg=AFQjCNF1sHlk2z9QIx28jtvfnGP_UlkifA) by Desmond Dekker and the Aces. Another Desmond Decker… 007 [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqgWuMcHc3g) ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-reggae-song/789716/17 "2017-06-24T17:54:33Z")
Another Toots and the Maytals… 54-46 Was My Number. Fantastic start to this one. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UhH1Lxv-8sA/hqdefault.jpg "54-46 Was My Number - Toots and The Maytals") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhH1Lxv-8sA) ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-reggae-song/789716/18 "2017-06-24T18:29:00Z")
Another Toots and the Maytals–their fantastic cover of John Denver’s [Take Me Home Country Roads](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQFKMar4x-w) ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-reggae-song/789716/19 "2017-06-24T18:35:20Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > … . I do love a bit of reggae and ska. Here’s one for you then. Train to Skaville - The Ethiopians. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uSm9CRnyQo) ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-reggae-song/789716/20 "2017-06-24T18:38:01Z")
Hard to pick a fave. Lots of good songs already mentioned. I’ll throw in tho the mix the entire 1982 **Third World** album **You’ve Got the Power** it’s pretty much an easy listening listen reggae album. Some songs or arrangements by Stevie Wonder Also, lots of early **Police** stuff had a very reggae feel to them, especially when you heard them do it live. Yeah, I know, but still… Late 70s, early 80s **Steel Pulse** songs still get into my music mix, too. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-reggae-song/789716.md?page=2)