S & D: Sly & Robbie

Releases in other peoples names:
Search (too many to name them all but just for starters): Abyssinians - Satta Massagana; Black Uhuru - (everything up to 1983 but Guess Who's Coming To Dinner and Liberation: The Island Anthology are probably the best places to start); Culture - Two Sevens Clash; Clint Eastwood & General Saint - 2 Bad DJ; Israel Vibration - Same Song; Luciano - Where Thers Is Life; Sizzla - Black Woman & Child; U-Roy - Rasta Ambassador
Destroy: nothing specific leaps to mind, but they were a pair of old tarts and would and did work with just about anyone, so their names on the cover of an album isn't necessarily an indicator / guarantee of anything much

As far as I can tell, most of their post-'90s albums are to be avoided, particularly their collaborative works. (I'm looking at you, Howie B.) Familiar with the Dancehall Killers album? Their dancehall rhythm productions seem decent from what I've caught of their work.

Are Sly & Robbie really on Two Sevens Clash? I thought Sly was the drummer but Lloyd Parks did most of the bass playing for the Professionals around that time. It's certainly not yer classic Sly & Robbie sound (though it's one of the greatest records ever so any excuse to recommend it is justified, obv.) A better example of S&R might be "Right Time" by the Mighty Diamonds, another corkingly good LP.

Black Uhuru were never quite my thing but -as you say Stewart - I always thought of their first 2 or 3 LPs as a definitive statement of the S&R sound of that point (late roots).

Destroy: "Sly, Wicked and Slick". A stinker, as I recall.

It may be unlike anything esle they've done but it is fantastic, think a reggae version of Plaid crossed with Mogwai maybe.

Also Burning Spear's Martin Garvey/Garveys Ghost if you want straight reggae.

Destroy Rhytmn Killers. Does anyone want to buy my copy?

Bass and Drums on Right Time however are credited to Ranchie & Benbow; I'm not familiar with the names - these aren't aliases for messrs Dunbar and Shakespear are they?! Of course it's a great album whoever the rythm section were!

My opinion of Black Uhuru is probably prejudiced by all sorts of sentimentality (as much as anything else they were, along with LKJ, responsible for turning me on to reggae in the first place) but I love their late '70's - early '80's srtuff to bits and the first time I saw Sly & Robbie was with Black Uhuru at the Brixton Academy in (I think) '81, so they're inextricably linked in my mind.

I have a Black Uhuru-like blind spot with Burning Spear, too. I have a few records by each and just never even think of playing them. Something about them I can't get round to loving that much. It's my problem, I'm sure.

Search Taxi Fare on Heartbeat. It's a mixed bag, but I think the good stuff on it makes it worthwhile: "Triplet", "Taxi Connection", "Unmetered Taxi"--sparse songs with lots of early digi bleeps and whooshes and flanged drums. Although it's definately reggae, some of this stuff doesn't sound like "reggae" as much as it does "Sly and Robbie" music, i.e. it's pretty unique.

Also search Reggae Greats: Dub Experience on Mango. Again, not killer all the way through, but it has its moments of endearingly odd production, like "Computer Malfunction".

The playing is first-rate, bolstered by unobtrusive contributions from session aces like bassist Robbie Shakespeare and drummer Sly Dunbar

then, under credits:

Ranchie - Bass

Benbow - Drums

On my copy, I seem to remember Sly and Robbie to be credited. Either way its a great album and the rhythm duo is either S & R or a very good imitator.

(Of course, so is the person who trusts the credits on reggae sleeves, so we're all in trouble.)

"Right Time" (1976):
Sly, Hossie, Benbow - drums
Ranchie & Robie - bass

"Planet Earth" (1978):
Sly Dunbar - drums
Lloyd Parks - bass

"Deeper Roots": (1979):
George 'Fully' Fullwood - bass
Carlton 'Santa' Davis - drums

I should have checked the sleeve before posting.

A lot of people really like Rhytnm Killers. Are we talking about the same album, produced by Bill Laswell, 1987?

-- mei

Yeah, the one that's two side-long "suites" both led off with versions of classic funk (Lee Dorsey and Ohio Players). One of the few really good Laswell productions...

Black Uhuru's "Sensimilla" still does it for me. S&R's rhythm's on that are so propulsive (duh!)

FAL! Yeah, I remember that episode too - they interviewed a number of drumers (can't remember who now) who were all speaking (surprisingly!) intelligently and technically about their techniques; then cut to Sly saying something along the lines of "me use the t'ick end of dis waan fi mek big bang on de snare like 'dis [BANG!!!] an' de t'in end of dis waan fi jus' tickle de hi-hat like dis [tink!]. Hilarious!

I believe it was also Sly in that programme who first showed me how to roll drumsticks on the shop counter to check that that they're completely straight before buying them too.

No, I don't play drums either.

This album's pretty disappointing except for "Spasticus (Autisticus)." I paid a dollar for the LP, so I don't feel that let down.

Also Grace Jones, Compass Point Sessions: has all the long/dub versions of the stuff they did with her (plus cool things like Grace's version of Ring of Fire!). This is just some of my favorite music ever. Wotta band.

I think I have only heard one of the following ('Baltimore' - not my favourite), so would welcome opinions. I'm sure it's all very good, but you can't be too careful.

1. The Tamlins - Baltimore
2. The Tamlins - Baltimore (Version)
3. Struggle - Rocky Music
4. Struggle - Rocky Music (Dub)
5. The Tamlins - Real Love
6. The Tamlins - Real Love (Version)
7. The Tamlins - Tickle Me/Thrilla
8. The Tamlins - Tickle Me/Thrilla (Version)
9. Black Uhuru - Shine Eye Gal
10. Black Uhuru - Shine Eye Gal (Version)
11. Ambillique - Taxi feat. Brian and Tony Gold
12. Ambillique - Unmetered Taxi
13. Ambillique - Unmetered Taxi (Version)
14. Wailing Souls - Old Broom
15. Wailing Souls - Old Broom (Version)
16. Jimmy Riley - Love and Devotion
17. Jimmy Riley - Drunken Master (Love and Devotion Version)
18. Dennis Brown - Revolution (Dub Plate Version)
19. Dennis Brown - Revolution
20. Dennis Brown - Revolution (Version)
21. The Viceroys - Heart Made Of Stone
22. The Viceroys - Heart Made Of Stone (Version)

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000001FV6.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000003QHT.01._SCLZZZZZZZ

The first - and possibly the most extraordinary - one that leaps to mind is (believe it or not) Bob Dylan. Check the credits on 1983's Infidels!

Also: Joe Cocker; Manu Dibango; Michael Franti / Spearhead; Serge Gainsbourg; Gwen Guthrie; Mick Jagger (Sly subsequently also played on The Rolling Stones' Undercover, 'though without Robbie); Cindi Lauper; No Doubt; Sinead O'Connor; Carly Simon; Simply Red; Suggs; Yoko Ono; and, of course Curiosity Killed The Cat.

I've got a live version of them with Serge G doing "Harley Davidson" which is awesome.

The word on their James Brown collabo is that it didn't really work out, but there is one great story I heard about it, that James turned around during the session to look at Robbie and say "Man, you don't move an inch!"

Search: Funky Nassau: The Compass Point Story

^^ although i already knew most of the tracks, that's one of the greatest cds out this year.

Guy Cuevas track is A++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

pulled out language barrier to see if i was ready for it after disliking it for a few years. it's rad!

Blackwood Dub!!

great interview:
http://www.thetrapset.net/086-sly-dunbar-sly-robbie-grace-jones-peter-tosh-the-rolling-stones-bob-dylan/

cool to hear him talk about making beats on an mpc and producing 'Murder She Wrote' after his daughter picked that one out of a bunch he made that day.

i really wish they would remaster/reissue an expanded edition of rhythm killers ..

Sentimental favorite remains "The Third Power" by Material, with Sly and Robbie writing and playing on every track save the awesome covers.

who knew 'cosmic slop' needed strings, material knew i guess

Come to think of it, who sings "Mellow Mood" on the album?

I just looked and can’t find a single thing anywhere. The credits list Shider, Mudbone Cooper, the Jungle Brothers, Shabba Ranks, and the Last Poets guy on vocals. It’s pretty clearly none of them (or the woman who’s credited w bgd vocals). I’d say somebody like Bim Sherman but they don’t appear to have ever worked together.

Bernard Fowler sang on a million Laswell things in the '80s and '90s. I interviewed him once and he said Laswell's assistant used to call and say, "We're going into the studio on Tuesday" and he'd show up and it'd be a Herbie Hancock session or Yoko Ono or whoever, and he'd just sing whatever they put in front of him. It could be him.

Ooh Fowler is a good call. It could totally be him.

Tune in question: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkSZraRWiOM

Here is Fowler singing w S&R a few years earlier on Language Barrier:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oP2ssi7FQBU

And on Rhythm Killers right after that:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfyXQjQLpeQ

I kept thinking it must be some lovers rock crooner but as I think about it, Fowler is as likely as anyone given his ability to sing almost anything and his work with them to date. It’s just weird he wouldn’t be credited.

RIP to Sly, what work, what an impact.

https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2026/01/26/legendary-drummer-sly-dunbar-dies-73/

Damn, one of the greatest, and I think actually very underrated in the drumming community.

damn RIP ... listening to Introducing Scientist (The Best Dub Album In The World) now, always sounds so good.

oh no RIP

hard to know what exactly to listen to, there are so many options. maybe a Taxi compilation

curious if Jordan would have any track recs to specifically highlight his drumming?

Absolute legend, RIP

I think the only reason he might be underrated in the drumming community at all is because he played on thousands of tracks yet never called too much attention to himself and always served the song. He's underrated the same way air and water are underrated.

Totally. Watching videos of him reminds me of Tony Allen, but Tony Allen is so indelibly associated with the music that he played (even if the other band members are largely unknown names).

Obv Sly and Robbie played on countless reggae classics and others can better speak to that, I'm definitely guilty of not necessarily knowing who's on all the dub records I love. But the Nordub album with Nils Petter Molvaer & Vladislav Delay presents a super clear and upfront picture of his drumming, even with all the electronics and dubs.

Love this Letterman video, Robbie hamming it up

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Padjp3Fhnhg

goddamn, great video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qiv7OeVP2w

I'm definitely guilty of not necessarily knowing who's on all the dub records I love

yeah this is why I asked, I probably own dozens of albums he's on

xxp turtle neck and hawaiian shirt guys are a little cringe tho lol

The Sinead O'Connor album gets overlooked, but here's a good EPK (I think?) of them backing her in the studio and on stage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqSOtmRMqRM

so i'm really uninformed about reggae but would it be safe to say that sly & robbie were one of the artists most responsible for reggae getting more crossover success on pop and dance charts? the thing i always heard in their playing and production work was the rhythmic undeniability of reggae distilled.

this was my sly and robbie primer: https://www.discogs.com/release/2029544-Sly-Robbie-Ultimate-Collection-In-Good-Company. i checked it out from the library one random day. it's awesome!

Hmm. I mean, they played on thousands of tracks, so at the end of the day they automatically played a big role in reggae's ascent. Sly was def. an early adopter of electronic drums and triggers, too, which no doubt helped reggae "modernize."

Good stuff: https://online.berklee.edu/takenote/sly-and-robbie-drummer-sly-dunbar-on-revolutionizing-reggae-drums/

that didn't come up for me, had to add "/takenote/" there in the middle fyi

nice ty

f-ing great interview

RIP Sly. World is Africa had been in my head for the last few days, weirdly. So good.

one of my all time favs, this gwen guthrie song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUDQ-w4pV8M

how funny, i searched a little bit ago for a cassette i used to play all the time decades ago and that tune just literally finished playing!

https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_myk2UZaDAlfwQPZAp8mJTKPQZ4-t3ZTpk&si=h9to_Fj83rDrNFwf

ok i made a error: that song did just play, but the version i was talking about is by Los Rolands

> reggae getting more crossover success on pop and dance charts?

Really been digging Grace Jone's Warm Leatherette and Nightclubbing albums lately, where she started teaming up with Sly & Robbie. Were these the records that made them into go-to-guys for eighties stars? Jones seems underrated these days, maybe because she's an interpreter, but boy those records are solid all the way through and collect everything that was cosmopolitain in pop at the time. The best fashion runway rock ever.

Black Uhuru was the first reggae I connected with, post-Clash conversion.

"pull up to the bumper" is an all-time disco classic. grace was doing cheeky gay entendres well and early. those albums are great.

xp i think that "peekaboo" is an entirely different song, weirdly enough! guthrie's is her own. absolutely adore her lyrics and vocals on it. and sly and robbie of course.

> : https://www.discogs.com/release/2029544-Sly-Robbie-Ultimate-Collection-In-Good-Company. i checked it out from the library one random day. it's awesome!

That's such a record you find in a public library. Not a complaint!

haha absolutely

oh man. :(

just a searched for "sly dunbar" in my collection and got 49 hits. and even thats just a fraction of the man's work. but among them are these...

The Congos - Heart Of The Congos
Manu Dibango - Gone Clear
Culture - Two Sevens Clash
Black Uhuru - Red
Ini Kamoze - s/t
Scientist - High Priest of Dub
Ryuichi Sakamoto - Neo Geo
Pecker - Instant Rasta
Tapper Zukie - Escape From Hell
The Gladiators - Trenchtown Mix Up
Keith Hudson - Rasta Communication
Yabby U - Jah Jah Way
Rolling Stones - Undercover
Joe Gibbs - State Of Emergency

Fucking crazy. And I could go on.

Also this beautiful, beautiful record...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cJj1OcjFiM

Had to search for the interview which ultimately got me through to the same exact which didn’t work when clicked directly.

xp god you aren't kidding

i have it cued up for later, is it a cover of the randy newman tune?

yes indeed

wow, this is terrific

tamlins version of ”baltimore” was on the “darker than blue” compilation right? such an excellent cover

rip sly, uncountable prolific, immeasurably influential

*uncountably

yeah Baltimore is amazing! there was a shorter version of it on Darker Than Blue, but the extended one is so good

there's a similar extended version of the Temptations' "Smiling Faces" that also rules:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wlcqBMAUcQ

Tamlins also did a great cover of Sade's 'Hang On To Your Love' but i don't think Sly & Robbie were involved with that one

he's on this backing toots hibbert, kind of a spiritual era van morrison vibe. "spiritual healing"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFgsZWlL4yo

Doesn't sound to me like he's drums on that, but he's also notable as a producer and for embracing drum machines and programming, for sure. Good track.

ok gotcha, good to know.

Am thinking that was Sly & Robbie who I saw backing Black Uhuru at Howard University in DC a long time ago.

he's also notable as a producer and for embracing drum machines and programming, for sure

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=110s1Wq9PCg