Roger Steffens joins Doug Wendt to play some killer from Peter Simon’s collection
The lions roar alive and dread. A sparkling Bob Marley & The Wailers Pittsburgh Stanley Theatre September 1980 tape surfaces, a concert mostly no one knew was his going to be his last. Bob’s “Reggae On Broadway” debuts. Reggae Jackson premieres with a scorchin’ “Rider On The Range”. Peter was Reggae DJ for his sister Carly Simon’s Martha’s Vineyard club, The Hot Tin Roof. Thus these iconic epic songs with Big Youth and The Meditations. Pure musical dynamite. Burning Spear in Boston in October of 1980 opens the program March coming in like a lion like nobody’s business. Doug & Mikey Dread shock up Bob’s “Dubbin In From The Cold” live on air radio mash up stylee. Gregory Isaacs in Hartford, Connecticut, and the show stopping reggae genius Joe Higgs in L.A scoldin’ the crowd to pay attention as he starts, pointin’ out to the promoter the lack of promotion as he leaves the stage in lightning following the most electrified “Let Us Do Something”ever recorded live. The Mighty Diamonds sing live on Roger & Hank Holmes Reggae Beat KCRW show, a cover of The Intruders “Bet He Don’t Love You”. This is the first 80 minutes as aired live from 11pm-2am March 1st-2nd 1981 available for the first time since it original broadcast.
“On the first day of Spring
we gathered together…
regardless of the government
let us do something!”
Reggae Jackson’s album was produced by Bob Johnston, who did the same for many of the greatest albums of all time. Essentials like Johnny Cash Live At San Quentin, 6 for Bob Dylan including the wild mercury sound of dbl lp Blonde On Blonde, 3 for Leonard Cohen like Songs From A Room, 2 with Simon and Garfunkel, Sounds of Silence and Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme. REGGAE JACKSON SMASH HITS! was engineered by ace mixer Susie Foot. Vocals by Joshua Mills. African giant Joni Haastrup is on “Celebrate This Day (Nigerian)”. Jimmy Foot on guitar. Jimmy just finished up some new Bob Johnston sessions in his band Kingfoot. In “Rider On The Range” one can hear native western reggae inklings of my live group since Foot plays ghost guitar & produces Ghost Town Sound. For some of the best Bob Johnston tales ever, read extensively about his wild tours of Europe in the new Leonard Cohen bio I’M YOUR MAN where they record several live shows at insane asylums across the continent trying to top Cash’s prison triumph. Batter up, spring is coming.
Midnight Dread’s *Major Announcement* comes March 3rd during a harmonic convergence of Night Nurse, Doctor Dread, and MD here, there, and everywhere when Amy & Doc DJ Rockers Arena from New York City! *At about 8pm Eastern Time March 3rd via Amy’s Radio Lily Facebook Page & right here on the mighty Midnight Raver Site!
Something wonderful is about to happen!
Last time’s 33 years ahead program. Dreadcasting over the air since 1979 & online since 1996 dreader 21st Century Midnight Dread programs air daily at 12am including replays often heard in his Best of All Worlds high noon slot and where one can also become conscious at 6am with the indigenous sounds of Native Son Rising, all curated by Doug everyday, all times Pacific. Many more Midnight Dread sights & sounds here and on this blog’s Midnight Dread page. Go deh. All of dem.
“Anotha stunna from the MIDNIGHT DREAD! Plenty of rootikal sounds and vibes for whatever ails yo head! Jump on this Zion Train today, please don’t lose your way!”
– RAVER
LEGENDARY REGGAE 