Musical activist, artist and Specials founder Jerry Dammers sits in. He presents a potted history of his favourite music, starting from artists who influenced early Jamaican music like Professor Longhair, Sun Ra and Eden Ahbez. He talks about how exotica beats and the music of New Orleans led to the birth of ska. He also explains how gospel music became politicised, as black people identified with the wandering Israelites; and how exotica, which suggested a faraway land, came to symbolise Africa for the Rastas. He also plays a little light French ska, strange library electro reggae from the 80s and brings us up to date with some modern reggae and dub. The show is warmly dedicated to the late great Gil Scott-Heron.
Johnny Arthey Orchestra - World without Love
Professor Longhair - Misery
Sun Ra - Call for All Demons
The Abyssinian Baptist Gospel Choir - You Can't Make Me Doubt Him
Eden Ahbez - Eden's Island
Archibald - Stack-a-Lee (Part 2)
Vernon Allen - Babylon
Charlie Organaire - Little Village
Soul Vendors and The Gaylads - Sound of Silence
Jackie Mittoo - Nature Boy
Marcia Griffiths - Dreamland
Roslyn Sweat and The Paragons - Blackbird
Tommy McCook - Sweet Lorna
Milt Raskin - Maika
Sun Ra - There Are Other Worlds They Have Not Told You About
The King's Singers - Strawberry Fields Forever
The Swingle Singers and The Modern Jazz Quartet - When I Am Laid in Earth (Dido's Lament)
Paris Studio Group - Voices in the Wind
Sauveur Mallia - Reggae Direction (Automation)
Andrzej Marko and Andre Mikola - Solar Heating (Fly Me to the Sun)
Byron Lee and The Dragonaires - Popcorn
Spatial AKA Orchestra - Ghost Planet (live orchestral version)
United Vibrations - Journey
Flying Lotus - Manhattan Thundercats
Junior Delgado - Armed Robbery
Kode9 and The SpaceApe - Neon Red Sign
The Bug - Tune In (feat. Roots Manuva)
Gil Scott-Heron - Me and the Devil
Gappy Ranks - Mountain Top
