Roots Radics
Roots Radics are the premier session band in Jamaica. In addition to touring and recording as Gregory Isaac's backup band, the group has collaborated with a lengthy list of artists including Bunny Wailer, Israel Vibration, Sugar Minott, the Wailing Souls, On-U-Sounds, Creation Rebel, and Prince Far-I. The group toured the United Kingdom with Prince Far-I as the Arabs. The genesis of Roots Radics traces back to Morris "Blacker" Wellington's band, the Morvells, a group that featured future Roots Radics members Errol "Flabba" Holt on bass and Eric "Bingy Bunny" Lamont on guitar. Together with the Morwells, Holt and Lamont recorded such mid-'70s hits as "Swing and Dine," "They Hold Us Down," and "Kingston Is Tuffy." Lamont had previously worked with bongo player Bongo Herman, with whom he recorded the 1971 hit "Know Far-I" and had produced an album for Pete Boggs. On his own, Holt had earlier recorded such hits as "A You Lick Me First," "Gimme Gimme," and "Who Have Eyes to See." Initially teaming together as members of Channel One session group the Revolutionaries, which also featured the rhythm section of bassist Sly Dunbar and drummer Robbie Shakespeare. When Shakespeare and Dunbar left to launch their own label Taxi Records, the Revolutionaries evolved into Roots Radics.
Roots Radics' first hit on their own, "Bounty Hunter," was produced by Henry "Junjo" Lawes and released in 1979. They soon became spearheads of the dancehall style that dominated reggae music in the early '80s. Their status was lessened by the rise of the digital/ragga style in the mid-'80s. Their final hit, "Hot We Hot," featuring the lead vocals of Dwight "Brother Dee" Pinkney, was released in 1989. The band's future became uncertain following Lamont's death from prostate cancer in January 1994.
© Craig Harris /TiVo
Discography
21 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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Dub Masters
Sly & Robbie, Roots Radics, Peter Chemist
Dub - Released by Reggae Library on 4 Aug 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Final Battle: Sly & Robbie vs. Roots Radics
Reggae - Released by Serious Reggae on 15 Apr 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Junjo Presents: 12 Inches Of Dub
Dub - Released by VP Records on 13 Apr 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Roots Radics Live at Channel One in Jamaica
Dub - Released by Original Super Power on 1 Oct 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jah Thomas Meets Roots Radics - Dubbing
Dub - Released by Trojan Records on 19 May 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
King Tubby's Hidden Treasure
Reggae - Released by Trojan Records on 23 Jun 1999
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Final Battle (Sly & Robbie vs. Roots Radics)
Reggae - Released by DubShot Records - CSSL on 15 Apr 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sly & Robbie vs. Roots Radics: The Dub Battle
Dance - Released by DubShot Records - CSSL on 10 Sep 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Scientist Meets Roots Radics Dubbin with Horns
Dub - Released by Trojan Records on 30 Jul 1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Israel Vibration on the Strength of the Trinity Live 95 (Live 95)
Reggae - Released by Passage Productions on 1 Jan 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Ulterior Motives (Sly & Robbie vs. Roots Radics) [feat. Brinsley Forde, Bongo Herman & Don Camel]
Reggae - Released by Serious Reggae - Afro Records on 1 Apr 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Deejay Battle: Sly & Robbie vs. Roots Radics
Dancehall - Released by DubShot Records - CSSL on 28 Apr 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ulterior Motives (feat. Brinsley Forde)
Rock - Released by DubShot Records - CSSL on 1 Apr 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dubterior Motives (feat. Brinsley Forde)
Dub - Released by DubShot Records - CSSL on 21 Aug 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Final Battle: Sly & Robbie vs Roots Radics (Deluxe Edition)
Rock - Released by DubShot Records - CSSL on 15 Apr 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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