Facts[]
Original version[]
- Composed by: Bob Marley
- Lyrics by: Bob Marley
- Produced by: Bob Marley & The Wailers
- Year: recorded in August/September 1975, released in 1976
- Length: 3:38
- Musical key: B minor
- Recorded at: Harry J. Studios, Kingston, Jamaica
- Mixed at: Criteria Studios, Miami,FL (USA) by Aston "Familyman" Barrett and Chris Blackwell
- Released on following albums: Rastaman Vibration (1976)
- Released on following compilations: Natural Mystic: The Legend Lives On (1995), One Love: The Very Best Of (2001), Gold (2005), Africa Unite: The Singles Collection (2005)
- Lineup:
- Bob Marley, vocal, rhythm guitar
- Carlton Barrett, drums
- Aston Barrett, bass
- Earl "Chinna" Smith, guitars
- Donald Kinsey, lead guitar
- Tyrone Downie, keyboards, harmony vocal
- Bernard Harvey, organ
- Alvin Patterson, percussion
- Tommy McCook, tenor sax
- The I-Threes, backing vocals
- Period of performances: 1976, 1978 - 1980
Alternate mix[]
- same info as the original version, just a different mix (with a count-in intro)
- released on Rastaman Vibration (Deluxe Edition, 2002)
Edited single version[]
- same info as the original version, only 3:00 min long
- released on Jamaican, UK, Dutch, German and French 7" singles
- unreleased on CD
1999 remixed version[]
- remixed and overdubbed for the Chant Down Babylon album
- additional lineup:
- Steven Tyler, vocal
- Joe Perry, guitar
- Eric Adams, drums
Live performances[]
- 1976-04-23: Tower Theatre, Upper Darby, PA (USA)
- 1976-04-25 (late): Boston Music Hall, Boston, MA (USA)
- 1976-04-30 (early): Beacon Theater, New York City, NY (USA)
- 1976-04-30 (late): Beacon Theater, New York City, NY (USA)
- 1976-05-01 (early): Beacon Theater, New York City, NY (USA)
- 1976-05-01 (late): Beacon Theater, New York City, NY (USA)
- 1976-05-05 (late): Convocation Hall, Toronto, ON (CAN)
- 1976-05-13: Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis, MN (USA)
- 1976-05-20: Music Hall, Houston, TX (USA)
- 1976-05-25: San Diego Civic Theatre, San Diego, CA (USA)
- 1976-05-26: The Roxy Theater, Los Angeles, CA (USA)
- 1976-05-30: Paramount Theater, Oakland, CA (USA)
- 1976-06-09: Laeiszhalle, Hamburg (GER)
- 1976-06-24: Great Hall, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon (ENG)
- 1978-06-18: Music Inn, Lenox, MA (USA)
- 1979-11-30: Oakland Coliseum Arena, Oakland, CA (USA)
- 1979-12-15: Queen Elizabeth II Sports Centre, Nassau, New Providence (BAH)
- 1980-04-18: Rufaro Stadium, Harare (ZIM)
- 1980-04-19: Rufaro Stadium, Harare (ZIM)
- 1980-06-03: Palais des Sports, Grenoble, Isère (FRA)
- 1980-06-26: Stade Mayol, Toulon, Var (FRA)
- 1980-06-27: Stadio San Siro, Milano, Lombardia (ITA)
- 1980-06-28: Stadio Comunale, Torino, Piemonte (ITA)
- 1980-06-30: Plaza De Toros, Barcelona, Catalonia (ESP)
- 1980-07-03: Aéroport du Bourget, Le Bourget, Paris (FRA)
- 1980-09-17: Meehan Auditorium, Brown University, Providence, RI (USA)
Rehearsal performances[]
Trivia[]
- the official title is with commas, but is often written without. Therefore the title is often misleading; actually the title means reggae music isn't about "roots rock reggae", but about "roots" (Africa, Zion), about "rock" (Jamaica), and about "reggae" itself.
- a strange fact is that unusually many recordings miss the intro and the first part of the song.
- with the lyrics 'Play I on the R&B, want all my people to see' Bob shows he really wants to win the Afro-American audience.
Translations[]
German / Deutsch[]
Afrika, Jamaika, Reggae
- Spiel mir etwas Musik, das ist Reggae-Musik,
- Spiel mir etwas Musik, das ist Reggae Musik.
- Afrika, Jamaika, Reggae, das ist Reggae-Musik,
- Afrika, Jamaika, Reggae, das ist Reggae-Musik.
- Hey, Herr Musik, klar hört sich das gut an, finde ich.
- Ich kann nicht widerstehen; was sein muss, muss sein.
- Fühle, als ob du tanzest; tanze, denn wir sind frei.
- Fühle, als ob du tanzest; komm, tanze mit mir.
- Afrika, Jamaika, Reggae; das ist Reggae-Musik,
- Afrika, Jamaika, Reggae; das ist Reggae-Musik.
- Spiel mir etwas Musik, das ist Reggae-Musik,
- Spiel mir etwas Musik, das ist Reggae-Musik.
- Spielt mich auf dem R&B-Radio,
- ihr wollt, das es alle Leute sehen.
- Wir gehn ab in den Top 100,
- so wie ein mächtiger Dread.
- Afrika, Jamaika, Reggae; das ist Reggae-Musik,
- Afrika, Jamaika, Reggae; das ist Reggae-Musik.
- Spielt mir etwas Musik, das ist Reggae-Musik,
- Spielt mir etwas Musik, das ist Reggae-Musik.