Rastafari - The Dreads Enter Babylon 1955 - 83 (Vinyl 2LP, Blue)

"This thorough and deep collection from Soul Jazz charts the relationship between the Rastafari faith and the evolution of reggae music. From mid-1950s mento magic through afro-jazz roots music, and the heavier roots sound of the 1970s, Rastafari - The Dreads Enter Babylon is an unmissable set for even the most casual fan of the genre. Featuring the likes of Count Ossie, Johnny Clarke, The Mystic Revelation Of Rastafari, Ras Michael and The Sons of Negus, Bongo Herman, Roy Ashanti (Congos), Earth and Stone, Mutabaruka, and more." - Flying Out

Rastafari: The Dreads Enter Babylon 1955-83 charts the many links between reggae music and the Rastafarian faith. Featuring the music of Count Ossie, Johnny Clarke, The Mystic Revelation Of Rastafari, Ras Michael and The Sons of Negus, Bongo Herman, Roy Ashanti (Congos), Earth and Stone, Mutabaruka and many more, this is an in-depth look at some of the most unique and righteous music ever made and comes complete with a 40+ page outsize booklet containing exclusive photography and extensive historical and contextual sleevenotes. At the source of the music of Rastafari is the figurehead master drummer and leader Count Ossie, who first brought the deeply spiritual nyabinghi and burro rhythms heard and played at sacred Rastafarian grounation (reasoning) sessions into popular Jamaican music through his many collaborations and performances with artists from The Skatalites to The Folks Brothers and producers including Clement Dodd, Prince Buster and Harry Mudie. At the start of the 1970s Count Ossie formed the Mystic Revelation Of Rastafari with saxophonist Cedric Brooks which immediately became the most significant group of the Rastafari faith, bringing together authentic rasta nyabinghi drumming together with spiritual and avant-garde jazz influences of Sun Ra, Pharoah Sanders and Albert Ayler into a truly unique and groundbreaking sound. From the earliest proto-rasta beginnings on vinyl, Lord Lebby's 1955 mento recording 'Etheopia', through to the raw, afro-jazz roots sounds of Count Ossie to the deep and heavy roots reggae of the 1970s (Johnny Clarke, Earth and Sound, Roy Ashanti of The Congos and others), this album covers nearly 30 years of revolutionary music. 

Tracklist:

1. Count Ossie's Rasta Family - Africa We Want Fe Go
2. Johnny Clarke - None Shall Escape The Judgment
3. Laurel Aitken - Haile Selassie
4. Count Ossie & The Mystic Revelation Of Rastafari - Tales Of Mozambique
5. Mutabaruka - Say
6. Bongo Herman & Jah Lloyd - African Drums
7. Count Ossie & The Mystic Revelation Of Rastafari - Sam's Intro
8. Bongo Herman, Les & Bunny - Salaam
9. Techniques All Stars - Zion I Version
10. Lord Lebby & The Jamaican Calypsonians - Ethiopia
11. Hugh Mundell - One Jah, One Aim, One Destiny
12. The Heaven Singers - Rasta Dreadlocks
13. Count Ossie & Leslie Butler - Soul Drums
14. Cornel Campbell - Conscious Rastaman
15. QQ - Betta Must Come
16. Roy Shirley - Israelites Leave Babylon
17. Count Ossie & The Mystic Revelation Of Rastafari - Narration