Millie Small – My Boy Lollipop (1964)

To mark the death of reggae and ska pioneer Millie Small, on May 5th, 2020, here is her only big hit “My Boy Lollipop” from 1964. It reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, also number 2, in the UK, that year. I remember we had this record, at home, growing up, in the …

Dave and Ansell Collins – Double Barrel (1970)

This iconic reggae song, “Double Barrel”, is by Dave & Ansell Collins. Although it was released in 1970, it took until May of 1971, to reach Number One in the UK, and until August, 1971, to get to Number 22, on the Billboard Hot 100. This was the second Reggae song to top the charts, …

Dennis Brown – Money In My Pocket (1979)

A number 14 hit, in the UK in 1979, after this was remixed as a disco mix, Dennis Brown sang about “Money In My Pocket”. This is one of my all time Top 100.

Junior Murvin – Police & Thieves (1980)

A number 23 hit, in the UK in 1980, it was recorded in and released in Jamaica, in 1976. It was later the title track of an album, released in 1977. Junior Murvin sang about “Police & Thieves”.

Janet Kay – Silly Games (1979)

A number 2 hit in the UK and a hit throughout Europe in the Summer of 1979, Janet Kay sang “Silly Games”. This is in my all time Top 100.

Althea & Donna – Uptown Top Ranking

This song, Uptown Top Ranking, by Althea & Donna, a Jamaican reggae vocal duo, reached number 1, in the UK in 1978. Notably, it was originally played by the late, influential, BBC Radio One DJ, John Peel, before being picked up by the more mainstream daytime Radio One DJ’s.