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Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.com
Fans of 1970s reggae are sure to rejoice at the chance to hear Jimmy Cliff and Joe Higgs talk about their music, to see hyperkinetic producer-musician Lee "Scratch" Perry at work in his legendary Black Ark studio (with Junior Murvin, the Heptones, and the Upsetters), and to enjoy the lively sounds of the Mighty Diamonds, Ras Michael, and U-Roy in concert. Fans of Jamaica's best-known musical export, Bob Marley and the Wailers, may be a little disappointed, however, because the documentary includes only a couple of brief performance clips--though, granted, even momentary glimpses of Mr. Music at his peak are better than none at all.

This 1977 installment of director Jeremy Marre's 14-part Beats of the Heart series also features early black-and-white footage of Jimmy Cliff and Toots & the Maytals in concert, the Gladiators in the studio, and the Abyssinians, Third World, and Inner Circle in rehearsal. Scenes of Kingston street life are interspersed with the performance footage and interviews to illustrate the narrator's claim that "Reggae music is much more than entertainment in Jamaica today. It's a powerful social force that mirrors the pressures of everyday life, putting them into words and rhythm--describing, revealing, persuading." --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Description
Roots, Rock, Reggae presents a street-level perspective on the reggae music scene during a very important period in the evolution of reggae music. In the late 1970s, police and thieves battled in the street, politicians struggled for power and reggae musicians fought for peoples' souls. Featuring performances by seminal reggae greats from Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff to the Abyssinians and Jacob Miller, this is the only documentary on the evolution of reggae and a must for reggae's legions of fans. 60 minutes.

Customer Reviews: Read 4 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

Shaking Up Orange Street July 10, 2006
2 out of 3 found this review helpful

"Roots, Rock, Reggae" is a documentary showing a snapshot of reggae music Jamaica in 1976. For the reggae fan, this film offers an unadulterated, unique glimpse into the island and the environments that fostered one of the greatest musical genres in the 20th century.

The filmmakers show how and where the music is recorded, where it is sold, and concert footage. More importantly than the actual music, this film focuses in the social and cultural roots of Jamaica's national music. They show how it grew from the crushing poverty of areas like Trenchtown, its link with Rastafarianism, and how it is inexorably linked with Jamaican politics. Features footage of Lee Perry at work in his Black Ark studio (before he burned it down); interviews with Jimmy Cliff and Joe Higgs; and original concert footage of U-Roy, The Gladiators, The Mighty Diamonds, The Abyssinians, and (a very early) Inner Circle. The film does have a segment on Bob Marley, but does not concentrate extensively on the godfather of reggae. Of course, the quality of the film was crude even by 1970s standards, but so was some of the greastest reggae ever made - that does not make it not good!

Those interested in reggae roots should also check out the books "Reggae Bloodlines," "Reggae Explosion: The Story of Jamaican Music," and "People Funny Boy" Lee Perry's biography.

5 out of 5 stars

one of the best dvds on the reggee culture so far! April 8, 2006
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

I loved every minute of it and it made me see just how poverty stricken Jamaca really is! One can also see the ROOTS INDEED DO COME FROM AFRICA!
Its a documentary with music throughout. Anyone who truly loves the genre must see this!
The actual dvd's condition was great, brand new and a very low price! I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT HOW GREAT THIS DVD IS FOR TRUE LOVERS OF REGGEE!!
I'm very pleased (can you tell?)and recomend it highly!

5 out of 5 stars

Top-rankin' documentary February 3, 2004
27 out of 28 found this review helpful

Anyone who is interested in roots reggae and dub will absolutely flip out over this documentary. Filmed in 1977, an incredibly important year in Jamaica, it covers the music/culture/politics of Jamaica (mostly music though). With unforgettable moments- like entering Lee "Scratch" Perry's BlackArk studio while the Heptones are recording. Then there's the late great Jacob Miller, in underwear, working out a song with the InnerCircle. The Gladiators recording, Mighty Diamonds live, and Joe Gibbs sings a beautiful trenchtown song. Get the idea? This is hugely important to anyone who loves this excellent music. The narration is also insightful and there are many scenes which capture tranchtown and the hard life of Jamaica.
This DVD is an absolute must-have for anyone who loves reggae. The picture and sound quality are totally fine, especially considering this was a small documentary that was probably made with very little money. I am sure that the DVD transfer was as good as it could be (and it's perfectly fine).
One side-note to reviewers that complain about the picture/sound- this was a small project in 1977, this is not Star Wars or Terminator. Don't have some ridiculous expectation that everything has to be up to the level of a big-budget hollywood blockbuster Ultimate edition DVD. It seems that reviewers all over Amazon like to complain too much about picture/sound quality. I personally own hundreds of DVDs and find that many complaints i've read are just flat-out wrong. I think people just feel the need to complain about something, but don't let them fool you.

3 out of 5 stars

Good , BUT ! January 11, 2004
2 out of 11 found this review helpful

I like the stuff and of course the music of the DVD , "Roots Rock Reggae" , BUT , the quality of the sound and of the picture sux badly ... and it don't worth the 17$ ...

5 out of 5 stars

Clarification May 7, 2003
14 out of 19 found this review helpful

Just to clarify something: in another review it is stated "at one point, it makes the erroneous claim that Rastafarianism was started by Marcus Garvey, which is not true". Well, it is true (sort of), although Marcus himself wasn't a rastifarian - a statement (prophesy) he made during a speech, that a "king (of kings) will rise out of Afrika, from the line of David" was what initially sparked the Rastifarian belief, which officially started when Haile Seliassie (a name that came with the crowning - his birth name was Ras Tafari, get it?), 225th in line from the house of David, was crowned as Emperor of Ethiopia. When Burning Spear sings "Macus Garvey words come to pass..." he is reffering to the prophesy...

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