finetune artist: Culture

Culture became the runaway success of 1977 with their single "Two Sevens Clash" for Joe Gibbs, and with an album of the same name and the follow-up Baldhead Bridge, they came to dominate reggae with their stark prophecy and apocalyptic warnings. They even found a sympathetic ear in the emergent punk audience of the period. The group, originally known as the African Disciples, was led by songwriter Joseph Hill (b. 22 January 1949, Jamaica, West Indies, d. 19 August 2006, Berlin, Germany), who had started his career at Studio One as a member of the Soul Defenders, releasing one solo single, "Behold The Land". With Albert "Ralph" Walker (b. 30 September 1952) and Kenneth Paley aka Kenneth Dayes (b. 1 June 1950) providing the harmonies, the trio came from the same school of style and lyrical content as Burning Spear. Largely through the groundwork of artists such as Bob Marley And The Wailers, the aforementioned Burning Spear and the Abyssinians, cultural or socio-political themes abounded in Jamaican music, and many new listeners were attracted to a genre they had previously dismissed. Culture were ready-made champions for this new-found reggae audience, and their popularity was further enhanced by electrifying live appearances, with Hill, in particular, proving himself to be an effusive showman.

Listen to Culture at Finetune.

Two Sevens Clash
Get Ready to Ride the Lion to Zion
The International Herb (2001 Digital Remaster)
Calling Rasta Far I
Holy Mount Zion (2000 Digital Remaster)