Female sung Reggae covers - any ideas?

[stefBclef]

Hey y'all

I have just joined a new reggae originals project and we would like to throw some covers around for good measure.

Can any of you think of some reggae songs that are either sung by a female, or might be more suited to a (let's say alto) female voice than others?

Perhaps you have been in a band that covered a reggae song and you had a female singer...

Or how about some songs that you would like to be heard in reggae style?

Thanks a bunch
Stef

P.s. How flippin' great is reggae bass?!

[chaypup]

This is a great track....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvCCQxypdaQ

[chaypup]

Might as well suggest the obvious too....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMrNDnU6PPk

[stefBclef]

[quote name='chaypup' timestamp='1339518655' post='1689795']
Might as well suggest the obvious too....

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMrNDnU6PPk[/media]
[/quote]

Now we're talking!! This would go down WELL. Thanks chaypup.

Obvious ones are absolutely fine and most welcomel; I have been brain dead all week so far and even the "obvious" bit of my brain doesn't appear to be working very well.

[TheGreek]

Brown Sugar - [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4QLoog5740&list=FLKX08xNgCXoxw0uNMC-cGlg&index=18&feature=plpp_video"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4QLoog5740&list=FLKX08xNgCXoxw0uNMC-cGlg&index=18&feature=plpp_video[/url]

Paulette Tajah - [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttkt6JjHa38&list=PLC8DE8A348DB49181&index=4&feature=plpp_video"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttkt6JjHa38&list=PLC8DE8A348DB49181&index=4&feature=plpp_video[/url]

You should also think about a cover of Jon McLean's "If I gave my heart to you" - one of the best love songs ever IMHO

[paul torch]

reckon this could work with a female vocal:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nweuZKQ16iU

[TheGreek]

You will, of course be considering:

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAtevYRkv7Q&feature=BFa&list=FLKX08xNgCXoxw0uNMC-cGlg"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAtevYRkv7Q&feature=BFa&list=FLKX08xNgCXoxw0uNMC-cGlg[/url]

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNGMSZhJPpM&feature=BFa&list=FLKX08xNgCXoxw0uNMC-cGlg"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNGMSZhJPpM&feature=BFa&list=FLKX08xNgCXoxw0uNMC-cGlg[/url]

[BigRedX]

A lot of 70s and 80s female-fronted reggae songs were simply ordinary pop songs done in a reggae style.

[Roland Rock]

Snap - I'm in a female-fronted reggae originals band. Maybe we should get our bands together for a reggae night sometime.
One of my favourites:
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Xzk0WgyGfM[/media]

Edited June 12, 2012 by Roland Rock

[pete.young]

The Bed's Too Big Without You, Sly & Robbie featuring Sheila Hylton.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xh76luVPpw0

[algmusic]

it's gotta be this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mNPKNAQl4c&feature=related

[Doctor J]

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfVwSIkxLqQ[/media]

[EdwardHimself]

Are you sure such a thing even exists? Isn't it a bit like "female sung Paul Robeson covers"?

[Roland Rock]

[quote name='algmusic' timestamp='1339522782' post='1689908']
it's gotta be this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mNPKNAQl4c&feature=related
[/quote]

Damn straight

[lazzer]

Janet Kay- Silly Games?

[EssentialTension]

[quote name='algmusic' timestamp='1339522782' post='1689908']
it's gotta be this

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mNPKNAQl4c&feature=related[/media]
[/quote]
Yep.

[Mike Ed]

How about Junior Murvin's [i]Police and Thieves?[/i] I've always though it would suit female vocals.

Mike

[andyonbass]

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4NhT8jrjdI&feature=relmfu[/media]

[stefBclef]

[quote name='paul torch' timestamp='1339519222' post='1689813']
reckon this could work with a female vocal:

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nweuZKQ16iU[/media]
[/quote]

Yep it most certainly could! I'm sure our singer would sing it lower than that in fact.


Listening to others now but yes "Oh No no" is a great shout - cheers algmusic. See, I told you my brain wasn't working. Blooming work mixed with illness tangled with beer and late nights...

[thisnameistaken]

Phyllis Dillon - Don't Touch Me Tomato - me and my guitarist have been meaning to cover it.

But seriously: A lot of Desmond Dekker's stuff would sound good with a female vocal. Same with The Paragons.

Edited June 12, 2012 by thisnameistaken

[mckendrick]

[quote name='lazzer' timestamp='1339525635' post='1689972']
Janet Kay- Silly Games?
[/quote]
[i]Alto[/i]...? And the rest. Top, top choon.

And how about a bit of Susan Cadogan....

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QY3VyEJgXmA"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QY3VyEJgXmA[/url]

Don't scrimp on the volume, chaps.

.

Edited June 12, 2012 by mckendrick

[stefBclef]

Awesome awesome response guys. So many ideas, songs I knew and others that I didn't so thank you. It has been a whole evening of listening to music for me which is great!

I have compiled a list and will let you know how we get on.

For now, here is a clip from the Jamaican film "Rockers" which is a must see movie for anyone who loves reggae.

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2GwohNFo6s"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2GwohNFo6s[/url]

Thanks!
Stef

[stefBclef]

[quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1339520829' post='1689857']
Snap - I'm in a female-fronted reggae originals band. Maybe we should get our bands together for a reggae night sometime.
[/quote]

Yes we should. You ever get down to London? Hootananny in Brixton is...well...a (reggae)hoot. Keep up the good work dude.

[molan]

You could do a lot worse than this by Marcia Aitken:

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C882Vu-ufSU[/media]

You may recognise the backing track

I've been to the Carib many times & every single time I go I hear someone play this!

Of course this is the full 12" version with Trinity toasting but I just had to include it - I've always wanted some "diamond socks & earthman shoes" ever since first hearing this, lol

Edited June 12, 2012 by molan

[molan]

Very cheesy but this would probably work well. If it's Ok for the I-Threes then it's Ok for anyone else to cover

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ybp7BfAFgk