Reggae Scrapbook

by Roger Steffens, Peter Simon, Toots Hibbert (Foreword)

Guiding us on this colorful book-length journey is one of the men who introduced reggae to America and helped rock the world with its syncopated beat, Roger Steffens. Through lectures, books, magazine articles, radio, and television, Steffens has shared his knowledge of reggae from coast to coast. He is the world’s premier archivist and collector of reggae memorabilia, and brings the best of his in-depth interviews with such reggae legends as Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff, and “Toots” Hibbert to this unique scrapbook.


Covering topics such as “Roots and Ska,” “Rock Steady,” “The Golden Age,” “Rockers, Digital and Dance Hall,” and “Internationalization,” and supplemented with sidebar features on historic figures, styles, and events, The Reggae Scrapbook demonstrates the bold statement made by the rise of this irresistible musical and social force. Already the book is gaining powerful critical comment - "Rich in political, religious and herbaceous context, this lively package is primer for the uninitiated and treasure trove for the fan," raved the San Francisco Chronicle.

Genres: Music

152 pages, Hardcover

First published October 30, 2007

Reviews

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing was pretty bad, so that cost some stars. Less history than rah-rah session for the featured artists. But this book isn't about the writing, it's about the great photos and cool pack ins like fake 45 singles in their sleeves, set lists, dancehall flyers, etc. That stuff was all great.

[kripsoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steffens and photographer Peter Simon, two long-time chroniclers of Jamaican music, have emptied their files into a deeply satisfying guided tour of reggae in chronologico-topical form. Simon's photography has been seen in such works as Reggae Bloodlines and Reggae International. As many readers of this magazine know, Steffens has written and lectured extensively about Bob Marley and reggae music and is also co-founder of The Beat. Reggae Scrapbook brims with the contributors' knowledge as well as their infectious love of the genre and the culture that produces it.
And their memorabilia is now ours, in handy facsimile form. Produced in the same vein as James Henke's recent Marley Legend, Reggae Scrapbook surveys reggae from origins to present and handsomely houses removable reggae artifacts by the fistful.