The Jamaica Observer continues its daily look back at people, events and works that made an impact during 2017.

THE roots reggae group Culture was looking for the next big hit that would make them bona fide stars in the summer of 1977. They got it, and more, in the form of a monumental song named Two Sevens Clash .

Produced by Joe Gibbs, Two Sevens Clash is one of roots-reggae’s defining songs and summed-up the turmoil that engulfed Jamaica during the 1970s. Its ominous message of mayhem on the day the sevens clashed (July 7, 1977) sent a stir throughout Jamaica, where many still quivered at apocalyptic prophecy.

Nothing out of the ordinary took place, but Culture, led by the charismatic vocalist/songwriter Joseph Hill never looked back. The hits just kept coming; I’m Not Ashamed, International Herb, Money Girl, and Stop This Fussing and Fighting were some of them.

None was bigger than Two Sevens Clash, which celebrated its 40th anniversary this year. The album of the same name got the thumbs-up from none other than Rolling Stone magazine and earned Culture a lasting fan base throughout the world, especially Europe and the United States.

Ironically, the group was on one of their legendary European treks in 2006 when Hill suffered a fatal heart attack in Germany. He was 57.

This year VP Records reissued the Two Sevens Clash album to mark its 40th anniversary. Two Sevens Clash is one of the songs covered on a Penthouse Records Culture tribute album expected to be released in early 2018.