For the love reggae
ENCOURAGED by the response to his ‘Reggae Loves’ theme albums, Eisaku Yamaguchi is preparing to launch another in the popular compilation series.
Reggae Loves Romance Vol 2 is scheduled for release by VP Records on May 11, two years after Yamaguchi put out Reggae Loves Romance. The latest instalment has 13 songs, most of which were big hits in Jamaica and on North American reggae charts.
They include There For You by Beres Hammond, I See It In You from Freddie McGregor, Tarrus Riley’s Superman, and Show Love by Jah Cure.
Reggae Loves Africa kicked off the series in 2014, followed by Reggae Loves Jah the following year. The objective of these albums, New York-based Yagamuchi told the Jamaica Observer, is to reach a broad audience.
“There could be omeone from Africa who loves African culture, or Rastafarian who just respect Selassie I. There may be someone who could be in love or believes in love,” he explained.
“At the same time, I want to teach the young generation about something specific through my albums as well. Rastafari and its movement is very connected to reggae music. Selassie I inspired today’s Rasta artistes,” he added. “My albums support your thoughts and share your idea and unite people.”
Yamaguchi markets his albums to different regions. Reggae Loves Africa, he disclosed, did well in Africa and Belgium where there is a considerable African population. Reggae Loves Jah performed well in Japan, while the first edition of Reggae Loves Romance got good response in the United States and United Kingdom.
According to Yamaguchi, “I think the consumers in each country and market preferred to buy the album if the concept of the album is something important to their lifestyle.”
Eisaku Yamaguchi said he discovered reggae and Jamaican culture when Bob Marley performed in his country in 1979. He and his band, The Wailers, did several shows in Tokyo and Osaka, which remain the biggest markets for the music in Japan.
In the 1980s and early 1990s, there was a reggae boom in Japan through numerous visits by Jamaican and British artistes who performed on major events like the annual JapanSplash, and in clubs. Yamaguchi credits that period for his appreciation of the music.
“I really started paying close attention to the genre in the 1990s. I came to the United States in 1995. When I was in Japan, I used to go to record stores every day to check out new and old releases because there was no reggae radio programme there around that time,” he said. “Reggae and dancehall…old and new songs were getting played equally in clubs. From Bob Marley to Tenor Saw, Dennis Brown to Bounty Killer, all different generations of reggae music was being played and people enjoyed it. I think I was lucky that I got exposed to music in that period.”