Dancehall Queens: What a Bam Bam

by WHAT A BAM BAM: WOMEN IN REGGAE

Overview

A compilation album of female artists singing their hits is ostensibly no big deal, but in reggae, it practically qualifies as high concept, since there's still an undeniable male hegemony. Of WHAT A BAM BAM's 12 tracks, many are celebrated, some previously unavailable or hard to find, and one is previously unreleased. Though Althea and Donna's "Uptown Top Ranking" is missing (but available elsewhere), the album presents a wicked selection of four DJs and eight singers. The toasting appropriately begins with Sister Nancy--the first female DJ--rocking the mic on "Bam Bam," and continues to the next generation of DJs for which she paved the way. Shelly Thunder?s helium-high ?giggle? no doubt influenced Lauryn Hill, but she sounds appropriately rough when warning wandering men on her hit "Kuff." Lady G?s equally feminist ?Nuff Respect? follows, and Lady Saw wails her breakthrough, "Find a Good Man." As for the songbirds, Marcia Griffiths voices ?Fire Burning,? (written by former partner Bob Andy), the original Foxy Brown sings her classic cover of Tracy Chapman's "Sorry," and J.C. Lodge's creamy voice caresses "Telephone Love" (over Gussie Clark's tough "Rumours" rhythm). Also in the mix are two irresistible bubblers; Sophia George's "Girlie, Girlie" and Natural Beauty's "Nice Up Dancee."

Product Details

Release Date:	10/29/1996
Label:	SHANACHIE
UPC:	0016351452825

Tracks

1. Wicked Dickie  - Nadine Sutherland
2. Fire Burning  - Keith Anderson  - Marcia Griffiths
3. Telephone Love  - Michael Bennett  - Carlton Hines  - Hopeton Lindo  - J.C. Lodge
4. Kuff  - Shelly Thunder
5. Sorry (Baby Can I Hold You)  - Foxy Brown  - Tracy Chapman
6. Girlie Girlie  - Anthony "Sangie" Davis  - Sophia George
7. Find a Good Man  - Marion Hall  -  Lady Saw
8. Nice up Dancee  - Lillie Palmer  - J. White  -  Natural Beauty
9. Bam Bam  - Winston Riley  -  Sister Nancy  - Nancy White
10. One in a Million  - John Alan  -  Worl-A-Girl
11. Nuff Respect  - Janice Fyffe  - Carlton Hines  -  Lady G
12. No Pushover  - Mickey Bennet  - Chevelle Franklin  - Hopeton Lindo  -  Tiger

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Natural Beauty   Primary Artist
Tiger   Primary Artist
Lady Saw   Primary Artist
Marcia Griffiths   Primary Artist
Shelly Thunder   Primary Artist
Lady G   Primary Artist
Sophia George   Primary Artist
Sister Nancy   Primary Artist
Nadine Sutherland   Primary Artist
Chevelle Franklin   Primary Artist
Worl-A-Girl   Primary Artist
Foxy Brown   Primary Artist
J.C. Lodge   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Randall Grass   Compilation Producer
Mikey Bennett   Producer
Marcia Griffiths   Performer
Patrick "Shadow" Lindsay   Producer
Winston Riley   Composer,Producer
Worl-A-Girl   Performer
Sister Nancy   Performer
Chevelle Franklin   Performer
Marion Hall   Composer
Anthony "Sangie" Davis   Composer
Nadine Sutherland   Composer,Performer
Tiger   Performer
Lloyd Donaldson   Producer
Joan Pelosi   Package Design
Garfield Phillips   Producer
John Alan   Composer,Producer
Mickey Bennet   Composer
Clevie   Producer
J. White   Composer
Keith Anderson   Composer
Lee Abel   Photography
Janice Fyffe   Composer
J.C. Lodge   Performer
Lady Saw   Performer
Augustus "Gussie" Clarke   Producer
Sophia George   Performer
Shelly Thunder   Performer,Composer
Steely   Producer
Tracy Chapman   Composer
Michael Bennett   Composer
Nancy White   Composer
Lillie Palmer   Composer
Robert Vosgien   Mastering
Hopeton Lindo   Composer
Donovan Germain   Producer
Carlton Hines   Composer
Lady G   Performer