Playback with Black Market Dub
In this Reggae Summer episode we dive into Gregory Isaacs’ 1982 classic Night Nurse and ask whether it might be the best reggae album of the 1980s.
We talk about The Cool Ruler as one of the most prolific and distinctive voices in reggae, his lovers rock style, his tragic personal decline, and how Night Nurse captures him at a creative peak. We also dig into the musicianship of Roots Radics, the sound of Tuff Gong and Compass Point, and why this record feels so smooth and effortless while dealing with some heavy emotions.
In this episode:
– Track highlights across Night Nurse (including “Night Nurse,” “Cool Down the Pace,” “Sad to Know (You’re Leaving)” and more)
– How Roots Radics’ playing and the production choices make the album so hypnotic
– The arc of Gregory Isaacs’ career: genius, output, and the cost of addiction and legal trouble
– Where Night Nurse sits in the lovers rock / roots reggae canon and our own reggae playlists.
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CHAPTERS:
00:25:00 Who Was Gregory Isaacs?
00:40:27 Producing 'Night Nurse'
01:17:42 Roots Radics and Flabba Holt
01:36:06 Standout Songs
01:56:53 Final Thoughts