Real Rock

"Real Rock" is a 1967 instrumental reggae song by Sound Dimension, one of the house bands of producer Coxsone Dodd's famous Studio One. It is significant for giving rise to perhaps the most popular reggae riddim of all time, having been versioned hundreds of times by artists ranging from The Clash to KRS-One to 311. According to a 2004 New York Times article, Dodd considered the song his crowning achievement.^[1]

The riddim's signature three-note Hammond organ figure was played by the legendary Jackie Mittoo.^[1]

Partial list of songs using the "Real Rock" riddim

• "Real Rock", Sound Dimension (1967)
• "Rockers' Rock", Augustus Pablo (1973)
• "Cool Out Son", Junior Murvin (1978)
• "Friday Evening", Joe Tex & U Black (1978)
• "Stop The Fussing & Fighting", Dennis Brown (1978)
• "Cool Out Son", Junior Murvin (1979)
• "Nice Up The Dance", Michigan & Smiley (1979)
• "Armagideon Time", Willi Williams (1977)^[2] / The Clash (1979)^[3]
• "Lend Me Your Chopper" / "Lend Me the 16", Johnny Osbourne (1983)
• "Dem A Go Feel It", Frankie Paul (1985)
• "The Real Rock", Shinehead (1990)
• "If I Ever Fall In Love Again", Sanchez (1993)
• "Black Cop", KRS-One (1993)
• "Un Spectacle De Plus", Billy Ze Kick (1993)
• "All Mixed Up", 311 (1995)
• "Too Greedy", Super Cat (1995)
• "Original", Raggasonic (1998)
• A hidden track at the end of Seeed's New Dubby Conquerors album (2001)
• "Keep In Touch", Sizzla (2003)
• "She Loves Me Now", Cocoa Tea (1999) (Sundance 2008)
• "Haze", Tallowah (2013)

References

1. Kenner, Rob (2004-05-23). "MUSIC; 'Real Rock' Through the Ages". The New York Times.
2. http://www.45cat.com/record/so099
3. http://www.45cat.com/record/cbs8087

External links

• Real Rock Riddim at Frenkieh.com Riddim Database