Been discovering a lot of independent artists lately through The Cauldron community.

Opening submissions up again for new Spotify releases.

https://thecauldron.rocks/submit

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Hidden away from the public for decades, this reggae archive holds rare footage, recordings, and history that could have easily disappeared.

We’ve been following this story for over 25 years.

This is just the tip of the reggae iceberg.

www.livicated.com

Hey everyone! I thought I’d share one of my reggae-inspired designs with the community. Quite a few people have been enjoying them on Redbubble, so I figured some of you might like them too. If anything catches your eye, they’re available as stickers, T-shirts, and a few other items. Link is in my profile. I have a lot of designs…. Thanks for taking a look, and I’d love to hear what you think! ✌️🇯🇲

I Word | "I Live"

Producer	I Word
Arranger	I Word

Technicians

Mixing Engineer	I Word, Rick Chapman
Recording Engineer	Chiao

Musicians

Vocals	I Word
Backing Vocals	Apple Gabriel, Judy Mowatt, Junior Tamlins, Justin Hinds, Lascelle Bulgin, Marcia Griffiths, Mighty Diamonds, Pam Hall, Rita Marley
Drums	Carlton Barrett
Bass	Family Man
Guitar	Al Anderson, Andy Bassford, Family Man, Chinna Smith
Rhythm Guitar	Guitsagy
Lead Guitar	Junior Marvin
Piano	Wire Lindo, Tyrone Downie
Keyboards	Family Man
Organ	Wire Lindo
Synthesiser	Barry Desenko, I Word, Rick Chapman
Trumpet	Bobby Ellis, Dave
Trombone	Nambo Robinson, Specs Bifirimbi
Saxophone	Cedric Im Brooks, Dean Fraser, Deadly Headly
Flute	Medicine Wind
Percussions	Family Man, Devon Dread, I Word, Seeco Patterson

I Word (Edward Sprinkle) & The Sound Of Creation

This music is a portion of the work and collaborations of Edward Sprinkle the mon called Iword, who, during his childhood was blessed to live in the royal nation of Ethiopia. And what's more, his father worked for His Imperial Majesty. Albert, his dad, was the supervising construction engineer, working with the Ethiopian people building the JFK library at Haile Selassie I University in Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia.

And, on a mystic day, in early 1966 that is where as an 11 year old youth, Iword was blessed in the presence of the King of Kings. During this time Iword formed his first band, The Addis Ababa Safaris, and developed his interest in world music, theatre, and the arts while attending Good Shepherd Mission School in Addis. Iword and his family
lived in Ethiopia for 3 years from 1965 to 1968. In 1976, by mystic revelation, Iword was enlightened by the profound significance of Bob Marley and the Wailers music and went to Jamaica seek the prophet, priest, and King of Reggae, but discovered that Bob had left due to internal political strife.

He found instead his ancient connection within the Rastafarian Family. This led to his meeting with the Tuff Gong on April 21, 1978 at 56 Hope Road, Kingston Jamaica the day of the One Love Concert. This began an ongoing pilgrimage to Tuff Gong Studio to record original songs, starting in October 1978. It began with the collaboration of Karl Pitterson, who was Bob Marley's mixing engineer at the time. "Solar Skank Seed Sowers Bank" was finished there in one evening. Karl played all of the instruments and mixed the song. After unknowingly falling asleep, in Bob Marley's studio chair that night, Iword awoke the next morning to see Bob burning a spliff, skanking to the final mix, and Bob telling him, "You no easy".

After hearing more of Iword's songs, which he sang acapella to Bob on the steps in front of Tuff Gong Studio, Bob told Iword that he would be willing to produce the songs when the opportunity presented itself, after the Wailers next world tour. Bob was called to Zion before this was accomplished. In 1981, Iword, with the original Wailers band, the I Threes, Justin Hines and the Dominos, Israel Vibration, the Mighty Diamonds, the Tamlins, Augustus Pablo, Stephen "Cat" Coore and the Zap Pow Horns entered Tuff Gong Studio to record 16 original Iword compositions that have since been recognized as legendary creations. 8 songs from those sessions were released in 1983 on vinyl as "Spread the
Word".

It is classic roots rock reggae, that only a limited number know exists and has been mostly unavailable to the general public, until now. Iword went on to perform at Reggae Sunsplash with Lloyd Parks and We the People Band in 1982. On the morning of the third, and final day, of the festival he got the crowd of 70,000 people pumped up and skanking, with his song "Mango Connection".

In 1983 and 1984 he was invited to join the Wailers Band and the I-Threes, guesting on vocals, for the west coast leg of the "Legend Tour". From 1978, until the present day, Iword has continued to bring together some of the most talented and inspired
musicians, from around the world, to expound on the Sound of Creation. He is looking forward to touring with the release of his first double CD, "Spread the Word", which includes 6 songs from the original vinyl release. The CD also has more of Iword's music including tracks with the Rainbow Family Band., Maharajah Reggae All-Stars, Dr. Habanero's Only Hearts Dub Band and several other incarnations of the Sound of Creation Band.

Authentic Ska Standard Plays
“GO WHEY” — a 1964 original by Jackie Opel
Featuring Hiroshi Asami

Streaming starts August 26, 2026.

#AUTHENTICSKASTANDARD #GOWHEY #JackieOpel #HiroshiAsami #Ska

Every photograph in Roger Steffens’ archives has a story the lens couldn’t capture. Sometimes, the story is about what happens when the people who made the history step inside the archive themselves.

When David Hinds of Steel Pulse visited Roger Steffens’ Reggae Archives in Los Angeles, he wasn’t simply walking through a collection of reggae memorabilia. He was walking through a history he helped create.

Roger has followed, documented and preserved the story of Steel Pulse for decades. In fact, his connection with the band goes back to the early 1980s, when he worked in reggae promotion at Elektra Records on Steel Pulse’s True Democracy.

During the visit, David explored the rooms packed with photographs, records, posters, books and pieces of reggae history. In these photos, you can see him discovering some of those pieces for himself — including a Bob Marley & The Wailers concert poster covered in signatures and other artifacts Roger has preserved over the years.

There’s something special about watching an artist encounter his own history through someone else’s lifetime of preservation.

And perhaps that’s what Roger’s archives are really about: not simply collecting the past, but keeping it alive long enough for the people who made it — and the generations that follow — to experience it again.

From Roger Steffens’ Reggae Archives

LIVICATED – THE STORY OF ROGER STEFFENS’ REGGAE ARCHIVES

... he felt a philosophical kinship with her and was deeply impressed by her voice.

That connection led to three weeks of recording in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1975

The result was Escape From Babylon (1976), produced by Bob Marley and featuring The Wailers, The I-Threes, Earl "Chinna" Smith, Aston "Family Man" Barrett, Carlton Barrett, Al Anderson, and even Lee "Scratch" Perry as co-producer.

Roger Steffens has often pointed to unreleased demos and composing sessions as invaluable insights into Bob Marley's creative process. The 1975 recordings with Martha Veléz offer a rare glimpse of Marley developing songs in an intimate acoustic setting.

Bob didn't just produce the album. He also contributed several of his own songs, including "Bend Down Low," "Get Up, Stand Up," and "There You Are" ("Stand Alone"), while "Disco Night" was co-written by Bob Marley and Martha Veléz. During this period, some songwriting credits were also published under Rita Marley's name because of Bob's publishing dispute.

These rare signed front and back album covers are part of Roger Steffens' Reggae Archives, preserving one of the least -known collaborations in Bob Marley's remarkable career

LIVICATED – THE STORY OF ROGER STEFFENS' REGGAE ARCHIVES

Have you ever listened to Escape From Babylon?

Bonjour, j’aimerai connaitre le nom du morceaux joué par The congos s’il vout plaire. Merci

Who's the artist and the song title

https://youtube.com/shorts/DxO-RXrI5Js?si=tEicYX7ExkjJ8tHm

While digging through an old KCRW cassette of Roger's interview with the legendary Nina Simone, Roger couldn't resist singing one of her songs for us... complete with some wonderfully strange lyrics!

It's moments like these that make spending time in the archives so special. Every tape, photograph, and recording has a story, and Roger always seems to have one more to tell.

LIVICATED – THE STORY OF ROGER STEFFENS' REGGAE ARCHIVES

Because preserving history isn't just about saving recordings... it's about preserving the memories, laughter, and stories that come with them.

Have you ever heard Roger sing?