early reggae
what it is
Early reggae (or skinhead reggae), is generally considered to be the period before the Rastafari movement entered mainstream Jamaican music from 1968 to 1970. It can be distinguished from rocksteady by the slightly faster beat marked out by the drummer using the hi-hat, heavy organ lines, lower mixing of the bass, and electronically doubled rhythm guitar stroke. It met great success in the UK, especially with the skinhead subculture.
✦ start here: albums
✦ who's making it, level by level
level 4 · further
art pop, hyperpop, and the underground
level 5 · all the way
deep experimental
✦ make early reggae a playlist
turn these 19 artists into something you can press play on.
✦ nearby genres
questions
What is early reggae?
Early reggae (or skinhead reggae), is generally considered to be the period before the Rastafari movement entered mainstream Jamaican music from 1968 to 1970. It can be distinguished from rocksteady by the slightly faster beat marked out by the drummer using the hi-hat, heavy organ lines, lower mixing of the bass, and electronically doubled rhythm guitar stroke. It met great success in the UK, especially with the skinhead subculture.
What are good early reggae albums to start with?
Try Valley of Decision by Alton Ellis, A Dream by Max Romeo, Train To Skaville: Anthology 1966-1975 by The Ethiopians, and Rocksteady: The Roots Of Reggae by Hopeton Lewis.
Who are some women making early reggae?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/early-reggae/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making early reggae, from mainstream to underground.
genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-19