MEET THE RIDDIM MAKER

See that guy up there?  That's Winston Riley.  In 1973, he created what's known in reggae as the Stalag riddim, often referenced as the most used riddim in reggae.  Riley was a producer and owner of the Techniques record label, and former member of the Techniques.  After the Stalag riddim made it's first appearance, in the unassuming "Stalag 17" by Ansel Collins, produced by Riley, the floodgates were open, and the riddim had a life of it's own.   Today, the Riddim Database lists roughly 1500 songs that use it, and even if you discount versions and dub sides, that's a hell of a lot of mileage for one riddim.  You'd be hard pressed to find any sound sampled or copied that much, let alone a complete song.

Not too nuts about this one, but there is good footage, including some shots of Studio One 45s getting pressed. Geek out.

Hat's off to Club Cortez for prompting this. He did a post about the Stalag thing a few days ago. I'm tired of typing "riddim". But that's what it is. Textbook.

~ NOTE: ALL MEDIA IS HOSTED BY THE BLOGS & SITES NAMED BELOW ~

Listen:
Ansel Collins - Stalag 17 mp3 at Fly On The Wall 1973
Sister Nancy -  Bam Bam mp3 at Pancakes and Beer 1982
Yami Bolo - When A Man Is In Love mp3 at Club Cortez 1985
Big Youth - Jim Screechy (streaming) at YouTube 197?
The Stalag riddim - Unadorned version (streaming) at YouTube
Winston Riley in the Techiques:
The Techniques - You Don't Care mp3 at  Full Songs 1968
The Techniques - Oh Babe mp3 at Dinosaur Gardens 1966
Visit:
Winston Riley at Wikipedia 
Stalag Riddims in Honor of the Late Winston Riley at Uncommon Caribbean 
Stalag Riddim entry at Riddim Database