Join Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers' Conscious Party

As summer approaches, nothing gets one in the mood for the sun and heat like reggae.  Bob Marley remains the quintessential reggae artist, along with legends such as Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh, Toots and the Maytals, Jerry Frantz, and Lee “Scratch” Perry.  One album, however, will always stay with me, as it provided this ‘80s teen with an accessible introduction to the genre: Conscious Party by Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers.

Ziggy seamlessly fuses reggae with rock, pop, and a bit of dance to create a joyful vibe on this 1988 classic.  Another key to Conscious Party's success — and modern sound — is its producers: Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth, better known as founding members of Talking Heads.  In addition, the two formed the Tom Tom Club, an ambitious side project that combined dance and reggae into an irresistible concoction.

Their oft-sampled hit, “Genius of Love,” possesses a timeless quality, sounding just as fresh today as it did in 1982.  Frantz and Weymouth also were no strangers to world music, having played on the innovative Talking Heads albums Remain in Light and More Songs about Buildings and Food, both of which explored African and reggae rhythms.  Therefore the couple seemed a logical choice to produce Ziggy's breakthrough album, giving it a polished sheen.

By 1988, Ziggy had recorded two studio albums with his band the Melody Makers, comprised of siblings Cedella, Stephen, Damian, and Sharon.  The group made their debut on their father's 1979 single, “Children Playing in the Streets.”  After their father's death in 1981, Ziggy and the Melody Makers struggled to find their musical identity, initially sticking to a pop-oriented sound.  According to Wikipedia, the group left their first label, EMI, after being pressured to market Ziggy as a solo act.  After moving to Virgin Records, Ziggy and the Melody Makers teamed up with Frantz and Weymouth to create music that remained true to their roots, but would attract a larger audience.

Article Author: Kit O'Toole

Kit O'Toole is a lifelong music enthusiast who maintains a music blog, Listen to the Band. In addition, she is the internet columnist and a contributing editor for Beatlefan magazine. She also holds an Ed.D. in Instructional Technology.

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