in relation to the religion/reggae relationship, surely there has been an ebb and flow in popularity, such that religious-themed records have dominated at some times in Jamaica, and been less popular at others?
For all that many people do deeply believe, there has to be just as much cynicism as with anything else in making hay while the sun shines in the recording industry, hence for example the proliferation of highly religious roots records in the mid-70s (ok, Selassie died in 75?, too, and the 70s were a highly political decade in jamaican history, as i understand..well, all decades must be to an extent), and the relative absence of them at other points? There are so many other subjects explored in Jamaican music.
Music move in trends, after all, and politics/religion are just as much part of those trends as anything else. It's not political apathy that means political rap records were ten a penny in the late 80s/early 90s, but certainly are not so nowadays.
Not a religious record, but can I recommend Ethiopians - Life is a Funny Thing, produced by Scratch. It's a heartbreaking record.
