Mr. Reggae

Last updated

"Mr Reggae"
Single by L.A.B.
from the album L.A.B. V
Released26 November 2021 (2021-11-26) [1]
Genre Reggae
Length3:04
Label Loop Recordings Aot(ear)oa
Songwriter(s) Billy Kaui
Producer(s) Brad Kora
L.A.B. singles chronology
"Yes I Do"
(2021)		"Mr Reggae"
(2021)		"Under the Sun"
(2021)

"Mr. Reggae" is a song by Hawaiian musician Billy Kaui of the band Country Comfort, released on his debut album Billy Kaui in 1977. The song was a hit for New Zealand band L.A.B. after they released as the lead single from their album L.A.B. V in November 2021, reaching number three in New Zealand, and winning the Aotearoa Music Award for Single of the Year.

Contents

Background and composition

"Mr. Reggae" was a reggae-influenced song released by Hawaiian musician Billy Kaui in 1977, a year after the break-up of his band Country Comfort. [2] It is the first known commercial recording by a Hawaiian musician featuring reggae influences, pre-dating the Jawaiian reggae movement which became popular in the early 1980s. [3] Kaui released the song as a single in Japan in 1978, through the Nippon Phonogram label. [4]

Brad Kora of the New Zealand band L.A.B. suggested that the band record a cover of the song, inspired by jam sessions the band members held at beaches near their hometown of Whakatāne. [5] Brothers Stuart and Brad Kora felt that the song was an important part of their upbringing, and would often performed the song during jam sessions while they were in the band Kora. [6] The recorded their cover in mid-2021, [7] and incorporated wah-wah pedal guitar into the track. [8]

Release

The song was released as a single by L.A.B. on 26 November 2021, one month before the album L.A.B. V. [5] [9] In June 2022, a live rendition of "Mr Reggae" was released as a part of the Live at Massey Studios extended play. The song was compiled onto the band's 2023 album Introducing L.A.B. , originally produced as a sampler for their debut European performances. [10]

Critical reception

Alex Behan of Stuff described L.A.B.'s cover as a "nicely executed" "straightforward slice of wah-guitar wizardry that feels instantly familiar". [8] Tim Gruar of Ambient Light Blog felt the song was a "stock standard dancehall number" that was "pretty much the meat and potatoes for this ban...a little under-whelming and run-of-the-mill". [11]

At the 2022 Aotearoa Music Awards, "Mr Reggae" won the Single of the Year award. [12]

Credits and personnel

Charts

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Mr Reggae"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ) [15] 4× Platinum120,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

Salmonella Dub is a dub/drum n bass/reggae/roots band from New Zealand. The band was formed in 1992 by Andrew Penman, Dave Deakins, and Mark Tyler. The band has toured extensively throughout New Zealand, Australia, and Europe, including the UK and Ireland.

Traditional Māori music, or pūoro Māori, is composed or performed by Māori, the indigenous people of New Zealand, and includes a wide variety of folk music styles, often integrated with poetry and dance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herbs (band)</span>

Herbs are a New Zealand reggae group founded in 1979 and led by singer-guitarist Dilworth Karaka, the only constant member. Since its foundation Herbs has been multi-ethnic in membership and featured Samoans, Tongans, Cook Islanders, New Zealand europeans and Maori members. The 11th inductee into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame, were once described as "New Zealand's most soulful, heartfelt and consistent contemporary musical voice". It has been said their debut EP What's Be Happen? "set a standard for Pacific reggae which has arguably never been surpassed".

Kora is a New Zealand music group, which originally consisted of four brothers from the Kora family. The band, which began in Whakatāne, New Zealand fuses elements of reggae, rock, dub, roots, funk, and more recently space funk and dub step elements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sublime (band)</span> American rock band

Sublime is an American rock band from Long Beach, California, formed in 1988. The band's original lineup consisted of Bradley Nowell, Eric Wilson (bass), and Bud Gaugh (drums). Lou Dog, Nowell's dalmatian, was the mascot of the band. Nowell died of a heroin overdose in 1996, resulting in the band's breakup. In 1997, songs such as "What I Got", "Santeria", "Wrong Way", "Doin' Time", and "April 29, 1992 (Miami)" were released to U.S. radio.

When the Cat's Away is a New Zealand female vocal group and covers band formed in 1985. They are best known for their cover of the Blue Mink assimilationist song "Melting Pot", which became a New Zealand number one hit for them in 1988. In 2021, the band members were inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Casanova (LeVert song)</span> 1987 single by LeVert

"Casanova" is a 1987 single by American R&B vocal group LeVert, written and produced by Reggie Calloway. It reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and number nine on the UK Singles Chart, LeVert's only Top Ten on either chart. It was the first new jack swing song to reach number one on the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart. It topped the chart for two weeks, becoming the group's second number-one. It has become a standard number for New Orleans brass bands following its popularization by the Rebirth Brass Band. The song is featured in 1987's The Pick-Up Artist, starring Robert Downey Jr. and Molly Ringwald, and appears on the soundtrack album of the Whoopi Goldberg movie Fatal Beauty, released the same year.

"Controller" is a song by New Zealand band L.A.B., released as a single from their debut album L.A.B. in mid-2018. After the success of the band's song "In the Air" (2019), the song became a hit in New Zealand.

L.A.B. is a New Zealand reggae band formed in Whakatāne, Bay of Plenty in 2016. Its founding members are Brad Kora and Stuart Kora of the band Kora. They soon engaged Joel Shadbolt on lead vocals and guitar, Ara Adams-Tamatea, formerly of Katchafire, as bassist, and Miharo Gregory as keyboardist. The band mostly composes reggae music, with a mix of electronic, blues, rock and funk music.

<i>L.A.B. III</i> 2019 album by L.A.B.

L.A.B. III is the third studio album by New Zealand band L.A.B., released in December 2019. Featuring the singles "Personify" and "In the Air". "In the Air" was a breakthrough hit for the band, becoming the top single of 2020 in New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In the Air (L.A.B. song)</span> 2019 single by L.A.B.

"In the Air" is a song by New Zealand band L.A.B., released as a single from their album L.A.B. III in November 2019. The song topped the charts in New Zealand, becoming the most successful single of 2020 in the country.

<i>L.A.B. IV</i> 2020 studio album by L.A.B.

L.A.B. IV is the fourth studio album by Whakatāne, New Zealand reggae band L.A.B. It was released on 18 December 2020 via Loop Recordings Aot(ear)oa as a sequel to their 2019 album L.A.B. III. The album debuted at number one in New Zealand and number forty-five in Australia. It features two singles: "My Brother" and "Why Oh Why", which were also charted at number 35 and 1 respectively. "Why Oh Why" became the band's second number-one single after "In the Air" (2019).

<i>L.A.B. V</i> 2021 album by L.A.B.

L.A.B. V is the fifth studio album by New Zealand band L.A.B., released in December 2021. Featuring the singles "Mr Reggae" and "Under the Sun", the album was a commercial and critical success, reaching number one on the New Zealand Albums Chart, and winning the Aotearoa Music Award for Album of the Year.

<i>L.A.B.</i> (album) 2018 album by L.A.B.

L.A.B. is the debut studio album by New Zealand band L.A.B., released in November 2017. The album become a sleeper hit, becoming one of the top performing albums in New Zealand between 2019 and 2022.

<i>L.A.B. II</i> 2018 album by L.A.B.

L.A.B. II is the second studio album by New Zealand band L.A.B., released in December 2018.

"Under the Sun" is a country rock song by New Zealand band L.A.B., released as a single from their album L.A.B. V in December 2021. The song was a commercial success, debuting at number 12 in New Zealand, and becoming the 35th most successful song of 2022 in the country.

"Why Oh Why" is a roots reggae song by New Zealand band L.A.B., released as a single from their album L.A.B. IV in December 2020. The song was a success, debuting at number one in New Zealand, and winning the Aotearoa Music Award for Single of the Year.

"Yes I Do" is a song by New Zealand band L.A.B., released on their album L.A.B. IV in December 2020. The song was released as a single in July 2021, and since its release has been certified double platinum in New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take It Away (L.A.B. song)</span> 2022 single by L.A.B.

"Take It Away" is a song by New Zealand band L.A.B., released as a single from their album L.A.B. VI in December 2022.

<i>Road from 26</i> 2023 album by Corrella

Road from 26 is the debut studio album by New Zealand roots reggae band Corrella, released on 26 May 2023. The album features the single "Blue Eyed Māori", which was one of the top performing singles by a New Zealand artist for 2023.

References

  1. ↑ Gibbs, Carly (11 December 2021). "L.A.B - Bay boys to men: Joel Shadbolt opens up about band's success". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  2. ↑ "Music". Ka Leo O Hawaiʻi . 6 March 2007.
  3. ↑ ‘Omanawanui, Ku ‘Ualoha Ho (2006). "From Ocean to O-shen". Crossing waters, crossing worlds: The African diaspora in Indian country. Duke University Press. ISBN   0-8223-3865-3.
  4. ↑ "ミスター・レゲエ". Disk Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  5. 1 2 "L.A.B Return With New Single & Announce New Album". New Zealand Music Commission. 26 November 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  6. ↑ Wikaire-Lewis, Mana (17 December 2021). "L.A.B's new album sails through new genres". teaomaori.news. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  7. ↑ Illingworth, Sarah (16 December 2021). "L.A.B ready to rock the nation with one of summer's biggest tours". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  8. 1 2 Behan, Alex (6 February 2022). "V: Right on cue, L.A.B. deliver another tight collection of people-pleasing pop". Stuff . Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  9. ↑ "Mr Reggae - Single". iTunes . Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  10. ↑ "Introducing L.A.B." Bandcamp. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  11. ↑ Gruar, Tim (16 December 2021). "Album Review: L.A.B – V". Ambient Light Blog. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  12. ↑ "L.A.B secures spot in history at 2022 Aotearoa Music Awards". Radio New Zealand. 10 November 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  13. ↑ "L.A.B. – Mr Reggae". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  14. ↑ "Top Selling Singles of 2022". Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 22 December 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  15. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications". Recorded Music NZ . Retrieved 6 April 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.