(Juke Boxx)

Drop the needle on Sister Nancy’s Bam Bam and you can be assured everyone  – and I mean everyone – will know the tune. Tenor Saw’s Ring The Alarm gains a similar response, due almost exclusively to the fact it’s the same riddim. That riddim is of course the Stalag, regularly tipped as the “most versioned” riddim in Jamaican music, or at the very least a strong contender for the title.

Juke Boxx’s Stagalag riddim versioned the original Stalag to good effect, adding a bit more oomph to the bass and a subtle variation to the general structure of the riddim itself – an extra beat in each bar (well, at least to my ears).

Demarco’s “Skull Inna Belly” was released in 2010, one of several 7″s the label issued to showcase its relick of this classic and iconic reggae riddim. I was introduced to it at Raglan a couple of Christmases ago, when the venerable Dubhead (selecting alongside long-time sparring partner Stinky Jim) played it to an enthusiastic dance floor. It was the one tune I had to trainspot, and Stinky nodded approvingly at my piqued interest, insisting “it’s a good one”.

Demarco’s lyrical content is unusual, extolling the virtues of pregnant women, the curves of their bodies, even as far as commenting “gal show ya stretch marks”.

I’ve chosen this one for my tune of the week because, regardless of some dubious lyrics, it is engineered and structured in a way which has my finger-gun in the air and my head nodding. It sounds and feels superb, and even what you might consider a non-reggae crowd responds positively when it is played. It’s a cut with a particular energy people pick up on, even if Demarco’s rough patois and chat goes over their heads. I’ve not had the chance to play this tune on a proper sound, but I imagine it would be…. well…proper.

Aside from the Demarco version, Juke Boxx released several other cuts on Stagalag: Busy Signal does two on one 7″, Kiprich and Romain Virgo (surprisingly good on “Ghetto”) and Bugle all do versions. The Bugle version, entitled “Criminal Lawyer”, backs the Demarco tune and is also excellent.

The Stalag has truly stood the test of time, and these variations add to its 21st Century legacy. The Speakerboxxx 7″s will require tracking down via Discogs – I bought mine out of Japan – but the pursuit is worth it, as Dubhead and Stinky Jim would likely agree.

Jeff Neems

Jeff Neems is the long-serving resident selector at Wonder Horse, Hamilton’s premier cocktail establishment. He has been a music journalist and still occasionally writes album and concert reviews. Follow him on Instagram at @jeffwiththerecordagain