The Stalag riddim (or Stalag version) is a popular reggaeriddim, which came to prominence in the 1970s. It was originally written and performed as "Stalag 17" (named after the 1953 war film) by
Ansel Collins
Ansel Collins is a Jamaican musician, composer, singer, songwriter and producer, best known for his work with Dave Barker as Dave and Ansel Collins.
Biography
Born 1949 in Kingston, Jamaica,Winston Riley's Techniques record label in 1973.
It was mainly used for dub instrumental versions, often b-sides of records. The rhythm also influenced early hip-hop, and can be discerned on Public Enemy's hit '
Don't Believe the Hype
"Don't Believe the Hype" is a song by hip hop group Public Enemy and the second single to be released from their second album, ''It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back''. The song's lyrics are mostly about the political issues that were cur ...
' as well as on Too Short's Blowjob Betty. In 1980, reggae superstar Bob Marley's band The Wailers used the riddim as an introductory theme to the
Uprising Tour
The Uprising Tour was a concert tour organised to support the album ''Uprising'' by Bob Marley and the Wailers. It was Marley's last tour and the biggest music tour of Europe in that year.
The tour started at the Hallenstadion in Zürich, Swi ...
concerts, with keyboardist Tyrone Downie chanting "Marley!" over the riddim while Marley comes to the stage (therefore the intro is commonly called "Marley Chant" among fans).
In 1982 it successfully made the transition into
dancehall
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially, dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s.Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter (2004) "The Rou ...