Three Reggae Records With The Title "Bangarang" (with comments)

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision- July 2, 2024

This post showcases three Reggae records with the title "Bangarang": (1)Lester Sterling & Stranger Cole -"Bangarang"; (2)Freddie McGregor - "Bangarang", and (3) U Roy & Glen Adams - "Bangarang Version".

Selected comments from the discussion thread for the featured Freddy McGregor recording of "Bangarang" are also included in this post. Those comments include the word "bangarang" and often provide a definition for that term (the Caribbean (Jamaican) definition.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/10/bangarang-means-different-things-in.html for a companion post that focuses on the different meanings of the word "bangarang" in Jamaica and in the United States.

The content of this post is presented for etymology, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to these featured vocalists for their musical legacy. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of that video on YouTube.

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SHOWCASE EXAMPLES
Example #1: Bangarang - Lester Sterling & Stranger Cole

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jahbuzzz Uploaded on Dec 10, 2010

Bangarang on Original JA Lee [1968]

In late 1968, Lester cut his signature tune "Bangarang." Another Jamaican #1, and hailed as a first Reggae, Ill let Lester tell it. "Well the first part and the inspiration for Bangarang, I make up the bridge, came from Kenny Graham's* Bongo Chant. Me and Rico used to play it from the late 50s when it was on the sound systems. I get the idea from this woman and her daughter. The daughter emigrate to America and then I think she encourage the mother to leave me and emigrate too."

Backup vocals are by Wilburn "Stranger" Cole, Lloyd "Charmers" Tyrell, and Maxwell "Romeo" Smith. There are hundreds, if not thousands of versions of Bangarang, including those by Soul Vendors, Lord Creator, Nitty Gritty, Brigadier Jerry, Lt. Stitchie, and Dillinger.

At the start of Stir It Up! A tv program broadcast by Englands Channel 4 in 1994, producer Bunny Lee is in his Burns Avenue studio in Kingston. Lee picks up a 1/4 inch tape and begins, "Yeah, I want to tell everybody, the whole world, this is the first Reggae tune that was done in Jamaica, see it? It was done in 1968 in Duke Reids studio. I want to play it and mek the whole world hear, Muma no want no Bangarang. It was Lester Sterling, Lloyd Charmers and Stranger Coleis really the emphasis on the organ. Mek the organ go Reggae, Reggae this is the great Bangarang." In the 1982 video production Deeper Roots, also by Channel 4, Lee notes, "same like in the Reggae ting, is a man just bawl out one day, we were having a session, say, make the organ go Reggae, Reggae and the name. Everybody claims the name and they dont even know how it start, right."

In late 1968, Lester [Sterling] cut his signature tune "Bangarang." Another Jamaican #1, and hailed as a first Reggae, Ill let Lester tell it. "Well the first part and the inspiration for Bangarang, I make up the bridge, came from Kenny Dorhams Bongo Chant. Me and Rico used to play it from the late 50s when it was on the sound systems. I get the idea from this woman and her daughter. The daughter emigrate to America and then I think she encourage the mother to leave me and emigrate too."
-snip-
*This corrects the wrong last name that was given in this video's summary. Thanks, Unknown July 2, 2024 for pointing out that error.

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Example #2: Freddie McGregor - Bangarang



Jens MerleUploaded on Jan 3, 2007

one Artist of the old School Jamicas.
-snip-
I'm not sure when this record was first released.

Here are selected comments from this sound file's discussion thread: [Notice that bangarang is something that nobody wants.]

eego1, 2008
"Respect to Freddie McGregor for this beautiful rendition of Stranger Cole's "Bangarang""

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EarthV8Jan 26, 2009
"JAMAICA NUH WAN NUH BANGARANG"
-snip-
This is a recurring line in this Freddy McGregor record. The original "Bangarang" record by Lester Sterling and Stranger Cole said "Muma nuh wan nuh bangarang". [Momma don't want no bangarang.]

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francisco RebeloNeves, 2008
"Michaeljureidini.. you fool.. Do you know what bangarang means? Bangarang > Jamaican slang defined as a hubbub, uproar, disorder, or disturbance. Jah Bless Freddie McGregor"

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1OLDSKOOL1Feb 3, 2009 in reply to michaeljureidini
"he is saying there is gonna be bangarang but he doesnt want it. bangarang mean disorder and mayhem. he is not endorsing it hes just stating fact. You should've understood what was meant before making such ridiculous comments!!"
-snip-
michaeljureidini's comment is no longer available. I wonder if that blogger wrote something that used the American definitions of "bangarang". According to the American definitions, bangarang is an exclamation indicating approval and/or amazement; and an adjective that means something superlative, "The ultimate in excellence. Better than cool, rad or awesome" [to paraphrase two urbandictionary.com bloggers.] Those meanings were given to that Caribbean word at least by 1991 when the word "bangarang" was used in the American movie "Hook".

At any rate, it doesn't appear that anyone else writing in that discussion thread, with the exception of one other person (whose comment is given below) was aware of this alternate meaning of "bangarang".

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arshedhussainkadir, Nov 7, 2009 in reply to 1OLDSKOOL1
"1OLDSCOOL.....bangarah..also means asian music ...since 1988 arab, indian tunes got serious rythem ...while reegae turned to buju banto - bang ya head into a brick wall wall and [profanity deleted]..........no oofence intended -- just words have different meanings ........bally sagoo.......maybe he got music videos from 1990 on youtube ?
-snip-
I've not read that "bangarang" means "Asian music" anywhere else.

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Borka SMU, Feb 8, 2010
"it's bangarang, nor bangarah
bangarang means chaos, mess"

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ohanselo, Jun 16, 2009
"LOL from the looks of the comments, i dont want to know what bangarang means. but to me this is happy regge, what i like =)) Jamaica no wan no banagrang =)))"

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raskiny, Jul 21, 2009
"U S A a spread bangarang no doubt about it.if u r a true rastaman u got to support dat view.peace a want"
-snip-
"Peace a want" - I want peace.

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Nicky RopJul 8, 2011
"YES MON JAMAICA NUH WANT NO BANGARANG FREDDIE MCGREGOR ONE OF TRUEST REGGAE STARS EVER!!"

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julius muli, Sep 3, 2012
"rasta family in kenya no need no bangarang. one love"

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Kiprono Mitei, Oct 11, 2012
"BIG UP MAN! WE NO WANT NO BANGARANG"

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Example #3: Lester Sterling Lloyd Charmers Stranger Cole-Bangarang-And U Roy & Glen Adams -Bangarang Version

mrmsclvr, Uploaded on Jan 17, 2010

From Bunny 'Striker' Lee Story CRCDB3138
-snip-
U Roy & Glen Adams - "Bangarang Version" begins at 2:42 of this sound file.

I don't know when this was recorded.

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