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Listen to the BBC One Small Axe Soundtrack

The Most Iconic Songs From Steve McQueen's Small Axe Soundtrack

Dec 4 2020

The first instalment of Small Axe premiered on BBC One just last month, and it's already become one of the most influential series to be released this year. Created and directed by Steve McQueen, famously known for his award-winning film 12 Years a Slave (adapted from Solomon Northup's 1853 memoir), the anthology series consists of five lengthy episodes and details the experiences of London's West Indies community in the late 1960s to early '80s.

The debut, "Mangrove", follows the story of Darcus Howe, a key pillar within the Black Power movement in the US and UK and within the British Black Panthers. Followed by episode two, "Lovers Rock", and episode three, "Red, White, and Blue", the story continues to explore themes of institutional racism, police brutality, and, thankfully, Black joy. With an all-star cast — including John Boyega, Letitia Wright, Shaun Parkes, and, most recently, Micheal Ward, it's clear Small Axe is a necessary and timely addition to 2020 that's going to be talked about for quite some time.

The series has also sparked conversation for another reason: the soundtrack. A compilation of '80s reggae, groove, and soul, artists like Bob Marley, The Maytals, and Al Green make frequent appearances. Check out the most iconic additions ahead.

Image Source: BBC/McQueen

1. Al Green — "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart"

First released in 1972, this track is actually a cover of the Bee Gees original. Featured in the 1999 rom-com Notting Hill (where a majority of Small Axe is actually set), the song has become iconic in more ways than one.

2. Al Green — "For the Good Times"

Another Al Green take on an original, and released again in 1972, "For the Good Times" appeared on Green's fifth studio album, I'm Still in Love With You.

3. Bob Marley & the Wailers — "Small Axe"

Inextricably linked to the show's title, the song references a proverb — "If you are the big tree, we are the small axe" — popularised by Bob Marley in this very song.

4. The Revolutionaries — "Kunta Kinte Dub"

Released in 2008, this song was taken off of Jamaican reggae band The Revolutionaries' Tuff Cuts album. Named after Kunta Kinte from the 1977 miniseries Roots, the song is an ode to the character from Alex Haley's book, who was inspired by one of his Gambian ancestors.

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5. The Maytals — "Monkey Man"

Released in 1968 by ska and reggae group The Maytals, the song was taken from their album Sweet and Dandy. Since its release, it's been covered by the likes of Reel Big Fish, Amy Winehouse, and Kylie Minogue, who recorded a version of the song to raise money for UNICEF.

6. The Maytals — "Revival Reggae"

"Revival Reggae" was released just one year after their song "Monkey Man", which then ended up being the title of their next album, released in 1969.

7. Billy Joel — "Uptown Girl"

First released in 1983, "Uptown Girl" was made popular again after it was covered in 2000 by boy band Westlife. It even made an appearance in the 2007 film Alvin and the Chipmunks.

8. Marvin Gaye — "Got to Give lt Up"

Recorded in December 1976 and released the following year, "Got to Give It Up" was surprisingly recorded in response to Marvin Gaye's label asking him to produce more disco music. It ended up topping three Billboard charts, so he must've done something right!

9. Gregory Isaacs — "Mr. Brown"

Released in 1978 from Gregory Isaacs's Cool Ruler album, the song features in McQueen's second of the five episodes, "Lovers Rock", inspired by the genre of romantic reggae, which came to prominence in the 1980s.

In an interview with Slate, McQueen discussed his inclusion of Isaacs on Small Axe and noted, "he was one of those men that allowed men to like lovers rock because — his appearance, he's a dude. But he's still talking about his feelings. He's still talking about how he feels about this lady. The tenderness that comes out of his voice is beautiful. You didn't often see those kinds of images of a man — particularly a Black man — and his vulnerability."

10. Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel — "White Lines (Don't Do It)"

Released in 1983 and later covered by Duran Duran in 1995, "White Lines" was popularised following a rise in cocaine and crack usage in the '80s, acting as a PSA for the anticocaine movement.

11. Gloria Jones — "Tainted Love"

Released in 1976 from her album Vixen, Gloria Jones's original "Tainted Love" has been covered numerous times since its influential release, including by Marilyn Manson in 2001.

12. Sister Sledge — "He's the Greatest Dancer"

Released in 1979 from the well-known album We Are Family, "He's the Greatest Dancer" was produced and cowritten by the legendary Nile Rodgers and later rerecorded by Chic in 1999.

13. Carl Douglas — "Kung Fu Fighting"

Released in 1974, "Kung Fu Fighting" is a disco song recorded by Jamaican musician Carl Douglas. Since its release, the song has been covered by CeeLo Green, Jack Black, and The Vamps for their appearance in the Kung Fu Panda franchise.

In an interview with Slate, McQueen revealed, "it's a masculine sort of pursuit, that song."

14. Louisa Mark — "Keep It Like It Is"

Released in 1998 from her album Breakout, "Keep It Like It Is" is a perfect example of lovers rock. Born and raised in Willesden, Mark was only 14 when she released her iconic single "Caught You in a Lie".

15. Bob Marley & The Wailers — "Try Me"

You can't feature reggae on a series and not include Bob Marley, so this song, released back in 1970, had to make an appearance. Taken from the album Rasta Revolution, "Try Me" was recorded by Bob Marley and his band at the time, named The Wailers.

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