The Definitive 1000 Songs Of All Time 1955 to 2005: Number 655

Number 655

Herbs

"Nuclear Waste"

(1985)
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Genre:Reggae

I have been told I don't keep it simple "anymore" on this site. Sigh. So, without trying to progress in the world of "blogging" I will keep it witty and simplified. Witty part >>> "Sometimes You've Gotta Love Drunk People......A man and his wife are awakened at 3 o'clock in the morning by a loud pounding on the door.The man gets up and goes to the door where a drunken stranger, standing in the pouring rain, is asking for a push."Not a chance," says the husband, "it is 3 o'clock in the morning! He slams the door and returns to bed."Who was that?" asked his wife."Just some drunk guy asking for a push," he answers."Did you help him?" she asks."No, I did not, it's 3 o'clock in the morning and it is pouring out there!""Well, you have a short memory," says his wife. "Can't you remember about three months ago when we broke down, and those two guys helped us?I think you should help him, and you should be ashamed of yourself!"The man does as he is told, gets dressed, and goes out into the pounding rain. He calls out into the dark, "Hello, are you still there?""Yes" comes back the answer."Do you still need a push?", calls out the husband."Yes, please!" comes the reply from the dark."Where are you?" asks the husband."Over here on the swing!" replies the drunk" . Simplified part >>>>> "Herbs" use to live on the same road as me in Kingsland, Auckland. I use to walk past their house (was more like a hall?) and often sit outside for hours listening to the sound drifting out into the suburban city street. In short, it was fraggin' bliss.

Since 1979 The Herbs have produced a stream of affable reggae hits with some of the country's top talent. Between 1986 and '87 'Slice of Heaven', with Dave Dobbyn, reached #1 on both the New Zealand and Australian charts. In 1989, Tim Finn joined them for 'Parihaka', and in 1992 Annie Crummer fronted the huge hit 'See What Love Can Do'. The Herbs have also worked alongside UB40, Taj Mahal, Tina Turner, N eil Young and Stevie Wonder. In the 1980s, and the first half of the 90s, The Herbs were considered to be the Kings of the South Pacific with ten Top 20 singles hits. Though infectiously upbeat, the Herbs' music has always been forthcoming in its messages. Their 1980 hit 'French Letter' (which spent 11 weeks on the charts) came to express the country's anti-nuclear stance - 14 years later it was re-recorded to garner support for the prevention of nuclear testing at Mururoa. Similarly, 'No Nukes', 'Nuclear Waste' and 'Light Of The Pacific' did as much for the national psyche as they did for popular radio. "Long ago" was a diverse album featuring tracks like "On my mind", "Stolen Time", "Repatriation" & "Jah Reggae", all which had their own message. The album featured Carl Perkins (now Lead Vocalists for Super Reggae family group HOUSE OF SHEM) who played percussion and co-wrote & sang some of the songs. Herbs have recently finished touring Australia with Hamilton Based Reggae band Katchafire which was a success. The name & the sound of HERBS will never be forgotten in New zealand households. Even in 100 years it wont be too long ago.
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For Dave Dobbyn see Number 727
For Tim Finn see Number 618 & #671
For Tina Turner see Number 756
For Neil Young see Number 479, #677 & #938
For UB40 see Number 643 & #857
For Stevie Wonder see Number 657
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Now i don't have to worry what "Rolling Boulder" thinks because, they just wont even know who herbs are (How simplified is that!)

There is only one decent place to go to find anything about Herbs, so here is the addy http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=87570731
as for the video (once again very simplified) there is not one :(
So when this weekend finally arrives I will make you guys one because you need to hear this wonderful music! ~ and here it is .... [snzzzz]

Rolling Stone Top 500 Songs ranked this song at Number (Who, Herbs? Whats that?) and the Album ranked at Number (Do you roll them and smoke it?)

This song has a crowbarred rating of 70.4 out of 108 pts