Israel Vibration

Biography

Israel Vibration are a reggae harmony group, originating from Kingston, Jamaica. Lascelle "Wiss" Bulgin, Albert "Apple Gabriel" Craig, and Cecil "Skelly" Spence all contracted childhood polio, and went on to be a Jamaican roots reggae group in the 1970s. The trio initially met as children at a rehabilitation center.

History

Bulgin (born 1955), Craig (1955–2020), and Spence (1952–2022) first met as children at the Mona Rehabilitation Clinic, all polio patients in the epidemic that spread through Jamaica in the 1950s. Several years later they formed Israel Vibration. Craig attended the Alpha Boys School but ran away at the age of fourteen, living on the streets. Spence was a member of the band Hot Lickers, appearing on Jamaican television with the group at the age of twelve. He also played in the Jamaican wheelchair basketball team but was forced out in 1969 after adopting the Rastafarian faith, something which the three had in common when they were later reunited.
Spence and Craig got together in Kingston and sought out Bulgin, who at the time was working as a tailor. They formed a vocal group, initially adopting the name Israel Vibration Israel Vibrates, soon becoming simply Israel Vibration. They survived on money earned singing in the streets for several years, and in 1975 attempted to launch a recording career at Channel One Studios, but the track they recorded there ("Bad Intention") was not released.
Funding for their first album came in the form of a grant from the Twelve Tribes of Israel branch of Rastafarai after Hugh Booth, a member of the Twelve Tribes, had overheard the three men singing in a wooded area outside Kingston. Apple and Wiss were living in the area, which they had converted into a home. Recorded at the Treasure Isle studio in 1976, their debut release was the single "Why Worry", released on the Twelve Tribes label late that year. The single was successful enough for the group to be offered support slots at shows by artists such as Dennis Brown, Inner Circle, and Bob Marley.
They then began working with producer Tommy Cowan, releasing "The Same Song×The Same Song1978 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracksA1The Same Song3:59A2Weep & Mourn3:20A3Walk the Streets of Glory4:36A4Ball of Fire4:05A5I'll Go Through4:02B1Why Worry4:20B2Lift Up Your Conscience4:01B3Prophet Has Arise3:17B4Jah Time Has Come3:26B5Licks and Kicks2:54" (on which they were backed by members of Inner Circle) on his Top Ranking label in 1977, and an album of the same name followed in 1978. The album, and its dub counterpart, Israel Tafari (aka Same Song Dub) were a success internationally, leading to a deal with EMI label Harvest to reissue the album in the UK, the label also releasing a second album, Unconquered People×Unconquered People1991 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks1Give I Grace3:562Friday Evening3:323Mr. Taxman4:114Survive3:295Top Control3:346We a de Rasta4:037Unconquered People3:548Possibility3:389Dwellers of Darkness3:1110Practice What Jah Teach3:1511Give I Grace Dub3:4312Friday Evening Dub3:4413Mr. Taxman Dub4:1714Survive Dub3:4615Top Control Dub3:3916Unconquered People Dub3:5417Possibility Dub3:3818Pratice What Jah Teach Dub3:43 in 1980.
For their third album, Why You So Craven×Why You So Craven1991 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Universal Father3:422Why You So Craven3:123On Jah Solid Rock3:514Jah Is the Way3:475Morning Light2:546Highway Robbery3:357Give Thanks and Praise4:098What's the Use3:419Smack Right Jam3:42 (the title track aimed at their former producer Cowan), they worked with Henry "Junjo" Lawes but disagreements meant that they left the album unfinished, with Lawes getting The Tamlins to complete it.
The group relocated to New York in 1982 to seek professional health care, and escape the growing dancehall movement in Jamaica, but struggled to break through there and they split up. They each attempted to launch solo careers, with Bulgin releasing the Mr Sunshine album in 1985, but by 1987 they decided to relaunch Israel Vibration. Having all been turned down when they approached Gary "Dr. Dread" Himmelfarb, founder of RAS Records, during their solo period, they received a positive response when they approached him as a group. They were flown to Washington, D.C., to record a new album at the Lion and Fox Recording Studios in College Park, Maryland, backed by the Roots Radics. Strength of my Life was the group's fourth album. The band stayed with RAS into the 21st century, releasing more than a dozen albums for the label.
"Strength of My Life×Strength of My Life1988 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Cool and Calm4:292Jah Love Me4:273Payday4:574Greedy Dog4:355Don't Want Apartheid4:586Perfect Love and Understanding4:067Live and Give4:238Middle East4:439Strength of My Life6:11" (1988) remains their most successful album on the RAS label to date. Memorable tracks such as "Cool and Calm×Cool and Calm2005 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks1The Same Song4:002Reggae on the River4:263Why Worry4:204Rude Boy Shufflin'4:475Mr Consular Man4:326Don't Want No Apartheid4:577Highway Robbery3:298Get Up and Go4:159New Wave5:0610On the Rock4:5711Cool and Calm4:2712Right I the Jam3:3813Father of the Universe3:3814Jah Jah Rock3:4315Poor Man Cry3:5916Vultures4:1917Why You Go Craven3:0718You Never Know3:54" and "Jah Love Me"—backed by the legendary Roots Radics—propelled the trio to immense international success. Their follow-up, "Praises×Praises1 June 1990 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Vultures4:222There Is No End4:533Rumours of War4:454So Far Away3:475Real and Right4:406Make It Work5:067Jailhouse Rocking4:158New Wave5:089Try Again4:17" (1990), cemented their global popularity by riding the wave of the previous album's success. Subsequent releases "Forever×Forever1991 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Poor Man Cry4:132Children Under the Sun4:243Racial Discrimination4:124Soldiers of Jah Army4:205Reggae on the River4:266False Pretense3:597Be Carefull4:028Live in Jah Love4:379Red Eyes4:5210Poor Man Dub3:5411Dubbin in the Sunshine4:2012Discriminatory Dub4:09" (1991) and "IV" (1993) saw a slight dip in the success achieved by their earlier works. Then came "On the Rock×On the Rock24 February 1995 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Mr. Consular Man4:322Ambush4:573Rebel for Real5:244Find Something to Do3:325Love Makes a Good Man4:566Brother's Keeper5:067Struggling Youth3:368Rudeboy Shuffle4:469Love Is All You Need4:0710Borderline4:3611Sugar Me5:1812On the Rock4:58" (1995), which marked another major commercial peak in the 1990s; it featured the highly popular track "Rudeboy Shufflin×Rudeboy Shufflin1995 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Rudeboy Shufflin (Original Mix)4:452Rudeboy Shufflin (A Mad Mad Dub)5:033Rudeboy Shufflin (A Fox Dub)4:574Rudeboy Shufflin (Jungle Style)5:055Rudeboy Shufflin (A Jungle Dub)5:076Rudeboy Shufflin (Instrumental)5:03'," the music video for which enjoyed heavy rotation on television, expanding their audience far beyond the niche of roots reggae purists. The subsequent "Free to Move×Free To Move6 August 1996 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Terrorist4:162Mud Up5:293Traveling Man4:174System Not Working4:215Pretty Woman6:216Livity In The Hood4:277Saviour In Your Life4:048Solomon Bloodline4:389Feelin' Irie3:4410Another Day3:3911Life Is Real4:3912Mighty Negus5:27" (1996) would be the last studio album recorded by Skelly, Wiss, and Apple together—that is, the original vocal trio. The magnificent "Live Again!×Live Again!24 June 1997 · Album · LiveSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Rockford Rock2:072Same Song4:323Jailhouse Rocking5:584Rudeboy Shufflin'7:515Never Gonna Hurt Me Again4:406You Never Know4:567There Is No End5:098On the Rock4:539Greedy Dog6:4510Racial Injustice7:1711Red Eyes9:4012Strength of My Life3:4113Licks and Kicks2:4014War6:13" (1997) brings things full circle.
In 1997, Apple Gabriel left the group to pursue a solo career, releasing the album Another Moses in 1999. Skelly and Wiss continue to record albums and tour the world as Israel Vibration, backed by longtime associates Roots Radics.
Their collaboration with RAS Records continued with two solid releases: “Pay the Piper×Pay the Piper1998 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Systematical Fraud4:122Pay the Piper (Rip and Run Off)4:503Original Soljahs3:534Nuttin’ Nah Bruk4:255Pop Off4:016Exploitation4:377Hard Road4:118So Much Youths3:419Get Up And Go4:1610Stinky Mouth3:1911Nuff Rude Boys4:0512Surfin4:5513Surfin (Dub)4:39” (1999) and “Jericho×Jericho2000 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Lost Souls4:502Gang Bang Slam5:453Every Shadow4:334Jericho3:595Breeze A Blow4:136On Borrowed Time4:337Violence in the Street4:148African Unification5:399Trouble3:3410Jammin4:1711Move Over4:2312Thank God It's Friday3:59” (2000). The subsequent album, “Fighting Soldiers×Fighting Soldiers2002 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Unseen Bullet4:252Craven Raven4:393Level Every Angle3:424Fighting Soldier4:295Tippy Tippy Toes5:046Jah Runnings4:177Miscalculations5:198Sodom And Gomorrah4:239Men In High Places5:2510Peace Not War4:3511Blood Stain4:3112Wish You Were Here4:47”, was produced in 2002 by the French label Nocturne and released on the US market the following year by RAS Records; the next two albums, “Stamina×Stamina1 June 2007 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Far Beyond4:342Back Staba3:513Flood Water4:444Herb Is the Healing4:315Gully Bank4:196Natty Dread4:167Lion in the Jungle5:168Stamina3:589Downtown Kingston Intro. J.A.0:2810Run Away Girl4:4211Cleaniness3:5512Little Children5:1513Free Loafter3:5014Sautez Reggae3:59” (2007) and “Reggae Knights×Reggae Knights15 November 2010 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1My Master's Will4:342Dig Up the Ground4:253Take It Slow4:514If You Do Bad4:155Haile I4:206Walla Walla4:227New York City4:368Poor and Humble4:189Bad Intention3:5010Old Town4:1611Rip and Run Off4:2012Cantankerous4:2313Slammer4:5114Original Gangster3:55” (2010), were released on the Mediacom label.
In December 2014 they were reportedly recording a new album set for release in early 2015. The new album, entitled "Play It Real×Play It Real30 March 2015 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Leisure4:082Ganja3:363Wha It Name4:004Man Up4:025Incomplete4:236Happiness3:467IRS4:138Journey4:399Sign3:4310Dancing in the Rain4:3711Organ3:3412Beautiful4:0913Leisure Dub4:2014Dancing in the Rain (acoustic)4:11" was released on 31 March 2015 via Utopia. On March 23, 2020, Albert "Apple Gabriel" co-founder and former member of the group died due to 'compilation sickness', earlier reports indicated that Albert was not well for quite some time, this was supposedly due to some of the polio infections left in his body. On a Facebook post on March 7, 2020, he had indicated that he had had a stroke. He died on March 23, 2020. On August 26, 2022, Cecil "Skelly" Spence died of lung cancer.
"Reggae Music Never Dies×Reggae Music Never Dies2024 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Next Generation4:092Wake Up4:183Natty Farmer4:124Don't Let Dem Make You Do4:125Gun Hawk3:066Reggae Music Never Dies4:247Dem a Fight3:398Herbal Cure4:189Different Enemies4:0510After the Storm4:18" is the new album—scheduled for release on February 28, 2025. The album features final recordings by the late Skelly, alongside new material from Lacelle "Wiss" Bulgin, the legendary trio's last surviving original member.
The project began during the quiet of the pandemic, when Aston Barrett Jr. of The Wailers offered to produce a song for Wiss and Skelly. It was intended as a tribute to Israel Vibration's iconic 1979 album "Unconquered People", which had featured Wailers members—including his father, Aston "Family Man" Barrett. This sparked inspiration in Skelly and Wiss to revive the essence of "Unconquered People" by combining their vision with Aston Barrett Jr.'s expertise and the timeless sound of The Wailers.
Barrett Jr. produced and mixed the album—with previews expected soon—and played bass, drums, and rhythm guitar, as well as keyboards and percussion. He enlisted top-tier talent to support the project, including Dwight Pinkney, Kubix, and Thales "Lion Farmer" on lead guitar; Dean Fraser on saxophone; Randy "Tromboclaat" Fletcher on trombone; Okiel McIntyre on trumpet; Carol Dexter on backing vocals; and percussionists Abidan Tafari and Kemoy "Chippy" Outar. Grammy-winning sound engineer Christopher Daley mastered the album.
Notably, Israel Vibration—represented by Wiss, touring Europe and USA with The Roots Radics in 2025 and 2026. [1]

Studio albums

The Same Song (1978), Top Ranking
Unconquered People (1979), Harvest
Why You So Craven (1981), Volcano
Strength of My Life (1988), RAS
Praises (1990), RAS
Dub Vibration: Israel Vibration in Dub (1990), RAS
Forever (1991), RAS
IV (1993), RAS
I.V.D.U.B. (1994), RAS
On the Rock (1995), RAS
Dub the Rock (1995), RAS
Israel Dub (1996), RAS
Free to Move (1996), RAS
Ras Portraits (1997), RAS
Pay the Piper (1999), RAS
Jericho (2000), RAS
Power of the Trinity (2002)
Dub Combo (2001), RAS
Fighting Soldiers (2003)
Cool and Calm (2005)
Stamina (2007), Mediacom
Reggae Knights (2010), Mediacom
Play It Real (2015), Utopia
Reggae Never Dies (2025)

Live albums

Israel Vibration & The Gladiators Live at Reggae Sunsplash (1982)
Vibes Alive (1992), RAS
Living truth (1999)

Live Again! (1997), RAS
Live & Jammin (2003), Nocturne
Vibes of Zion (2024)
Basco Sessions (2025)