3. Murder She Wrote (Chaka Demus & Pliers, 1990)
This Sly & Robbie recut of the “Santa Barbara” instrumental hit the radio airwaves like an atom bomb, with a sound that was raw, unbridled exuberance. Originally released as a single on Sly & Robbie’s Taxi label in 1990, Chaka Demus & Pliers’ “Murder She Wrote” was typical of the ’80s dancehall era, while pointing towards the genre’s future, a bare-bones riddim with a commanding bass line featuring a crisp guitar riff and understated keys.