This music makes me feel good. Different. I can't help but smile or dance or just bop around. That's not a given for me. I'm wound up tight. Always have been. And I don't think you can just play it. I don't care how good of a musician you might be, it needs to be in your blood in order to play it right. Like the music and vibe of New Orleans, the music and vibe of Jamaica has healing powers, at least temporarily. It works for me, pretty much all the time.
Try it.
TRACKLIST
Al Capone- Prince Buster
Liquidator- The Harry J All-Stars
My Boy Lollipop- Millie Small
Tighten Up- The Untouchables
Shame & Scandal- Peter Tosh w/ The Wailers & The Skatalites
Hands Off...She's Mine- The Beat
Gangsters- The Specials
You're Wondering Now- Andy & Joey
Ruder Than You- The Bodysnatchers
Israelites- Desmond Dekker
Madness- Prince Buster
Wet Dream- Max Romeo
I'm In The Mood For Ska- Lord Tanamo
Eastern Standard Time- The Skatalites
Pressure Drop (Original Single)-The Maytals
Carry Go Bring Come- Justin Hinds & The Dominoes
Johnny Too Bad- The Slickers
Friday Night, Saturday Morning- The Specials
Corner Stone, Burning Torch- Don Drummond
Rivers Of Babylon- The Melodians
17 comments:
It is hard not to enjoy ska and reggae. I first heard it via Madness’s One Step Beyond and then Desmond Dekker’s Israelites. The big difference with ska is that it is dance music, meant to be fun, not a downer. Yes, the rhythms are repetitive, but that is true of most genres including rock and roll (4/4, anyone, haven’t heard that since the previous song). This set looks fabulous.
- Paul in DK
Oh this is tasty! Thanks Sal. Good weekend everybody.
I was somewhat taken aback to learn that the Skatalites actually played at the 1964 Worlds Fair in Queens NYC. I can only imagine what that music must have sounded like to people who had never heard anything remotely similar before.
Awesome. As "long time visitor AND long time commenter" here, I've noticed the way reggae/ska has worked its way into your playlists and posts in recent years and I think it's fantastic. You're right ... there's something about the rhythms that seem to mimic the ocean sometimes, the vocals often just behind the beat, the subject matter in general, is so relaxing. Thanks for this mix and keep it comin', mon.
Awesome mix ! Thank you for this , the world needs more ska
Thanks Sal, prime stuff!
Randy
How to make Good Friday a Great Friday! Thank you!
My introduction to OG ska was 1996’s Foundation Ska by The Skatalites; based solely upon a review I read. :)
Thanks from just another Reggae/Ska fan. Have a pleasant Easter.
Smiling from start to finish. Thanks so much.
I'll be at my desk with a lot of work to do this weekend. . . this mix will definitely help. Happy East-ska!
A great collection, Sal. Thanks a lot!
Back in the '70s I shared an ocean mansion in Camden, Maine. Just a bunch of hippies who raised neighbors eyebrows
But I digress - the couple gave birth to a baby while we were there. One afternoon I had the swaddling baby in my arms, dropped the needle on - Jimmy Cliff, The Harder they Fall and danced the living room with her swaying and twirling.
Some things you never forget
Fabulous set Sal but you missed Kingston Town - Lord Creator.
Imagine yourself in a living room, carpets rolled back,dancing to "The Rivers of Babylon" - it doesn't get much better
Thanks Paul in DK for saying what I might be sheepish to admit: I heard ska via Madness and the [English] Beat. Which is cool! We can't all start at the source every time. And I still love those acts while Sal opens us up to so much more, like Prince Buster.
Hey Sal, Its Russ from down in New Orleans. It's funny that you posted this ska entry. I've been listening to ska all week. hers the story. a long time ago back when i was just getting into reggae back in the late 70's early 80's I was fortunate to have a couple of mentors who were deep into the island scene. one guy in particular was a font of musical knowledge. I was cleaning out some stuff and came across a note he had given me back in the mid 90's with the mandate that I had to find these 3 discs. on this note was the names as well as the titles. In my handwriting was the name and numbers for 6 or so record stores. needless to say, I was never able to find them and the search was lost to time. Until I found the note. I go on eBay and sure enough I find all 3. just like all the things that the midnight Raver turned me on to these are fire. here they are I think these will knock your socks off. The first is Sensational Ska Explosion, this is early Maytals island singles with 7 unreleased sides. Amazing. This one is on Jamaican gold JMC 200/1112.The second is "in memory of the best ska and soul hits" early rare Blues Busters. Real nice and soulful ska. This is Jamaican Gold JMC 200/1114 The last and the one I highly recommend if you get only one is Ska Boogie on Sequel NEX cd 250. This is ska that sounds like it was recorded at Matassa's studio here in New Orleans. You can tell they were listening to everything coming from the gulf coast. Sorry about the rant but with what you said and how much you like ska I just had to share. See you on your next trip down
Hey Russ,
Thanks for checking in and for the recommendations. You will be seeing me sooner than you think.
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