Along the lines of the other threads I started, what do you play when someone asks for some Ska music without specifying an artist or track.
I have over 75 tracks classified as Ska, but always have trouble deciding what to play. So I always play safe and play Madness - Baggy Trousers or House of Fun & The Selector - On MY Radio.
What I'm looking for is inspiration, not who can name the most Ska tracks, so what do you play.
Full Version: Top Ska's
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Depending on time allowances and how it goes I'd probably start with 80's ska
One step beyond - Madness
Tears of a clown - The Beat
Gangsters - The Specials
and maybe mix in a little old time stuff
The Israelites - Desmond Decker
You can get it if you really want it - Jimmy Cliff
Double Barrel - Dave & Ansell Collins
Whilst no expert I love this genre and do have quite a selection so I could probably do a great couple of hours on it maybe a whole night
Vinnie
One step beyond - Madness
Tears of a clown - The Beat
Gangsters - The Specials
and maybe mix in a little old time stuff
The Israelites - Desmond Decker
You can get it if you really want it - Jimmy Cliff
Double Barrel - Dave & Ansell Collins
Whilst no expert I love this genre and do have quite a selection so I could probably do a great couple of hours on it maybe a whole night
Vinnie
the top 3 i use that always fill the dancefloor are:
madness - one step beyond
the specials - too much too young
bad manners - can can
madness - one step beyond
the specials - too much too young
bad manners - can can
There's a CD of re-recordings of the 2 Tone era tracks by Bad Manners, Pauline Black & Ranking Roger Called Ska Crazy, that you can pick up in most of the cheap market stalls (you know the type, large Irish section & "Hits of the 70's" with small print that says along the lines of these tracks have been re -recorded using as many original members of the band as possible).
Anyway it contains a track that's called The Sound of Skaaa! which is a megamix of all the tracks on the album, lasts about 8mins & covers all the best tracks from the era Except the Piranhas - Tom Hark & the Specials - Too Much Too Young which it works very well sandwiched between. you wouldn't know that it wasn't all the original artists unless you listen very very carefully.
If you want some 60's Ska suggestions say so & I'll post some later, but one that always works is Millie - My boy lollypop
Anyway it contains a track that's called The Sound of Skaaa! which is a megamix of all the tracks on the album, lasts about 8mins & covers all the best tracks from the era Except the Piranhas - Tom Hark & the Specials - Too Much Too Young which it works very well sandwiched between. you wouldn't know that it wasn't all the original artists unless you listen very very carefully.
If you want some 60's Ska suggestions say so & I'll post some later, but one that always works is Millie - My boy lollypop
prince buster al capone
dave and ansell collins monkey spanner
dave and ansell collins monkey spanner
| QUOTE (High Fidelity @ May 28 2005, 01:44 PM) |
| ...what do you play when someone asks for some Ska music without specifying an artist or track. I always play safe and play Madness - Baggy Trousers or House of Fun & The Selector - On MY Radio. What I'm looking for is inspiration, so what do you play. |
Quite a few people have mentioned that they play The Specials, Madness, Selector etc when asked for Ska music. The answer to this question depends very much on who is asking the question.
Real ska is from Jamaica & some of the Caribbean islands, from the late 60's. Artists such as Prince Buster, Desmond Dekker, Skatalites, Pioneers, Dandy Livingstone etc.
Many of the hits by the Specials and early Madness were cover versions of this old Jamaican Ska. Madness got their name from a Prince Buster song by the same name. One step beyond was another of Prince Busters tracks. The first chart hit from Madness, The Prince, was a tribute to the legendary Prince Buster. The Specials first hit, Gangsters, was originally called Al Capone when released by Prince Buster.
So a long answer to a short question
, if it was someone really into reggae/original ska then I'd play tracks such as Prince Buster-Al Capone, Harry J - Liquidator, Dave & Ansil Collins-Double Barrel, Desmond Dekker-007, Lord Taname-I'm in the mood for ska, Pioneers-Longshot kick de bucket, Skatalites-Guns of Navarone. If they were wanting pop-ska, i.e. Specials, Madness then the posts above mention the obvious ones, although it was only the first album from The Specials & Madness that had the ska sound and ska covers. The 2nd albums from both groups were very much drifting away from that sound.
Then there's Ska-punk: Mighty Mighty Bosstones - The imperssion that I get, Rancid - Time bomb, Reel Big Fish - Monkey man (which links you back to 2Tone & original 60's Ska as Toots & the Maytals did it first & it was covered by the Specials)
For 60's ska, another good one is Prince Buster - Enjoy yourself
Isn't it Tanamo Eskie?
Pop quiz time, every band on 2 Tone covered one particular 60's ska song in their live set, what was it?
For 60's ska, another good one is Prince Buster - Enjoy yourself
Isn't it Tanamo Eskie?
Pop quiz time, every band on 2 Tone covered one particular 60's ska song in their live set, what was it?
| QUOTE (Corabar Steve @ May 29 2005, 08:25 AM) |
| Pop quiz time, every band on 2 Tone covered one particular 60's ska song in their live set, what was it? |
Every band on Two Tone??
The Special AKA / The Specials
The Selecter
Madness
The Beat
Elvis Costello
The Bodysnatchers
The Swinging Cats
Rico
Rhoda & The Special AKA
The Apollinaires
The Higsons
The Friday Club
JB's Allstars
Not sure
Vinnie
PS - did anyone know of a band called Headline around the 80's revival??
Great band
No, I phrased that badly every band on 2 Tone: During it's real heyday ie the first two 2 Tone package tours?
Anyone signed after '80 just jumping on the band wagon so doesn't count!
(the Higsons...featuring one Charlie Higson of the Fast Show fame)
So far everyone has ignored the Revival, revival bands like the Loafers, the Hot Knives etc..
Just thought of another that goes well with Madness, Bad Manners etc,
the Ska-dows - Apache (if you can get hold of it)
Anyone signed after '80 just jumping on the band wagon so doesn't count!
(the Higsons...featuring one Charlie Higson of the Fast Show fame)
So far everyone has ignored the Revival, revival bands like the Loafers, the Hot Knives etc..
Just thought of another that goes well with Madness, Bad Manners etc,
the Ska-dows - Apache (if you can get hold of it)
| QUOTE |
| Just thought of another that goes well with Madness, Bad Manners etc, the Ska-dows - Apache (if you can get hold of it) |
I've got that on a CD called covered in Skas, which was part of a 3 CD box set of Ska.
I've listened to it a few times and although I quite like it, I'm not sure I'd be brave enough to play it at a general party.
But then again, I'm a coward and always go for the safe option.
Trust me, it's worked for me when I've used it
the answer was madness by Prince Buster ( I believe the Selecter still do it live)
the answer was madness by Prince Buster ( I believe the Selecter still do it live)
I find that when Ska is requested, the majority of the time they are really wanting to hear the 2 Tone groups like Madness, Specials etc. and the original Jamaican Ska like Prince Buster or Ska/Punk like the Mighty Mighty Bosstones are asked for as a specific requests. However, given the right crowd I will play right across the board.
Here are some that have not been mentioned previously that I find go down well.
Prince Buster - Oh Carolina
Harry J & The All Stars - Liquidator
Symarip - Skinhead Moonstomp
Ska-dows - Gotta Get Out Of This Place
Bad Manners - Bonaza Ska
Bad Manners - My Boy Lollipop
Madness - Nightboat To Cairo
Real Big Fish - Come On Eileen
Fishbone - Skankin' to the Beat
The following two, are good link tracks to/from a different genre
Queen vs Bad Manners - We Will Ska You
Judge Dread - Big Seven (Dance Version)
Here are some that have not been mentioned previously that I find go down well.
Prince Buster - Oh Carolina
Harry J & The All Stars - Liquidator
Symarip - Skinhead Moonstomp
Ska-dows - Gotta Get Out Of This Place
Bad Manners - Bonaza Ska
Bad Manners - My Boy Lollipop
Madness - Nightboat To Cairo
Real Big Fish - Come On Eileen
Fishbone - Skankin' to the Beat
The following two, are good link tracks to/from a different genre
Queen vs Bad Manners - We Will Ska You
Judge Dread - Big Seven (Dance Version)
Just a few tracks we play are :-
Uptown Top Ranking Althea & Donna
007 (Shanty Town) Desmond Dekker
Guns of Navarone Skalites
I’m in the Mood for Ska Lord Tanamo
Liquidator Harry J. All Stars
Long Shot Kicked De Bucket Pioneers
Madness Prince Buster
Monkey Man Maytals
Return Of Django Upsetters
Rudy, A Message To You Dandy Livingstone
Train to Skaville Ethiopians
Black Pearl Horace Faith
Cherry Oh Baby Eric Donaldson
Ire Feelings (Skanga) Rupie Edwards
Police And Thieves Junior Murvin
Suzanne Beware of the Devil Dandy Livingstone
Gimme Hope Jo’anna Eddy Grant
Too Experienced Barrington Levy
But I find them a bit "heavy" for some audiences.
Uptown Top Ranking Althea & Donna
007 (Shanty Town) Desmond Dekker
Guns of Navarone Skalites
I’m in the Mood for Ska Lord Tanamo
Liquidator Harry J. All Stars
Long Shot Kicked De Bucket Pioneers
Madness Prince Buster
Monkey Man Maytals
Return Of Django Upsetters
Rudy, A Message To You Dandy Livingstone
Train to Skaville Ethiopians
Black Pearl Horace Faith
Cherry Oh Baby Eric Donaldson
Ire Feelings (Skanga) Rupie Edwards
Police And Thieves Junior Murvin
Suzanne Beware of the Devil Dandy Livingstone
Gimme Hope Jo’anna Eddy Grant
Too Experienced Barrington Levy
But I find them a bit "heavy" for some audiences.
Half of them are Reggae Robbie. Can't believe anyone other than me has heard of the Skadows anyone know if their album is available on CD, or the Skas on 45 single? Or for that matter the Piranhas album (not the ropey compilation that came out about a year back, the one that came out in 1980) ?
| QUOTE |
| Skadows anyone know if their album is available on CD, |
They have a new album on CD out "Still Ska'd" which includes a 2005 version of Apache. You can order it from their website (http://www.skadows.com)
The original album is available on CD try here: (http://www.punkrockshop.co.uk)
| QUOTE (ryandio @ Jun 2 2005, 08:15 PM) | ||
They have a new album on CD out "Still Ska'd" which includes a 2005 version of Apache. You can order it from their website (http://www.skadows.com) The original album is available on CD try here: (http://www.punkrockshop.co.uk) |
I'll have a look TA!
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