New Wave Outpost Forum

I know when I think Ska, I'm more often thinking of the mod-ish 2-toney ska of the 1st and 2nd wave ska revivals during the new wave years. But I've always wanted to go back and authoritatively sample some original ska. I was stoked to see Mojo's top 10 list in August issues. Anybody into these?

1. The Skatalite - Foundation Ska
2. The Skatalites - Presenting the Skatalites
3. Various - The Rough Guide to Ska: Classic Jamaican Ska from Randy's Vaults
4. The Maytals - Never Grow Old
5. Various - Studio One Ska
6. The Skatalites - Ska boo-Da-Ba
7. Prince Buster - The Original Golden Oldies Vol 2
8. Bob Marley and the Wailters - Greatest Hits at Studio One
9. Duke Reid the Trojan- Nuclear Weapon
10. Theophilus Beckford - Trojan Battlefield

They say stuff to avoid:
Treasure Isle Mod Ska anthems
Jazz in Jamaica
Ska Dynamite

I like the Specials a lot and some of the other NW ska bands. Have you listened to any of the bands on this list and do they sound anything like the Specials or should I say it the other way around.

Keep in mind this represents some of the ORIGINAL ska bands - some of these recordings are from the 60's. But you can hear how bands like the Specials, the Selector, Madness and others were influenced by this sound and took it to the next level.

[quote][i]Originally posted by guyinsf[/i]
<br>I like the Specials a lot and some of the other NW ska bands. Have you listened to any of the bands on this list and do they sound anything like the Specials or should I say it the other way around.
[/quote]
It's not too much like NW Ska. My brother-in-law has some Skatalites and remember casually hearing them in the background. I'm gonna have to go through his stash and resivit. The best I recall is that it's more like Caribbean jazz-infused early Marley...but I'm a total novice at this.

My fav Ska album is Selecter - Too Much Pressure, great stuff !!
And one of my fav Ska tracks is 'Swan Lake' by Madness.
As for the earlier stuuf, love "Dave + Ansel Collins - Double Barrel".