K's SKA SPECIAL - VA - The Best Original Ska from Jamaica and 2 Tone: 132 Top Skanking Hits (Super Deluxe Edition) [2023] (5 x CDs)

K's SKA SPECIAL

VA - The Best Original Ska from Jamaica and 2 Tone: 132 Top Skanking Hits (Super Deluxe Edition) [2023] (5 x CDs) 

In memory of the late great Terry Hall, here is my personal compilation of what I consider to be the 132 best original Jamaican Ska, 2 Tone and the late 70s / early 80s UK ska revival hits.

https://amp.theguardian.com/music/2022/dec/20/terry-hall-obituary

https://www.nme.com/features/music-features/terry-hall-the-specials-obituary-3370063

Terry Hall, The Specials and all the 2 Tone acts; Madness, The Beat, The Selecter, etc. were greatly inspired by original Jamaican Ska.

Ska is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. It combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues. Ska is characterized by a walking bass line accented with rhythms on the off beat. It was developed in Jamaica in the 1960s when Stranger Cole, Prince Buster, Clement "Coxsone" Dodd, and Duke Reid formed sound systems to play American rhythm and blues and then began recording their own songs. In the early 1960s, ska was the dominant music genre of Jamaica and was popular with British mods and with many skinheads.

The 2 tone genre, which began in the late 1970s in the Coventry area of UK, was a fusion of Jamaican ska rhythms and melodies with punk rock's more aggressive guitar chords and lyrics. Compared to 1960s ska, 2 Tone music had faster tempos, fuller instrumentation, and a harder edge. The genre was named after 2 Tone Records, a record label founded by Jerry Dammers of the Specials. In many cases, the reworking of classic ska songs turned the originals into hits again in the United Kingdom. The Specials recorded "A Message to You Rudy" in 1979.  The 2 tone movement promoted racial unity at a time when racial tensions were high in England. There were many Specials songs that raised awareness of the issues of racism, fighting and friendship. Riots in English cities were a feature during the summer that the Specials song "Ghost Town" was a hit, although this work was in a slower, reggae beat. Most of the 2 Tone bands had multiracial lineups, such as the Beat (known as the English Beat in North America and Australia), the Specials, and the Selecter. Although only on the 2 tone label for one single, Madness was one of the most effective bands at bringing the 2 tone genre into the mainstream. Madness recorded "One Step Beyond". The music of this era resonated with white working-class youth and West Indian immigrants who experienced the struggles addressed in the lyrics.

This fully packed 5CD set contains a number of rare and extremely hard to find tracks, with many featured in their original 7" mono 45 single form. Only the original studio mixes are included. No later remixes, 'stereo enhanced' or live bootleg versions here!  Compiled as always using the very latest and highest quality digital remasters, with a considerable number of tracks sourced from the original master tapes for superior sound quality and enjoyment.

Check out the Terry Hall related magazines included in PDF format.

K

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ALL 

or

ALL 

Just in. A new version of track 131 You're Wondering Now. Just download and replace.

https://krakenfiles.com/view/uNKaDFGw35/file.html

This is a much better rip, taken from the original master tape, which was recently discovered in the Studio One archives, and has never been released in this quality before. You'll really notice the difference when you compare the two rips. (K)

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Track lists

CD1

01 Madness - One Step Beyond 2:18

02 Prince Buster & The All Stars - Al Capone 2:56

03 Madness - Baggy Trousers 2:46

04 The Skatalites - Ball Of Fire 3:09

05 Madness - Bed And Breakfast Man 2:33

06 Madness - Believe Me 2:29

07 Bob Marley And The Wailers - Bend Down Low (original 1966 Wail 'n Soul 'm 7" Single Version) 2:32

08 The Beat - Best Friend 3:02

09 The Beat - Big Shot 2:34

10 The Specials - Blank Expression 2:44

11 Derrick Morgan - Blazing Fire 2:55

12 Rhoda With The Special A.k.a. - The Boiler 5:45

13 Laurel Aitken - Boogie In My Bones 2:49

14 Bad Manners - Can Can 2:49

15 Justin Hinds & The Dominoes - Carry Go Bring Come 2:52

16 The Selecter - Celebrate The Bullet (original 1981 7" Single Version) 3:10

17 The Specials - Concrete Jungle 3:20

18 Don Drummond - Corner Stone, Burning Torch 2:49

19 Alton Ellis And The Flames - Dance Crasher 2:38

20 Delroy Wilson - Dancing Mood 2:50

21 The Specials Feat. Rico With The Ice Rink String Sounds - Do Nothing (original 1980 7" Single Version) 3:41

22 The Specials - Doesn't Make It Alright 3:26

23 Dave And Ansel Collins - Double Barrel 2:47

24 The Skatalites - Eastern Standard Time 3:14

25 The Bodysnatchers - Easy Life 3:14

26 Theo Beckford Feat. Rico Rodriguez - Easy Snappin’ 2:51

CD2

27 Madness - Embarrassment 3:11

28 Prince Buster - Enjoy Yourself 3:11

29 Toots & The Maytals - Fever 2:20

30 Toots & The Maytals - 54-46 That's My Number (original 1968 Pyramid 7" Single Version) 2:53

31 Derrick Morgan - Forward March 2:50

32 The Skatalites - Freedom Sounds 3:51

33 The Special A.k.a. - Gangsters 2:46

34 Alton Ellis And The Flames - Girl I've Got A Date 2:29

35 Madness - Grey Day 3:39

36 The Skatalites - Guns Of Navarone 2:29

37 The Beat - Hands Off...she's Mine 2:59

38 The Specials - Hey, Little Rich Girl 3:37

39 Madness - House Of Fun 2:46

40 Derrick & Patsy - Housewife's Choice 2:43

41 Lord Tanamo - I'm In The Mood For Ska (a.k.a. I'm In The Mood For Love) 2:31

42 Madness - In The Middle Of The Night 3:02

43 Baba Brooks - Independence Ska 2:35

44 Prince Buster - Independence Song 2:50

45 The Specials - International Jet Set (original 1980 7" Single Edit) 4:13

46 Desmond Dekker & The Aces - Israelites 2:35

47 Desmond Dekker & The Aces - It Mek 2:18

48 The Pioneers - Jackpot 3:07

49 Byron Lee & The Dragonaires - Jamaica Ska 2:29

50 Roland Alphonso Feat. The Skatalites & The Soul Brothers - James Bond 2:59

51 The Slickers - Johnny Too Bad 3:10

52 Bob Marley And The Wailers - Judge Not 2:26

53 Bad Manners - Just A Feeling 3:13

CD3

54 Lord Creator - Kingston Town 3:10

55 The Pioneers - Let Your Yeah Be Yeah 3:08

56 The Bodysnatchers - Let's Do Rock Steady 2:56

57 Bad Manners - Lip Up Fatty 2:45

58 The Harry J Allstars - Liquidator (original 1969 7" Single Version) 3:07

59 The Pioneers - Long Shot Kick De Bucket 2:48

60 Bad Manners - Lorraine 3:07

61 Nicky Thomas - Love Of The Common People 2:17

62 Prince Buster & The All Stars - Madness 2:42

63 Don Drummond - Man In The Street 3:28

64 Owen Gray Feat. Rico Rodriguez - Midnight Track 2:29

65 The Beat - Mirror In The Bathroom 3:09

66 Jimmy Cliff - Miss Jamaica 2:25

67 The Selecter - Missing Words (original 1980 7" Single Version) 3:22

68 The Maytals - Monkey Man 3:43

69 Derrick Morgan - Moon Hop 3:10

70 Millie Small - My Boy Lollipop 2:02

71 Madness - My Girl 2:45

72 Madness - Night Boat To Cairo 3:31

73 Derrick Morgan - No Raise, No Praise 2:48

74 The Folkes Brothers - Oh Carolina (original 1960 7" Mono Single Version) 2:38

75 The Selecter - On My Radio 3:07

76 Madness - Our House 3:23

77 Justin Hinds & The Dominoes - Over The River 2:22

78 Eric Morris - Penny Reel 2:30

79 Roland Alphonso & The Soul Brothers - Phoenix City 2:58

80 Rita Marley - Pied Piper 2:15

CD4

81 The Maytals - Pressure Drop (original 1969 Beverley's Records 7" Single Version) 3:01

82 Madness - The Prince (original 1979 2 Tone Records 7" Single Version) 2:28

83 The Beat - Ranking Full Stop 2:48

84 The Specials - Rat Race 3:10

85 Tony Tribe - Red Red Wine 2:56

86 The Upsetters - Return Of Django 2:32

87 Madness - The Return Of The Los Palmas 7 (original 1981 7" Single Version) 2:33

88 John Holt - Riding For A Fall 3:53

89 The Melodians - Rivers Of Babylon (original 1970 7" Single Version) 3:24

90 Prince Buster - Rough Rider 3:12

91 The Bodysnatchers - Ruder Than You 2:48

92 The Clash - Rudie Can't Fail 3:28

93 Dandy Livingstone Feat. Rico Rodriguez - Rudy, A Message To You 2:33

94 Clancy Eccles - Sammy No Dead 1:46

95 The Beat - Save It For Later 3:34

96 Rico - Sea Cruise 3:00

97 The Selecter - The Selecter 2:57

98 Peter Tosh Feat. The Wailers And The Skatalites - Shame And Scandal (original 1965 Studio One 7" Mono Single Version) 3:03

99 Desmond Dekker & The Aces - 007 (shanty Town) 2:32

100 Roland Alphonso & The Skatalites - A Shot In The Dark 2:39

101 Madness - Shut Up 4:06

102 Bob Marley And The Wailers - Simmer Down 2:50

103 Bad Manners - Special Brew 3:18

104 The Specials - Stereotype (original 1980 7" Single Version) 3:48

105 Madness - The Sun And The Rain 3:28

106 The Melodians - Sweet Sensation 3:51

CD5

107 The Four Aces - (swing Low) Sweet Chariot 2:59

108 The Beat - Tears Of A Clown 2:42

109 The Selecter - Three Minute Hero 3:02

110 The Paragons Feat. John Holt - The Tide Is High (original 1967 Treasure Isle 7" Single Version) 2:43

111 The Untouchables - Tighten Up 2:39

112 The Piranhas - Tom Hark 2:46

113 Madness - Tomorrow's (just Another Day) 3:11

114 Owen Gray - Too Experienced 3:29

115 The Selecter - Too Much Pressure (original 1979 7" Single Version) 2:48

116 The Special A.k.a. Feat. Rico - Too Much Too Young (live At The Lyceum, London) (original 1980 7" Single Version) 2:04

117 The Beat - Too Nice To Talk To 3:07

118 Derrick Morgan - Tougher Than Tough (rudie In Court) 2:22

119 Ken Boothe And The Wailers - The Train Is Coming (original 1966 Supreme 7" Mono Single Version) 3:20

120 The Ethiopians - Train To Skaville 2:52

121 The Beat - Twist & Crawl 2:34

122 Bad Manners - Walking In The Sunshine 3:28

123 The Paragons W; Tommy Mccook & The Supersonics - Wear You To The Ball (original 1967 Treasure Isle 7" Single Version) 2:37

124 Max Romeo - Wet Dream 2:46

125 Stranger & Patsy - When I Call Your Name 3:15

126 Prince Buster & The All Stars - Whine And Grine 2:30

127 The Selecter - The Whisper 3:01

128 The Clash - Wrong 'em Boyo 3:10

129 Desmond Dekker - You Can Get It If You Really Want 2:38

130 Bob & Marcia - Young, Gifted And Black 3:08

131 Andy & Joey - You're Wondering Now 2:11

132 The Specials Feat. Rico - Ghost Town (original 1981 12" Extended Single Version) 6:03

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