Monday, February 26, 2024

VA - Rough & Tough, The Story of Ska 1960 - 1966 [2002] (2 x CDs)

SKA

VA - Rough & Tough, The Story of Ska 1960 - 1966 [2002] (2 x CDs)

The Trojan label put out so many boxsets during 2000-2001 that frustrated reggae fans seeking a good ska collection may look to a short, nicely packaged edition. Unfortunately, this one, subtitled "The History of Ska 1960-1966," isn't it. A cursory glance at the track listing yields dozens of the finest vocalists (Alton Ellis, Jimmy Cliff, Laurel Aitken, Don Drummond, Lee Perry, the Maytals) and producers (Clement "Coxsone" Dodd, Duke Reid, Leslie Kong) of the day. But most of the inclusions are hardly classics. There are quite a few exceptions, at least a dozen tracks -- like "Forward March" by Derrick Morgan, "Dancing Mood" by Delroy Wilson, "Out of Space" by Tommy McCook & the Supersonics, "007 (Shanty Town)" by Desmond Dekker -- that were the best of the best during Jamaica's ska period. But that's still only about half of the story. (ANG review by John Bush)

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Track lists

CD01

01 Laurel Aitken - Hey Bartender 2:36

02 Derrick Morgan - Fat Man 2:21

03 Eric 'monty' Morris - Humpty Dumpty 2:56

04 Mellowlarks - Time To Pray (Allelujah) 2:43

05 Derrick & Patsy - Feel So Fine (Aka Feel So Good) 2:42

06 Chuck & Dobby - Oh Fanny 2:39

07 Monty & Roy - In And Out The Window 2:09

08 Owen Gray - Jezebel 2:35

09 Jimmy Cliff - Hurricane Hatty 2:41

10 Derrick Morgan - Forward March 2:50

11 Jimmy Cliff - Miss Jamaica 2:28

12 Lloyd Clark - Love You The Most 2:35

13 Derrick & Patsy - Housewives Choice 2:42

14 Roy & Millie - We'll Meet 2:27

15 Stranger Cole - Rough And Tough 3:00

16 Desmond Decker - Honour Your Mother And Father 2:27

17 Winston Samuels - Be Prepared 2:59

18 Jimmy Cliff - King Of Kings 3:25

19 Baba Brooks - River Bank (Aka River To Bank) 2:07

20 Lord Creator - Don't Stay Out Late 2:42

21 Baba Brooks & His Band - Musical Communion (Aka Sly Mongoose) 3:03

22 Lord Tanamo - Come Down 2:18

23 Baba Brooks - Watermelon Man 2:50

24 Stranger & Patsy - When You Call My Name 3:16

25 Eric 'monty' Morris - Penny Reel-O 2:29

26 Don Drummond & The Skatalites - Eastern Standard Time 3:11


CD02

01 Stranger & Patsy - Yeah Yeah Baby 2:59

02 The Maytals - When I Laugh 2:08

03 Justin Hinds & The Dominos - Carry Go Bring Come 2:51

04 Desmond Dekker & The Four Aces - Jeserene 2:41

05 Don Drummond & The Skatalites - Man In The Street 3:14

06 Owen & Leon - The Fits Is On Me 2:13

07 Carlos Malcolm & His Afro-Jamaican Rhythms - Bonanza Ska 3:07

08 Roland Alphonso & The Skatalites - Guns Of Navarone 3:15

09 Lord Tanamo - I'm In The Mood For Ska 2:32

10 The Granville Williams Orchestra - Honky Tonk 2:55

11 The Techniques - Little Did You Know 2:35

12 Roy Richards - Contact 2:28

13 The Zodiacs - Renegade 2:40

14 Sir Lord Comic & His Cowboys - Ska-Ing West 3:05

15 Roland Alphons & The Soul Brothers - Phoenix City 3:01

16 Alton Ellis & The Flames - Dance Crasher 2:40

17 Baba Brooks & His Recording Band - Jam Session 2:11

18 The Riots - Yeah Yeah 2:19

19 Tommy Mccook & The Supersonics - Out Of Space 2:43

20 Lee Perry & The Soulettes - Doctor Dick 2:30

21 Justni Hinds & The Dominos - Try Me 2:41

22 The Dingles - This Is Thunder 2:54

23 The Silvertones - True Confession 2:42

24 The Clarendonians - Rude Boy Gone A Jail 2:47

25 Delroy Wilson - Dancing Mood 2:53

26 Desmond Dekker & The Aces - 007 (Shanty Town) 2:30

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2 comments:

  1. What a bummer of a review! I see it as a glass half full! Thanks BB

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi lemonflag,
      I thought the review was a little unfair. The set is really quite good.
      Cheers.

      Delete