The Rough Guide to Ska (2003)

In keeping with the Rough Guide standard, this single-disc compilation of tracks from producer Vincent "Randy" Chin's personal stash is nothing less than stellar. While there are many well-known acts here -- the Skatalites (three selections) and the pre-reggae Maytals (two) -- there are plenty of obscurities here. In fact, 12 of the album's 21 tracks have not been reissued since they were first recorded and released as singles. Some of the rarities include Rico Rodriguez's "Rico Special" from 1961 and the jump blues-derived ... Read More

In keeping with the Rough Guide standard, this single-disc compilation of tracks from producer Vincent "Randy" Chin's personal stash is nothing less than stellar. While there are many well-known acts here -- the Skatalites (three selections) and the pre-reggae Maytals (two) -- there are plenty of obscurities here. In fact, 12 of the album's 21 tracks have not been reissued since they were first recorded and released as singles. Some of the rarities include Rico Rodriguez's "Rico Special" from 1961 and the jump blues-derived "A Little Mashin'" by Bunny & Skitter from that same year. The early-'60s material is special because it shows how wide-open the ska scene was to embracing anything and everything it could adapt -- check out "Blockade" from 1961, a boogie-woogie number twisted and turned through a horn section headed by Rodriguez into a slow ska burner. And then there's Basil Gabbidon's unique use of the electric guitar in "Iveree" from 1962. Smooth-voiced Alton Ellis is featured here in one of his earliest sessions with Eddie Parkins in a doo wop performance set to a ska rhythm -- killer stuff. Cornel Campbell's sweet vocal on "Make Hay" from 1963 offers a hint of what was to come, with him bringing the spirits of Frankie Lymon and Dion into his singing style. In all, this is thoroughly enjoyable, with great liner notes and sequencing. Audiophiles may have a tough time with some of this, as Jamaican recording studios were hardly state of the art, but the sound is more than adequate and the performances far outweigh any shortcomings in the masters. Rock-solid. ~ Thom Jurek, Rovi Read Less

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  	Edition: 2003, World Music Network CD, Very Good	Details: UPC: 605633108323 Discs: 1 Label: World Music Network Released: 03/31/2003 Alibris ID: 17669734293	Shipping Options: Standard Shipping: $4.99 Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
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2003, World Music Network UPC: 605633108323 CD See All from $5.48