Good SKA music?

**Neish** · 02/07/2007, 7:05 PM

Have really been getting into SKA music of late, just wondering if anyone can recomend so good albums or artists

**TonyD** · 02/07/2007, 8:47 PM

Originally Posted by Neish

Have really been getting into SKA music of late, just wondering if anyone can recomend so good albums or artists

The Beat. For my money the best Ska band. "Mirror in the Bathroom" "Hands Off, She's Mine" "Too Nice To Talk To" "Best Friend" "Save It For Later" All classics. Also had two great cover versions - Smokey Robinsons "Tears Of A Clown" and the Andy Williams classic "Can't Get Used To Losing you".

**A face** · 02/07/2007, 9:22 PM

Pontius Pilate and The Naildrivers, quality stuff !!

**Neish** · 02/07/2007, 9:53 PM

Cheers lads. Jerry Dammers was doing a DJ set in Letterkenny on saturday one of the best nights I've had out in a long time. Made me wanna get me hands on some good tunes

**noby** · 03/07/2007, 7:32 AM

For the two-tone era The Beat and the Specials would be my preference. Madness, and more-so Bad Manners are good fun bands.
For 60's Ska you have the likes of Prince Buster, Desmond Dekker, The Maytals, Lee Perry etc.
There are a lot of compilations out there that would be a good starting point.
I would recommend any of the Trojan box sets. They are broken up into different sub-genres, so there's bound to be something you like. The Ska one of course is a good one. But there are box sets from Rocksteady to Dub reggae and skinhead reggae (a favourite of mine). These are all three cd, 50 song compilations.

Then there's what's known as the third wave of ska - mostly American, and mostly ska-pop. At it's peak in the late '90s. Not really my cup of tea.

**noby** · 03/07/2007, 7:34 AM

Oh, forgot to say, Jerry Dammers DJ set? Sounds good. What kind of stuff did he play?

**stann** · 03/07/2007, 1:48 PM

Noby has it mostly covered there, just to add that he missed the best ska band of all, that being The Selecter. "Too Much Pressure" is the best ska single bar none, and that's not an opinion, it's provable scientific FACT!

**noby** · 03/07/2007, 2:03 PM

Oops. Selecter certainly deserve a mention alright. Brain wasn't fully functioning this morning.

**paul_oshea** · 03/07/2007, 2:06 PM

isnt that statement a contradiction in terms?

**BohsPartisan** · 03/07/2007, 2:07 PM

The Beat were quality and The Specials were, well Special. I like the Selecter too.
For the 60's stuff just get the Trojan Ska box set. I'd also reccomend the "Mod" Reggae box sets.

**noby** · 03/07/2007, 2:35 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

isnt that statement a contradiction in terms?

Eh? Which statement?

**Billsthoughts** · 03/07/2007, 4:16 PM

Originally Posted by BohsPartisan

The Beat were quality and The Specials were, well Special. I like the Selecter too.
For the 60's stuff just get the Trojan Ska box set. I'd also reccomend the "Mod" Reggae box sets.

Is that the trojan document one???
I have one of those I love it......wake up andinaaaaaaah......wake up andinaaaaahh girl....
well recommend it...mines got that ali baba tune on it? is there more of em?
the skaatalites?????? they sound quality...

**BohsPartisan** · 04/07/2007, 11:23 AM

If you go into Tower or Freebird they have loads of those sets. Also theres that Reggae shop in temple bar in the same building as Caf� Irie

**swain** · 10/08/2007, 12:02 PM

Desmond Dekker & The Specials - King Of Kings

http://www.discogs.com/release/921520

**jebus** · 10/08/2007, 12:42 PM

All the top ones like Desmond Dekker, the Selector, the Maytals and the Specials have been named so far, but I'd like to add in The Upsetters, Judge Dread and the Skatalites.

MY advice would be similar to BohsPartisan though, pick yourself up a Trojan box set, or even one of those 3CD, 10euro jobs from Dunne Stores and find out what you like yourself. They normally have a very good selection in the Ska boxsets

**swain** · 10/08/2007, 1:07 PM

Originally Posted by jebus

All the top ones like Desmond Dekker, the Selector, the Maytals and the Specials have been named so far, but I'd like to add in The Upsetters, Judge Dread and the Skatalites.

MY advice would be similar to BohsPartisan though, pick yourself up a Trojan box set, or even one of those 3CD, 10euro jobs from Dunne Stores and find out what you like yourself. They normally have a very good selection in the Ska boxsets

Yes, I'd go along with that, then go with the names/styles that you like, from then on you'll have to buy them in specialists shops or on the net.

**GuisaSaigon** · 17/08/2007, 10:26 AM

Most of the best stuff has been mentioned already. A great compilation cd that would cover most styles is Ska mania check it out here http://cd.ciao.co.uk/Ska_Mania_Various_Artists__5906098 .Still one of my favourite CDs.

**Lionel Ritchie** · 17/08/2007, 1:28 PM

Saw The Special Beat (about half each from The Beat and The Specials) at Lowlands back in the early 90's. Quality stuff.

**Neish** · 17/08/2007, 1:35 PM

Originally Posted by GuisaSaigon

Most of the best stuff has been mentioned already. A great compilation cd that would cover most styles is Ska mania check it out here http://cd.ciao.co.uk/Ska_Mania_Various_Artists__5906098 .Still one of my favourite CDs.

Good CD but have most of it downloaded