“we hope you enjoy listening to our music as much as we enjoy performing it for you!” that’s how tommy mccook used to greet to the audience by at every performance of the skatalites that he hosted. since reforming after an almost 20 year hiatus in 1983, and beginning regular touring as a unit in 1989, they have not stopped thrilling audiences in every corner of the globe. even after 48 years, and various lineup changes as members leave one stage for another, the band continues to perform and record new music in the inimitable jamaican style, like only they can.
these are the first in a new series of seminal reggae releases from the iconic studio one records starting with four monster singles - back to back classics from the skatalites, johnny osbourne, horace andy, prince jazzbo, the heptones, jackie mittoo and more.
when talking about ska music one group of musicians whose name always comes to the forefront of the conversation are the skatalites. formed around 1965 and named originally after the soviet space satellite which was big news at the time and with a little help from band member tommy mccook, making a play on the characteristic ska sound made by the guitar when following the after beat of the music. the band would have a name to go with its distinctive musical style.
welcome to the ska beat!. the sound that came from jamaica between 1961-67. based on the american rnb and doo-wop records that sound systems in kingston town used to play. the american records style started to mellow out while the jamaican preferred a more upbeat sound.. so to meet this demand the sound system bosses became record producers to cater for this demand. sir coxonne and duke reid lead the way by putting the top musicians on the island in the studio to make this ska sound!! here for your enjoyment is a selection of the some of the top tunes that made ska so great… we hope you enjoy the best….
the legendary skatalites, alongside the later studio one in-house bands - the soul vendors, sound dimension, soul defenders and brentford road all stars – were as much a part of the classic studio one sound as were the singers that they accompanied such as alton ellis, horace andy, marcia griffiths and bob marley and the wailers.
unique soul jazz records’ record store day seven-inch box set comprising five separate singles featuring ten killer rare collectors tracks from studio one records, featuring ska, roots, rocksteady, dub.
seminal, rare and classic tunes! these singles have only ever ever been available exclusively direct from soul jazz records’ soho shop in london and are available worldwide only for this collectors box set rsd special release.
this unique box-set edition is only available as a one-off pressing especially for record store day 2017.
COXSONES MUSIC 2: THE SOUND OF YOUNG JAMAICA (180G 3LP + MP3)
2x12 Inch 29.06.16
this is the second collection to bring together many of the visionary producer clement ‘sir coxsone’ dodd’s early recordings made with jamaica’s most exciting young artists and musicians. the triple 180 gram vinyl release includes a download code.
we have compiled some of the best scorching ska sounds that came out of w.i.r.l vaults, and it still sounds as fresh today as the day it was recorded - hope you enjoy the set!
a blistering collection of ska tunes from clement sir coxsone dodds legendary studio one records, jamaicas foundation label of reggae music. featuring classic cuts from the originators of ska - the skatalites, the wailers, lee perry - alongside a heavy dose of superb rarities from the might vaults of 13 brentford road - pure ska fever!
a blistering collection of ska tunes from clement sir coxsone dodd s legendary studio one records, jamaica s foundation label of reggae music. featuring classic cuts from the originators of ska - the skatalites, the wailers, lee perry - alongside a heavy dose of superb rarities from the might vaults of 13 brentford road - pure ska fever !