Sanctuary Records Group - Trojan

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Guns of Navarone - Best of The Skatalites

Released on 17 February 2003.

Although Trojan has paid respect to the Skatalites many times over the years, with the group's recordings appearing on numerous compilation releases, it is only now that a collection entirely devoted to their finest works has been made available on the label. Featuring their best loved instrumentals from the golden age of Ska, this set illustrates the jazz-flavoured style that has proved so enduring and influential over the years.

The Skatalites created in 1964 featuring the cream of Kingston's top session players. Quite simply, the likes of Knibb, Brevett, Haines, Mittoo, Moore, McCook, Alphonso, Sterling and Don Drummond never sounded better. They dominated Jamaica's musical industry for 18 months. They performed on countlesssessions with the likes of Duke Reid and Coxsone Dodd.

The Guns of Navarone stormed the UK in 1967 in the Ska style. Much of the Skats work wasof that ilk but there was much more to it than that. There was a huge amount of big band R'n'B, boogie woogie, Be Bop, Latin and all sorts, all mixed together with that Island ingredient. Some tracks were straight jazz really with hardly any local intonations but some were out and out Ska. All styles are featured among the 25 tracks in evidence.

Particular standouts, or at least my favourites, are the easy grooving of Eastern Standard time, the partying ska of Garden of Love, the classics Music is my Occupation and Musical Storeroom, the laid back and groovy Feeling Fine, Trombone rulin Don De Lion, Don and Roland superb interplaying Silver Dollar,

Oh and I wish the print was clearer on these Trojan CD's !!!

Track Listing : -Guns Of Navarone, Eastern Standard Time, Garden Of Love, Latin Goes Ska, (Music Is My) Occupation, Street Corner, Musical Storeroom, Green Island, Corner Stone, Musical Communication, Doctor Dekker, Feeling Fine, Don De Lion, Lucky Seven, Stampede, Silver Dollar, University Goes Ska, Knock Out Punch, Cool Smoke, Around The World, Alley Pang, Good News, Thoroughfare, Mesopotamia, Dragon Weapon.

 

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