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Phoenix City - Skatalites and Friends – A history of the world’s greatest Ska Band – TJDDD160

Spanning 1961 thru 1965 this covers the Duke Reid years – of course the Skats recorded elsewhere most notably at Studio One – but this compilation is consistently strong, the ska beat starts off in a more laid back or jazzier groove as it was still emerging to its fullest and there is an easy stepping vibe throughout. The Ska beat increases as the album swings and sways through time and hits hard into the riddims that made them universally famous. The first time you hear it with any vengeance is on Dreadnaught.

In various guises as the Duke Reid Group or the individuals themselves Roland Alfonso, Don Drummond, Tommy McCook, Lloyd Brevett, baba Brooks, Frank Anderson, Skatalites or whatever, the billing makes no difference, other than the fact that you might know what the lead instrument is, the feel is there, the metronomic beat, the ease of the music (in feel) yet when analysed would be complicated.

There are the tunes that you know, or those that were released at any rate, but amongst all this rarities, are thrown in like Spitfire. I must say that CD1 really rocks, is uplifting, never boring, the Skatalites somehow had an ease of presence that prevents boredom – sometimes I feel that the early Jamaican material close to R’n’B and Swing was good but sometimes uninspiring, but that criticism cannot be levelled at this. Indeed with 54 tracks to get through you might think that this would be the case.

Cd2 is nearer the more well known established Ska Material and amongst it I am so pleasedto see Girls Town Ska a long standing top tune of mine.

Top notch from front to back.

The Skatalites & Friends: Phoenix City (TJDDD160)

Format: Double CD album Released: Availability: Not in stock: order for despatch in 3 to 28 days Price: £12.99 Tracing the development of the group - and indeed Jamaican music as a whole - from the early to mid-sixties, this compilation brings together 54 of the greatest Ska instrumentals ever to see issue. Opening with a number of tracks featuring one or more of those who were to become key members of the supergroup, the compilation moves on to highlight a selection of the Skatalites' best-lovedand rarest sides, before closing with a number of post-Skatalites recordings from former members, Roland Alphonso, Don Drummond and Tommy McCook.

Tracklisting

2-CD SET

DISC 1

Let George Do It – Duke Reid’s Group - Listen

Yard Broom - Roland Alphonso & Don Drummond - Listen

Back Beat - Roland Alphonso - Listen

Strolling In - The Duke Reid Band - Listen

Sailing On – Don Drummond & Roland Alphonso - Listen

Apanga - Tommy McCook - Listen

One More Time - Lloyd Brevet - Listen

J.F.K.’s Memory - Don Drummond & Tommy McCook - Listen

Musical Communion (Sly Mongoose) - Baba Brooks & Tommy McCook - Listen

Spider - Don Drummond & Baba Brooks - Listen

(Straighten Up And) Fly Right - Roland Alphonso & Baba Brooks - Listen

Spitfire - Don Drummond - Listen

Dreadnaught - Baba Brooks & Roland Alphonso - Listen

Boat Ride - Baba Brooks & The Skatalites - Listen

Eastern Standard Time - Don Drummond & The Skatalites - Listen

Feeling Fine - Roland Alphonso - Listen

Musical Storeroom - Frank Anderson & Don Drummond & The Skatalites - Listen

Green Island - Don Drummond & The Skatalites - Listen

Twelve Minutes To Go - Tommy McCook & The Skatalites - Listen

Garden On Love - Don Drummond & The Skatalites - Listen

Sandy Gulley - Roland Alphonso - Listen

Corner Stone (aka A Trip To Mars) - Roland Alphonso & The Skatalites - Listen

Cool Smoke - Don Drummond & The Skatalites - Listen

Silver Dollar - Don Drummond & Roland Alphonso - Listen

Good News - Listen

Street Corner - Listen

Melody Jamboree - Don Drummond & Baba Brooks - Listen

Disc 2

(Music Is My) Occupation - Don Drummond & The Skatalites - Listen

Cotton Tree (aka Knockout Punch) - Tommy McCook & The Skatalites - Listen

Doctor Decker - Don Drummond & The Baba Brooks Band - Listen

Around The World - Don Drummond & The Skatalites - Listen

Latin Goes Ska - Lester Sterling & The Skatalites - Listen

Don De Lion - Don Drummond & The Skatalites - Listen

Alipang (aka Alley Pang aka Apanga) - Roland Alphonso & Don Drummond & The Skatalites - Listen

Thoroughfare (aka Treasure Isle) - Don Drummond & The Skatalites - Listen

Guns Of Navarone - Roland Alphonso & The Skatalites - Listen

Dragon Weapon - Listen

Mesopotania - Don Drummond & The Skatalites - Listen

Burning Torch - Don Drummond & The Skatalites - Listen

Stampede - Don Drummond & Baba Brooks & The Skatalites - Listen

Man In The Street - Don Drummond & The Skatalites - Listen

Duck Soup - Cuttings with Baba Brooks & His Band - Listen

Independence Ska - Lyn Taitt & The Baba Brooks Band - Listen

Guns Fever - The Baba Brooks Band - Listen

Girl’s Town Ska - The Baba Brooks Band - Listen

Nuclear Weapon - Roland Alphonso & The Baba Brooks Band - Listen

University Goes Ska - Don Drummond - Listen

Vitamin A - The Baba Brooks Band - Listen

Teenage Ska - The Baba Brooks Band - Listen

Lucky Seven - Don Drummond & Baba Brooks - Listen

James Bond - Roland Alphonso & The Soul Brothers - Listen

Special Event - Tommy McCook & The Supersonics - Listen

Alley Cat Ska - Tommy McCook & The Supersonics - Listen

Phoenix City - Roland Alphonso & The Soul Brothers - Listen

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