Looking back over last night’s playlist, I’m noticing that the show was surprisingly light on the Ska.   There was an extra emphasis on mento/calypso and 80′s ska, but it looks like reggae covers dominated the set.   I’ve never been silent about my love for Mento Music (Jamaica’s answer to Calypso and the forerunner to Ska and Reggae), but I was impressed by the amount of phone calls I got in support of such an old school sound.   St. Louis, I wish you would have told me about your love of Calypso sooner.

 

If you missed the show, you can stream the archive from KDHX.org for the next two weeks.

 

Willie Williams – Armageddon Time – 100% Dynamite – Soul Jazz

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The Slackers – New Years Day – Holiday Show 2009 – Whatevski – [The Slackers have now covered U2, this must be the end of days]

Hepcat – Country Time – Scientific – BYO

Small Island Pride – Federation – Calypso Awakening – Smithsonian Folkways – [Small Island Pride is probably my favorite non-Jamaican Calypsonian, here's a passage from the book, The Caribbean Integration Process, that describes the subtle meaning of this very song.]

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Alton Ellis – Can’t Get Used To Losing You – I’m Still In Love – Heartbeat – [You're probably more familiar with The Beat's version of this song]

Ngobo Ngobo – Blank Expression – Daily Talk – Grover

Dr. Ring-Ding – My Sound – Ram Di Dance – Moon Ska – [Here's one of those YouTubes that's not much to look at]

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Boothill Foot Tappers – There’s Melody To Our Madness – Love and Affection Single – White – [Oops!  I picked out the non-ska song to play - nothing wrong with a little bluegrass on the ska show, right?  Right?]

Max Headroom & The Car “Parks” – Rhythm & Blue Beat – Don’t Panic 7″ – White – [This Max Headroom predates the more popular one by at least 5 years.]

Beat Brigade – Armageddon Beat – NY Beat! Hit and Run – Moon Ska – [Not only should you click here to learn more about The First US Ska Comp, you can also get your hands on it!]

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The Selecter – Missing Words (acoustic) – Unplugged for The Rude Boy Generation – Mapps Cafe Records/Ka

David Hillyard and The Rocksteady Seven – Change of Plans – Get Back Up! – Whatevski – [Brand new DHR7 is available for digi download on Whatevski]

Prince Buster – Beggers Are No Choosers – I Feel The Spirit – Fab

Mary Wells & The Steadies – My Guy – Motown Flies Jamaica Vol 2 – Jamaican Airlines – [New Zealand's version of Ska's The Limit, Go Feet Radio did an episode dedicated to JA and Motown sounds]

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Toots and The Maytals – Louie Louie – This Is England OST – Commercial Marketing

The Meters – Mardi Gras Mambo – Fire On The Bayou – Sundazed Music Inc.

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Prince Buster – Day-O – Ska Lip Soul – Blue Beat – [Learn more about this song's long history]

Lord Lebby – Mama Don’t Want No Peas No Rice – Calypsos From Jamaica – Valmark – [My favorite source for info on Mento Music has an entire page dedicated to Lord Lebby]

Val Bennet – Cut Munno – Ska Lip Soul – Blue Beat – [MentoMusic.com also has a little info on this Prince Buster LP that collected Calypso and Ska on one album]

The Wigglers – Linsted Market/Day-O – Calypsos From Jamaica – Valmark

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Mealticket – Super Positive – 13 Apologies – In the Mix

The Skatalites – Ball Of Fire – Ska Authentic – Musicrama/Koch

Fun Boy Three – Our Lips Are Sealed – 3 Mixes Us 12″ – Chrysalis – [Terry Hall got silly looking in the 80's]

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Desmond Dekker – Music Like Dirt – Best Of Desmond Dekker – Trojan

The Clash – Hateful – London Calling – Sony

Da Whole Thing – Banker – Tooth – Internet Release

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One Groovy Coconut – New Wave Crashing – More Like This Than That – Ska Satellite

Pressure Cooker – Originators – Commited – Pressure Cooker

New York Citizens – Rude Girls – The Truth About The NY Citizens – Moon Ska

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Smiley Culture – Cockney Translation – The Fashion Records Story – Ras

Twizzle  and The Hot Rod All-Stars – The Graduate – 7″ Single – Torpedo Records

Vic Ruggiero – Takin Care Of Business – Something In My Blindspot – Moanin’

 

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Tags: alton ellis, beat brigade, calypso, dave hillyard, dr. ring-ding, fun boy three, lord lebby, mary wells, max headroom, mealticket, mento, moon ska, prince buster, slackers, small island pride, smiley culture, val bennet, wigglers