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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Alright kids, here’s the new episode of Ska’s The Limit.  Last night’s was a veritable grab bag of Jamaican styles covering 2 Tone, Early Reggae, Mento, Roots Reggae and Ska-Jazz- with a special showcase of classic and modern Skinhead Reggae from groups like The Hot Rod All-Stars, The Upsttemians and The Aggrolites.  I even threw in some Hip-Hop infused Reggae with Michael Franti and Wyclef Jean.

If you missed it, I hope you’ll click over to KDHX.org to listen online.

The Specials – Blank Expression/Man From C&A/Rudy, a Message To You – Glastonbury 2009 – NA

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The Beat – Rankin Full Stop – The 2 Tone Collection – Capitol

Madness – My Girl – One Step Beyond… – Rhino – [Here's the original video for My Girl]

The Clash – Wrong ‘em Boyo – London Calling – Sony

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Jacob Miller – Tenament Yard – Rockers OST – Island – [Watch the classic Stepping Razor scene from the JA film, Rockers]

Phyllis Dillon – Perfidia – Trojan Reggae Sisters Box – Trojan

Ken Boothe – Artibella – Best of.. – Sanctuary Records – [Witness Ken Boothe's amazing voice (and wardrobe) in 1993]

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Jolly Boys – Requimbine Song – Sunshine N’ Water – Rykodisc

Cool Wise Men – Miss Walker – Faith – Daiki Sound

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Michael Franti and Spearhead – Say Hey (I love you) – All Rebel Rockers – Anti* – [Check out the new video for Franti's single, Say Hey]

Flash Bazbo in a Restaurant – National Lampoon – Best of The National Lampoon Radio Show – Rhino / Wea

Wyclef Jean – Jaspora – The Carnival – Sony

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Jump With Joey – Pigeon Club – Generations United – Rykodisc

Dr. Ring-Ding – Ram Di Dance (Ska Version) – Back and Forth – Jump Up – [Get a taste of the Reggae version of this very tune]

The Rhythm Doctors – Wha’ Happen – Reggae Injection – TKO – [Learn how The Rhythm Doctors gave rise to The Aggrolites]

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The Aggrolites – Keep Movign On – The Aggrolites IV – HellCat*

The Upsttemians – One Two Three – Turn It Up – Upbeat* – [You gotta get to know The Upsttemians, Dirty Reggae from Madrid]

The Upsessions – Pharoh’s Last Wish, Cleopatra For A Dish – The New Heavyweight Champion – Moon Ska World

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The Hot Rod All-Stars – Skinhead Moondust – Single – White – [Check out this zip-cast with a heavy lean towards the Hot Rod All-Stars]

Cool Sticky – Casa Boo Boo – Trojan Skinhead Reggae Box Set – Trojan

John Holt – Ali Baba – Moonwalk – Treasure Isle Skinhead Reggae Anthems – Heartbeat – [Here's John Holt doing Ali Baba live]

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The Moon Invaders – Blow Blow Blow – Movin’ and Groovin’ – Phantom Sound and Vision

New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble – More Whiskey – Skankaholics Unanimous – Moon

After Hours – Almost Like Being In Love – The Trouble With Those Guys Is… – Jump Up

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Hepcat – The Region – Push n Shove – HellCat – [Hepcat is back, here's proof]

The Slackers – Mommy – Slack In Japan – Disk Union – [The Slackers doing a few live tunes, including Mommy]

Boitovision – Big Bamboo – The Best of The Ska Parade vol 2 – AtoY – [Check out Original Calypsonian, Mighty Sparrow do the Big Bamboo inna Soca style]

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Arrrrgh!  What a frustrating show it was!  Computer glitches and a general lack of preparedness conspired to nearly derail the entire show.  Ironically, a big part of the show was dedicated to boastful DJ chatting.  While the show went smooth enough during the Open Season segment, where I played every track I could find in the Open Season DJ battle-  I proved to not be a “boss dj” as the show descended into chaos.   No matter, I learned a few lessons on not trusting my technology, and having backup music close-by.  Good thing I’ve never recorded a track- claiming to be the best.

Below, you’ll find last nite’s playlist with the usual links to explore… pay close attention to the links within the Open Season segment for a little bit of history on the matter.  You can also click here to hear the online stream of the episode, if you’re into the whole morose delectation thing.

Skandalous All-Stars – American Psychopath – Age Of The Insects – Shanachie

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Green Room Rockers – Reggae Revival – Reggae Revival Single – Dashiki Clout Records*

Westbound Train – Check Your Time – Live at KDHX – KDHX*

The Pinstripes – The Boot – Demo – NA – [The Pinstripes are coming to St. Louis!]

The VOID UNION – Plain Jane – The VOID UNION – Megalith* – [...so are The Void Union]

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Stubborn All-Stars – Open Season – Open Season – Stubborn – [Here's Ink 19's take on the Open Season feud]

Hepcat – Open Season… is closed – Right On Time – HellCat

Skinnerbox – Hepcat Season – Demonstration – Tripple Crown – [Read King Django's explanation of the Hepcat feud]

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Dr. Ring-Ding – My Sound – Ram Di Dance – Moon

Crazy Baldhead feat Happy – Fishing Season – Crazy Baldhead has a Posse – Stubborn

Dr. Ring-Ding – No Reason For Season – Trombone Sound – Grover – [Dr. Ring-Ding gives his reason for joining the battle]

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King Django – Next Season – Reason – HellCat

Unknown – Unknown – Unknown – Unknown

Matt Wixson – Season Finale – Season Finale Single – Self Released* – [Wixson's MySpace]

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The Amnesiacs – Top Yourself – Forget To Remember – *

Sonic Boom Six – Monkey See Monkey Do – Sounds To Consume EP -

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The Selcter – Return of The Selecter – Web Promo – NA – [Download this track from The Selecter]

Lord Sluggo AKA Vic Ruggiero – Cocain – Version City – Stubborn

Looner – Dutchie – Promo – Two Sheps That Pass… [Learn more about Looner]

The Pinstripes – Everybody – The Decay – Grover*

The VOID UNION – Future 86 – The VOID UNION – Megalith*

Hortense Ellis – Secretly – Studion One Women – Studio One/Soul Jazz

Roy Ellis w/Eastern Standard Time – Banana – Live from Chicago’s Bottom Lounge 10-04-08 – NA

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