Archive-name: music/ska-faq Last-modified: $Date: 1993/09/27 02:20:56 $ Version: $Revision: 1.8 $ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- FAQ for alt.music.ska In response to all of those ``Isn't ska some dance form of reggae?'' questions, I present the following historical background to the music we call ska, gleaned from liner notes I have lying about the place, various postings to alt.music.ska, and sundry emailings with helpful ska fans. This is $Revision: 1.8 $ , posted to alt.music.ska, news.answers, alt.answers, rec.music.info and alt.skinheads. I plan to post this FAQ every two weeks, at least until it is quasi-stable. The FAQ file is also available for anonymous ftp on the archive site rtfm.mit.edu as the file `pub/usenet/news.answers/music/ska-faq'. Disclaimer: I am not a musician, nor do I play one on TV. Neither am I a musical historian. I do love ska music, so I offer this material unto the public domain. Acks: Michael Cancilla (mcancill@polyslo.calpoly.edu) posted a long list of ska bands that I have incorporated into this FAQ. That list has grown to list over 300 bands! Mike Fragassi (mfragass@ucs.indiana.edu) emailed me about 10k in response to my request for more info and is still at it. Thanks Mikes! Thanks also to everyone else in a.m.s and other reaches of netspace who sent me info. Dance harder! Tomas Willis (tomas@cae.wisc.edu) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table of Contents: o What is ska music? o Where did ska come from? o What is _first-wave_ ska? Second-wave ska? Third-wave ska? o What is ska-core? o What is a _rude boy_? + Why did Prince wear that ``Rude Boy'' button all the time? o What is with the narrow-brim hats, dark suits and narrow ties? How come some of these ska bands look like the Blues Brothers? o What about _reggae_? o Oi! What about skinheads? o Where can I hear ska on the radio? o Is anyone doing ska video? o Are there any ska movies? o Are there any books about ska? o What are some ska-related 'zines (fan-created magazines)? o How do I get a ska email-based mailing list? o What are the names of some ska bands? o Can I write to any of these bands? o What are addresses of some record labels producing ska discs? o Are there some mail order stores that carry ska? --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Q> What is _ska_ music? A> Ska is dance music, first and foremost. Ska was a Jamaican dance music that swept out of Jamaica in the early 1960s to shake the butts of working- and middle-class Jamaicans before going on, via the West Indian immigrant connection, to the UK, and then on to the world. In the UK, ska was also known as _blue beat_ music. _Rocksteady_, and later, _reggae_ sprang from the loins of ska in the late 1960s. Mid-1970s and 1980s/1990s revivals of this popular dance form have kept this music alive and fun through the present. For the musically inclined, here is a description of the rhythmic structure of ska: ``Musically, Ska is a fusion of Jamaican mento rhythm with r&b, with the drum coming in on the 2nd and 4th beats, and the guitar emphasizing the up of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th beats. The drum therefore is carrying the blues and swing beats of the American music, and the guitar expressing the mento sound.'' [SB(JJ)] Ska features a strong bass and drum rhythm section, guitars, keyboards and brass. _I_ say, the bigger the ska band, the better. Q> Where did ska come from? A> In the Caribbean island nation of Jamaica _rhythm & blues_ sounds from the African-American experience in America were adapted by Jamaican musicians and blended with traditional Jamaican _mento_, spiced with jazz, as well as _ya-ya_, _calypso_ and other island sounds and cranked out of dance hall systems and mobile sound systems mounted on huge trucks. In the late 1950s Jamaica was about to gain independence from Great Britain, and pioneering Jamaican record producer Clement ``Coxsone'' Dodd, no doubt in a spirit of nationalism and a desire to get down, called on his musicians to create a danceable uniquely Jamaican sound. Cluet Johnson (Clue J) ran the ``hardest-driving dance and recording band'' developing this sound in Jamaica and went about the town greeting his friends as ``Skavoovie.'' [SB(JJ)] From this greeting, the name of the music naturally developed into ``ska.'' In late 1960 and 1961 bands recording for Dodd laid down the first truly ska tracks, distinct from calypso, r&b, jazz and American and British pop sounds. There developed ``a unique Jamaican jazz culture where the melody of horns fused with the drums in a free form music which was mellifluous and rebellious.''[RAR, p.126] Thus, ska became Jamaica's first indigenous popular music form. A hit at home, ska reigned supreme in Jamaica for many years: ``The National Dance,'' indeed. Ska came to England with immigrants in the early 1960s. Known in the UK briefly as ``Jamaican Blues,'' ska inspired the formation of the Blue Beat record company, providing yet another name for the ska sound: _blue beat_. Ska gained popularity in the UK with the _Mod_ scene, leading to the residual association of small-brimmed trilby (hats) and scooters with ska music. [HSBR] Trojan Records was still releasing ska hits into the UK top 10 as late as 1969 or 1970, but by that time _rock-steady_ and _reggae_ were waxing as ska waned, for a while, at least. Q> What is _first-wave_ ska? Second-wave ska? Third-wave ska? A> These sound like musicology terms to me. These terms are used by some to describe ska music coming from three different time periods separated by gaps in the popularity of the music. Roughly speaking, first-wave ska began in late 1960 in Jamaica and lasted until the late 1960s in Jamaica and England (as blue beat), by which time its popularity had declined in favor of ska offspring rock-steady and reggae. Seminal first-wave Jamaican ska artists include the Skatalites, Laurel Aitken, Prince Buster, Derrick Morgan and Desmond Dekker. Second-wave ska flourished in the late-1970s and very early 1980s and saw the emergence of popular groups such as the Specials, the (English) Beat, Madness and the like in England. Second-wave ska is strongly associated with the 2 Tone scene [1979--1981] in the UK, as shown in the movie _Dance Craze_. Two-tone ska is faster, tighter and uses more horns than some older Jamaican ska. Third-wave ska is a late-1980s/early- 1990s revival of ska, involving such bands as Weaker Youth Ensemble, the Allstonians, Bim Skala Bones, the Voodoo Glow Skulls, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and The Toasters. Q> What is ska-core? A> Yet another label. Ska-core is either hardcore/punk-influenced ska or ska-influenced hardcore music. Or a fiction. Compared to traditional ska, ska-core is faster and harder. Voodoo Glow Skulls and Operation Ivy are commonly called ska-core bands. Q> What is a _rude boy_? Why did Prince wear that ``Rude Boy'' button all the time? A> A rude boy is not just an impolite male child. The street-cool toughs of Kingstown, Jamaica, dressed nattily in the latest and hep-est threads were known as `rude boys' and they ruled the Kingstown dance halls. (Read `rude' as `chill' or `dope' or, if you are older, `cool' or `reet'). The term spread to the UK, and was revived by second-wave ska fans in the UK. Real-life Caribbean historian Horace Campbell writes, in ``Rasta and Resistance'': ``Between 1964 and 1967 a subculture of angry youths developed in the [Jamaican] society. Answering to the psuedonym _Rude Bwoy_ [sic] and searching for for avenues of self-expression and recognition, these unemployed youths were quickly integrated into the [ganga] export trade, many of them as enforcers. ...these young people created terror among working people, such that they were feared by both citizens and police.''[RAR, p. 111] The [bracketed] comments are mine. Referring to Desmond Dekker's ``Rude Boy Train,'' ``007,'' and other songs describing rude boys, `Melody Maker' defined the term as ``a sort of cool super-hooligan.' [DD] Dekker sings: ``Them a loot Them a shoot Then a wail At Shanty Town When rude boy deh 'pon probation Then rude boy a bomb up the town.'' [DD] Obviously, the people your mother warned you about. Consider Jimmy Cliff's character in the film ``The Harder They Come.'' As for Prince, the answer is not so clear. Maybe he likes ska. Q> What is with the narrow-brim hats, dark suits and narrow ties? How come some of these ska bands look like the Blues Brothers? A> It is rude boy fashion from Jamaica in the 1960s. Jamie in NYC (mowder@axp1.acf.nyu.edu) writes: About ska fashion: Maybe the ``dark suit and pork-pie hat'' thing comes from people trying to look like Jerry Dammers from those old Specials album covers. And _he_ was probably trying to look like ``Walt Jabsco,'' the cartoon guy from the 2 Tone label design. And Walt was (so I've read) modeled after the way Peter Tosh looked on the cover of the _Wailing Wailers_ album from Studio One. So, I guess all these ``Blues Brothers'' types are actually trying to look like Peter Tosh from 1965! Q> What about _reggae_? A> Reggae music is an offshoot of ska developed in the late 1960s. Reggae was developed out of _rocksteady_ music, a music developed by early ska vocalists (e.g. Laurel Aitken, Derrick Morgan, Desmond Dekker) as audiences demanded a more ``steady'' beat [TKS] and perhaps less all-instrumental music. Note that many reggae stars got their start as ska musicians. Notable examples are Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer, Peter Tosh, Rita Marley Anderson, Toots and the Maytals, Desmond Dekker. As the fast beat of ska mellowed through rock-steady, it gradually led to the creation of reggae. Note that reggae has not always been inextricably linked to Rastafarian culture. The British band UB40, loosely associated with second-wave ska, offers the following thoughts about the origins of reggae in their all- cover tribute album, ``Labour of Love:'' ``This is a selection of songs. They represent an era. An era, after the first skinhead wave, when black boys were still rude boys and only hippies wore their hair long. They represent reggae when it was first called by that name. Reggae before it was discovered by cops, sociologists and TV producers. Before it was claimed by lefties, liberals, punks and rastas. Reggae was just another dance music and most D.J.' still sniggered at it. In those days, reggae appealed not to the intellect or the social conscience, but to the heart and hips.'' [LL] (Side note for UB40 fans: UB40 covers Tony Tribe's 1969 version of ``Red, Red Wine,'' but this song was written by _Neil Diamond_.) Q> Oi! What about skanking skinheads? A> Skinheads, originally, come out of the same culture as ska. Just look at early Sixties pictures of Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer --- they have no hair! Skinhead culture spread more widely in the late Sixties as more and more Jamaicans went to the UK and influenced the White youth culture there. These old UK bald-heads were rude. Since the first skinheads were Blacks, it makes all those Nazi skinhead types seem pretty ignorant, eh? It's a good thing they are in the minority. For more info see the FAQ for alt.skinheads by Sid Sowder. Q> Where can I hear ska on the radio? A> Not enough radio shows play ska. Here are some (sorted by call letters): Skaboom! Hosted by Michael Cancilla and ``Uncle'' Larry Rodenborn California Polytechnic KCPR-FM, 91.3 San Luis Obispo, CA USA 5--7pm, Wednesday Sid Sowder (ssowder@silver.ucs.indiana.edu) Rude Rik KLWD 94.3 Cable FM College Station, TX 77840 The Rude Review KSPC-FM Claremont, CA USA runs during the school year Jeremy U (Mostly punk, but some ska.) KTSB Austin, TX USA The Ska Parade Hosted by Bradford Stein KUCI-FM, 88.9 Irvine, CA USA 12--3pm, Saturday featuring live on-air shows Skankin' Round The World Hosted by Mike Elliot KUSF-FM, 90.3 Los Altos, CA USA 3--5pm every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month Hosted by Dougly WMEB-FM, 91.9 ME, USA 12--3pm, Mondays The Sally Brown Ska Show Hosted by Rude Girl Voovie, with David ``Allroy'' Sarno WMUA-FM, 91.1 Amherst, MA USA 7--9:30 Chuck Wren's ska show WNUR-FM, 89.5 Chicago, IL USA 9--10pm, Sundays (Get the WNUR ska newsletter!) WQAX Bloomington, IN USA contact altradio@indiana.edu Hosted by Marla S. Lender WRUW-FM, 91.1 Cleveland, OH USA 12--3pm The Ska Hour Hosted by Todd Strauss and Steve Ensdorf WSPN-FM, 91.1 Skidmore College Saratoga Springs, NY USA 12--1 am Wednesdays Rock Steady Columbia Hosted by Brian Proust (aka Roland Bonner) and Robbie van Winkle WUSC-FM, 90.5 Columbia, SC USA 5--6pm Sundays Ska on Boston College Radio 90.3-FM Boston, MA USA 5--6pm, Thursday (during the school year) Kickin' Skalistics Hosted by Jesse Miner Macalester College (?) St. Paul, MN USA Q> Is anyone doing ska video? A> Yes. Bradford Stein has finished a West Coast ska-umentary called ``The Ska Parade.'' The 30 minute video includes interviews and performances of Let's Go Bowling, Donkey Show, Skeletones and Jump With Joey. [RPM] Contact him at A to Y Productions 25 Via Lucca, Apt. G 112 Ervine, CA 92715 USA Recently, Aldis Strazdins started a new ska documentary, focusing on Midwestern (US) ska bands, called ``Last Train: Ska in the Heartland.'' The Pacers, the Elevators, Lot Boy Steele and Weaker Youth Ensemble are expected to appear, at least. You can contact keho@midway.uchicago.edu. More news as it develops. Q> Are there any feature-length ska movies? A> Yes. There is a great concert film by Joe Massot about ska in 1980 Britain called `Dance Craze.' It features live footage of Bad Manners, The (English) Beak, The Bodysnatchers, Madness, The Specials, The Selector. Rico Rodriques, trombonist from the Skatalites, plays horns with The Specials. You can order the video from Beat Hotel Records, Berkely, MI, (313) 544-2485 (and probably other places, too). Q> Are there any books about ska? A> Here are some mentioned on the net. [The info is sketchy, so if you have more complete infomation, please send it to me. Tomas] ``The Two Tone Book For Rude Boys,'' about the 1979--1981 British ska scene. ``The Two Tone Story,'' (possibly) by George Marshall. ``Skinheads,'' has some info on ska. An American printing from 1986 was mentioned. Also, Campbell recommends the two-part series called ``Blue Beat and Ska,'' Melody Maker, May 12 and May 19, 1979, London. [RAR] Q> What are some ska-related 'zines (fan-created magazines)? A> Here is the info I have: Carla Ronci Scooter Zine: Chris Tharp sent me the following note about this new zine: ``You see, me and R.S. (resident skinhead) have begun a scooter zine that is chalk full of ska stuff like interviews with the skatterbrains and King Apparatus. Our main focus is on scooters; however, ska is an essential component of the Carla Ronci Scooter Zine (who's Carla Ronci? she may become the patron saint of the scooter).'' Want more Info? Contact 3135408@qucon@queensu.ca or Chris Tharp (Tharp@biol.gis.quessnu.ca). FBI: A 'zine that I have only sketchy info about is: F.B.I. c/o Marc T AP Co 19170 08080 Barcelona, Spain $25 a year. Hot Shot: Another 'zine that I have only sketchy info about is: Hot Shot c/o Dudley 86 Ninian Road Roath, Cardiff CF2 5EP, UK The Incognito Review: Mike F. sez: ``About 24 pages of text & pictures, well laid out. Good reviews section. Radio show, zine, and band addresses; lots of band interviews.'' The Incognito Review, P.O. Box 1091, Palatine, IL 60078 Within the USA: $2/issue, $8/year Outside the USA: $3/issue, $12/year. James Bond: Another 'zine that I have only sketchy info about is: James Bond c/o Apartado de Correos 1106 08204 Sabadell, Spain Mad Planet: Mad Planet (by Sarah Dyer) New York 543 Van Duzer Street Staten Island, NY 10304 $1, approximately tri-monthly Moo Juice: A newsletter --- not quite sure it's even ska. Moo Juice 1353 N. Ashland Ave Apt 2D Chicago,IL 60622 Moon Records Newsletter: Moon Records of NYC has a newsletter/catalog. Send a SASE for the newsletter to: Moon Records P.O. Box 1412 Cooper Station New York, NY 10276 USA The Nutcase: Another 'zine that I have only sketchy info about is: The Nutcase c/o Lecureuil Paskal 61 Rue Des Forges 44330 Vallet, France - write for info, include SASE. Rocksteady Columbia Newsletter: This is the newsletter of the WUSC ska show of Robbie Van Winkle & Roland Bonner. Rocksteady Columbia newsletter 1035 Comanchee Trail, Apt. K-2, W. Columbia, SC 29169 Pulp: `Pulp' is the new and improved hardcopy version of `RPM,' by Dave ``Allroy'' Sarno. `Pulp' will remain based on ska, but will expand to cover a wider variety of music. He is also offering a 7'' ska record club. You can reach Allroy at: PULP P.O. Box 2771 Amherst, MA 01004 RPM: Currently available, and electronically distributed is a skazine called `RPM.' It has been posted to alt.skinhead by David ``Allroy'' Sarno (sarno@titan.ucs.umass.edu) and is chock full of reviews from fans from all over. Get it. You can also reach Allroy at P.O. Box 2771 Amherst, MA 01004 Rude: Another 'zine that I have only sketchy info about is: Rude 26a Craven Rd Newbury, Berks, RG14 5NE, UK - $10 USA for 5 issues Rude Review: Absolutely no info here but the address. Rude Review 2340 Craine, Kalamazoo, MI 49001 Skinhead Times: By George Marshall. $1.00. Maybe available from Moon Records, NYC. Tighten Up: A ska and oi ``skinzine'' Tighten Up c/o Udo Vogt Haupstr 144 W-5102 Wurselen GERMANY Subscription costs $4 and 2 International Reply Coupons Skactualities: Another 'zine that I have only sketchy info about is: Skactualities c/o Frederic Dornier Edenhall N.H. 11 Lyndhurst Gardens, London NW3 5NS, UK - $6 per issue. The Ska Flame: Another 'zine that I have only sketchy info about is: The Ska Flame Unit 7 Cable St. Wook Cable St. Notham, Southampton, Hants, SO1 1RJ, UK Skankersore: Another 'zine that I have only sketchy info about is: Skankersore 96 Woodhill Rd Newtown, PA 19840, USA Skalicious: Another 'zine that I have only sketchy info about is: Skalicious 5352 Woodford Dr. Birmingham AL 35242, USA Watch Your Step: Another 'zine that I have only sketchy info about is: Watch Your Step Get Smart Productions 191 Fifth Ave, apt 2-L Brooklyn, NY 11217 - uncertain schedule WNUR Ska Newsletter: This skazine has no set schedule and it comes out every 2--3 months. It is about 1--2 dense pages of new release and reissue information, plus concert news for the Chicago area. WNUR Ska Newsletter (aka Searching (for Ska!)) c/o Chuck Wren, WNUR 89.3-FM 1905 Sheridan Rd. Evanston, IL 60208, USA - Price: Free. Outside of the USA, send a few SASEs. Work Rest and Play: Work Rest and Play 1 Clonard Road, Sandyford Road Dublin 16, Ireland - 5 pounds for some (?) issues Zoot: One skazine named `Zoot' apparently went out of business a few years ago. Mike Fragassi (mfragass@ucs.indiana.edu), who supplied much of this info advises: I have personally not yet tried any of these, except for the WNUR newsletter, from which I have gotten the addresses of all of the rest. Some of these seem to be info-sheets for a given band. Others are more comprehensive (Rude & F.B.I., for instance, are highly recommended). All zines should be assumed to be written in the language of the country they come from. Prices are the most recent info, again obtained from Chuck Wren's newsletter; neither me nor he nor anyone who handed you a copy of this FAQ are responsible for mail screw-ups or unreturned money; if in doubt, send a SASE first. Q> How do I get a ska email-based mailing list? A> ``Monkey Man,'' The EMail Ska Distribution list, is available from Joel Eisner. Joel's hopes for ``Monkey Man'' are: The sole purpose of the newsletter is to unite people interested in SKA and the SKA culture, past and present, since the popular media time and time again over looks this important musical form. Finally, I only ask three things: 1. Send me your e-mail address (if I don't have it) 2. Send some e-mail (I am not going to write this whole thing alone) 3. Spread the word Thank you, Joel Eisner (eisner@primate.wisc.edu) 1223 Capitol Ct Madison, WI 53715 Already over 50 people are signed up. Contact Joel and get involved today. Tell your Usenet-less friends! Q> What are the names of some ska bands? A> (Names culled from various sources, especially Michael Cancilla (mcancill@polyslo.calpoly.edu) and some others on a.m.s. Thanks to everyone who sends me info. We now list over 300 bands!) [Note bene: I would like to expand the content here. Something like Bandname (Location) {Style} [time period] e.g. Fubars, The (Verona) {Funky ska} [1989--1992] So, please help! Send me any info you have for this little project, which I think will make this band list much more informative.] 100 Men (UK) A-Kings (New York City) {Modern ska} Adams, Aubrey (Jamaica) {Old School} [1960s] Aitken, Bobby (Jamaica) {Old School} [1960s] Aitken, Laurel (Jamaica) {Old School} [1960s--present] Akrylykz (UK) {2 Tone (Roland Gift)} [1980] Alcapone, Dennis (Jamaica) Allsorts, The (Australia) Allstonians, The (Boston) [--present] Alphonso, Rolando (Jamaica) {Old School} [1960s--present] Anderson, Frank (Jamaica) {Old School} [1960s] Andy and Joey (Jamaica) {Old School} [1960s] Apollo 7 (UK) Arpioni (Italy) [Current] Author K and the Originals Bad Manners (UK) {2 Tone} [late 1970s--1980s] Bakesy's Midday Joggers (UK) Banana Boat (Spain) Banditos, The Beat, The (English) (UK) {2 Tone} [late 1970s--mid 1980s] Beat Soup (Boston) Beurk's Band (France) Bigger Thomas Bim Skala Bim (Boston) Blechreiz (Germany) Blue Chateau (Germany) Blue Meanies, The (Chicago) [Current] Bluekilla (Germany) Bob and Marcia Bodysnatchers, The (UK) {2 Tone} [1980] Boilers, The (NY) Bombassa Beed (Germany) Booth, Ken (Jamaica) {Old School} [1960s] Bop Harvey (Rhode Island) {debateable} Boris Gardner (Jamaica) {Old School} Bowler Boys (Austin, Texas) Boxboys, The (Los Angeles) [late 1970s] Boy O Boy Braces, The (Germany) Brooks, Baba (Jamaica) {Old School} Brownies, The (San Jose, CA) {ska-core} [Current] Bruisers, The Buck-o-Nine (California) Bunny and Skitter (Jamaica) {Old School} [1960s] Burma Jam (Richmond, Virginia) Buster's All Stars (UK) {all-star Band with Bad Manners and others} Busters, The (German) Butlers, The (German) Byron Lee & The Dragonaires (Jamaica) {Old School} Cairo East (London) {Madness covers} [Current] Camper Van Beethoven (California) {early albums only} Capone & The Bullets (Scotland) Carlos Malcom & the Afro Caribs (Jamaica) {Old School} Carre Blanc Pour Serie Noir (France) Casino Royale Charmers, The (Jamaica) {Old School} [1960s] Checkered Cabs (Washington, D.C.) {Second-wave-ish} Checkmates, The (Jamaica) {Old School} [1960s] Citizen Fish (UK) Citizens, The City Kids (New York City) {Modern ska} Clancy Eccles (Jamaica) {Old School} Claredonians (Jamaica) {Old School} Club, The (UK) {former Loafers members} Clue J and His Blues Blasters (Jamaica) {Old School} [1960s] Collins, Dave and Ansel Connotations Cornell Campbell (Jamaica) {Old School} Crazy 8's (Oregon) Crucial DBC (Santa Barbara, California) Daddies, The (Eugene, Oregon) Dance Hall Crashers (Berkeley) Dandy {Old School, original "Rudi, Message to You"} Dave's Big Deluxe (Tuscon, Arizona) [Current] Dekker, Desmond (Jamiaca) {Old School - Master} [1960s--] Delroy Wilson (Jamaica) {Old School} Deltones, The (UK) {2 Tone} Desmond Dekker and the Aces (Jamaica) {Old School} Desorden Publico (Venezuela) Dillon, Phyllis (Jamaica) {Old School} Donkey Show (Los Angeles) Dr. Calypso (Spain) Dr. No (France) Drummond, Don (Jamaica) {Old School - Master} Duffus, Shenley (Jamaica) {Old School} Earth Citizen (South Africa?) {ska/punk} East Of Eden El Bosso & The Ping Pongs (Germany) Elevators, The (Milwaukee) Ellis, Alton (Jamaica) {Old School} Ellis, Bobby English Beat (UK - 2Tone, US name for The Beat) Epitones, The (Boston) [Current] Eskarabajo (Puerto Rico?) Etch-A-Sketch (Ann Arbor, MI) Ethiopians {old school, "Train to Skaville"} Exceptions, The (Detroit) {metal/punk/ska} [Current] F-Troop (Australia) Fabulosos Cadillacs (South America) Featherheads, The (South Oxhey, Herfordshire, UK) [Current] Fishbone (California) {funk/ska/metal/MTV} [Currently not performing ska] Floor Kiss (NYC) Forest Hillbillies, The (UK) Fratelli Di Soledad (Italy) Freedom of Expression (Nashville, Tennessee) Frits, The (Germany) [Current] Fun Republic (Germany) {former Skaos members} Funicello, Annette (Disneyland) {the ``Jamaica Ska'' song} [late 1960s] Gal's Panic (Austin, TX) Galaxy of Prizes Gangbusters (Los Angeles) Gangster Fun (Detroit) [Current] Gaylads, The (Jamaica) {Old School} [1960s] General Public (UK) {pop/ska, former Beat members} [mid 1980s] Glory, The Graduate, The {Current Tears for Fears members} Grown-Ups, The (Northern Texas) [Current] Guava Groove Happy Campers, The (Massachusetts) Harry J and His Allstars (Jamaica) [60's] Heavy Manners (Chicago) [early 80's] Her Majesty's Secret Service (Milwaukee) [1980s] HL Syndikat (Germany) Harriott, Derek Hepcat (Los Angeles) Hersang and the City Slickers (Jamaica) {Old School} [1960s] Hihats (Boston) Hoodlum Empire (San Francisco) [Current] Hoovers, The (San Francisco) [late 1970s] Hopping Penguns (Canada) Hot Knives, The (UK) I. H. Ska (Germany) Insatiable (Salt Lake City, Utah) Insteps, The Intensified (Forkenstone, Kent, UK) [Current] International Beat, The International Jet Set (Milwaukee) [late 1980s--?] Invaders, The (Milwaukee) Imperials (Los Angeles) Israelites (California) Java Dog (Michigan) [Current] Jesus Christ Superska (New Haven, Connecticut) [Current] Jiving Juniors, The (Jamaica) {Old School} [1960s] Johnny Moore Johnny Socko (Bloomington, Indiana) Johnson, Cluet (Clue J) (Jamaica) {Old School} [1960s Judge Dread (UK) {ska/dub} Jump With Joey (Los Angeles) Just Kidding Justin Hines and the Dominos (Jamaica) {Old School} Kelly, Pat Kill Me King Apparatus (Toronto, Canada) King Hammond (UK) Kingstonians, The Klink Hammer (Holland) [Current] Knockouts, The (Spain) Komando Moriles (Spain) Kortatu (Basque Country) La Piche (Japan) {punk/ska} Latenotes, The (Australia) Lawsuit (California) Legal Gender Les Bubars (France) Les Ejectes (France) Les Frelons Les Giovannis (France) Les Internes (France) Les Miserables (Massachusetts) Les Saxas (France) Let's Go Bowling (Fresno, California) Let's Quit (Holland) Liquidators (San Francisco) Livingston, Dandy Loafers (UK) Lodgers (Germany) Loonee Toons (UK) Los Fabulosos Cadilacs (Venezuela) Los Rudiments (San Francisco) Lot Boy Steele Machtoc (France) Mad Cow (UK) {funk/ska} Mad Monster Sound (Germany) {ska/oi} Madness (UK) {2 Tone} Malarians, The (Spain) Mano Negra (Puerto Rico?) Mark Foggo's Skasters (Holland) Marley, Bob (Jamaica) {Ska, then rock-steady, then reggae superstar} [1960s--1980s] Marley, Rita (Jamaica) {Ska, then rock-steady, then reggae} [1960s--1980s] Maroon Town (Massachusetts) Martin Dupont & His Gitane Mais (France) Maytals, The (Jamaica) {Old School} [1960s] McCook, Tommy (Jamiaca) {Old School} [1960s--present] Me, Mom, and Morgen Taylor (Canada) {fomerly `Me, Mom and Morgenthaler'} [Current] Mealticket (California) Melodians, The (Jamaica) {Old School} Mento Buru (Bakersfield, CA) {Traditional, kinda} [Current] Mephiskapheles (Boston/NY) Messer Banzani (Germany) Mighty Mighty Bosstones (Boston) {ska-influenced} [Current] Mighty Vikings (Jamaica) {Old School} [1960s] Mission Impossible (Massachusetts) Mister Bungle Mobsters, The (Italy) Morgan, Derric (Jamaica) {Old School} Morris, Eric Mr. Cranky (Boston) Mr. Review M.S.Q. MU330 (St. Louis) [--present] Murphy's Law Mustard Plug (Grand Rapids, Michigan) {ska/funk/metal} [Current] My Name (Tacoma, WA) {punk/ska/funk} [Current] Nails, The (Denver) [late 1970s] Napoleon Solo (Denmark) Native Sun {Bigger Thomas} Natural Rhythm Neurones En Folie (France) Ngobo Ngobo (Germany) {Old Style} [Current] No Doubt (Los Angeles) No Sports (Germany) NOFX (California) Noir (France) Now, The {More Mod} Nutty Boys (UK) {former Madness members} NY Citizens {NY Citizens were previously Legal Gender} Oddly Enough (Massachusetts) Offs, The (San Francisco) {ska/punk?} [late 1970s] One Eye Open [Current] Opel, Jackie (Jamaica) {Old School} [1960s] Operation Ivy (Berkeley) {Sca-core} [1980's] Os Paralamas Do Sucesso (Brazil) {skambalypso} [1980s--present] Out of Order [Current] Pacers, The (Milwaukee) [199x--present] Paragons {Old School; "Tide is High"} Pelukera Perez (Spain) Perfect Thyroid (NY) {ska/funk} [Current] Perkins, Lascelles (Jamaica) {Old School} [1960s] Perry, Lee "Scratch" (Jamaica) {Old School} [1960s] Persiana Jones (Italy) Piala (Japan) {rock/thrash/ska} Pick It Up (France) Pie Tasters (Washington, D.C.) Pigbag (UK) Pioneers, The (Jamaica) {Old School} [1960s] Piranas (UK) [early 80s] Plate O' Shrimp (Massachusetts) Pork Hunts, The (Australia) Potato (Spain) Potato Five, The (UK) Prince Buster (Jamaica) {Old School} [1960s--present] Public Service (Philadelphia) Question, The {More Mod} Refrescos, The (Spain) Regatta 69 (Pennsylvania) Reply Rhyth-o-Matics (San Francisco) {Afro-Caribbean/Ska} Rico (Jamaica/UK) Riffs, The (UK) Rock Steady Posse (San Luis Obispo, CA) {Ska/reggae} [Current] Rolondo and the Soul Brothers Romeo, Max Rude Boys, The Rude-O-Rama (Boston) [late 1980s] Rudeness 8 Rudeness Empire (Holland) Rudiments, The Rulers, The (Jamaica) {Old School} Saxawaman (France) Scarper (UK) Scene, The (NY) Scooby and the Skamatics (Michigan) Scofflaws, The (NY) Second Step (New York City) Secret Cajun Band (St. Louis, MO) [Current] Selecter, The (UK) {2 Tone} [197x--1981] Sharp Sound Connection Shot Black and White (NY) Shy Five (Massachusetts) Simaryp (Jamaica) {Old School; They do the `skinhead girl' tune} Siz Feet Under (Connecticut) Ska Flames, The (Tokyo) {New Ska in the old style} Ska Trek (Germany) Skablins (Pittsburg) [Current] Skaboom (UK) Skadanks,The Skaferlatine (France) Skadows Skaface (Toronto, Canada) Skaltere Club (Germany) Skarabajos (Spain) Skarred By Ska (Massachusetts) Skankhead (California) Skankin' Pickle (San Francisco Bay Area) Skanxters, The (UK) Skaos (Germany) Skapelle (Germany) Skarface (France) Skatet (Minnesota) {60s-style} Skatala (Spain) {punk/ska} Skapa (Wellington, New Zealand) Skapone (Chicago) {traditional-style, contains former members of State of Emergency} [Current] Skappele Skatalites (Jamaica; now Boston area) {_The_ Old School ska band;, Tommy McCook, Don Drummond, Roland Alphonso, Baba Brooks} [1964--1965, and present] Skatet Skatilater (New Zealand) Skatrek Skatterbrains, The (Ottawa) Skavoovie (Boston) [Current] Skeletones (Anaheim/Riverside, California) [Current] Skinner Box {The Boilers} Skooby and the Skamatics (Houghton, MI) {Ska-Engery} [1992--93] Skunks, The (Washington, D.C.) Slackers, The (New York City) [Current] Slap & Tickle (Colorado) [Current] Slickers, The Songhai (Spain) {Afro-reggae-ska} Soul Brothers, The (Jamaica) {Old School} [1960s] Soul Vendors, The (Jamaica) {Old School} [1960s] Soulmates, The Special Beat, The (UK) {Specials and The Beat, 2 Tone} Specials, The (UK) {_THE_ 2Tone band, Jerry Dammers founded 2 Tone} [1978--1984] Special A.K.A, The (UK) {a.k.a. The Specials} [1978--] Specs, The (California) [Current] Sprawl (Houston) {ska/psycho-funk} [Current] Spring Heeled Jack (Connecticut) [Current] Spy Eye (Italy) Square Roots (San Francisco bay area) [Current] State Of Emergency (Chicago) {now Skapone} Statics, The Steadys, The Steady Earnest (Boston) {includes members of Bim Skala Bim, others} [Current] Stranger Cole (Jamaica) {Old School} [1960s] Stretch Armstrong (Provo, Utah) Sugar & Spice (Germany) {all female} Swan Lake {a la Madness} Swim Herschel Swim (Provo, Utah) T-Shirts (Sweden) [early 1980s] Tantra Monsters (Hawaii) Ten Cent Fun (St. Paul, Minnesota) [1992--present] Tension Friends (Spain) Three Tops, The Toasters, The (NY) {pretty much head Moon Records} Tom Collins and The Cocktail Shakers (Michigan) Tommy McCook and the Supersonics (Jamaica) {Old Style/Rocksteady} Too Many Crooks (London) {third wave} [Current] Too True (NY) Thumper (Boston) Tiny Hat Orchestra (Seattle) Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra (Japan) Toots Hibbert (Jamaica) Toots and the Flames {Old School, pre-Maytals} Toots & the Maytals {Old school, "Pressure Drop", "Monkey Man"} Tosh, Peter (Jamaica) {Old School} Trenchtown Tribe, Tony (Jamaica) [1960s] Trojans (UK) Twist Offs (Cleveland) Undercover S.K.A. (San Francisco) {all covers} [Current] Unsteady (California) {ex-Gangbusters members} Untouchables, The (Los Angeles) {esp. earlier work} Upbeats, The (California) Upsetters (Jamaica) {Old School, Lee Perry} Uptown Rulers, The (Illinois) [mid 1980's] Urban Blight (NY) Urge, The (St. Louis) {Ska/punk/funk} Ventilators, The (Switzerland) [Current] Venus In Furs (Houston, TX) [1990--present] Verska Vis (France) Village Beat VooDoo Glow Skulls (Riverside, California) {ska-core} [--present] W8ters (Holland) Wailers, The (Jamaica) {originally Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer} Weaker Youth Ensemble (Madison, Wisconsin) [--present] Wild Kingdom (Milwaukee) {ska/funk} [1980s--1992] Wise, Duke (Jamaica) {Old School} Yebo (Germany) {traditional style} Q> Can I write to any of these bands? A> Why not? Here are some addresses (unverified!) of some bands: 100 Men 18 Westend Ave Bentley, Doncaster South Yorkshire, DW5 9RG, UK - send "a large SASE" for `100 Men Newsletter' The Allstonians c/o Jeremy Mushlin 599 Cambridge Street Allston, MAS 02134 USA Bad Manners 33 Springhill London E59 BY, UK Boy O Boy P.O. BOX 666 Richmond VA 23205 Bim Skala Bim P.O. Box 441606 Somerville, MA 02144 USA Boston Stranglers SC c/o Greg Woodbury 51 Melcher Street, Apt. 9 Boston, MA 02210 USA Desorden Publico Fan Club c/o Ingrid Dreissig Aptdo 66820 Caracas 1061-A VENEZUALA albums and other merchandise are available The Featherheads 244A Gosforth Lane South Oxhey, Herfordshire WD1 6PA ENGLAND Gals Panic P.O. Box 8717 Austin, TX 78713-8717 USA Intensified 82 Church Road Forkenstone, Kent CT20 3EN, ENGLAND Mephaskapheles c/o Get Smart Productions 191 Fifth Ave, apt 2-L Brooklyn, NY 11217 USA Mustard Plug P.O. Box 1140 Grand Rapids, MI 49501 (616) 774-7152 (Dave) The Pacers 6442 W. Pierner Place Milwaukee, WI 53223 USA Skablins c/o Jump Up Records P.O. Box 1721 York, PA 17405 Skankin' Pickel c/o Gerry Lundquist 3827 Mabel Ave. Castro Valley CA 94546 USA gerry@gakhaus.attmail.com Skapone 1327 Parkside Park Ridge, IL 60068 The Skunks (202) 728-SKA1 Skinnerbox c/o Stubborn Records 504 Grand Street #F52 New York, NY 10002 USA Sprawl 2140 Lexington Houston, TX 77098 USA Stretch Armstrong c/o Bob Walter 2255 N. University Pkwy #15 Provo, UT 94604 Ten Cent Fun c/o Jesse Miner 1588 Dayton Ave. #10 St. Paul, MN 55104 USA (612) 645-3630 jminer@macalstr.edu Voodoo Glow Skulls 6871 Eagle Rock Dr Riverside, CA 92505 USA Weaker Youth Ensemble c/o John Powell Madison, WI 5370x USA powellj@svm.vetmed.wisc.edu Q> What are addresses of some record labels producing ska discs? A> The following list is by no means exhaustive, merely based on the things lying about my house and recent postings to alt.music.ska. I have not made any effort to verify these addresses. Bondage International 17, Rue de Montreuil, 75011 Paris BIB Records c/o Bim Skala Bim P.O. Box 441606 Somerville, MA 02144 USA Capitol/EMI Latin (Several of the So.American/Spanish groups can be found in the "Latin" or "World" music sections of larger record stores, released by this label.) Check Records P.O. Box 3042 London NW5 1EQ Tel 071-281-5690 Dojo Limited (UK) P.O. Box 157 Sittingbourne Kent, ME10 3SD, UK (Modern European ska compilations; recent releases of Desmond Dekker; bluebeat compilations; remastering Prince Buster; more) Heartbeat Poli-Rhythm, Ltd. One Camp Street Cambridge, MA 02140 USA Mango (UK/US - a division of Island) (Has many Jamaican ska compilations, and some recent albums from the "old school", like Toots Hibbert. Like Capitol/EMI Latin, this label should be easily found in the reggae section of any large record store.) Moon Records P.O. Box 1412 Cooper Station New York, NY 10276 USA (201) 857-7044 (fax) 857-7160 Next Step (UK - formerly Rhythm Foundation) 15 Trilleck Ave. Hereford, HR2 7HX, UK (Modern - including Japan's Ska Flames - and classics compilations.) Pork Pie Records Forster St. 4/5 1000 Berlin 36 GERMANY (No Sports, Fun Republic, The Frits, other German & European bands) Raw Energy Records 65 Front St. West Suite 0116-42 Toronto, Ontario M5J 1E6 CANADA (Public Service, King Apparatus) Rhino Records 2225 Colorado Avenue Santa Monica, CA 90404-3555 USA Toll-free number: 1-800-432-0020 Signal Sound System Records c/o Greg McWhorter P.O. Box 1861 Victorville, CA 92392 (carries Voodoo Glow Skulls) Square Records P.O. Box 1926 Harvard Square Station Cambridge, MA 02238 USA Trojan (UK) Iwyman House 34 39 Camden Road London NW1 91E UK FAX: 071 267 6746 (A classic blue beat label. Send SASE for catalog.) Unicorn Records 191 Seven Sisters Road Finsbury Park London N4 3NG UK 01-281 2821 (Unicorn is now defunct.) Unicorn France 11 allee J.-B. Clement 78570 Andresey FRANCE (Unicorn is now defunct.) Unicorn Deutschland P\"ucklerstrasse 22 1000 Berlin 36 GERMANY (Unicorn is now defunct.) Weser Label Am Fuchsberg 2 2800 bremen, 21 GERMANY Q> Are there some record stores that carry ska? A> Some record stores that specialize in ska or at least have a decent stock: (Many of these stores will do mail order. Call or send a SASE first.) Better Days Records 1591 Bardstown Rd. Louisville, KY 40205 USA (502) 456-2394 Boudisque Amsterdam (The NETHERLANDS) CD Bar Toronto, Ontario CANADA (800) 663-1616 Does lots of mail order business. Coxsone's Music City 3135 Fulton St. Brooklyn, NY 11208 USA Phone: (718) 277-4166 [Clement `Coxsone' Dodd is the original ska producer. They seem to keep ska behind the counter, so you will have to ask for it.] Daddy Kool 9 Berwick Street London W1v 3rg UK Tel 071-437-3535 The Face 24 Granton Street London W1V 1LA Tel 071 734-5868 Fax 071 2878723 iNFINITY nETWORK c/o Backstreet Abortions P.O. Box 51465 Raedene 2124, Johannesburg SOUTH AFRICA (These guys are mail-order only. They carry hardcore bands with [anti-fasist] political content to their lyrics, and some ska-core.) RAS Records Mailorder P.O. Box 42517 Washington DC 20015 USA (301) 588-5135 [RAS records has a big catalog with ska and rock-steady: Ask for Charlie or Smitty.] Reckless Records Chicago, IL USA Roundup Records P.O. Box 154, Dept. HB N. Cambridge, MA 02140 USA (800) 44-DISCS [Carries Heartbeat titles and maybe more.] Smash Records Constitution Ave. Washington, DC USA Taaang Records Cambridge, MA USA (great selection but pricey) Vinyl Ink Silver Spring, MD USA Wax Trax (Denver) Denver, Colorado USA WOM Munich, GERMANY Recommended Reading: The liner notes to [SB] are particularly rich, with extensive text and great photographs. Also, the notes for [C25] and [DD] are quite informational. Also, check into the alt.skinheads and rec.music.reggae Usenet groups for related topics. Cited Sources: [SB] ``Ska Bonanza: The Studio One Years,'' Various Artists, Heartbeat CD: HB 86/87, (1992). Liner notes by Julian Jingles (JJ) and Chris Wilson (CW). [C25] ``Celebration: Twenty Five Years Of Trojan Records,'' Various Artists, Trojan Records CDTRD 413, (1991). Liner notes by Laurence Cane-Honeysett. [DD] ``The Best of Desmond Dekker: Rockin' Steady,'' Desmond Dekker, Rhino Records R2 70271, (1992). Liner notes by Harry Young. [LL] ``Labour of Love,'' UB40, Virgin/A&M Records, CD4980, (1983). Liner notes by the band. [HSBR] ``The History of Ska, Blue Beat and Reggae,'' Various Artists, Esoldun S.A.R.L./Blue Beat REG 101, (1992). Liner notes by Delroy Sion Eccles. [TKS] ``Two Knights of Ska: Derrick and Laurel,'' Derrick Morgan and Laurel Aitken, Unicorn Records PHZD-61, (1992). Liner notes anonymous. [RAR] ``Rasta and Resistance,'' by Horace Campbell, Africa World Press, Inc., P.O. Box 1892, Trenton, New Jersey 08607, USA, (1987). [RPM] ``RPM'' A Ska museletter. (See the fanzine section.) Uncited Sources: [AMS] alt.music.ska, various postings. This has become the largest source of info for this FAQ. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- $Revision: 1.8 $ *eof ******************************************************************************