Skatalites – Essential Artist Collection 2CD

The Skatalites – Essential Artist Collection

2CD Set During the early 1960’s, the sound of ska exploded upon Jamaica’s musical landscape, with the driving dynamic sound championed by arguably the greatest ensemble of musicians ever to have performed and recorded on the island. Fronted by legendary saxophonist Tommy McCook, the Skatalites also comprised a veritable who’s who of Kingston-based performers, their number including trombonist Don Drummond, tenor saxman Roland Alphonso, drumming supremo Lloyd Knibb and keyboard prodigy Jackie Mittoo. Following their creation in the summer of ’64, this powerhouse instrumental combo dominated the island’s music industry for 18 glorious months, the very best of their work produced by famed Treasure Isle Records boss, Arthur ‘Duke’ Reid. The best of their output for the celebrated producer is showcased on the ‘Essential Artist Collection’, which sees issue on 2CD set provides the best introduction yet to the music of the incredible, multi-talented and hugely influential Skatalites.

Tracklist:
CD1:
1. (Music is) My Occupation (Ring of Fire)
2. Alley Cat Ska
3. Cool Smoke
4. Garden of Love
5. Twelve Minutes To Go
6. Girls Town Ska
7. Stampede
8. Vitamin A
9. Teenage Ska
10. Melody Jamboree
11. Boat Ride
12. Around the World
13. Watermelon Man
14. River Bank, Pt.1 (Bank To Bank)
15. Guns Fever
16. Ska Virginia (Virginia Ska)
17. Duck Soup
18. Donkey City, Pt.1 (Pt. 1)
19. Latin Goes Ska
20. Alipang
21. Lucky Seven
22. Musical Store Room
23. Musical Communion
24. Sandy Gully
25. Doctor Dekker

CD2:
1. Nuclear Weapon
2. Corner Stone (A Trip To Mars)
3. Knockout Punch (Cotton Tree)
4. Don De Lion
5. Rocket Ship
6. Feeling Fine
7. Mesopotamia
8. Donkey City, Pt.2
9. Independence Ska (Aka El Pussycat)
10. Rude Boy
11. Jelly Bean
12. Skalarama (the Magnificent Seven Theme)
13. River Bank (Aka Bank To Bank)
14. Country Town
15. One Eyed Giant
16. Twilight Zone (Instrumental)
17. Catch a Fire
18. Spider
19. Eastern Standard Time
20. Thoroughfare (Treasure Isle)
21. Silver Dollar
22. Street Corner
23. University Goes Ska
24. J.F.K.'S Memory
25. Good News

Label: Trojan Records
Released: 2023