This episode starts with early rocksteady then goes back in time to original vintage ska.

For those who are not familiar with ska, I will attempt to give you a brief history. Ska music originated in Jamaica in the 1950s and became popular in the 1960s. When you listen to ska lyrics and melodies you must keep a few things in mind:

1. Ska had an uptempo beat for dancing and required very energetic dance moves. It’s based on Mento (Jamaican folk music) and Caribbean Calypso mixed with classic American R&B.
2.  Jamaica gained independence from Great Britain in 1962 with ska as the soundtrack. This music is the island’s 1st true ‘pop’ genre and there is a sense of new national pride in some of the lyrics.
3. An influx of youth moved from outlying areas of the island to Kingston to look for work. Unable to make a living, many teens resorted to illegal activities. This set the stage for what became known as the “rude boy” subculture, another major source of lyrics in early ska.

In the late 1960s the pace of the ska beat slowed down and a new, slower genre called rocksteady emerged. Rocksteady only remained popular from 1966 to 1968. Then reggae music hit the town and spread like wildfire.

Ska caught on in the British market from 1960 to 1967. Many British ska record labels popped up on the scene releasing music that featured Jamaican artists and musicians. The skinhead and punk communities also embraced the music. Ska experienced a revival with a second wave of popularity driven by UK bands in the 1970s.  Traditional ska transformed with the hard edge of punk rock among other influences.

The third wave of popularity began in the 1980s and continued into the 1990s. By then most continents had a growing ska presence. Ska bands such as No Doubt, Sublime, and Fishbone led the way in the United States and had major commercial success.

Playlist:

1. Johnny Clarke – Move Out of Babylon
2. Burning Spear – Marcus Garvey
3. Carl Dawkins – Baby I Love You
4. Derrick Morgan – Tougher Than Tough
5. Peter Tosh and The Soulmates – Rudie’s Medley
6. Desmond Dekker – 007 (Shanty Town)
7. Lloyd Robinson – No More Trouble
8. Alton Ellis and The Flames – Cry Tough
9. Alton Ellis and The Flames – Blessing of Love
10. Hopeton Lewis – Take It Easy
11. Alton Ellis – Girl I’ve Got a Date
12. U-Roy – Wake the Town
13. U-Roy – I Can’t Love Another
14. Ken Boothe – The Train is Coming
15. Bob Andy – I’ve Got to Go Back Home
16. Delroy Wilson – Dancing Mood
17. Jimmy Cliff – The Harder They Come
18. Paragons – Happy Go Lucky Girl
19. Eric Morris – If I Didn’t Love You
20. The Melodians – Rivers of Babylon
21. Stranger Cole – Rough and Tough
22. Theophilus Beckford – Easy Snappin’
23. Bob and Marcia – Young Gifted and Black
24. Prince Buster – Hard Man Fe Dead
25. The Maytals – Six and Seven Books of Moses
26. The Skatalites – Guns of Navarone
27. Derrick Morgan – Forward March
28. Prince Buster – Al Capone
29. Derrick Morgan – The Hop
30. Derrick Morgan – Housewives Choice
31. Don Drummond – Man in the Street
32. The Folkes Brothers – Oh Carolina
33. Bob Marley – Judge Not
34. Jimmy Cliff – Miss Jamaica
35. Alton Ellis and The Flames – Dance Crasher
36. Justin Hinds and The Dominoes – Carry Go Bring Come
37. The Wailers – Simmer Down
38. Laurel Aitken – Boogie in My Bones
39. Clancy Eccles – Sammy No Dead
40. Baba Brooks – Girl’s Town Ska
41. Owen Gray – Midnight Track
42. Millie Small – My Boy Lollipop

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