The World of Reggae Music
Two-Tone Ska
The Jam-Tex selector presents a new chapter in the “Wolrd of Reggae Music Collection” on the second wave of Ska Music called “Two-Tone Ska” or “2-Tone.”
The Jam-Tex selector has been working on a study and organization of the essential tracks of reggae music called “The World of Reggae Music Collection.” The selector invites others to comment on the selected tracks and to join in on the conversation about the history of reggae music. This collection of singles began with the greatest roots reggae hits in categories entitled: “Reggae’s Superstars: The Lions of Jah” and “Reggae’s Superstars: The Lion Youth.”
Now the selector moves back in time to the roots of reggae, exploring the greatest singles from the ska tradition. Please feel free to suggest your favorite singles. The examination of the ska genre included a focused study on the founders of ska music from the late 1950s to the 1960s called: “The Ska Originals.” This posts explores the “Two-Tone Ska” movement of the 1970s and 1980s often called the second wave of ska music. A future post will focus on “Third Wave Ska“ music that fused ska and elements of punk rock music.
Two-Tone (2-Tone) ska music emerged out of Great Britian during the 1970s and 1980s. English lads played Jamaican music, including ska, rocksteady, and early reggae music, often immitating, adapting, and appropiating the music of the Caribbean islands. It reminds me of the ways in which Southern white Americans (Elvis “The King” Presley, Jerry Lee “The Killer” Lewis, Johnny “The Man in Black” Cash, etc.) and even British bands (The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin
, etc.) immitated and transformed the rhythm and blues of African-American musicians. In a similiar fashion the working-class kids of England found something compelling about Afro-Caribbean musical forms, especially ska and reggae music. I personally think they found something honest and soulful in the music. But most importantly it moved them in new and interesting ways.
The Specials stick out as the prime example of this Second Wave musical movement. Some Jamaican artists crossed over into this genre riding both the original and first wave, and also the second wave in England. Desmond Dekker
, one of the orignators of ska music, found himself participating in the second wave touring throughout the UK. The Untouchables, the Bad Manners
, Big Five, the Toasters
, King Hammond, Selecter
, and Mark Foggo’s Skasters are all representative artists of the second wave. Some big U.K. pop stars participated in this second wave ska movement including the Beat, Madness
, and even the legendary Elvis Costello
cut a few 2-tone ska tracks.
The Jam-Tex selector proudly presents…
The World of Reggae Music Collection
Two-Tone Ska
The Specials – Rudi, A Message To You
Maroon Town – Average Man
Madness – Our House
The English Beat – Mirror in the Bathroom
Riffs – These Things
Selector – On My Radio
The Loafers – Everyday
Elvis Costello & the Attractions – Watching the Detectives
Rico – Sea Cruise
Madness – One Step Beyond
Big 5 – Live Injection
Maroon Town – City Riot
King Hammond – King Hammond Shuffle
Madness – The Prince
Judge Dread – Reggae and Ska
Selector – James Bond
The Specials – Ghost Town
Madness – Madness
Ska Boys – Norwegian Wood Disco
Selector – Train to Skaville
Rico – Carolina
The English Beat – Ranking Full Stop
Madness – Bed and Breakfast Man
Bad Manners – Wooly Bully
King Hammond – Skaville UK
The English Beat – The Tears of a Clown
Judge Dread – Big 8
Laurel Aitken & Potato 5 – Blue Beat Suit
Madness – Night Boat to Cairo
Special Beat – Rough Rider
Big 5 – Skinhead Love Affair
The Specials – Monkey Man
Madness – Rockin’ In A Flat
Elvis Costello – I Can’t Stand Up For Falling Down
The English Beat – Save It For Later
Mark Foggos Skasters – Hello
Judge Dread – Big 9
Madness – Swan Lake
International Beat – Magical Feeling
Potato 5 – Do The Jerk
The Loafers – Laughing Loafer
Madness – Grey Day
Riffs – One Egg (Nevilles Breakfast)
The Specials – Too Hot
The Toasters – Flight of the Bumble Bee
Bad Manners – Lip Up Fatty
Madness – House of Fun
Mark Foggos Skasters – Skadansk
International Beat – Hands Off She’s Mine
Madness – My Girl
Bad Manners – Can Can (Live)
International Beat – Mirror in the Bathroom (Version 2)
Madness – It Must Be Love
Special Beat – Ranking Full Stop (Live)
Madness – Cardiac Arrest
NEED
- The Specials – Maggie’s Farm
- Rico – Jungle Music
- Bodysnatchers – People Do Rock Steady
- Swinging Cats – Montavoni
- Apollinaires – Envy the Love
- Selector – The Whisper
- Untouchables – FBI (I Spy For The)
- Bad Manners
– My Girl Lollipop
- Desmond Dekker & the Specials – Take It Easy
- Loafers – It’s So Easy
- Selector – Too Much Pressure
- The Riffs – Blind Date
- The Untouchables – Be Alright
- Judge Dread – Big Seven
- Mark Foggos Skasters – Captain Skarlet
- Coventry Automatics – Concrete Jungle