The World of Reggae Music
The Ska Originals
The Jam-Tex selector presents a new chapter in the “Wolrd of Reggae Music Collection” called The Ska Originals.
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 early ska era. Please feel free to suggest your favorite singles. The primary examination of the “Ska Originals” genre focuses on the founders of ska music from the late 1950s to the 1960s. Later posts will explore forms of ska music of the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s: Two-Tone Ska and Third Wave Ska.
Some of the same Jamaican singers, musicians, and producers of the original ska music movement later became the fathers and mothers of rocksteady and reggae. A young Robert Nesta Marley recorded some ska tunes and so did Bob Marley‘s vocal group the Wailin’ Wailers, which later became the Wailers. Alton Ellis
, Jimmy Cliff
, Toots & The Maytals
, Desmond Dekker
, John Holt
, Ken Boothe
, Derrick Morgan
, Clancy Eccles
, Cornell Campbell, and Lee “Scratch” Perry
all played ska as young lads. These Jamaican superstars all make this collection of ska singles.
The classic ska bands and vocal groups of the era appear on this collection, including the famed The Skatalites, The Ethiopians, The Pioneers
, The Soulettes, The Paragons
, The Heptones
, The Ethiopians, The Techniques, The Upsetters, The Baba Brooks Band, The Gaylads, and The Versatiles. Many of the great ska musicians have singles that made this chart, like Don Drummond, Roland Alphonso, Lyn Taitt, and Tommy McCook
.
Ska music is fun and fast, yet a very easy-going music that sends you skanking around the room. I love this music. There are some wonderful characters that came out of this musical genre, performers like Prince Buster, Sir Lord Comic, Lord Kitchener, Stranger Cole, Lord Creator, and the Folkes Brothers. Plus the dynamite sounds of Byron Lee and the Dragonaires make for some of the most classic ska tracks. The Jam-Tex selector invites you to comment on the list and make suggestions.
The Jam-Tex selector proudly presents…
World of Reggae Music Collection
The Ska Originals
The Skatalites – Guns of Navarone
Don Drummond – Don De Lion
Bob Marley & the Wailers – Simmer Down
The Ethopians – Train To Skaville
Prince Buster – Hard Man Fe Dead
Toots & the Maytals – Sweet & Dandy
John Holt & the Paragons – The Tide Is High
Don Drummond – Eastern Standard Time
Jackie Opel – Push Wood
Tommy McCook – Alley Cat Ska
Byron Lee and the Dragonaires – Jamaica Ska
Folkes Brothers – Oh Carolina
The Heptones – Gunman Coming To Town
Lord Tanamo – I’m In The Mood For Ska
Laurel Aitken & the Skatalites – Rude Boy Dreams
Desmond Dekker – King Of Ska
Freddie Note & the Rudies – Montego Bay
The Maytals – Broadway Jungle
Prince Buster – Madness
Derrick Morgan – Moon Hop
Lee “Scratch” Perry & The Soulettes – Doctor Dick
Don Drummond & the Skatalites – Chinatown
Desmond Dekker – Rudy Got Soul
Gregory Isaacs – My Time
Tommy McCook & the Supersonics – Ska Jam
Bob Marley – Judge Not
The Maytals – Six And Seven Books Of Moses
Jimmy Cliff – Hurricane Hattie
Don Drummond – (Music Is My) Occupation
Roland Alphonso – James Bond
The Gaylads – Stop Making Love
Alton Ellis & Eddie Parker – My Heaven
The Pioneers – Jackpot
Prince Buster – Al Capone
Justin Hinds and the Dominoes – The Ark
Ken Boothe – Uno Dos Tres
Amos Clarke – Chatty Chatty Woman
Val Bennett – Atlas
Lee “Scratch” Perry – Give Me Justice
Alton Ellis – Mouth A Massy
Bob Marley & the Wailers – Jailhouse
Jimmy Cliff – King of Kings
Desmond Dekker – Honour Your Mother and Father
Eric Monty Morris – Enna Bella
Millie Small & Roy Panton – We’ll Meet
Blues Blenders – The Girl Next Door
Alton Ellis & the Flames – Blessings Of Love
Bob Marley & the Wailers – Duppy Conqueror
Symarip – Skinhead Moonstomp
Roy Shirley & Ken Boothe – Calling
Lee “Scratch” Perry – What A Good Wood Man
Derrick Morgan – Blazing Fire
Roland Alphonso – Phoenix City
Baba Brooks – Duck Soup
Stranger Cole & Lester Sterling – Bangarang
The Skatalites – Latin Goes Ska
Alton Ellis – Dance Crasher
Desmond Dekker – Get Up Edina
Derrick Morgan – Fat Man
Ken Boothe & Stranger Cole – Arte Bella
Owen Gray – Darling Patricia
Baba Brooks – Girls Town Ska
Lord Creator – Hurry Up
The Maytals – Let’s Jump
Derrick Harriott – Monkey Ska
Dave and Ansel Collins – Monkey Spanner
The Ethiopians – Free Man
Lord Tanamo – You Belong to My Heart
Owen Grey – Jezebel
Lee “Scratch” Perry – Rub & Squeeze
Justin Hinds and the Dominoes – Over The River
Don Drummond – Man in the Street
Tommy McCook & the Supersonics – Out of Space
Roland Alphonso – On The Move
Ewan McDermott – Candy Ska
Desmond Dekker – Mount Zion
Granville Williams Orchestra – Honky Tonk Ska
Desmond Dekker – Pickney Gal
Tommy McCook & the Skatalites – Silver Dollar
Duke Reid’s Group – Let George Do It
The Paragons – Happy Go Lucky Girl
Chuck Joseph, Dobby Dobson, and Aubrey Adams – Du Du Wap
Bob Marley & the Wailers – Go Jimmy Go
Desmond Dekker & the Aces – Sabotage
Roland Alphonso – Old Fowl Ska
Eric ‘Monty’ Morris – Penny Reel
Rita Marley Anderson & the Wailers – A De Pon Dem
Jimmy Cliff – One-Eyed Jacks
The Versatiles – Push It In
Derrick Morgan – The Hop
Lord Tanamo – Mattie Rag (aka Ol’ Matilda)
Jackie Opel – Sit Down Servant
The Sounds – Shufflin’
Cornell Campbell – Under the Old Oak Tree
The Baba Brooks Band – Guns Fever
Frank Anderson – Musical Storeroom
Clive and Naomi – You Are Mine
Alton Ellis & the Flames – The Preacher
Desmond Dekker – Unity
Delroy Wilson & Slim Smith – Look Who I Back Again
Bob Marley & the Wailers – How Many Times (Do You Remember)
Don Drummond & The City Slickers – Don Cosmic
Roland Alphonso & The Skatalites – Nimble Foot Ska
The Baba Brooks Band – Teenage Ska
Toots & the Maytals – Shining Light
Clancy Eccles with Hersang & The City Slickers – River Jordan
The Riots – Yeah Yeah
Lee “Scratch” Perry – Sugar Bag
Lyn Taitt – Independence Ska
Lord Tanamo – If You Were Mine
Frank Cosmo – My Days Are Lonely
Cecil Lloyd & Roland Alphonso – Oceans 11
Laurel Aitken – Hey Bartender
Derrick Harriott – Derrick!
Winston Samuels – My Bride to Be
Andy Capp – The Law
Roland Alphonso – Yard Broom
Tommy McCook – Cotton Tree
Don Drummond – Lucky Seven
Lloyd Robinson – Too Late
Ossie & The Upsetters – Turn Me On
The Skatalites – Streets of Gold
Lloyd Brivett – Wayward Ska
Lynn Taitt – Tender Loving Care
Jackie Estick – Daisy I Love You
Cornell Campbell – Don’t Want Your Loving
Derrick Morgan – Hold Your Jack
Stranger & Gladdy – How Your Pantie Get Wet
Bunny & Skitter – When The Well Runs Dry
The Charmers – Jeanie Girl
The Dreamletts – Really Now
Clue J & His Blues Brothers – Beeston Street Riff
Derrick Harriott – Answer Me My Darling
Frank Anderson & Tommy McCook – Wheel and Turn
Lascelles Perkins with Clue J and His Blues Brothers – Lonely Moments
Lester Sterling, Johnnie Moore, & Tommy McCook – Settle Down
Jackie Estick – The Ska
Horrell Dawkins – Butterfly
The Silvertones – True Confessions
Ewan McDermott – Sinners Got A Moanin…
Raymond Harper – Discipline
The Baba Brooks Band – Special Event
The Skatalites – Good News
Don Drummond – Cool Smoke
Roland Alphonso – Corner Store
Tommy McCook – Twelve Minutes to Go
The Duke Reid Group – Strolling In
Don Drummond – Stampede
Derrick Morgan – Don’ Call Me Daddy
Baba Brooks – Boat Ride
The Skatalites – Black Sunday
Ewan McDermott – Don’t Bring Me Your Dreams
Lloyd Brevett – One More Time
Raymond Harper – Yours
Tommy McCooke – Apanga
Clue J & His Blues Blasters – Salt Lane Shuffle
Frank Anderson, Tommy McCook, & The Skatalites – Always on Sunday
Roland Alphonso – Sucu Sucu
Don Drummond – University Goes Ska
Derrick Morgan – Look Before You Leap
Roland Alphonso – Bongo Tango
The Skatalites – Dragon Weapon
Baba Brooks – Musical Communion
Don Drummond – Spider
The Skatalites – Street Corner
Derrick Morgan – Seven Letters
Roland Alphonso – Back Beat
Don Drummond – Doctor Decker
Baba Brooks & His Band – Blues
Don Drummond – Mesoptamia
Baba Brooks – Dreadnaught
Roland Alphonso – 20.75
Don Drummond & Roland Alphonso – Heaven And Earth
Roland Alphonso & Carroll McLaughlin – Set Back
Don Drummond – Garden of Love
Roland Alphonso & Studio One Orchestra – Spread Satin
The Baba Brooks Band – Vitamin A
Don Drummond – Around the World
Roland Alphonso – Nuclear Weapon
Don Drummond – Burning Torch
Roland Alphonso – Alipang
Don Drummond – Thorougfare
Roland Alphonso – Feeling Fine
Don Drummond – Melody Jamboree
Roland Alphonso – Sandy Gulley
Don Drummond – Silver Dollar
NEED
Carl Dawkins – Baby I Love You
The Maytals – Someone’s Going to Bawl
Sir Lord Comic and His Cowboys – Ska-ing West
Don Drummond – Dew Drops
Eric Morris – Put on Your Best Dress
Roland Alphonso, King Sporty, & Justin Yap – El Cid
Byron Lee & the Dragonaires – Watermelon Man
Prince Buster – Run Man Run
Tommy McCook & the Supersonics – Train to Ska-Thedral
Lord Tanamo – Night Food Ska
Derrick Morgan – No Raise, No Praise
Stranger Cole – Rough and Tough
Lord Kitchener – The Road
Chuck & Dobby – I Don’t Need Your Love
Derrick Morgan – National Dance
Eric Morris – Strongman Sampson
Drumbago’s Orchestra – Duck Soup
The Rulers – Wrong’em Boyo
Baba Brooks – Musical Workshop
Derrick Morgan – Be Still
The Tartans – What Can I Say
Lord Tanamo – Come Down
The Techniques – I’m In Love
The Spanishstonians – Rudie Gets Plenty
The Techniques – Little Did You Know
Winston & George – Denham Town
Roland Alphonso – Blackberry Brandy
Basil Gabbidon – Ena Meni
Derrick Morgan and Patsy – Let Me Go
Eric Morris – Solomon Gundie
Granville Williams Orchestra – The Third Man Theme
Clive & Naomi – Open The Door
Stranger Cole & the Conquerors – Drop the Ratchet
Andy Cap – Pop A Top
The Maytals – Just Got To Be
Dandy Livingstone – Reggae in Your Jeggae
Roland Alphonso – Shot in the Dark
Baba Brooks – One Eyed Giant
Byron Lee & the Dragonaires – Soul Limbo
Bongo Herman & Les – Dr. Who
The Skatalites – Ghost Town
Tommy McCook & the Skatalites – Doctor Zhivago
Baba Brooks – Watermelon Man
Lord Comic & the Skatalites – Lon Cheney
The Rulers – Copasetic
Carlos Malcom – Bonanza Ska
The Skatalites – Ringo
Lloyd Robinson – When You Walk
Tommy McCook – Riverton City
The Skatalites – Ska Boo Da Baa
Baba Brooks – Shenk I Shek
Roland Alphonso – Cleo’s Back
Cornell Campbell – Make Hay
Don Drummond – Away From It All
The Skatalites – China Clipper
Lord Tanamo – Iron Bar
King Stitt & the Dynamites – The Ugly One (AKA Lee Van Cleef)
Owen Gray – She’s Going to Napoli
Vinley Gayle – Go On
Justin Hinds – Try Me
Ferdy Nelson – Ska Down Jamaica Way
The Valentines – Blam Blam Fever
Joanne Gordon & Roland Alphonso – Blow Roland Blow
Johnny Moore – South China Sea
Roy Richards – Lost My Girl
Bobby Aitken – Jericho
Senior Pablo – Senorita
Jackie Opel – Turn to the Almighty
Delroy Blyfield – Yagga Yagga
Ruddy & Sketto – I Love You
Winston Grennan – Turn on the Light
Larry Marshall – Snake in the Grass
Basil Gabbidon – Back to Jamaica
The Royals – Save Mama
Harry Johnson and the All Stars – The Dog
Clancy Eccles – Sammy No Dead
The Skatalites – Kingston 11
Ken Boothe, Stranger Cole, & the Skatalites –World’s Fair
Owen & Leon Silveras – Next Door Neighbour
Stranger & Patsy – When I Call Your Name