Reggae/Punk/Ska recs?

JoshK · « **on:** 22 Aug 2009, 05:11 pm »

Well I thought I'd ask you all for recs, inspired by the other thread.

Except this one will be fairly narrowly focused. I am looking for more Reggae, Ska and Punk-reggae-ska picks.

One thing, though, is we (my wife and I) are picky about our reggae/ska. We are really hit and miss.

I love Sublime's first LP especially. Their self-titled is good but I like the more raw reggae-punk of their debut better.

Stuff we like:
Bob Marley (of course)
UB40
Sublime

My wife loves the song on youtube, Boney M Rivers of Babylon. Its not their original, I like the Melodians original, but she would like more reggae like the Boney M version. (first heard of this song from Sublime's debut outtrack).

I have a Bad Brains album but I confess I haven't listened to it but maybe once. I have a Peter Tosh GH that I have never gotten into. I am not a fan of No Doubt, her voice just doesn't mesh with me.

I guess we prefer good vocals and catchier songs. We are pretty reggae knowledge poor.

dflee · « **Reply #1 on:** 22 Aug 2009, 06:03 pm »

This is Reggae Music - The Golden Era 1960 - 1975
Four cd compilation and quite a find. My wife searched this one out and we both enjoy it.
I found a live Jimmy Cliff in a second hand and its pretty good.

As Always
Don

K Shep · « **Reply #2 on:** 22 Aug 2009, 06:03 pm »

It's great to see members participate in what I think sometimes gets lost in our (my) hobby, the music. I grew up in San Francisco and one of the first live shows I went to was Black Flag. San Francisco was a hot bed for Punk and thus Ska and Reggae. You mentioned Bad Brains, IMO they are the one of the pioneering Punk/Reggae bands. I own one Bad Brains CD and the recording quality is OK...it includes recordings from live shows and different albums, but it has 22 tracks and it will give you the most bang for your buck.

Bad Brains - Banned in DC Greatest Riffs
http://www.amazon.com/Banned-DC-Brains-Greatest-Riffs/dp/B00008V5TK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1250963010&sr=1-4

My next choice for a band that may agree with you and your wife is 311. I purchased their greatest hits album and enjoy the entire CD.

311 - Greatest Hits '93-'03
http://www.amazon.com/Greatest-Hits-93-03-311/dp/B00024I2YU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1250963859&sr=1-2

The other band that comes to mind is the Red Hot Chili Peppers. They have changed so much over the years, fortunately you can pick and choose from the catalog of new and old. I love their old stuff.

Kirk

bunnyma357 · « **Reply #3 on:** 22 Aug 2009, 06:43 pm »

For Ska you should get a Two-Tone collection and see who you might like - Specials, Selector, English Beat, Madness, etc.

http://www.amazon.com/Two-Tone-Compilation-Checkered-Past/dp/B000003JCI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1250966488&sr=8-1

Jim C

K Shep · « **Reply #4 on:** 22 Aug 2009, 07:14 pm »

Steel Pulse - Earth Crisis
http://www.amazon.com/Earth-Crisis-Steel-Pulse/dp/B0009I7NLW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1250968040&sr=1-1

Steel Pulse is my favorite Reggae band and this is my favorite CD from them. The CD I purchased from Azon is remastered and the recording quality is good.

Kirk

jqp · « **Reply #5 on:** 22 Aug 2009, 07:25 pm »

This may be THE definitive album of Reggae/Punk/Ska - London in the 70s

K Shep · « **Reply #6 on:** 22 Aug 2009, 07:48 pm »

More in the Ska category.

The English Beat - I Just Can't Stop It
http://www.amazon.com/Just-Cant-Stop-English-Beat/dp/B000021XS8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1250970235&sr=1-3

If you like The English Beat give this a listen.

General Public - All the Rage
http://www.amazon.com/All-Rage-General-Public/dp/B000001I0R/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1250970409&sr=1-1

Kirk

mike1964 · « **Reply #7 on:** 22 Aug 2009, 08:26 pm »

Quote from: jqp on 22 Aug 2009, 07:25 pm

This may be THE definitive album of Reggae/Punk/Ska - London in the 70s

on vinyl of course

stlrman · « **Reply #8 on:** 22 Aug 2009, 09:07 pm »

Throw Down Your Arms

Sinead O'Connor
This is a fantasic reggae album !!
What Sinead O'Connor doing raggae ? , no way, try it is
AWESOME !!!!!!!!

Todd

low.pfile · « **Reply #9 on:** 22 Aug 2009, 09:17 pm »

first thing that comes to mind is Let's Go Bowling. Saw them in the early 90's at Slim's....very upbeat and catchy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skhsQJ4NTDc

keenween · « **Reply #10 on:** 22 Aug 2009, 10:01 pm »

Sample this, you may or may not like:

www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=6917594

rwdrey · « **Reply #11 on:** 22 Aug 2009, 10:18 pm »

Checkout HEPCAT!!!

JoshK · « **Reply #12 on:** 22 Aug 2009, 10:57 pm »

Thanks guys. You've given me some stuff to check out. I like the idea of the samplers, as I can check out a lot of different bands.

funkmonkey · « **Reply #13 on:** 22 Aug 2009, 11:27 pm »

Hey Josh, I second Steel Pulse, but I like True Democracy. also check out the soundtrack for Harder they Come ( Jimmy Cliff ). Another reggae disc worth mention is Black Uhuru - Red all three are classic/essential reggae for moving beyond Bob Marley

Ska- you might like Madness - One Step Beyond... or Selector... in addition to the other already mentioned two-tone artists

MaxCast · « **Reply #14 on:** 23 Aug 2009, 01:23 am »

I don't listen to much reggae, but this one I really like

very up beat, dancin', cleanin' the house type music.

sts9fan · « **Reply #15 on:** 24 Aug 2009, 12:43 pm »

Older reggae/ska is alabout samples because very often they only recorded singles. I would for sure grab the "The Harder They Come" deluxe editon sound track. The original sound track is awsome plus the bonus disc is a real winner. Packed full of classic ska/reggae. Such as Johnny Nash's cover of "Guava Jelly"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqKRKB6atew

I also HIGHLY recommend the Bob Marley set Fiya Fiya which is all old stuff at the very start.
These are all very mainstream but great recs I can dig much deeper if you like this stuff.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKKm9GkvXLc

I would also check out Toots and the Maytals and Desmond Dekker

rydenfan · « **Reply #16 on:** 24 Aug 2009, 01:05 pm »

I recommend doing a search. A few months ago I started a Reggae thread in this circle and there are many great recommendations.

droht · « **Reply #17 on:** 24 Aug 2009, 01:08 pm »

I think The Clash is often overlooked in conversations like this. They only have a handful of ska songs I suppose, but certainly worth digging into for everything else they bring to the table.

K Shep · « **Reply #18 on:** 24 Aug 2009, 01:38 pm »

Early Ska:

The Jam - All Mod Cons
http://www.amazon.com/All-Mod-Cons-Jam/dp/B000006TZ8/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1251120556&sr=1-5

Paul Weller (from The Jam) went on to start a band called Style Council. Style Council doesn't fit the Ska genre but give them a listen.

The Singular Adventures of the Style Council
http://www.amazon.com/Singular-Adventures-Style-Council/dp/B000001FQ3/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1251120834&sr=1-7

Kirk

Len_Dreyer · « **Reply #19 on:** 24 Aug 2009, 01:40 pm »

Josh,

Here are a few of my favorite reggae artists: Alpha Blondy, Dennis Brown, Freddie McGregor, Gregory Isaacs, Lee "Scratch" Perry, The Skatalites & the Twinkle Brothers.

Len