The Skatalites - The Skatalites Play Ska LP
SKU: KSLP011Description:
If one band could be cited for the emergence of Ska music, that
band would be the Skatalites.
Formed around June 1965 and built around the many musicians that
had honed their craft at the Alpha Boys School in Kingston,
Jamaica. The early line up consisted of Don Drummond
(Trombone), Roland Alphonso (Tenor Saxophone), Tommy
McCook (Tenor Saxophone), Johnny ’Dizzy’ Moore (Trumpet),
Lester Sterling (Alto Saxophone), Jerome ’Jah Jerry’ Hines
(Guitar), Jackie Mittoo (Piano), Llyod Brevett (Bass)
and Llyod Knibbs (Drums).
Named originally The Satellites after the big news of the day, the
Soviet space satellite. They became The Skatalites when band
member Tommy McCook introduced a play on the characteristic
‘Ska’ sound, made by the guitar when following the’ after beat’
of the music. The group had already cut its musical teeth by
playing under various guises around the Jamaican island in
numerous ‘hotel bands’.
When the big Sound System operators Sir Coxsane Dodd, Duke
Reid and King Edwards needed new material to play out with and
their usual source of the material, American R & B records
were drying up. They turned to this pool of musicians to back
up their main singers of the day. Delroy Wilson, Alton Ellis
and Lord Creator to name but a few. Also to cut the
many instrumental tracks they needed usually under the tutor
ledge of Don Drummond, official band leader and main musical
director. Their knowledge of the old mento tunes and
an understanding of Jazz and R&B music somehow blended to
make this musical sound that was to dominate the island from
the early 60’s up until around 1966 when the sound would slow
down to what we now know as Rocksteady.
The time span of the Skatalites career considering their output of
litually 100’s of sides of music, was a relatively short one
of just over two years. We have delved into the vaults of Wirl
Records and have selected some tunes that show the dexterity of
the band and what great sounds this group of musicians were
capable of producing and the high quality they maintained.
They recorded before they were named as a collective The
Skatalites, when personal and financial problems became an issue
the band split into two halves. Jackie Mittoo and Roland
Alfonso going on to form The Soul Brothers band for Coxsone
Dodd. Tommy McCook moving over to work with Duke Reid as
musical director. Sadly Don Drummond suffering for years from
depression would see his career cut short ending in Belle Vue
hospital in 1969.
Format & package: LP
Record label: Kingston
Sounds
Year of release: 2015 (compilation)
Tracks:
A1 Wise Man
A2 Skylarka
A3 Wild Man Street
A4 Cow Town Skank
A5 Northern Sound
A6 Convention
A7 The Joker From La Boka
B1 Legs Man
B2 Greenwich Farm
B3 Girls Town
B4 Tip Toe
B5 Gold Coast
B6 Boys Town
B7 T-Bone
Specification | Description |
---|---|
Weight | 0,3 Kg |