Canadian new wave band. I think this is their only release. There are 4 great new wave tracks on here, but the first two songs could be considered ska.
1 (This is) Sydney Town
2 Wake Up to Me
3 When it's Over
4 No Safety in Numbers
5 Parade of the Sensible
6 Youth Anthem
Riff Regan was the vocalist for the punk band London. He went solo in the early 80s and released a few singles. A few of them had a bit of the ska influence. This is the only one I have - so far.
The Specials released their first single in July 1979 which is considered the spark that caused the ska-punk fire. Though they get credit with being the ones to make it more well known they were not the only ones to mix punk and new wave with ska and reggae. Aside from Arthur Kay having already released records with the 2 Tone sound before the Specials, The Slits, United Balls, and Plastic Bertrand were incorporating ska into their music as were many bands in the UK and throughout Europe.
But in the US there were a few bands playing reggae and those that were were not mixing it with punk or new wave. Not yet anyway. But in California in 1978 there was a band called The Offs.
They mixed their punk music with r&b, soul, reggae, dub, and even German experimental music.
They later moved from the West Coast to New York but continued going back frequently to play shows in San Francisco and L.A.
Here's just about everything they ever recorded before lead vocalist Don Vinil died in New York in 1983.
"624803 / Johnny Too Bad" 7"
"Zero Degrees / Everyone's a Bigot" 7"
"I've Got the Handle" alt. version from a 415 Records Compilation
"My World / You Fascinate Me" 7"
3 tracks from a live compilation called "Can You Hear me? - Music From the Deaf Club"
"The Offs First Record" (Their first, last, and only full length. The cover was designed by famed New York artist Basquiat and the original was sold on eBay IN 2008. I don't remember what it sold for but it wasn't much.)
1 You Fascinate Me
2 Cool Down
3 True Story
4 Why Boy
5 Body Hesitation
6 I've Got the Handle
7 One More Shot
8 Bye Bye Baby
This live show is actually a compilation of 3 live shows:
There are 20 tracks. The song "624803" was recorded July 5, 1980 and the songs "100 Dollar Limosine", "Johnny Too Bad", and the 2 Lou Reed covers "Sweet Jane", and "Heroin" were recorded March 1, 1980.
R.E.M. released their second album Reckoning in 1984 and Harborcoat is the first song on that album. It was not a ska song but it did have that familiar ska upstroke guitar in a few places.
Anytime the band played Harborcoat live it had more of the ska feel to it than the version on the album does...especially in 1984-1985:
When their first album Murmur was re-released on CD in 2008 it included a live version of Harborcoat that showcased the ska sound.
Although it is not a straighforward ska song (I don't think R.E.M. ever did one - please prove me wrong), it is a great song and the best version I found of it was from a show from the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago from 1984:
This download includes 3 versions of Harborcoat - the 1984 Aragon Ballroom version, the live version from the Murmur deluxe edition, and the album version from Reckoning - for comparison (there are many more versions out there and I have a lot of them).
A few of my 'all time favorite songs ever' (there are a million of them) are R.E.M. songs. -Feeling Gravity's Pull, etc. ...but I won't bore you with that. What I will do is tell you that, while Murmur is considered to be their first album, there was an EP in 1983 called Chronic Town which is included in this download, just because. (Carnival of sorts (Box Cars) is one of my aforementioned 'all time favorite songs ever').
Here's a rarity from New York from 1979. The band didn't list their real names on the record sleeve so it's hard to determine who they really are. I'm pretty sure that this is the only recording released by them under this name.
You might know the song Hire High School Girls from the Dirt Records compilation Dirt Compilation Volume 1 (which I do not have.....damnit), but it's not only the A-side with the slight ska influence, but the B-side has it as well. The A-side is good, but I like the B better.
A - Hire High School Girls
B - Out of the Frying Pan (Into the Eighties)*
PHILIP BAILEY - CHINESE WALL LP 84
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Had to feature Philip on main post this week as he was quite a surprise to
learn about after finding this at Goodwill. The song 'Easy Lover' that he
d...
Musick that Needed Work - O: Oku Onuora
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Another artist that I've shared in the past. Oku Onuora, born Orlando Wong
in Kingston, JA March 1952, is a Jamaican Dub poet. His freeman name Oku
On...
The Heptones - Hit Parade
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Trojan Records 2024 FLAC digital reissue
Compilation album produced by Earl "Heptone" Morgan
(Medley) What Am I to Do, Please Stop Your Lying, Joy In th...
Rest In Power, Steve Albini
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So saddened to hear of Steve Albini's passing. I just cannot believe he's
gone. Rest In Power, Steve.
*Wikipedia*
*Steve Albini* (/ĂŠlËbiËni/; July 22,...
Dinosaur Jr. - In Session/Beyond
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Banda: *Dinosaur Jr.*
GĂȘnero: Alternative Rock, Indie Rock, Slacker Rock, American Underground
Disco: *In Session*
Ano: 1999
Faixas:
1. In A Jar [Recorded...
HUNGRY FOR WHAT - The Shattered Dream EP 1985
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A nice, pleasant day is coming to an end and I still find time to do the
second post that was announced for today, a big sorry again to everyone who
is w...
The Stoat - Up To You (1978)
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b/w - Loving A Killer
Great Who styled powerpop from this South-West London trio (1977-79)
*John Waters* (Voc Guitar)
*Richard Wall* (Bass Voc)
*Georg...
Holidays in the sun!
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From tomorrow I will have holidays again on the wonderful Greek island of
Kos and I will let myself be pampered. So until May 15, there will be no
postings...
Modcast #560: Too Hot To Handle
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This modcast is so smokin' hot, it's gonna burn your ears off. I mean there
are modcasts, and then there are modcasts, if you know what I mean. And
this i...
Espiando en los 80's Vol 10
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1-Urban Blight - U Must Be
2-Dan Hartman - Pick It Up
3-Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons - Tighten Up
4-Roberto Jacketti & The Scooters - Why Don't You C...
Jimmy Cliff - The Power And The Glory 1983 FLAC
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*O Primeiro e Ultimo*
Depois de 14 anos chega ao fim a jornada deste blog. E eu escolhi o
primeiro album de Reggae que meu pai me presenteou quando eu ti...
# 569 Ricky & the Spitfires - Rock'n'roll singer
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Side a: Rock'n'roll singer
Side b: It's against the rules
DK 1978
Very fine powerpop record by this South African R'n'R group. It was
released on a danish...
Yo SĂ Le Brinco - Desgracias, Gracias (2022)
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“Somos una banda de punk rock originarios de leon gto. Decidimos hacer la
banda en tiempos pandemicos con el pretexto de poder salir del encierro y
distra...
Bandcamp Friday
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Hey everyone
It's Bandcamp Friday so I just wanted to mention a couple of links. There
are some great deals today with all profits going direct to the ...
NARROW VIEWS
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ESTADOS UNIDOS
Banda Hardcore Punk Oi! de Pensilvania, Estados Unidos.
2017- Out of Control EP
01- Brainwashed Liberals
02- Red, White, & Blue
03- ...