Paul McCartney

...just a couple reggae inspired Paul McCartney songs. Streaming only. I was going to make them for download but then I realized that's probably not a good idea.
"How Many People" from Flowers in the Dirt (1989)
and "Good Times Coming" from Press to Play (1986)

Equators - Rescue Me 7" (1980)

A - Rescue Me
B - If You Need Me

DOWNLOAD

Robert Wyatt and the Swapo Singers - The Wind of Change (1985)

Do I dare call this "The Specials AKA with Robert Wyatt"? No, I better not.
Marco did a great write up of this record HERE.

This download includes the 7" and 12" versions.

A - The Wind of Change
B - Namibia


DOWNLOAD

Rick Nolov and the Loosers - White Shoes

Ritchie and the Loosers formed in 1981 in Holland and released this 7" in 1982 (or '83 - I don't actually know). They released their next single - a cover of the Beatles' "And I Love Her" - in 1983 under the name Rick Nolov and the Loosers. In 1985 "White Shoes" was re-recorded and released as a single, this time without the ska sound. The band at that time was called the Rick Nolov Band. An EP prior to that in 1984, and a full-length later put out in 1986 was released under the name Rick Nolov.

Ritchie and the Loosers - White Shoes
The Rick Nolov Band - White Shoes

This DOWNLOAD includes both different "White Shoes" 7-inches...A and B sides. The Rick Nolov band version is my own rip. The Loosers version came from the Best of Rare British Ska unofficial compilation (even though the band is not British).

The Rick Nolov Band has been very active in the last few years playing shows, recording songs, celebrating zoological discoveries, and making videos. I don't know if they have an album to be released anytime soon, but I'm sure their Facebook page will keep us posted.

...recorded in 2013

SOTD: Starpoint - Send Me a Letter (1984)

Starpoint [Wiki] was an R&B/dance group from Maryland that released 10 albums between 1980 and 1991 [Discogs]. Their biggest commercial success was the song "Object of My Desire" from their 1985 album Restless. The song "Send me a Letter" was released a year earlier on the album "It's all Yours" and it didn't get any attention. It might have been a hit if it it was released a few years earlier and/or was actually promoted. Just listen to it. This is the only time they attempted a ska/reggae song (I'm pretty sure), but it seems like these guys were listening to 2 Tone records all the while.

"Send Me a Letter"  
DOWNLOAD

You might remember this:

Reluctant Stereotypes [Complete]

Their only album The Label was released in 1980. The version here is the one I downloaded from Melthebells Rare Shit!

1 Factory Wit
2 Side With Him
3 Back to the Greek
4 Plans for Today
5 Sunday's Tears
6 Reluctant
7 Lofaska
8 Reverend Green
9 Visual Romance
10 Confused Action
11 M.O.D.
12 The Label

They had 5 singles. Two of them (one & two) were submitted by Rikard. One (The Lull) was submitted by Anonymous. The other two are mine.

The Lull 7"
1 The Lull
2 The Rounds
3 Fetch Mr. Clifford the Political Boys are On Us

Nightmares 7"
A - Nightmares
B - Factory Wit

She Has Changed Not You 7"
A - She Has Changed Not You
Ben Shirtman

Plans For Today 7"
A - Plans for Today
B - Subway

Confused Action 7"
A - Confused Action
B - School Life


DOWNLOAD "The Label"

DOWNLOAD all 5 singles (includes lyrics to all of their songs)

"Factory Wit"
"Nightmares"

Bill Lovelady - She Done Me In 7" (1980)

Submitted by Rikard.

A - She Done Me In
B - Double Idemnity

DOWNLOAD

Cover Story - It's a Lie 7" (1983)

This band was from Illinois. There's a new wave-ish rock song on the A side. The B side is ska-inspired new wave. I got this off eBay and the seller described it as sounding like Huey Lewis and the News. I agree.

A - It's a Lie
B - Brand New Start

DOWNLOAD

Re-Ups

Allsorts - Happy Happy happy
http://www55.zippyshare.com/v/72999354/file.html

Piranhas
Peel Sessions + Tom Hark:
http://www17.zippyshare.com/v/70814255/file.html
LP
http://www49.zippyshare.com/v/99171075/file.html
Singles
http://www3.zippyshare.com/v/26333400/file.html

Local Operator
http://www2.zippyshare.com/v/64397601/file.html

The Offs
http://www10.zippyshare.com/v/43392235/file.html

Plate O'Shrimp:
http://www45.zippyshare.com/v/69247358/file.html

Tom Collins and the Cocktail Shakers:
http://www76.zippyshare.com/v/61422925/file.html

Untouchables - Cool Beginnings:
http://www45.zippyshare.com/v/93690733/file.html

Big Jerks - Car Back:
http://www53.zippyshare.com/v/7886653/file.html

Mr. Review - Ice and Snow
http://www34.zippyshare.com/v/69978796/file.html

Ska Cha Cha - Secret Reagan Man
http://www61.zippyshare.com/v/46249705/file.html

Toxic Shock 7"
http://www1.zippyshare.com/v/67552948/file.html

Schmutz - Gigi
http://www54.zippyshare.com/v/60754786/file.html

Terminals - Circuitry
http://www40.zippyshare.com/v/95851645/file.html

Strange Fruit - At Last
http://www8.zippyshare.com/v/66835522/file.html

Caribs - Caribbean Capers
http://www59.zippyshare.com/v/73050520/file.html

City Indians ‎– Nicholas Parsons Is Feathery Galosh 7" (1988)

A -  Nicholas Parsons Is Feathery Galosh
B1 - Stars + Stripes
B2 - Take the Monkey and Run

" Nicholas Parsons Is Feathery Galosh"
" Take the Monkey and Run (edited to cut straight to the ska part)"

BEAST -or- ZIPPY

Calcutta Transfer - Easy Loving (1983)

Calcutta Transfer was a Swedish ska band that released two albums (and several singles) in Swedish before releasing this - their only album in English.

1 Easy Loving
2 Katmandu
3 Mesopotamia
4 Be Together
5 Starvation
6 Rani
7 Coco-Nut
8 - G-Spot

"Starvation"

DOWNLOAD

The Carpettes - Johnny Won't Hurt You 7'' (1980)

This single was sold with a free 7" that included 2 live songs. Even though the title track is the only ska song I included all 4 songs in the download.

Record 1
A - Johnny Won't Hurt You
B - Frustration Paradise

Record 2
C - Keys to Your Heart
D - Total Insecurity



DOWNLOAD

IN2XS! - In Khaki 7" (1981)

This UK band had 2 other releases that I know of. I will be posting another one at some point.

A1 - In Khaki
A2 - Too Many
B1 - Cybermen
B2 - Amount to Nothing

"In Khaki"
"Amount to Nothing"

DOWNLOAD

Mek Pek Party Band 12" (1982)

I have previously posted this Danish band's Ska Beat 7"

This, like the 7", was submitted by Rikard.

They had other releases...

1  Jungle
2  Hvorfor Så 
3  Heart Break
4  Party
5  Nattens Lys
6 Turn Me On
7 Ska Beat
 
8 Teacher
9 Don't do That
10 No Action in Space
11 2-1-0
12 I and I
13 People Needs
 

(both songs from the single are on this album but I included the single in the download anyway)

Zippy

SOTD: Babyshambles - Dr. No (2013)

The latest Babyshambles album "Sequel to the Prequel" was released on the 2nd of September and it included the song Dr. No.
They have strayed into ska territory in the past with the reggae influenced "What Katy Did Next" and "Sticks and Stones" on their debut album Down in Albion and the great  "I Wish" from The Blinding EP but this one really impressed me.

This is a sample of the song. It has just been released so I won't post the whole thing, but if you like what you hear, consider buying it off Amazon when it's available.*



 *at the time of this posting it was available on Amazon UK, but not in the US or the other Amazons I checked

 Thanks to Jan from Redstar 73 for leaving a comment informing us that Mik Whitnall from 100 Men is the guitarist on this album. According to THIS article he shares songwriting credits and it says that the harmonica in Dr. No "plays with the harmonica line from The Specials' Ghost Town".

the harmonica line from The Specials’ ‘Ghost Town’
Read more at http://www.nme.com/reviews/babyshambles/14730#wgh8uAFvOUL74QHm.99

the harmonica line from The Specials’ ‘Ghost Town’
Read more at http://www.nme.com/reviews/babyshambles/14730#wgh8uAFvOUL74QHm.99

the harmonica line from The Specials’ ‘Ghost Town’
Read more at http://www.nme.com/reviews/babyshambles/14730#wgh8uAFvOUL74QHm.99

 

Chalky White and the Shamrastas - One Shot 7" (1983)

Welsh band. They had a bit of a reputation but this might be the only thing they released

A - One Shot
 
B - The Israelites
 

Zippyshare

Grab Bag

A mixed bag here of things I didn't think deserved their own post with some other things I think are common enough that most of you already have them. There's some traditional, Two Tone sounds, and 3rd wave. Lots of good rare stuff and some complete crap. I'm not saying which is which.  

Big D and the Kids Table / Lounge - split 7" (1998)
A1 - Big D and the Kids Table - Hey
A2 - Big D and the Kids Table - #5
B1 - Lounge - Muppets
B2 - Lounge - Countdown

Fist - Movies 7" (1980)
A - Movies
B - Paris

Idi Amin - Amazin' Man 7" (1975)
A - Amazin' Man
B - Findin' de Lady

Mark Foggo's Skasters - The Innocence of Youth 7" (1984)
A - The Innocence of Youth
B - You Never Asked

Cherry Poppin' Daddies - Zoot Suit Riot 7" ( 1998)
A - Zoot Suit Riot
B - No Mercy for Swine (live)

The Papers - How Many More? 7" (1980)
A - How Many More?
B - Hello Oblivion

The Pioneers - A Little Bit of Soap 7'' (1973)
A - A Little Bit of Soap
B - Hit Me with Music

The Cousins - Sneakers 7" (1984)
A - Sneakers
B - Puppeteer

The Thrillers - Shooting 7" (1980)
A - Shooting
B - To the Top

Beast -or- Zippy

Just Kidding [REPOST]

1 All I Wanna Be
2 Shop Window Dummy
3 We Got Soul
4 Watch the Fires

A - Why Must We Fight
B - Makin' Time

Live in the Studio
1 Wagon Train
2 Sunshine
3 Tell Me Baby
4 Please Tell Me
5 Ska'd for Life
6 Toast of the Town
7 Politician
8 Something's Going Down Tonight
9 Give a Little
10 Danger
11 Lipstick Traces
12 Strike it Rich

Zippy

(Thanks again to the original contributors - Craig and Bruce!)

Purple Hipsters - Howzyasistah 7" (1979) [LINK UPDATED 09/11/2016]

A - Howzyasistah
B - Rusty Blues
*Stuck On You
*No Flies On

*from First Offenders

DOWNLOAD

The Stars That Wouldn't Shine - self titled LP (1983)

This is the same version that was posted on A Viable Commercial because I've never been able to procure myself a copy yet.
This UK band blends goth and ska amazingly well. The songwriting is impressive instead of gimmicky.
I really like this band but I don't think they've ever released anything besides this. I'd be grateful if someone can prove me wrong.

1 Lying on the Floor
2 You Don't Love Me
3 Tchaikovsky
4 Mister Klause
5 Anything #3
6 Four Days
7 Don't Stop Now
8 The Mouse Song


BEAST666 -or- Zippy

.....................................................................................................

...since we're on the subject of the dark side of ska, here's a compilation I made:

21 tracks...all their ska stuff...only their ska stuff

Beast666 -or-  Zippy

Riptides - Swept Away (1981)

...submitted by Rikard

Australian band that occasionally dabbled in the 2 Tone sound. They have several releases with a ska song here and there.

1 Only Time
2 Eternal Flame
3 Money For Life
4 Holiday Time
5 Day Has Gone
6 Mona Lisa

"Eternal Flame"
"Holiday Time"


Beast -or- Zippy

Take It Or Leave It

Madness' Take It Or Leave It will be released on DVD on October 7th - but you already knew that.

In the meantime you can always watch this incredibly clear version on YouTube


I have a version that somebody transferred from a beat up VHS tape to DVD when eBay allowed that sort of thing. This one here is so much easier to watch.

Thanks to Jack for pointing this out. It's been on YouTube since last year and I never knew.

Fun Republic - 1993 demo tape

German band that appeared on a couple Ska Ska Skandal comps. It says Happy People and More Reality TV on the cover but that is the name of their first full length CD that was released in 1994. This is not that CD. This is the demo that came out before that. I know this because it says DEMO on the spine, and because the CD Happy People and More Reality TV  looks like this:

I do not have the debut CD but I do have their second full length Hard Working Party and I included that in this download along with a couple of songs from the Skandal comps.

1 Sucker Beat
2 Hold Me Tight
3 Racist World
4 Quick Love
5 Out in the Dark

"Hold Me Tight"

Beast -or- Zippy

What Fun!

"What Fun! is a pop/reggae group based in Haarlem, Netherlands founded in 1981. Within two years, the group grew rapidly in size to a total of ten members and success quickly followed in 1983 with the release of the single "The Right Side Won", which reached Number 3 in the Dutch hit parade in December of that year, and Number 1 in Belgium. "The Right Side Won", inspired by the Falklands War between the United Kingdom and Argentina, made the BBC Radio 1 playlist, but was quickly removed when the content of the lyrics became apparent. The single was banned from release in South Africa because What Fun! had both black and white members. The group toured intensively in the Netherlands and Belgium during the period 1983 to 1989 and two further singles ("Let's Get Digital" and "Many Men, Many Minds") and an LP ("Having Fun?") were released in the Benelux. By 1989 What Fun! had run out of steam and the members went their separate ways, only to reform again in 2005 with five of the original members and three new ones."

THE RIGHT SIDE WON 12" (1983)
A - The Right Side Won (extended version)
B - The Right Side Won (dub version)

LETS GET DIGITAL 7" (1984)
A - Let's Get Digital
B - Feel Like a Crash

LETS GET DIGITAL 12" (1984)
A - Let's Get Digital (extended version)
B1 - Let's Get Digital (dub version)
B2 - Let's Get Digital (instrumental)

HAVING FUN? 12" (1984)
1 Let's Get Digital
2 Can't Doesn't Want
3 A Skeleton (or Two) in the Closet
4 The Right Side Won
5 Dog in a Manger
6 Polish Crackdown

It seems that the only thing I'm missing is the Many Men, Many Minds single. The b-side is Many Men, Many Minds (instrumental) which I don't have but I did include the a-side in this download along with three unreleased songs -
*Amore or Less
*Big Steps
*Big Fun
 - that I nicked from THIS SITE

Beast -or- Zippy

Bad Manners featuring Verona - Gonna Get Along Without You Now 12" (1989)

A1 Gonna Get Along Without You Now (Reggae Mix)
A2 Gonna Get Along Without You Now (Ska Mix)
B1 Gonna Get Along Without You Now (Radio Mix)
B2 Oh Jamaica


BEAST -or- ZIPPY

The Trojans - Phoenix EP (1988)

Limited to 1000 copies.

Submitted by Rikard.

1 Acid Rain

2 Jericho Battle

3 Maggie Meets Ska-Gill

4 My Last Meal

DOWNLOAD

The Zones - Looking to the Future 7" (1979)

A - Looking to the Future
B - Do It All Again

DOWNLOAD

The Untouchables - Live at Glastonbury 1985

This is a submission from Rikard who doesn't know himself whether or not this ever saw an actual release or if it was strictly made for use by the BBC.

1 (I Spy for the) FBI
2 Soul Together
3 Freak in the Streets
4 Lasershow
5 Free Yourself
6 Wild Child

Beasty -or- Zipp

Bahama Mama - Lonesome Cowboy 7" (1980)

A - Lonesome Cowboy
B - Upstate Skank


Bahama Mama were from Rochester, New York and they may have been the first white reggae band in the US. They were formed in 1973 and released 2 singles - this is their second one. Their first was released a year prior in 1979. It was "Hurricane / Future Fear" which had a bigger release than this one here which only saw 1,000 copies. There was also a live full length called, simply, Bahama Mama Live also released in 1980.
After founding member Ron Stackman dissolved the band in late 1979/early 1980 he started another band called The Majestics who put out one EP and played as Lee 'Scratch' Perry's back up band on his self indulgent album "Mystic Miracle Star".

This download includes the Bahama Mama 7" and the Lee 'Scratch' Perry record.

Zippy


Informative article on Bahama Mama HERE. -(thanks to Anonymous for the link!)

SOTD: Trent Reznor - Time and Chance (1983)

Yes, this is the guy who spearheaded -if not invented- Industrial music. Back in the early 80s he was in a new wave band that was known for doing a lot of cover songs in their live shows. The band was called Option 30 and they never had an actual release, but they did put out a demo tape in 1983. The tape went unnoticed until Reznor had success with The Downward Spiral. The tape was released on cd but, even then, it was limited to 1,000 copies.
On that tape were some okay new wave tunes, three cover songs, and this gem. Trent Reznor did not write this song but he did sing it. This is more than a novelty,...this is actually a good ska song. 



DOWNLOAD

...see some Option 30 videos HERE. Trent Reznor when he was only a lad.

Double Barrel Ska Explosion - The London International Ska Festival II (1989)

 I finally procured myself a copy of this Unicorn Records set. The vinyls are immaculate but I just couldn't get a good rip. I was hoping to have this posted in time for the 2013 LISF but that didn't happen.

I pretty much forgot about it and moved on to better things - but then our Swedish correspondent Rikard sent an amazing array of rare ska, and this was included in that collection. As it seems my sub-par rips were no fault of my own. This is how the record sounds.

This is the version ripped by Rikard. The sound quality ain't great but you know most of these songs and you will sing along..

Zippy

-0r-

Beast

The Sweeties - Midnight Affair / Moskow Train 7" (1980)

EXTREMELY RARE!

This was my birthday present this year from the wife. Practically impossible to track down.*
Even the discography for Sandwich Records on Discogs has a gap where this should be. (This is SR04).
Since Sandwich Records was a Belgian label I am assuming The Sweeties were from Belgium. (?!...brilliant deduction, right?). No info about the band or even about this record on the internet. Not that I could find anyway.


A - Midnight Affair
A - Moskow Train

ZIPPY -or- BEAST


* "Impossible doesn't mean very difficult. Very difficult is winning the Nobel Prize; impossible is eating the Sun."
 -Lou Reed in the service of Penn Jillette

Drowned Hampster - The P is for Political (1983)

Canadian punk band that sounds like they have an appreciation for early Circle Jerks and JFA. Only a couple 'ska' songs on this one but it's an all-around good record.

1 Politix
2 Joe Businessman
3 I Don't Wanna Dance
4 Zero Option
5 Benny
6 Surf Punks
7 Fight Back
8 Frat Guys
9 Phone Pigs
10 3 Hours with D.D.
11 D.A.Y.

"Joe Businessman"
"Fight Back"

ZIPPY -or- BEAST

Ten Cent Fun - Ten Cent Fun cassette (1993)

Band from St. Paul, MN.
Male and female vocals in an early 90s 2Tone style.

1 Do Tomorrow
2 Down on the Corner
3 Ed McMahon Skank
4 Skankin' in Moon Boots
5 How it Always Comes
6 Get-N-Up
7 Ten Cent Fun
8 All I Need
9 Too Young for Fun
10 Fooseball Fool

"Down on the Corner"
"Get-N-Up"

ZIPPY -or- BEAST

Control Boys - One Way Love 7'' (1984)

A - One Way Love
B - You're Not Happening
* - Been Awhile (non-record track)

Submitted by Rikard.
Control Boys on ReverbNation

ZIPPY -or- BEAST

Der Polizei - C.I.A. 7'' (1980)

A - C.I.A.
B - Jungle Book - Part II

ZIPPY -or- BEAST

The Clues - Mini LP (1981)

No ska on this one, nice mod revival. This was originally posted on Always Searching for Music. Thank you Gary for this one!
A1 - No Vacancies
A2 - Footsteps
A3 - Girl of My Dreams
B1 - Night Shift
B2 - Masked Emotions
B3 - Almost Framed

"Masked Emotions"

ZIPPY -or- BEAST