Reluctant Stereotypes demo (1979)

This demo features Martyn Bates on vocals. Three of these four song were not later recorded by the Paul King version of the band.


1 Daily Excess
2 Happy as Sandboys
3 The Rev
4 The Lull

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Etch-A-Sketch [Ann Arbor Michigan]

The band Etch-A-Sketch from Ann Arbor Michigan made an impact in the American ska scene of the early 90s but, sadly, they never released anything aside from their very few appearances on compilations. They released two songs on the "Ska Takes the Great Lakes" compilation as well as the song "Too Late" on the "Death of an American Skathic" comp.

As far as I know they only got around to recording six songs in a studio. This download includes all six of those songs.

1  Hit the Ground
2 Inhibitions
3 (Spirit of) Leslie Kong
4 Too Late
5 Escape
6 Killer Bees



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The Riffs - Funny Little Fella 7" (1990)

This is being re-posted by request. It was originally posted in 2008. I have since re-ripped it and it sounds better now than the previous version I offered so, even if you downloaded it back then, I recommend you download this version. It's still not a great rip but it is better.

A - Funny Little Fella
B - Maybe Next Time

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J.J. Sparks and the City Gents - Brixton Blue Beat (1981)

1 Mama Kiss Him Good Night
2 Unity
3 I Have Got You Under My Skin
4 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday
5 Sha-La-La
6 Three Nights in Lovers Town
7 Brixton Blue Beat
8 You Didn't Love Me
9 I Came Around
10 Feelings

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City Beat - Late at the Office 7" (1984)

City Beat was a "ska-inspired" band from New York City who is probably best known for their song "It's Not Up to You" from the Skaville USA compilation (volume 1 - which was originally released in 1986 as New York Beat - Hit and Run on Moon).

The band was only three guys: drummer George Parker, bassist Jon Arzt, and guitarist/lead vocalist Gopalakrishnan Varadhan. They played numerous live shows in New York in the early/mid eighties but the song from the compilation and these two songs were the only things the band ever recorded. (Unless there's a demo tape somewhere out there.) I don't know if George and Jon ever did anything else in music but Gopal went on to work with G.G. Allin of all people. He started a job in the World Trade Center in August of 2001 and he was at work on September 11th. You can read about that HERE.

A - Late at the Office
B - Rocking Mesopotamia
* - It's Not Up to You

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The Toilets [Sweden] - Hjul I Natten 7" (1982)

A - Hjul I Natten
B - One Day



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State of Emergency - State of Emergency 12" EP (1989)

This is State of Emergency's first release. They had a couple of songs on compilations and they released a 6-song 12" in 1990 called Ska-Terbrain.

A1 - Stranger
A2 - Can't Compare
B1 - Understand
B2 - Someone Like You





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Razor Blade - Pirate Station 7" (1981)

Razor Blade was a Dutch pub/glam rock band who only ever released one full-length album and this one single. The A-side is a ska song that (as far as I know) never saw a studio release. The version on this single was recorded live and it is the same version that appeared on the album Recorded Blindfolded. Both were released in 1981. The album did have one other ska-type song called 220 Volts which I have included in this download.

A - Pirate Station
B - Recorded Blindfolded
*220 Volts





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The Charlie Parkas - The Ballad of Robin Hood 7" (1980)

A - The Ballad of Robin Hood
B - Space Invaders



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The Strike [Italy] - She Remains so Alone 7" (1987)

A - She Remains so Alone

B - What D'You Say?


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The Porkers - Tired of Being Pork Hunts 7" (1990)

A - California Sun
B1 - Des's Humble Pies
B2 - Earthquakin'

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Skampler 2 (1994)

This is the second and last in the series released by Tudor Rock records. There were volumes 3 and 4 that were put out on a different Swiss label called Leech records. I don't know what the connection is and I don't have vols. 3 & 4. I got this cd because it was cheaper than the Spots 7". I don't know what the b-side sounds like and sometimes it's a hell of a gamble to pay a high price for a record when you already have one of the songs and the other one is complete shit. (The Charlie Parkas "Ballad of Robin Hood" for example.)

1 Radio Active - James Bone
2 Schlössch - I Ask Myself
3 The Peacocks - Living in a Town
4 Cadizier - Die Nachbarn
5 Les Congélateurs - Ace of Space
6 Kalles Kaviar - Stand By Me
7 Godzilla - Body Count
8 Peacestreet - El Nino de Ringo
9 Wicked - Julie
10 Hans 'N' Moses - Body
11 The Spots - Mr. Career
12 Aligaga - La Grève
13 The Ventilators - Try Me One More Time



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  Volume 1 was posted a few years ago on the Ruder Than Rude blog but if you need it:

1- The Ventilators - Blue Beat Sky
2- Nude Club - Tree
3- Les Enfants De St. Gall - Mexico
4-Lucky Hiob - Röschtiland
5- Jimmy Bastard - Looser
6- Crank - I'm A Reiser
7-The Noses - Ai,Ai,Ai
8- Free Cheese For All - Blue Beat Confrontation
9-The Peacocks - My Generation
10- Jolly And The Flytrap - Gäng-Bäng
11- Die Aeronauten - Du Wärst So Gern Dabei
12- Melk Them - I Love You
13- The Monsters - Whisky Song
14- The Ventilators - Mystification
15- Free Cheese For All - Louis Goes To The Guigoz

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RAM - Our Physics May Not Apply 7" (1982)

Of all the rare ska records from the 80s from California this has to be in the top 3 - I'm not going to tell you what the other two are because I don't have them yet but I will tell you that the rarest is probably the worst and the least rare of the three is the best one. This record falls in middle of those two.
I can't tell you anything at all about this band or if they ever released anything besides this record.

A - Our Physics May Not Apply

B - Talk to Me


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Hondo

Hondo was a British punk/reggae band from Cambridge with more emphasis on the 'reggae' than on the 'punk'. The band was lead by Paul "Ching" Hue who is still active in music today. You might know him from THIS. He is currently in the Wya band.

Here is his Facebook.

Hondo - What Do We Want? 7'' (1981)
A - What Do We Want? (We Don't Want No War)
B - Jah-Jah's Children

After their first release they contributed the song "Party" to the "Honey for Tea" compilation which featured new wave, post punk, and rock bands from Cambridge.

Hondo - "Party" (1982)


Hondo - Fallout 7" (1983)

A - Fallout
B - Can't Turn You Around

Hondo - Pretty Polly 7" (1987)

A - Pretty Polly
B - All I Have to Do is Dream


DOWNLOAD  all three 7"s and the song "Party".

The Frits - Life of Brian 7" (1988)

A - Life of Brian
B - Soultrain to Ska

The Frits just released a greatest hits compilation called "The Greatest Frits" which starts with the 7" version of "Life of Brian" but it goes straight into the song and doesn't include the intro or the b-side which was not released on any other Frits releases.

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Modulators - I Modulate (1982)

The Modulators were considered a mod band from Ohio and this is the first of two albums. To be honest I don't see how they were considered a mod band. Their music is straight-forward rock n' roll music with a very slight new wave influence.
I'm posting this record because it is rare and because they did a decent cover of  A Message To You Rudy.

1 Sex on a Regular Basis
2 Booby Trap
3 What's it Take?
4 A Message to You Rudy
5 No Good to Cry
 6 Modulate
 7 Hank Ballard Medley [Let's Go, Let's Go / Finger Poppin' Time]
8 Don't Let Go
9 Unchain My Heart (Ray Charles cover)
10 Heroes



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Šarlo Akrobata

 Šarlo Akrobata was a punk-ska band from Belgrade (formerly Yugoslavia, now Serbia). This download includes their only album Bistriji ili tuplji čovek biva kad... plus all of their songs that appeared only on the 3-band split LP Paket Aranžman . HEREs a comprehensive profile and discography.

1  Ona Se Budi
2  Oko Moje Glave
3 Mali Čovek  
4 Niko Kao Ja
5 Šarlo Je Nežan
6 Pazite Na Decu I
7 Fenomen
8 Sad Se Jasno Vidi
9 Rano Izjutra
10 Ljubavna Priča
11 Samo Ponekad 
12 Čovek
13 Bes
14 O, o, o... 
15 Problem
16 Ja Želim Jako  
17 Pazite Na Decu II

"Niko Kao Ja" (Nobody Likes Me)


"O, o, o..."



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Naughty Rhythms - Jungle of Love 7" (1985)

A -Jungle of Love

B - Is It True


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Fabrics [Finland] - Look at This (1980)

1 Johnny's Dancing
2 Cellophane Stories
3 City a Go Go
4 Look at This
5 Lemonade Song
6 AIRA
7 Radio
8 Factory
9 Rock 'n' Roll Show

"Johnny's Dancing"
"Look at This"


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Stringz [Sweden] - Growing Feelings 7" (1983)

A - Growing Feelings
B - Baby Don't You Go


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Shakin' Not Stirred - 1993 demo tape

Shakin' Not Stirred were a ska band from Vernon, New Jersey. I don't know of any other releases besides this one. The song #1 on the Hitlist was on the first Skarmageddon comp.

1 Killer
2 Fire (Bruce Springsteen cover)
3 #1 on the Hitlist




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?Uestion 16 - Jungle of Love

This band was from California and I have no idea what else they might have released. I don't even know what year this is from. I did all of the cover scans but I seem to have lost them. I got this image from online somewhere.

1 Jungle of Love
2 (You) Imitate
3 Going Overboard
4 Johnny
5 Attitude Profile





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Sesam [Netherlands] - Israelites 7" (1980)

A - Israelites
B - One Coffee Too



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Israelites - Israelite Train (1997) [LINK FIXED]

Traditional ska cassette-only release from 1997.

1 Israelite Train
2 By Your Side
3 Jah Jah
4 The Resurrection
5 Over the River

I have also included the Roots single from 1993. They have lots of other releases but I'm posting these ones because they are hard to find.

A - Roots
B - Always There

The song Roots from the album Washaway from the year 1995 (the cassette version is different):


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Instigators [Auckland, New Zealand]

Instigators - double A side (1981)
This Side - Not Really Bad
That Side - In Line

Instigators - Hope She's Alright 7" (1982)
A - Hope She's Alright
B1 - No Problems
B2 - No Problems (dub)


This download also includes their version of Israelites from the Goat's Milk Soap compilation.


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Groceries - Hire High School Girls 7" (1979) [REPOST]

A - Hire High School Girls
B - Out of the Frying Pan (Into the Eighties)




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the original post is HERE

N - E - 1 - So We Go (1984) [REPOST]

1 So We Go
2 Get Serious
3 Colleen
4 She Don't Like Me
5 Face Without a Mirror
6 Carol Ann
7 That's What You Do
8 Long Lonely Tomorrow
9 1 - 2 - 3
10 Cat's Pajamas
11 So We Go (Reprise)

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Kaya - For All You See 7" (1984)

Extremely rare ska record from this American band from Connecticut.

A - For All You See

B - Some People Think

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Far Image - Mr. Cop 7" (1981) [LINK UPDATED February 18, 2018]

A - Mr. Cop
B - Hey Girl

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No Sports - No Rules (1994)

1 No Rules
2 Turn It On
3 Never Satisfied
4 So What
5 Penne all'Arrabiata
6 Coconut Girl
7 Pinball Cha Cha
8 Information
9 Walking in the Sunshine
10 Murder
11 Girlie, Girlie
12 Walk on the Wildside


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Fabulous Titans - Fabulous Titans 12" (1980)

I previously posted their 7" "Rico's Lament" but both of the songs on the single are on this EP - the same versions - so there's no need to repost the single again but I did include their unreleased single with this download.

I have a copy of this record but I cannot get a decent rip of it so the one posted here - the music and the cover scans - was contributed by Rikard.


The Fabulous Titans 12"
1 Rico's Lament
2 Hold Me
3 Don't Ever Leave Me
4 Johnny Rocker
5 Hold Me Dub (California Style)

The unreleased single:
A - I'm Lookin' for Love
B - I'm Lookin' for Dub

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The Insteps [New York]

The Insteps - Eleven Steps to Power (1996)
1 The Dragon
2 The Sufferer
3 Don't Ask
4 Always Remember
5 Every Slacker is a Star
6 Saladin
7 Free Advice
8 Everything I Ever Loved
9 The Final Call
10 The Goat

The Insteps - I'm the King 7" (1993)
A - I'm the King
B - The Heat


DOWNLOAD the album, the single, and a few loose tracks from comps

We Don't Skare (1994)

1 Skeletones - Jill Victoria
2 Hoodlum Empire - C. Johnson's Clothes
3 Steady Ernest - Singular 1
4 Engine 54 - Nomeansno
5 6 Feet Deep - Smoking Barrel
6 Ska Face - No Idea
7 Bim Skala Bim - Paraguyan Sun (live)
8 Ngobo Ngobo - Hello Everybody
9 Square Roots - Foreskin Heads
10 Skarface - Ça Recommence
11 Too Hot - Grandad
12 Mealticket - Looking Glass
13 Blechreiz - Loving Couple
14 The In-Vaders - Ska Guitar
15 Los Pies Negros - Prisonero del Vietcong
16 Skamp Boys - Le Pouvoir
17 Skunks - Glass Pants
18 Mustard Plug - Ballpark Skank

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Cassie - Change My Image 7" (1982)

This is one of those records that is sold as a ska record but the ska influence is slight. The A-side is female fronted rockin' new wave and the B-side is more rockin' than the A-side but it keeps going back-and-forth between some distorted guitar to a mellow punk-reggae sound. Both songs are good and the record is very rare and expensive. I do not have a copy myself. This download is for some low quality versions I found online.

A - Change My Image
B - Will You?

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V Spy V Spy - Do What You Say 7" (1982) [REPOST]

Do What You Say 7"
A - Do What You Say
B - Table Tea Mix

 Four Fresh Lemons EP
1 Marlowe
2 Sofa
3 That (Dead) Girl
4 Brightside

These two EPs were later released together as Six Fresh Lemons. There are no ska songs here but they are ska inspired and I'm posting them for their rarity and because they are good records.

This is a paraphrased re-post from 2010. The original post is HERE.

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KTK - Care For Me 7" (1989)

A - Care for Me

B - Always Look on the Bright Side of Life



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Regulators - Westcliff Girls 7" (1980)

One of many bands called the Regulators. These guys were from Essex UK and they played punk/reggae and this is probably their only release.
This download is not my own rip but was respectfully stolen from Short Sharp Kick in the Teeth.

1 Westcliff Girls
2 Short and Curlies
3 Telephone Ringing
4 Officers & Gentlemen



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Boilers - Rockin' Steady (1988) [REPOST]

Reposted by request...

1 Outta Control
2 Ice in Her Eyes
3 Coeur a Voil
4 Red Snapper
5 Twisted Step
6 Under Pressure
7 Trouble Me
8 Straight Road Curving
9 Ganjibus Gorilla
10 So Much I Would Leave You
11 In This Time
12 Boiled Potato

DOWNLOAD 

---------------------------------------------------------------------

The Boilers also had a cassette-only release from 1987 called Flotsam

1 Chubby
2Ganjibus Gorilla
3 Oppressor Man
4 In This Time
5 Ice in Her Eyes
6 Twisted Step
7 Permanent Holiday
8 Cour a Voil
*Brighter Days (from the compilation New York Beat: Hit & Run from 1986)
*Bal' Man Jump (from the compilation SkaVille USA vol. 3 from 1988)

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