The Dynamics was a band from South Africa who played their own unique brand of music that included a ska influence.
In 1983 they released a cassette called "It's the Dynamics" - only 250 copies were made. They released a 12" EP in 1984 called "Switch it on and Wind it Up", then, in the early 90s they released a cd called "Organic".
This is a cd compilation featuring songs from all three releases.
1 Thugs
2 1+1
3 Pot Black
4 Who's Worried (vocal version)
5 2 Nil
6 This Weekend (vocal version)
7 Castello
8 Casino
9 Blue Plates
10 Siyabonga
11 Out of Tea Again
12 Garlic Baloney
13 Animal Jive
14 This Weekend (instrumental)
15 Untitled
16 Pull Up Your Socks
17 Ghetto Blasters
18 Chunky Charlie
The Memos was a band from Boston who played new wave and the ocassional ska song. Their live shows incorporated lots of covers of the current new wave hits at the time, which they did amazingly well, with several of their own songs and the occasional oldie but goodie thrown in.
Even though these guys could write a great song they only ever released one 2-song 7". Luckily for us the a-side was a ska original called Drag Me Down.
The Memos - Drag Me Down 7"
A - Drag Me Down
B - Childsplay
I would have loved to see these guys in the eighties. Hell, I'd love to see them now.
They had another original ska song called Procrastination Song that never saw a formal release. You can hear a live version of that on this official bootleg which also includes some other originals and some of those amazing covers I mentioned.
The Memos - Live in '85
1 I Saw Her Standing There
2 New Years Day
3 Who Gives
4 My Old Neighborhood
5 Don't You (Forget About Me)
6 Procrastination Song
7 I Will Follow
8 Everybody Wants to Rule the World
9 Stiff Competition
10 Trouble in Doggyland
11 Hang on Sloopy
12 Save it for Later
13 Stir it Up DOWNLOAD THE 7" AND THE LIVE TAPE
Rare New Zealand ska compilation. Like any other compilations there are some iffy tracks but there is also some gold on here.
1 Skapa - Jane Bondage
2 Bwa Da Riddim - Man in Black
3 Looney Tunes - Dead Bird
4 Banana Revolution - Gypsy Ska
5 Boil Up - Earth Right
6 The Offbeats - It's Not Mine
7 Screaming Orgasms - Meskal
8 The Red - Street Boys
9 Skapa - Ska Jig
10 Boil Up - Getting There
11 Bwa Da Riddim - Gun Slinger
12 Screaming Orgasms - The Pedlar
13 Banana Revolution - Man With the Money
14 The Offbeats - Dubbed Out
15 Skapa - It's Your Round
16 The Red - Dancing in the Dole Q
Jo Bisso was born and raised in Yaoundé, the political capital
Cameroon. He grew up being a fan of American soul music such as Otis
Reading and Wilson picket. In 1971 he left Cameroun to pursue his
musical career. Beginning an 8 year stint of Paris to New York jet trips
the young ambitious man forged his musical career on his own terms;
Staring off with the minor hit “Flying To The Land Of Soul” which he
signed to Decca and moving on to produce, finance, write and create
several albums released under his own name and other artsits such as
Sookie and Venise.
In 1975 Jo created his genre blended debut
album “Jo Tongo” on the Paris based Disques Esperance label. Sung in
English and his native language it was way ahead of its time for the
day, blending Jazz, Funk, Soul, afro rhythms and the sounds that were at
the time being come to be known as Disco. The album was produced by Jo
who plays a wide variety of the instruements and contributes his
baritone “Barry White” tinged spoken vocals about life and love.
The
album opens up with the title track “Dance To It”, A slice of groovy
lounge-funk. Part 1 is all about the driving catchy groove which is
layered with a downtown funk saxophone lead line. Part 2 brings in Jo’s
spoken vocals in his native language and English, setting the tone of
the album to come. “Disco Madonna” introduces a Latin flavour with
Spanish vocals, a rumba groove and darting percussion. “Ramaya” melds a
playful, summery, euro melody with Jo’s throaty, fun-loving vocals and a
nascent use of synthesizers.
“Lets Keep It Together” is a song in
two parts. The first half builds the groove over washy guitar, and
chords before breaking into a solid soul riff with bass, Rhodes and
guitar. Over this Jo layers the catchy, soulful vocals, summer-breeze
guitars and jazzy keys. A real treat. Flip over to the Vinyl B side for
what is probably the albums most “getting down” moment. The driving funk
of “Give It Up”. Stabby brass, whirling organ and tight bass which is
all wrapped up in a one tight arrangement. Add in doses of Jo’s sulty
vocal and that is a recipe for a real winner.
“Don’t Fight The
Feeling” again furthers into real deep funk territory. Jo opening up
with a sermon on “love and sex”. The album closes with the swinging soul
of the pensive Jo and his thoughts on life, “Odwa”. What is going down?
The
Give It Up track was a highlight of the recent Africa Seven debut
release “African Airways Volume 1: (Funk Connection 1972-1979). To
Follow that up Africa Seven are proud to repress the debut Jo Bisso
album in its full glory.
Before returning to the US in 1981 he recorded two ska records in France
but he used the moniker Carl Collins. The Gangsters featuring Carl
Collins - "Who's That Man?" b/w "The Game" and "Money in the Ghetto" b/w
"The Star" both released in 1980.
From
1981 to 1989 his lived in Cote D’Ivoire. He now lives in Paris and
although he sometimes “finds it hard to listen to his albums”, he does
thinks it great that people love his music and his debut album is
getting a re-release all these years later.
A - Money in the Ghetto
B - The Star
The other single was previously posted on Tone and Wave HERE but I included it in this download.
This is the record that I consider to be the rarest California ska record ever released.
I have been collecting rare California ska for decades and this is the one record that eluded me year after year. I don't know how many copies were made and there are still some rare California ska releases from the 80s that I don't have yet but I'm basing my criteria on internet presence and how many people I've met at record conventions (and elsewhere) that have actually heard of these records.
The Corvairs - Self Abuse 7" (1983)
A - Self Abuse
B - Never Stop Believin
They had an earlier release in 1981 that wasn't ska (but was still a great record):
The Corvairs - Took so Long 7" (1981)
A - Took so Long
B - Just a Friend
When I posted the RAM 7" I said that I considered that record to be in the top three of the rarest California ska records. I mentioned that I did not have the other two of the top three, but now I have them and I will be posting them here shortly.
The one I consider the absolute rarest (based on my own mission to find these gems) is by a band called The Corvairs. I have since acquired two singles by the Corvairs and, although I said in the RAM post that the rarest is not as good as good as the other two, I rescind that statement. Both of their singles are excellent.
The one I considered 'the third rarest' is a 4 song 7" by a band called Dutty Rass. I just got that one yesterday and I haven't actually listened to it yet.
The reason I'm saying all of this in this particular post is because this would be #4 on the list. I know nothing about this band except that the lead singer Dilithium Cristil (whose real name is Celena Allen) was invited to pose in Playboy in 1985 in an issue that featured 'The Women of Rock'.
Aside from that I can't find any information about the band or any individual members. I don't know if they ever recorded anything else but I know this record is extremely difficult to track down and both songs are great. Neither track is straightforward ska but quintessential new wave with the B-side showing a 2 Tone influence.
The song "Breaking Up New Ground" might sound familiar to you if you have the 100% British Ska compilation. Prior to recording this EP the band recorded two songs for the "Vaultage 78" compilation and later recruited a female vocalist and changed the name of the band to Vol Sec and they released a four-track cassette.
Steppin' Razor was not a band, but a studio project of two people in Florida. This is the only album they recorded. It's a blend of ska and new wave/rock. After they recorded this album they moved to California and formed the band Steppin' Lazer who released an EP called Plain Wrap which included different versions of Follow the Leader and Seein' What I ain't Got.
1 Follow the Leader
2 Seein' What I ain't Got
3 Another Pretty Face
4 You Don't Approve of Me
5 Another Way to Live
6 I Can't Afford it
7 I Really Wanna Dance with You
8 Ready to Break
9 Yellow Lights
10 Für Elise
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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 DOWNLOAD
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 DOWNLOAD
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
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
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
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)
Kito
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*Kito *- UK Hardcore / Straight Edge / Anarcho-punk группа из Мидлсбро,
являющаяся важной частью британской DIY-сцены и андеграундного хардкора
1990-х го...
Dubtember 29 - Code Name: Dub Culture
-
Brother Culture is an MC based in Brixton, London. He started his career
around 1982 for Jah Revelation Muzik Sound System. As part of the Twelve
Trib...
THE HEELWALKERS The Heelwalkers 1999
-
*Discogs*
Canadian Rock Band from Halifax, Nova Scotia. The group consisting of three
former members of Cleveland Steamer.
*Tracklist*
1
Open ...
Primal Scream - The Screamadelica 12'' Singles
-
*PRIMAL SCREAM*
The Screamadelica 12'' Singles
2021 Sony Music
01. Loaded
02. I'm Losing More Than I'll Ever Have
03. Ramblin' Rose (Live In NYC)
04....
Wackies Rhythm Force - Planters Dub Vol. 1
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Bull Wackies Music 2018 FLAC Digital Release
Beautiful Dub
Dangerous Dub
Dub My Love
Jah Know
Majesty Dub
My Love Dub
Warn Them Dub
Just Enough
Friends...
The Cassettes - The Cassettes
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Banda: *The Cassettes*
Disco: *The Cassettes*
Ano: 2002
Gênero: Alternative Rock, Indie Pop/Rock, Power Pop, Steampunk, Mystic
Country
1. Intro (0:54)
2. H...
Modcast #609: Summer Sets
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Say so long to summer and ride into autumn with some cool, new, mod
friendly music.
* Listen Now Download * Psychotic Youth -- Girls (2026)
Haircut 10...
Ginger And The Nutts - Pig In The Freezer (1981)
-
b/w Oil Wars
Great New Wave from this Reigate based band who also had a track [Typical
Radio] on the 1981 VA LP Class Of '81
*Georgina Hill* (Voc Violin)...
EATER - Get Your Yo Yo's Out (Live) EP 1978
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The recordings for this fucking piece of shit were made on April 24, 1978,
at a concert in the legendary London club Dingwalls. At this point, *Eater*
wa...
Skooch - Skooch EP (1999)
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*Posted by Request *
American 90s pop punk with a horn section. I don't know what state they're
from or if they have ever released anything else.
...
New single "Tell A Stranger"
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My new single "Tell A Stranger" is out now on Bandcamp and all the regular
streaming platforms. There is a B-Side that is exclusive to Bandcamp. It's
the...
Espiando en los 80's Venezuela Vol 2
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1-Jah Jah Children - Vamos a Bailar
2-Henry Stephen - I Don't Know
3-Fabrica de Sueños - Tu Estilo de Amar
4-Callejon 88 - Negrito Fiel
5-Colina...
# 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 Sí 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...
Ore Ska Band
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* ============================================================ Artist : Ore
Ska Band Album : ITOKASHI Genre : -=Ska-Punk=- Bitrate : VBR ~31...
New Heavensbee Album "We Mean Business" Released
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After nearly 2 years of writing and recording, I'm excited to finally share
a pre-order link for the new Heavensbee album "We Mean Business" which will ...
No Comply
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*Biography : *
No Comply are from Belgrade, Serbia. The band started in 2001, and made a
come back couple of years ago. A very good band from a country ...
AGGRESSIVE
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ALEMANIA
Aggressive son una banda Street Punk Oi! de Ruhrpott, Alemania.
2015- Spit Blood
01- Aggressive
02- Chain Reaction
03- Alone With The Wolve...
