Friday, February 29, 2008

Skiptooth - double feature

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Skiptooth was from Moreno Valley (Riverside) California in the mid 90s and, if I'm not mistaken, was started by former members of The Specs. They had a unique mid-tempo rocksteady / traditional sound, but not quite 60s, more like mid 70s 'traditional' with a noticeable 3rd wave tinge.
This one download has both their 9 song cd "Cool Ska Cool", and their 4 song demo tape "Skiptown vol.1"

Cool Ska Cool
1 Pachuco
2 Cuban Cigar
3 My Turn
4 Otra Vez
5 Preacher Joseyah
6 Rum and Coke
7 El Detectivo

Skiptown vol.1
1 My Turn
2 Reggae Man
3 Taxi Driver
4 El Detectivo

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Thursday, February 28, 2008

The Employees - Pick it Up / Toothpaste 7"

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More rare ska from 1981.

side A - Pick it Up
side B - Toothpaste

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The Ska-Dows - Skas on 45

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This very rare 7" features the Ska-Dows performing a medley of early 2Tone hits on one song including the Specials version of "Monkey Man", The Beat's "Rankin Fullstop", Madness' "One Step Beyond" and "Baggy Trousers", and more. This is one song that is not available on Ska-Dows anthology "Ska'd for Life".

side A - Skas on 45
side B - Rhapsody in Buh

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Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Code Blue - Burning Bridges 7"

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Here's another example of non-ska bands that were inspired by the 2Tone sound. This one is by Code Blue - a new wave / power pop band from Britain. It was released in 1980 and although the B-side is not a ska song it is a different version than the one on their album thus making that a rare collectible itself. The A side reveals how this obscure band had a more promising future if they had been a ska band.

A - Burning Bridges
B - Where I Am

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Thursday, February 14, 2008

The Braces - Blue Flame

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Thanks to Mikeska for the updated link!!

The Braces were a German band from the mid-to-late 80s. They originally released only 2 albums - 1989's "Prime Cut" and this one from 1990. They stopped playing in 1991 after their manager took off with their contracts and all of their money.

In 2000 guitarist/vocalist Joachim Uerschels started writing songs again with saxophonist/vocalist Martin Storkmann and with them as the only 2 original members The Braces recorded a 3rd album "Ska Got Soul" in 1994.

The Braces - Blue Flame
1 Give Love a Chance
2 Suzy Says
3 Fifty Days
4 In the Dark
5 Don't be so Cruel to Me
6 Come and Go
7 Ska of Monstra
8 Jungle Party
9 Too True to be Good
10 Storming Out
11 Boys don't Cry
12 Happiness
13 Youthquake
14 Riding West
15 The Letter
16 No Reason
17 Julie Julie

(I know I need to re-up the link. Send me an e-mail if I haven't yet.)

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Jack Kevorkian and the Suicide Machines - Green World demo

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Very rare cassette-only release from the early incarnation of The Suicide Machines. This cassette was limited to only 300 copies in 1994 - even before the Skank for Brains split with Los Rudiments. The epitome of 3rd wave ska-punk.

1 Skachoo!
2 Everyday Life
3 Prefab People
4 Green World
5 With Sunshine
6 Inside / Outside
7 The Golfing Song
8 Vans' Song
9 Drunken Jocks
10 Ugly Place
11 Snot Rag
12 Post Office Death Squad
13 Friends are Hard to Find

DOWNLOAD

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Sax Maniax - Never Gonna Lose Me 7"

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Rare ska from 1981.

A - Never Gonna Lose Me
B - Let's Twist Again

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The Akrylykz 7" (link updated Dec. 23, 2008)

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The Akrylykz were a band from the 2Tone era from Yorkshire. Their vocalist and tenor sax player Roland Gift who was chosen by Andy Cox and David Steele (of The English Beat) to be the lead singer of their new band Fine Young Cannibals.
This vinyl from 1980 is inscribed with the words "Eat your heart out 2Tone"

A - Smart Boy
B - Spyderman

DOWNLOAD FROM BADONGO

Saturday, February 9, 2008

The Piranhas - Play Kwela!

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This 7" was released in 1980 and had the hit song "Tom Hark" which has recently become popular with British football fans. The song was originally recorded in 1953 by a band called Elias and His Zig Zag Jive Flutes and was based on the traditional South African folk music called kwela. Read more HERE.

1 Tom Hark
2 Getting Beaten Up
3 Boyfriend

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Sunday, February 3, 2008

The Riffs - Who Wants It? (link updated May 25, 2009)

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This is the Riffs' first full length from 1989. Keyboard and horn driven 2Tone sound.
I have also included the rare "Funny Little Fella" 7" in this download.
Check out their official site, or their Myspace.

Who Wants It?

1 Monday Morning
2 Spanish Lady
3 Safe and Sound
4 Darling
5 One Egg (Neville's Breakfast)
6 These Things
7 Dirty Bum
8 Don't Talk to Me
9 Peter Gunn
10 Blind Date

Funny Little Fella
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(Thanks to Parker Jacobs for this image!!)

A Funny Little Fella
B Maybe Next Time


DOWNLOAD

Thursday, January 31, 2008

I Jog & the Tracksuits - Red Box / Worrying Man 7" (link updated December 10, 2010)

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The only information I found about this band was on THIS site. From what I understand I Jog & the Tracksuits only ever released 2 singles in their entire career. They were not a ska band but the B side of this single has the early 80s 'reggae' influence.
Not necessarily a must for ska fans, but an interesting tune that should appeal to fans of rare 80s music.

side A Red Box
side B Worrying Man

http://www.mediafire.com/?ro429vewtd65iz4

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Dave's Big Deluxe - Sounds from the Credenza

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Straight forward up-tempo 2Tone sounds from this Tucson Arizona band from 1995.
Download includes full cd scans.
Also get their 5 song live E.P. "Live at the University High Prom" HERE.

1 Murder Ska
2 Old Pueblo Ska
3 Be That Kind
4 ...Other Delights
5 Credenza Style Hi-Fi
6 To Build a Fire
7 Artebella
8 Say Goodbye to Me
9 Tagger
10 Fat
11 Say Goodbye...(Puss Boy Cry Baby Edit.)

DOWNLOAD

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

The Deltones [LINK UPDATED 09/11/2016]



Nana Choc Choc in Paris 
1 Scream Jean
2 Don't Fall in Love
3 Show Off
4 Saturday
5 It's Benn a Long Time...Helen
6 Big Trouble
7 Make Me Smile
8 Everytime
9 Oddball Boy
10 Stay Where You Are
11 Lemon Squeezy


Stay Where You Are 7"
A - Stay Where You Are
B - Lemon Squeezy



Make Me Smile 7"
1 Make Me Smile
2 Patricia Hamilton
3 Running Around



DOWNLOAD THE LP AND BOTH SINGLES

The Boilers - Rockin' Steady

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The Boilers were from New York. They played a mix of 2Tone and reggae with just a touch of dub. This is their 1988 album.

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

Monday, January 21, 2008

The Rudies E.P. (The Fabulous Rudies)

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This is the Fabulous Rudies first E.P. when they were just calle The Rudies.

1 Keep On Movin'
2 Rearrange
3 Forget It (live)
4 Keep On Movin (instrumental)

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Friday, January 18, 2008

The Specs - Social Life

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The Specs were a late 80s early 90s band in Southern California that never became as big as they should have. They were composed of knowledgeable professional musicians with backgrounds in reggae and jazz. Their first release was the cassette-only "Changes to the Few"* which would've fit perfectly into the original 2Tone era. This is their second, more mature, album. There are some faster songs, but most of the album is devoted to a more soulful reggae sound. One of the highlight on this album is a cover of Sly and the Family Stone's "Family Affair".

This download includes almost full scans of the cd inlay cards with the exception of the back cover which I accidentally spilled beer all over just before scanning. (I had this cd in pristine condition for over 13 years up until tonight - let that be a lesson to you - take care of your rare music!) This will not be included in the download, but you can save this image if you're into that sort of thing:
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1 Social Life
2 Come Listen
3 (it's a sad situation)
4 Before Our Eyes
5 (ska? - a Swedish stew?)
6 Start it Right Now
7 Family Affair
8 Never Gave a Thing
9 Time of Need
10 Devil's Game
11 Friends No Longer
12 Opium Vibes
13 (marijuana)
14 Hold On Tight
15 Love Game
16 Opium Vibes Dub
17 CD Exit

DOWNLOAD

(*yes, I will be posting 'Changes to the Few' here shortly, but it is a bad copy of an overplayed cassette. If anyone has a good copy, please let me know. Thanks.)

Monday, January 14, 2008

The Planet Smashers - 1994 demo

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This is The Planet Smashers first recording. According to the band the title of this demo is "Meet the Planet Smashers". It contains 8 songs - 5 of which were re-recorded for their first album. The songs Phantom, Lonely Guy, and Wheel of Fortune were never released and are available only on this demo. It was transferred from a low quality original cassette so it's not the best quality.

1 Coolest Guy in the Whole World
2 My Love (Vampire)
3 Phantom
4 Frozen
5 Pee in the Elevator
6 Lonely Guy
7 Wheel of Fortune
8 Gotta Get Away

DOWNLOAD

Saturday, January 12, 2008

The Hoovers - Smut and Class E.P.

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This 1981 E.P. is the follow up to the Hoovers 1980 album 'Skin and Blisters' and, unfortunately, their final recording. Though the lead singers British accent is real, the band was actually from San Francisco, California. The 2Tone sound never really caught on in the states and The Hoovers disappeared into obscurity.

1 Sofa Girl
2 Backroom Boys
3 O Deedus Nobalis
4 The Red and the Blue

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Punch The Clown - is Caught Red Handed

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Punch The Clown were from Davis California and they played their own kind of 2Tone inspired ska througout the 90s. This is their first of three albums full of an eclectic mix of 2Tone, calypso, rocksteady, big band, etc., with plenty of horns and keys and lots of humor.

1 Intro
2 My Headaches
3 Don't Fight Now
4 Stress
5 Heather
6 Trousers Full of Lovin'
7 Party at My House
8 Our Vines Have Tender Grapes
9 Sweaty Betty
10 U.S.A. Jam
11 C.I.A. Chick
12 Go Ahead
13 Wise Guy
14 Sea Monkey Stomp (live)
15 I Give Up (live)
16 Pervert (live)
17 Punch the Clown (live)

DOWNLOAD

Friday, January 11, 2008

Fighting Gravity - Shishskabob [LINK UPDATED Sept. 23, 2009]

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Fighting Gravity formed in the late 80s in Richmond Virginia under the name Boy O Boy. They had one self-titled full-length release as Boy O Boy in 1990, and released their second album Shishskabob in 1992 under their new name Fighting Gravity.

1 Land of Ska
2 Hotel Inside My Mind
3 Parallel Parking
4 Barber of Skaville
5 All I Need is a Holiday
6 Socks and a Smile
7 Purple Ska
8 Big as the Sun
9 Go Ugly Early
10 Darling
11 Take Off Your Clothes
12 Moan and Groan

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