Thoughts

Obvioulsly 1965 is not only the Skatalites. Officially the band even disbanded in August same year, inofficially it is not to make out in which constellation the members of the band recorded further tunes, credited to the band itself, or to single members. In total the Skatalites recorded about 250 tunes, which is pretty much one record a day. A super group, combining an awful lot of talent, like Tommy McCook, Roland Alphonso, Don Drummond, Johnny Moore, Lester Sterling, Lloyd Brevett and event Jackie Mittoo.
What is interesting to mention is, that the Skatalites originally had lead singers in the place. E.g. Doreen Shaffer. I find this remarkable, just because for me Ska was always perceived a purely instrumental music. The singer is not in the focus in ska music, but the rhythm. On the other hand there were a lot of ska tunes including a singer. For example the productions by Justin Yap, a producer of the ska years, who fostered a lot of talent, like Ferdy Nelson, Rueben Anderson or Jackie Opel. The reason why I personally have so much Skatalites in my collection might be that the Skatalites Ska has this certain punch, which other productions might lack. And I believe this punch is also the reason for the Ska revival in tha UK later on.
What was there first? The name Ska for the music or the name of the Skatalites? It is almost save to say, that the word Ska was around before the band joined forces. I like the urban legend where the Members where looking for a proper name for the Band. Someone pitched "The Satellites". Another oneinterjected "The Skatalites"... and the rest is history....
Despite the Ska madness in '65 there have been other tunes released, and other genres present in the background, fertilizing the ground for more great music to come.

Tracklist:

Baba Brooks Band - Cocktails For 2
Justin Hinds - Rub Up Push Up
Baba Brooks - Vitamin A
Ferdie Nelson - Weeping & Wailing
Rueben Anderson - Ambition Of Man
Bibby & The Astronauts - Please Beverly
Jackie Opel - Return To The Almighty
Ferdy Nelson & Ivan Yap - Ska Down Jamaican Way
Skatalites - Confucius
Roland Alphonso - Sucu Sucu
Roland Alphonso - VC10 Shake A Leg
Roland Alphonso - Jazz Ska
Johnny Moore - Red Is Danger
Don Drummond - Collie Boy
Skatalites - Guns Of Navarone
Skatalites - Chinatown
Skatalites - Ska Do Ba Da
Skatalites - Ghost Town
Skatalites - Black Joe
Roland Alphonso - A Shot In The Dark
Skatalites - Ball Of Fire
Roland Alphonso - Determination 5
Lee Perry - Open Up
The Techniques - I Wish It Would Rain



    Reggae, Ska, Skatalites, 1965, Jamaica