The cover looks contemporary, but the set's filled with classic cuts from the earliest years of The Skatalites – groundbreaking Jamaican instrumentation from the lineup that included Don Drummond on trombone, and both Tommy McCook and Roland Alphonso on saxes! 15 tracks in all – titles that include "Ali Pang", "Lucky Seven", "Carry Go Bring Home", "Funky Funky Reggae", "Street Corner", "Latin Goes Ska", "Strolling In", "Eastern Standard Time", "River To The Bank", "Twelve Minutes To Go", "Don De Lion", "Don's Memorial", and "My Girl". CD

A seminal record in the transition from ska to rocksteady – and one of the key calling cards of The Skatalites – a group who were already moving well past their name! The lineup is classic – Don Drummond on trombone, Tommy McCook and Roland Alfonso on saxes, and a bit of vocal help from Justin Hinds & The Dominoes – all working together in a seamless blend that forever set a standard for this late 60s generation! The titles include "Yard Broom", "Carry-Go-Bring-Come", "Twelve Minutes To Go", "Magic", "Strolling In", "Dan-De-Lion", "Apanga", "Eastern Standard Time", "Musical Store Room", and "River Bank" – plus the cut "Rough & Tough" with Stranger Cole and "When You Call My Name" with Stranger & Patsy. LP, Vinyl record album

The Skatalites are a group who were one of the key forces in Jamaican music in the 60s – a crack ensemble of musicians who really helped the scene in Kingston break strongly from other Caribbean cities at the time – finding a groove that would forever set the path towards rocksteady and reggae for years to come! And sure, there's been plenty of lame music out there with "ska" in the name in later decades – but these guys are the first, the best, and the real deal all the way through – thanks to superb work on trombone from Don Drummond, saxes from Roland Alphonso and Tommy McCook – and even a bit of organ from a young Jackie Mittoo! The package brings together loads of great early cuts that show the group at their best in a variety of ways – issued under the name of the Skatalites, or some of its key members – and the 2CD set features 50 titles that include "Latin Goes Ska", "Vitamin A", "Music Is My Occupation", "Cool Smoke", "Mesopotamia", "Thoroughfare", "Feeling Fine", "Corner Stone", "Knockout Punch", "Doctor Dekker", "Alipang", "Rocket Ship", "Street Corner", "Don De Lion", and "JFK's Memory". CD

The Skatalites are a group who were one of the key forces in Jamaican music in the 60s – a crack ensemble of musicians who really helped the scene in Kingston break strongly from other Caribbean cities at the time – finding a groove that would forever set the path towards rocksteady and reggae for years to come! And sure, there's been plenty of lame music out there with "ska" in the name in later decades – but these guys are the first, the best, and the real deal all the way through – thanks to superb work on trombone from Don Drummond, saxes from Roland Alphonso and Tommy McCook – and even a bit of organ from a young Jackie Mittoo! The package brings together loads of great early cuts that show the group at their best in a variety of ways – issued under the name of the Skatalites, or some of its key members – and the 2LP version features 28 titles that include "Latin Goes Ska", "Vitamin A", "Music Is My Occupation", "Cool Smoke", "Mesopotamia", "Thoroughfare", "Feeling Fine", "Corner Stone", "Knockout Punch", "Doctor Dekker", "Alipang", "Rocket Ship", "Street Corner", "Don De Lion", and "JFK's Memory". LP, Vinyl record album

A massive amount of early ska, from one of the first big labels of the genre – presented here with a huge double-length set list, and over 20 tracks that appear on CD for the first time ever! If you've never heard work from the Treasure Isle label before, you're in for a treat – and even if you have some other Treasure Isle sets, you'll totally dig the un-reissued cuts here – as the set goes way past the obvious, and really hones in on a key moment in the label – when producer Duke Reid perfectly captured a shift in Jamaican music – a time when influences from American jazz and soul were coming into play with other Caribbean rhythms, and started to cook up a new groove that would be copied by many over the years – but rarely done this right! There's a lean energy to the tracks that's so different from so many later, overlabored takes on ska – jazzier at many points, too – and without all the cliches and jargon that could weigh down the music. The set features 47 tracks in all – titles by Stranger Cole, Baby Brooks, Gloria & The Dreamlets, The Melody Enchanters, Glen Adams, Don Drummond, Eric Morris, Stranger & Patsy, Owen & Leon, and Derrick & Naomi. CD

Another chapter in the Studio One story, as told by the top notch selectors at Soul Jazz, and as with the earlier editions in their Studio One series, this one's another mighty batch of Jamaican rhythm and blues. Like so many other Coxsone Dodd productions, you can hear the foundations of many future generations of Jamaican music running through these titles, 17 jaunty ska numbers laced with jazz inflected solos laid down by Tommy McCook, Roland Alphonso, Jackie Mittoo and the Skatalites, or harmonized vocals courtesy the Ethiopians, Maytals and others. As you've come to expect, this is an ace package with excellent notes and archival photos, loaded down with classic performances and hard to get nuggets, too! With Jackie Mittoo's "El Bang Bang", Ken Boothe & Stranger Cole "Arte Bella", The Wailers "Put It On", The Skatalites "Addis Ababa" and "Exodus", Joe Higgs "I'm The Song My Enemies Sing", Delroy Wilson "I Want Justice", Tommy McCook "Sampson" and "Freedom Sounds", The Maytals "Marching On", Don Drummond "Don Cosmic", Andy & Joey "You're Wondering Now" and more! (Note: This item is not for sale online until 7:00am on Sunday, April 23. It is in limited supply – and by nature of the Record Store Day rules it will be offered for sale first to customers who visit the Dusty Groove retail outlet in Chicago the morning of Saturday, April 22. It will not be pre-sold or reserved in any way. However, after 7:00am on April 23 we will offer up whatever we have left for sale online.) LP, Vinyl record album

Music from Desmond Dekker, Jimmy Cliff, the Skatalites, Roland Alphonso, the Ethiopians, the Upsetters, Lord Tanamo, Dandy Livingstone, Don Drummond, the Pioneers, and more. CD

A set of tracks brought together in celebration of 60s years of independence for the nation of Jamaica – music from a key moment when the new sounds of the scene were really starting to take off – the formative years for so much that we came to know in rocksteady, reggae, and beyond! Some of these tracks are clearly celebratory of the new political order on the island, others are a bit more personal – and there's a great sense of play going on throughout, with one half of music pulled from radio hits of 1962, the other from Duke Reid dubplates of the same year! Titles include "I'm Gone" by Cosmo & Dennis, "Straight Home" by Stranger & Ken, "Herring Bone" by Duke Reid All Stars, "Good Morning" by Lloyd Clarke, "Midnight Track" by Owen Gray, "Housewife's Choice" by Derrick & Patsy, "Independent Jamaica" by Lord Creator, "Duck Soup" by Drumbago's All Stars, "My Happy Home" by Roy Panton & Patsy Todd, "Twelve Minutes To Go" by Don Drummond's Group, "Forward March" by Derrick Morgan, "Miss Jamaica" by Jimmy Cliff, and "Independence Time Is Here" by Al T Joe. LP, Vinyl record album

Early-to-mid 60s ska and original rude boy sounds from masters – Jamaican music in a party mode from legends – including Don Drummond, Tommy McCook & The Skatalites, Desmond Dekker, Alton Ellis & The Flames, Laurel Aitken, Lynn Tait & The Comets and many more! 21 numbers in all, with track-by-track commentary in the liner notes with titles including ""Vitamin A" by Baba Brooks & His Band, "Blazing Fire" by Derrick Morgan, "Street Corner" by The Skatalites, "Contact" by Roy Richards, "(Hey) Bartender" by Laurel Aitken, "Storm Waiting" by Lynn Taitt & The Comets, "Silver Dollar" by Tommy McCook & The Skatalites, "Green Island" by Don Drummond and more. CD

A nice collection of burning Coxsone Dodd instrumentals: 12 tracks in all: Dub Specialist "Banana Walk", Sound Dimension "Rockfort Rock", "Real Rock", "Heavy Rock" and "Baby Face", Soul Vendors "Death In The Arena", Jackie Mittoo "Freak Out", Brentford All Stars "Throw Me Corn (10" mix)", "Race Track" and "Throw Me Corn (1987 mix)", Don Drummond "Man In The Street" and Tommy McCook "Tunnel One". LP, Vinyl record album

Overflowing greatness from one of the first key labels on the Jamaican scene – the mighty Treasure Isle, a hotbed of new innovation during the ska generation – presented here in a package that goes way past the hits and obvious cuts! As with other Doctor Bird collections, the dig here is mighty deep – so much so that the 2CD package features a whopping 25 never-issued tracks – all of which stand nicely next to the killer singles that really helped cement the reputation of Treasure Isle in the mix 60s – jumping cuts that are filled with jazzy instrumental moments and deeply soulful vocals – the kind of records that really point the way forward to the rocksteady and reggae generation! The choice of cuts is superb – and the 52 track set features work by Lyn Taitt, Baba Brooks, Stranger Cole, Derrick & Naomi, Don Drummond, Dotty & Bonnie, The Clarendonians, Basil Caral, Derrick Morgan, Frank Cosmo, Owen & Leon, The Zodiacs, and others! CD

Why waste your time with any of that ska revival crap when Trojan has pulled 50 great tracks from their vaults and collected them here at this great price! 3CDs packed with the best of Jamaican ska, including Clancy Eccles "Sammy No Dead", Tommy McCook & the Skatalites "Silver Dollar", Don Drummond's "Don D Lion", Jimmy Cliff's "Miss Jamaica", Desmond Dekker's "007", Lee Perry's "Rub & Squeeze", Drumbago's Orchestra's "Duck Soup", the Paragon's "Tide Is High" and the Skatalites "Guns of Navarone". CD

We thought the first volume of this box was great, and they've mined the Trojan vaults for another 50 nuggets of classic ska! Includes "Yeah Yeah" by the Riots, "Hurry Up" by Lord Creator, "The Ark" by Justin Hinds & the Dominoes, "Let's Jump" by the Maytals, "Garden Of Love" by Don Drummond, "Give Me Justice" by Lee Perry, "Monkey Ska" by Derrick Harriott and "Look Before You Leap" by Derrick Morgan. CD

The term "copasetic" was first coined by Bill Bojangles Robinson in the 30s – but the word is a perfect one to describe the vibe here – an easygoing groove, served up in dozens of killer cuts from the early ska and rocksteady years of Trojan Records! Given the image of a British mod on the front, you can bet that these are the kind of tracks that played big on the London scene in the second half of the 60s – tunes that were not only serving the big wave of Jamaican immigrants on the English shores, but also having a huge impact on the nation's youth of the time too. But even without any sort of history behind the music, there's still plenty to love here – a huge amount of cuts that includes some Trojan classics and lots of other deeper tracks too – titles that include "Yeah Yeah" by The Riots, "Wrong Emboyo" by The Rulers, "University Goes Ska" by Don Drummond, "Storm Warning" by Lynn Taitt & The Boys, "Wise Man" by Desmond Dekker & The Aces, "Nuclear Weapon" by Roland Alphonso, "Keep The Pressure On" by Winston & George, "Bonanaza Ska" by Carlos Malcolm & His Afro-Jamaican Rhythms, "Contact" by Roy Richards, "The Jerk" by Derrick Harriott, "Inez" by Lester Sterling & Tommy McCook, "Big Bamboo" by Lord Creator, and "The Higher The Monkey Climbs" by Justin Hinds & The Dominoes. CD

A set of tracks brought together in celebration of 60s years of independence for the nation of Jamaica – music from a key moment when the new sounds of the scene were really starting to take off – the formative years for so much that we came to know in rocksteady, reggae, and beyond! Some of these tracks are clearly celebratory of the new political order on the island, others are a bit more personal – and there's a great sense of play going on throughout, with one half of music pulled from radio hits of 1962, the other from Duke Reid dubplates of the same year! Titles include "I'm Gone" by Cosmo & Dennis, "Straight Home" by Stranger & Ken, "Herring Bone" by Duke Reid All Stars, "Good Morning" by Lloyd Clarke, "Midnight Track" by Owen Gray, "Housewife's Choice" by Derrick & Patsy, "Independent Jamaica" by Lord Creator, "Duck Soup" by Drumbago's All Stars, "My Happy Home" by Roy Panton & Patsy Todd, "Twelve Minutes To Go" by Don Drummond's Group, "Forward March" by Derrick Morgan, "Miss Jamaica" by Jimmy Cliff, and "Independence Time Is Here" by Al T Joe. CD

Bonanza is right! 41 blazing early Studio One tracks that will more than satisfy your ska jones from classic bedrock rhythms to lesser known but no less great numbers, all essential Coxsone Dodd, though! Includes "Nimble Foot Ska" by Roland Alphonso & The Skatalites, "Arte Bella" by Stranger Cole and Ken Boothe, "Streets Of Gold" and "Black Sunday" by the Skatalites, "Old Fowl Ska" and "Bongo Tango"by Roland Alphonso, "Always On Sunday" by Frank Anderson and Tommy McCook with the Skatalites, "Sugar Bag" by Lee King Perry, "Settle Down" by Lester Sterling, Johnnie Moore and Tommy McCook, "Turn Me On" by Ossie & The Upsetters, "Over The River" by the Jiving Juniors, "Du Du Wap" by Chuck & Dobby, "Man In The Street" by Don Drummond, "Simmer Down" by Bob Marley & The Wailers, "Shining Light" by toots & The Maytals, "Sit Down Servant" by Jackie Opel, River Jordan" by Clancy Eccles, "Jeanie Girl" by the Charmers and loads more! CD

Foundation is right, in more than one sense of the word! The Brentford Avenue stalwarts are showcased here on a nice double album compilation of classic and groundbreaking early ska and rocksteady tracks that would become the template for so much Jamaican music to follow. The team of Coxsone Dodd with Don Drummond, Lloyd Brevett, Tommy McCook, Jackie Mittoo, Roland Alphonso, Jerry Hinds, Dizzy Moore and Johnny Moore was unstoppable, it's hard to imagine where the reggae sound would be without this seminal music! 32 tracks in all, including "Dick Tracy", "Alley Pang", "Christine Keeler", "Fidel Castro", "Beardsman Ska", "Third Man Ska", "Simmer Down", "Exodus", "King Solomon", 'Eastern Standard Time", "I Should Have Known Better", "Hot Cargo", "Black Sunday", 'Ska La Parisienne", "Don D Lion", "Third Man Ska", "Nimrod", "Cleopatra", "Addis Ababa", "Silver Dollar", "Killer Diller", "Naked City" and "Ringo's Theme". CD

A strong later date from this excellent reedman – James Spaulding on alto and flute – with Don Sickler on trumpet, John Hicks on piano, Ray Drummond on bass, and Kenny Washington on drums! CD

A live trio recording with Barron on piano, Ray Drummond on bass, and Ben Riley on drums. Tracks include "Solar", "Blue Moon", "Alter Ego", and "Everybody Loves My Baby, But My Baby Don't Love Nobody But Me". CD

Donny McCaslin on tenor sax, Bruce Barth on piano, Ugonna Okegwo on bass, and Billy Drummond on drums. CD

Jon Gordon on alto and soprano saxophone, Ben Monder on electric guitar, Joe Martin on bass, Kevin Hays on piano, Gary Vercase on organ, and Billy Drummond, Bill Stewart, Bill Campbell, and Mark Ferber on drums. CD

A later set by soul jazz vibist Johnny Lytle – but a great one too, and a date that's done with a straight ahead mode that shows he's still swinging hard! The record's a bit less groove-oriented than some of Lytle's earlier efforts, but in ways that really focus on his longer-wind chops as a jazz soloist – set up here in great company that includes Houston Person on tenor, Benny Green on piano, Ray Drummond on bass, and Cecil Brooks III on drums. Brooks' drums ensure that the upbeat tunes have just the right sort of snap that Lytle always likes – and the mellower tunes show a really wonderful sensitive side of his playing that's filled with warm tones and great colors from the vibes. Titles include "Meet Benny Bailey", "Caravan", "Moonchild", "Well You Needn't", and "Watch What Happens". CD

Fantastic work from the legendary Idris Muhammad – the funky drummer who first rose to fame making breakbeats with Lou Donaldson in the 60s, then recorded some hip soul-based records in the 70s – here really getting back to basics with a set of soulful, spiritual small combo jazz! The record is a beautifully stripped-down session – with Muhammad playing un-funky drums, Ray Drummond on bass, and either Pharoah Sanders or George Coleman on tenor sax. The best tracks are long and lively – with Muhammad dancing out across the drum kit, filled with joy and life, exhibiting that rare straight jazz quality that he only brought to a few recordings, most notably his contemporary sides with Pharoah Sanders. Titles include a great remake of Jack McDuff's "Soulful Drums", plus "Kabsha", "Little Feet", "St M", and "GCCG Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

A landmark bit of avant prog psych from the American underground of the late 60s – the astral mindblower that is God Bless The Red Krayola & All Who Sail It! This second album is the group's early masterpiece – a brilliant, jarring psychedelic work of genius! It's got the strangeness of the Parable LP, but Mayo & the boys have a way with strange melody that escaped the earlier album. It's often buried under the astral wierdness and abrasive tendancies, but it nevertheless casts a spooky glow throughout! Tracks inclcude "Ravi Shankar: Parachutist", "Leejol", "Night Song", "Green Of My Pants", "The Jewels Of The Madonna", "Tina's Gone To Have A Baby", "Say Hello To Jamie Jones", and "Coconut Hotel". This 2011 edition was remastered by Sonic Boom – and includes a deluxe booklet with liner notes by Paul Drummond. CD

Chip White on drums with Steve Wilson on alto saxophone and flute, Randy Brecker on trumpet and flugelhorn, Wycliffe Gordon on trombone, Kenny Barron on piano, Ray Drummond on bass, and Gail Allen on vocals. CD

A landmark bit of avant prog psych from the American underground of the late 60s – the astral mindblower that is God Bless The Red Krayola & All Who Sail It! This second album is the group's early masterpiece – a brilliant, jarring psychedelic work of genius! It's got the strangeness of the Parable LP, but Mayo & the boys have a way with strange melody that escaped the earlier album. It's often buried under the astral wierdness and abrasive tendancies, but it nevertheless casts a spooky glow throughout! Tracks inclcude "Ravi Shankar: Parachutist", "Leejol", "Night Song", "Green Of My Pants", "The Jewels Of The Madonna", "Tina's Gone To Have A Baby", "Say Hello To Jamie Jones", and "Coconut Hotel". This 2011 edition was remastered by Sonic Boom – and includes a deluxe booklet with liner notes by Paul Drummond. CD

Saxophonist Gabor Bolla really comes on strong here – blowing both tenor and soprano sax alongside frequent musical partner Robert Lakatos on piano, a player who almost feels like the co-leader of the set, given the contributions he makes to the record! Many tunes are originals by Bolla – who's turning out to be a strong writer in recent years, and one who can craft just the right sort of tunes to showcase his wonderfully deft style on the saxophone – a mode that's clearly schooled in the classics, but very individual – more and more deft as the years go on, but always with a sense of focus and musical vision. The rest of the group features the warm basslines of Daniel Franck and the superb drumming of Billy Drummond – on titles that include "Blue Tarif", "Monkey Donkey", "Love Is Love", "Blues On The Move", and "Lament". CD

A sweet little set from the Baltimore Syndicate – a group we've only seen on this one late 80s session produced by pianist Makoto Kuriya, who works here in an excellent lineup that includes Alex Norris on trumpet, Steve Wilson on alto and soprano sax, Gary Thomas on tenor and flute, Dave Pellow on bass, and Billy Drummond on drums! There's a bold young lions feel to the record – and the recording quality is wonderful, done in that King Records/Paddle Wheel mode that sometimes made the Japanese label's sessions of the time some of the few that really preserved the best energy on the American scene. Both Wilson and Thomas are wonderful, and have sharp edges and a nice sense of depth that really makes the record great – on Kuriya compositions that include "Triclinium Suite", "A Colored Fluctuation", "Siamese Floating Castle", and "Horizon Of West Virginia". CD