HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
Organization: University of Maine System
Date: Monday, 14 Dec 1992 20:14:10 EST
From: Barry Gates <gates@ehovel.danbury.ct.us>
Newsgroups: alt.music.ska
Subject: Prince Buster

Hey! alt.music.ska!  Wow!  I got tired of reading all the "Where can I get docs
in NY" and "All Skinheads aren't racist" posts in alt.skinheads, so I had given
up on reading about ska on the net.

Anyway, I have a question.  I year or two ago I picked up two Prince Buster
records, "Judge Dread / Rock Steady" and "Big Five", which were re-issued
by Link Records via Skank Records from the original Bluebeat recordings.
Aside from the significant musical evolution (pre- vs post- "I Shot the Sherif"
reggae), the latter is extremely sexual explicit (makes early rap seem mild).
Unfortunately, to "censor" the offensive words, they have trumpets blare over
them, just a little too loud for my tastes.  Are these heinous horns on the
original, or just the reissues?  Also, does anyone know the years the original
recordings of these albums were released (on Bluebeat)?

Later,
bdg

p.s. If you like dub reggae, check out "Towers of Dub" by the Orb (on U.F.Orb).
They're a trance-techno band, but do 1 reggae and/or 1 worldbeat song on their
albums.
Newsgroups: alt.music.ska
From: tim@cs.sfu.ca (Tim Swartz)
Subject: ska question
Organization: CSS, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C., Canada
Distribution: alt.music.ska
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 22:07:59 GMT

Could someone please describe for me
this oft-mentioned "porkpie hat"?
Thanks.
From: omri@owlnet.rice.edu (Omri Gazitt)
Newsgroups: alt.music.ska
Subject: Re: Suggestions / Re: uptight
Date: 13 Dec 92 23:23:34 GMT
Organization: Rice University

BEGIN FLAME MODE

To the guy with the caps-lock on - please go home and play with
yourself. I've seen more than one good newsgroup destroyed
because of you. Maybe you need to go read the nettiquette article
in the new users newsgroup again. Posting just to piss people off
has to be the most stupid way to waste time I can think of.

END FLAME MODE


Back to the subject :)  Some ex-members of English Beat got together
with some ex-members of the Specials (another old old ska band) to
form Special Beat. They came through Houston (on Tour) and I
got to interview them... they are really cool and had alot to say
about the using power of music to unite the races. Go see them if you
get a chance to.

-Omri

+----------------------------------+------------------------------+
| Omri Gazitt			   | omri@rice.edu                |
| ktru fm rice radio		   | 50,000 Watts of F-word radio |
| #include <standard.disclaimer.h> |                              |
+----------------------------------+------------------------------+
-- 
Omri
Newsgroups: alt.music.ska
From: montas@stable.ecn.purdue.edu (Hubert J Montas)
Subject: Re: Suggestions / Re: uptight
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 02:10:27 GMT

In article <1992Dec14.213840.25347@psych.toronto.edu> psa@psych.toronto.edu (Psychology Undergrad Assoc.) writes:
> [...]
>ment at the time.  Now there are several new bands that call themselves 
>"Ska" or "Ska-influenced", such as The Toasters, Skaface, Bim Skala Bim,
>Me Mom and Morgentaler, and The Special Beat.  Just like all the other
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>movements, these bands have a lot of differences in their sound, and it
>is sort of hard to define what the best "Ska" and there is.  
> [...]

       Hey, I didn't know that Me Mom and Morgentaler were Ska! I never heard
them, but I know they played Montreal a number of times. Are they from Mtl,
Tor, or Vancouver? Would anybody else characterize them as Ska? And, well,
I'll be home in Mtl from 12/22 to 01/09, does anybody know if MMM'll play
there during that period?

       Hubert.

(P.S. some people got offended by my last post. My aim in that post was to
revendicate the right to use ALL CAPS when one sees fit. Hope most of you
figured out the underlying sarcasm in there)


Newsgroups: alt.music.ska
From: bwillems@lynx.dac.northeastern.edu (Balam Willemsen)
Subject: Re: Misc Ska Thoughts
Organization: Northeastern University, Boston, MA. 02115, USA
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 12:50:54 GMT

In article <1992Dec16.044720.24651@reed.edu> bradley@reed.edu (Ben Bradley) writes:
>I was quite delighted to see the creation of this newsgroup.
>I had all but thought ska had died out.  I went to high school
>during the height of the 2-Tone era, so Dance Craze and associated
>bands have always been a part of my arrested development.  God, I
>can't remember the last time I heard "Lip Up Fatty".  Anyway, I 
>thought I'd toss a few comments in to the discussion.

Great way to put it! No matter how far I stray for a while, I always
tend to come back to Two Tone and related stuff. I finished High School
in Switzerland in '84 and we had a decent ska-ish band ... Two Tone had
already peaked and started to fade by that point, but 'round '85 I
managed to pick up many 2 Tone cut outs to round out my collection.

Although most of the players in the whole Two Tone thing have staryed
far from ska in most cases, I still tend to enjoy the music they
create... So if anyone has any interesting tidbits, lemme know...
-- 
Balam A. Willemsen
Graduate Student, Physics Dept., Northeastern Univ., Boston, MA 02115
Newsgroups: alt.music.ska
From: bwillems@lynx.dac.northeastern.edu (Balam Willemsen)
Subject: Re: The English Beat vs. The Beat
Organization: Northeastern University, Boston, MA. 02115, USA
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 14:03:49 GMT

In article <dlcogswe.724565728@vela> dlcogswe@vela.acs.oakland.edu (Dan Cogswell) writes:

<Re: International Beat>

>>Really? Interesting! What was the time frame on this? [Post General
>>Public? Post Roger's "Radical Departure"? ('88)]
>
>Yes.  It was April 20, 1990. (Earth Day).  Both of them were very nice
>guys.  I just asked Dave what else he and the band were going to be
>doing and he mentioned some other shows in California and that was about
>it.  They seemed like they were doing well (i.e., had money) so I guess
>there MIGHT be money in ska.

Really quite interesting. I kind of dropped off the face of the earth
from '89 to '91 (Grad School, Qualifiers, etc...). So I totally missed
that I was given the impression by a couple of friends that Dave was
suffering from severe burn-out during this period as well and was not
making music. I'm glad to hear that that's not the case!

Anyhow, from "The Hitting Line" the line up is:
TONY BEET vocals, guitar LOUIE CAMPBELL vocals ALAN BEET keyboards
NEIL DEATHRIDGE guitar SAXA saxaphone KENT PETERS bass guitar EVERETT
MORTON drums
And the CD is Copyright '91

<Re: Special Beat>

>I missed their Detroit show mainly because I've never been very fond of
>The Specials.  Just my opinion:  The Specials first album is pretty
>annoying.  The only good songs are covers or ripoffs. 

>Flame away, everybody. :-)

No flames here. Of the Two Tone bands, I'll take Madness or the Beat
most of the time over the Specials. "The Specials" has a place in my
collection though, 'cause it was my initiation into this kind of music,
and brings back some good memories. 

Never having been able to see any of them live before, Special Beat was
a treat. (I was always in the wrong place at the wrong time, and the
first time around I was only 14)


-- 
Balam A. Willemsen
Graduate Student, Physics Dept., Northeastern Univ., Boston, MA 02115
Newsgroups: alt.music.ska
From: angus@well.sf.ca.us (Angus P. MacDonald)
Subject: Re: The English Beat vs. The Beat
Organization: Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 05:01:09 GMT


I don't think the American Beat actually sued, it's just that they
had product out in the U.S. before the English band did. Later, after
the English Beat got more popular anyway, the American band was called
the "Paul Collins Beat," after their main guy, a power-popper who had
earlier been in the Nerves. I saw Paul Collins open for Doug and the
Slugs in San Fran in 1987; don't know where he is now. BTW, the American
band was managed by Bill Graham.

       Angus MacDonald;   angus@well.sf.ca.us
Newsgroups: alt.music.ska
From: montas@stable.ecn.purdue.edu (Hubert J Montas)
Subject: Re: Suggestions / Re: uptight
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 16:54:59 GMT

In article <Bz80zA.94s@rice.edu> omri@owlnet.rice.edu (Omri Gazitt) writes:
>BEGIN FLAME MODE
>
>To the guy with the caps-lock on - please go home and play with
>yourself. I've seen more than one good newsgroup destroyed
>because of you. Maybe you need to go read the nettiquette article
>in the new users newsgroup again. Posting just to piss people off
>has to be the most stupid way to waste time I can think of.
>
>END FLAME MODE
>
       YES, REALLY, THERE SHOULD BE A LAW AGAINST POSTS IN ALL CAPS!
MAN, THIS IS SO DISGUSTING, YOU MUST BE A LOOOOOSER OF THE WORST KIND
TO USE ALL CAPS IN ANY ARTICLE YOU POST! AND PUT AWAY YOUR FLAMETHROWER,
YOU, LOSER OF A MORON WITH NO BRAINS AND GUTS THE SIZE OF A PIN NEEDLE!
LET'S BAN ALL CAPS! DOWN WITH CAPS IMPERIALISM! LONG LIVE THE NON-CAPS!
EAT A CAP TODAY! 

       CHEERS TO THE MORONS AND ASSHOLES AND JERKS AND FREAK,

       HUBERT.



Newsgroups: alt.music.ska
From: stclair@ldgo.columbia.edu (moanna stclair)
Subject: The English Beat vs. The Beat
Organization: Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 18:16:29 GMT


Just out of plain curiousity -- is the English Beat the 
same as the Beat or are these two entirely different bands.
Also which one had Rankin Roger & the lead singer who formed
General Public?

Thanks in advance, Athena

Newsgroups: alt.music.ska
From: bwillems@lynx.dac.northeastern.edu (Balam Willemsen)
Subject: Re: The English Beat vs. The Beat
Organization: Northeastern University, Boston, MA. 02115, USA
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 03:45:00 GMT

In article <dlcogswe.724465714@vela> dlcogswe@vela.acs.oakland.edu (Dan Cogswell) writes:
>gak@wrs.com (Richard Stueven) writes:
>
>>In the beginning, there was The Beat, a British ska band whose members
>>included Ranking Roger and Dave Wakeling.  When they started to sell
>>albums in the US, they were sued by a US band called The Beat (which I
>>don't know anything about), so they changed their name to The English
>>Beat.  Several of the members went on to form General Public.
>>Eventually, a few ex-English Beat got together with a few ex-Specials
>>to form Special Beat, coming soon to a club near you.
>
>And lately the Ranking Roger and Dave Wakeling have been performing with
>a band called The International Beat.  They do SOME ska, but Dave has a
>tendancy to try other things.  I don't know if there's an album.

Ummmmmm...

Ranking Roger is one of the front-men of Special Beat. (Got to catch them
in Boston a couple of months ago). Dave Wakeling released his first solo
album not too long ago. (Rally not ska, but still quite good)

The International Beat is a band which has two other ex-Beat members
Everett Moreton, and Saxa in it, as well as a bunch of other people...
Ranking Roger produced the only album of theirs that I am aware of ("The
Hitting Line") and did some back-up vocals. Mickey Billingham (Dexy's
Midnight Runners, General Public) also appeared. Note, that there is
also a Special Beat Live CD available.

Just for the record, Fine Young Cannibals, was also a band formed by two
ex-Beat members. (Are they still around?)

IMHO. Both the International Beat, and Special Beat are closer to ska
than the Beat on "Special Beat Service".

Ranking Roger and Dave Wakeling also did some back vox on Madness' "Keep
Moving" and (or so I'm told) the first album by Londonbeat. (what's the
connection? Anyone?)

Anyhow, is there a discography of Two Tone, and related material? (By
that I mean anything realted to The Specials, Madness, the (English)
Beat, the Selecter, ... and all their spin off's (General Public, Fun
Boy 3, FYC, Nutty Boys, ColourField, Special Beat, International Beat,
etc...)). I'd love to know what's out there, and what I might be
missing. ;-) If such a beast does not exist, is anyone interested in
helping me start one? (I do have enough material for a start, but I am
missing lots of stuff being on this side of the Atlantic.)




-- 
Balam A. Willemsen
Graduate Student, Physics Dept., Northeastern Univ., Boston, MA 02115
Newsgroups: alt.music.ska
From: mriley@MtHolyoke.edu (confused--I think)
Subject: Yaaaaaaaaaay!!
Organization: Mount Holyoke College
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL5
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 00:05:59 GMT


Oh man!  I am so glad that I found this group!  I'm a rude baby, just 
discovered what I thought was ska (the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Bim, Let's
Go Bowling), but am getting mighty tired of the tapes that I have.  No one
has mentioned the Bosstones--are they not considered ska?  Just wondering...
Anyway, thanks everyone for the list of groups to look into!  My record
collection will be most appreciative.
Newsgroups: alt.music.ska
From: bbe001@acad.drake.edu
Subject: Re: Suggestions / Re: uptight
Organization: Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa, USA
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 01:42:39 GMT

In article <1992Dec14.213840.25347@psych.toronto.edu>, psa@psych.toronto.edu (Psychology Undergrad Assoc.) writes:
> It would be tpoo difficult to name one band .... there are so many different
> types of ska ... There is the original movement in Jamaica that included 
> Prince Buster and The Skatalites which was the prelude to reggae.  Of course,
> it does sound like a bit like a "fast reggae" since they were trying to 
> cross breed American type rock music (which they recieved via US radio) with
> what they were familiar with (e.g. calypso).  Then there is the 2-Tone
> movement, which had bands like The Specials, The Selecter, The Beat, and 
> Madness.  These bands took the original sound of Ska and mixed it with an
> beat that was a little bit faster ... this was influenced by the punk move-
> ment at the time.  Now there are several new bands that call themselves 
> "Ska" or "Ska-influenced", such as The Toasters, Skaface, Bim Skala Bim,
> Me Mom and Morgentaler, and The Special Beat.  Just like all the other
> movements, these bands have a lot of differences in their sound, and it
> is sort of hard to define what the best "Ska" and there is.  
> 
> 	My best advice is to buy three compilations, one from each era.
> I know Island has a compilation of the early Ska movement (although the
> name escapes me right now).  "Dance Craze" is a good compilation of live
> ska by the bands of the 2 Tone movement, and there are SEVERAL compilations
> out there of the "new" ska bands (because it is more expensive to put out
> one record for one band).
> 
> Hope I've been of help
> Zoltan

Some good compilations include:
(for original ska)
 "Scandal Ska" - Island Records and "The Birth of Ska" - Trojan Records
"Dance Craze" is good, but also "This Are Two Tone" and "The Two Tone Story."
I never got into ska-core or the new ska stuff out, just doesn't comparare IMO.
I've been reading about how some of the original artists are a little pissed ab
out not getting the props they deserve lately. Like on the back of the
Skatalites LP "Scattered Lights," Dermot Hussey writes about how bands like the
Clash and the Police used ska as a spring board for their success, and the
creators "reaped neither fame or fortune, but such are the vicissitudes of
black music." -very true, and sadly that statement rings true for almost all
forms of music. Well anyway, go out and get some of the originals!
"Don Drummond was the man with the big trombone"
Brad
Newsgroups: alt.music.ska
Subject: Desmond Decker
Supersedes: <92349.202521ATHENA@MAINE.MAINE.EDU>
Organization: University of Maine System
Date: Monday, 14 Dec 1992 21:11:17 EST
From: Barry Gates <ATHENA@MAINE.MAINE.EDU>

Can anyone suggest good albums, or good song titles, by Desmond Decker?
Did he play in any other bands?  Also, any favorite Skatalites lps?
I'm going to be grubbing through some used record shops over the
holidays.

Despues!
&gates
Newsgroups: alt.music.ska,rec.music.misc
From: davisonj@en.ecn.purdue.edu (John M Davison)
Subject: Skafish (was: Re: Suggestions / Re: uptight)
Followup-To: rec.music.misc
Summary: Jim Skafish never pretended to be a ska artist
Keywords: Skafish pop music
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network
Date: Sat, 19 Dec 92 22:06:17 GMT

In article <Bz7yAI.CA2@cs.columbia.edu> haupt@cs.columbia.edu (Marcus E. Haupt) writes:
>4) *Must Avoid/ Not Ska* - some of these bands shamlesly [sic] pose as Ska
>bands.
>I have no idea why.
...
>Skafish

        As a matter of fact, Skafish was not one of those bands who shamelessly
posed as ska artists.  Jim Skafish was born with that last name, and nothing he
has ever done in his entire career (which hasn't exactly been a glorious one)
has led me to believe that he ever gave any consideration to posing as a "ska"
artist.  I've never heard a "ska" tune from him (although I must also admit
that I haven't heard everything he's ever done), and I've never seen him
promoted as a "ska" artist.

        Presently he does one-man shows at hotels and small clubs in the so-
called "Calumet Region", i.e. Lake County, Indiana, and other suburban areas of
Chicago.  The last release of his of which I am aware is a cassette that he put
out independently, called _Best_Kept_Secrets_.  It's of about the same caliber
that the first (self-titled) I.R.S. LP was.  He showed up on "Wild Chicago" a
couple of years ago, and he also got some late-night air-time on B96 (I
think...or was it Z95?) before that radio station folded.

        By the way, Jim Skafish is a cousin of Bobby Skafish, the DJ who is (or
used to be...not sure) on WLUP (the "Loop"..."Chicago's Kick-Ass Rock and
Roll") in Chicago.  Also, the references to "my sister Mary Lou" and "my
brother Peter" in "Disgracing the Family Name" are genuine.  My aunt knows Mary
Lou personally.  Larry Mazalan (the old bass player) lives in Highland and was
a born-again Christian (in 1984, last time I checked) who gave guitar lessons
to a friend of mine; Mazalan was also listed as a paper carrier for
_The_Calumet_Press_, and I think he was living with his parents too.  At the
same time, Javier Cruz was doing freelance jingle music, and the drummer was
giving drumming lessons to another friend of mine.


-- 
John Davison, davisonj@ecn.purdue.edu
"The next time you start to say, 'Purdue isn't as racist as some other places,'
 bite your tongue.  I've lived in the South [U.S.] all my life, and I have
 never encountered as much racism there as I have here."   -- Sumi Rebeiro
Newsgroups: alt.music.ska
From: dlcogswe@vela.acs.oakland.edu (Dan Cogswell)
Subject: Re: Yaaaaaaaaaay!!
Organization: Oakland University, Rochester MI.
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 04:26:50 GMT

mriley@MtHolyoke.edu (confused--I think) writes:

>Oh man!  I am so glad that I found this group!  I'm a rude baby, just 
>discovered what I thought was ska (the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Bim, Let's
>Go Bowling), but am getting mighty tired of the tapes that I have.  No one
>has mentioned the Bosstones--are they not considered ska?  Just wondering...

I wouldn't consider them ska.  High energy, yes.  Ska, no.  I'm not sure
what type of band they are, actually, since I'm not really into their
type of music.

>Anyway, thanks everyone for the list of groups to look into!  My record
>collection will be most appreciative.

Buy some early Toots and the Maytals, in case you haven't already.  More
reggae than ska, but an important person nonetheless.

-- 
Dan Cogswell               Or as we say in Michigan:  "Dee-troit"


Newsgroups: alt.music.ska
From: Faloon@ils.nwu.edu (Faloon)
Subject: Re: Calling All Rude Boys and Rude Girls
Organization: Institute for the Learning Sciences
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 17:22:15 GMT


> 
> So, before I toss out my Porkpie hat and leave my braces in the trash,
> Is there still new (and good) Ska Musis coming from anywhere
> (Jamaica, Germany, England, USA,....)

Don't toss it yet-

There is a great ska band in Detroit, Gangster Fun. They are pretty tight.
(3 horns) Unfortunatly, I don't don't know if their stuff is available
outside of Detroit. They have a couple of albums. I think I've seen them
available through one of the Ska-zines. They come through Chicago every
couple of months.

There is also a good Ska radio show in Chicago. On Sunday nights on WNUR
(88.7 fm?) Its an hour a really great music.

Dave
Faloon@ils.nwu.edu
Newsgroups: alt.music.ska
From: tonya@cvedc.prime.com (Tony Alabi)
Subject: Re: Calling All Rude Boys and Rude Girls
Organization: Computervision Beaverton Oregon
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 14:33:09 GMT

In article <Bz67Bp.3uG@cs.columbia.edu> haupt@cs.columbia.edu (Marcus E. Haupt) writes:
>
>
>Here in NYC, Ska is pretty much a thing of the past....
>
>All of the local acts (the A-Kings, Toasters, City Kids, Second Step)
>have disbanded or changed formats. 
>
>On the East Coast I know that Bim-Ska-La_bim and Boo Harvey never really were
>Ska and certainly are not today....I haven't heard from The Good Guys in
>a while.
>
>Does anyone of the West Coast know about Donkey Show? I saw them way back
>and thought that they were very good.
>
>So, before I toss out my Porkpie hat and leave my braces in the trash,
>Is there still new (and good) Ska Musis coming from anywhere
>(Jamaica, Germany, England, USA,....)
>
>

ska is not dead . it is not just getting the publicity, like other music 
do get. the toasters are still around, they are on the west coast.
pato banton the english reggae star still does some tunes with ska 
orintation, so is UB40, and other british bands.
From: IO81373@MAINE.MAINE.EDU
Newsgroups: alt.music.ska
Subject: SPANISH SKA!! (was RE: Yeaay!! or something.)
Date: 20 Dec 92 19:18:33 GMT
Organization: University of Maine System

I have a compilation that I got in Madrid in '88 called SHALHERRIA
PUNK, with1 hardcore band, and three Spanish SKA bands!  (Two of them
are good.)  Korroskada (sp?) is one band's name... Txorromorro was
another... I think those are the two good SKA bands...
The Hardcore band was called VOMITO... pleasant...
I don't remember the name of the lame one.

I can get you the address of the label or something if you'd like,
but be warned that it could very well no longer exist.  ('88 is
like ancient history, y'know?)

I also have Ska in Russian and Polish... looking for other foriegn-
language SKA for my Radio Show... any leads?  I'd need a label or
artist who's willing to send me stuff free, cause I'm quite broke.

Ende.  See you all later.
(thank god for ALT.MUSIC.SKA!!!  Death to ALT.SKINHEADS!!!)


&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
&&Douglas Julien|Opinions expresed here are neither those of the    &&
&&aka Dougly    |University of Maine nor of the Universitaet        &&
&&              |Salzburg, but what do THEY know???                 &&
&&----------------------------------------------------------------  &&
&&io81373@maine.maine.edu                       IO81373@MAINE.bitnet&&
&&==================================================================&&
&& "Ich glaube, der Mensch traeumt nur, damit er nicht aufhoere zu  &&
&& sehen."   -J.W. von Goethe   'Die Wahlverwandtschaften'          &&
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Newsgroups: alt.music.ska
From: bkeating@jarthur.claremont.edu (Fool With A Plan)
Subject: Re: Calling All Rude Boys and Rude Girls
Organization: Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA 91711
Date: Sun, 13 Dec 1992 04:54:55 GMT

In article <Bz67Bp.3uG@cs.columbia.edu> haupt@cs.columbia.edu (Marcus E. Haupt) writes:
>
>So, before I toss out my Porkpie hat and leave my braces in the trash,
>Is there still new (and good) Ska Musis coming from anywhere
>(Jamaica, Germany, England, USA,....)
>

I got a couple o Cali ska bands that I like.  Dance Hall Crashers and Let's
Go Bowling.

-brett

Newsgroups: alt.music.ska