The Rough Guide to Ska
Calling thisThe Rough Guide To Skamay be a little misleading but that’s about the only gripe with this collection. As explained in the excellent sleeve notes by Steve Barrow, the Jamaican music aficionado renowned for his ongoingBlood and Firere-issue series,  the twenty cuts here all come from the catalogue of one highly influential producer who passed away shortly before its release. Vincent "Randy" Chin was only one of many producers recording Jamaican ska in its mid sixties heyday, but he was most certainly at the epicenter of the craze, as the number of sublime cuts (many previously unreleased) featuring various members ofThe Skatalitesproves. Okay, some of the sound quality isn’t great, but that comes with the territory. The inclusion of several ska prototypes showing the evolution of ska from its American R&B; models are especially inspired. The jump blues of Bunny & Skitter, Alton & Ed! die’s Jamaican doo-wop, and examples of trombonist Rico Rodrigues’ sublime early sixties blowing are among these. Additionally, songs like Lester Sterling’s instrumental Skaramont, which steals from Cuban standard "Besame Mucho", and The Skatalites’ "Ska-Racha" (a reworking of Mexican classic "La Cucaracha") show how music from other neighbours fed into the mix. Of the ska proper material, highlights include a couple of great Maytals tunes and one by Trinidad born calypsonian Lord Creator. There’s a sweetly naive early recording by Cornell Campbell as well as three charming numbers by The Skatalites themselves, including the marvelously loping "Freedom Ska". Everyone will have their own favorites, but one thing’s for sure; you’ll be doing the "Baby Elephant Walk" all the way over to the replay button. --Jon Lusk