#534 :: Top Ten Releases of 2018 (9 January 2019)

 Anyone that knows me knows that I dig ska, rocksteady and reggae. From the first time I heard One Step Beyond by Madness, and Rudy, A Message To You by the Specials, there was no turning back. In fact, I went looking for records or cassettes that had any connection to this infectious beat. What I've enjoyed since then (the 1980s) is how this music has evolved. Here's ten tunes from some of my favorite releases of 2018. There's many others I enjoyed too so I may have to do another show to feature them. A huge thank you goes out to all the artists, bands, and distributors that sent me music. And to the local and international community of fans that has shown support for GO FEET! Radio, thanks heaps! ~ Nate Ness Monster

Tracklist

The Oldians (We Are Reggae) - We Are Reggae

The Delirians (El Remedio) - El Remedio

Jr Thomas and The Volcanos (Rockstone) - What A Shame

Smokin' Fuzz (Revival) - Answer

AceTones (More Ace!) - Rolling Like a Trojan

Hugo Lobo feat. Hepcat (Neigbourhood Rules) - Rest Yourself 

Two Tone Club (Don't Look Back) - One in a Millionany record that 

Capone and the Bullets (This Is Fusion) - Good Times

Exile Di Brave (Reality Chant Productions) - Equally

The Specials - Vote For Me

And here's a special mention of two compilations that came out in 2018 that I highly recommend if you're wanting to get a taste for modern ska, rocksteady and reggae.

Birth of the Fourth Wave of Ska

Rudies All Around 

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#531 :: Windy City Sound System's Best of 2018 (19 December 2018)

2018 has been one of the busiest years I can remember, in terms of quality ska, reggae, and rocksteady releases. Rather than put together a list of best album, we’ve put together a list of our favorite songs: whether it be ones that have been on heavy rotation over or ones that just made a big impact on us. We hope you enjoy, and let us know what your favorite songs/releases were from this year! 

TRACKLIST 

Well Charged - Family Tree 

Y-Bayani & His Band of Enlightenment, Reason And Love - Mi Sumolo 

Jr Thomas & The Volcanos - Chin Up 

The Fuss - Old Testament 

The Delirians - El Remedio 

Rusty Zinn & Watson Unlimited - Rock Me (It’s So Easy) 

The Magnetics - Shake Your Tailfeather 

The Georgetown Orbits - Garden Of Love 

Janet Kumah - Sing It Loud 

Melbourne Ska Orchestra - Night Boat To Cairo 

The Pandemics - Killing Time 

The Sentries - King Of Ska 

Alpheus - Nah Go Tek It 

Mr. Leu & The Nyabinghers - Mad About You 

Javier Martin Boix & Bass Culture Players - A Change Is Gonna Come 

Unsteady - Bed Bug 

The Royal Architects - Night Howler

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#517 :: Steady Ska & Rockin' Blues (5 Sept 2018)

Smokin' Fuzz feat. Jesse Wagner - Take Your Own Time

Nat Birchall - Hail Don D Jr

Janet Kumah - I Can't Wait

NRG Rising ft. Israel Starr - Revelation Steppers

Maroon Town - Rebel

The Debonaires - Oil in My Lamp

Maroon Town - Hope 

Stephen Cheng - Always Together

The Maytals - Bam Bam

The Blues Busters - Love Me Forever

Eddie Perkins - Baby Please Don't Go

The Sharks & The Federal Studio Orchestra - You Made Me Warm

Ernest Ranglin & Selected Group - Skalvouvia

Eddy Koenig - Road Runner

Baker Knight - Bring My Cadillac Back

Big Jay McNeely - Psycho Serenade

The Ideals - Go Go Gorilla

Little Freddie & Ripcords - Goodbye New York Hello New Orleans

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Putumayo Presents :: Ska Around The World (2018)

Putumayo began in 1975 as a Latin American handicraft shop in New York City, by then 23-year old founder Dan Storper. Dan majored in Latin American Studies, and on a trip to Colombia found himself in the Putumayo river valley where he fell in love with the indigenous handicrafts, people, and countryside. The company grew to seven shops and a wholesale business selling international handicrafts and women’s clothing to 600 boutiques.

In 1991, on his return from Indonesia Dan stopped in San Francisco where in Golden Gate Park he happened upon an African band named Kotoja – who was performing upbeat Afro-beat music to a happy, dancing crowd. That chance occurrence led Dan to start the Putumayo World Music record label with his friend Michael Kraus in 1993. For the past 25 years, Putumayo World Music has become known for its joyful compilations of international music, featuring album covers illustrated by British artist Nicola Heindl.

Putumayo has been considered a pioneer in developing the non-traditional market of gift, health food, children’s and other specialty stores as outlets for music. The company’s commitment to helping communities in the countries where the music originates led to the label contributing more than half a million dollars to non-profit organizations around the world.

NEW RELEASE

Ska Around the World

Putumayo is pleased to announce the release of its newest collection, Ska Around the World, on August 31st. Available as a CD, MP3 download and with select tracks for streaming, this collection puts the spotlight on a genre that exploded out of the island of Jamaica and circled the world with its energetic, upbeat rhythms. While also serving as the basis for several significant musical movements including reggae, ska continues to rock fans across the globe.

The party kicks off with Brazil’s Orquestra Brasileira de Música Jamaicana. Canadian Chris Murray follows, singing “Make it hard from the yard inna old time way … Give it to me, we want the real ska,” and the popular Basque group Akatz keeps the party going with their hit “Así Eres Tu.”

As a testament to the roots of ska, Putumayo included legendary Jamaican band The Skatalites with “Glory to the Sound.” As the album demonstrates, ska’s influence has extended far from its country of origin. Listeners will also be treated to the sultry and sweet “IJssalon Bernardo” by Amsterdam trio Zazí and “Duck Soup” by Catalonian group The Pepper Pots.

Ska has a long history of inclusivity and diversity, and the South Indian folk tune “Chanda Mama,” as performed by the global musical project Playing For Change and featuring Israeli singer Tula, is a prime example. Ska is also about having fun and getting down, and horn-lovers won’t be able to get enough of “Buttah (Instrumental)” by the New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble.

As the album comes to a close, Algeria-born, West Africa-raised, Montreal-schooled and Ecuador-based artist Sarazino pays tribute to his African roots and Latin American home on the track “Ecos de Radio Iguana.” Finally, the albums wraps up with “Policy of Truth” by the Russia-based St. Petersburg Ska-Jazz Review.

There is no doubt that, despite its small island roots, ska still has global appeal. Ska Around the World will take listeners on a global journey of discovery and demonstrate the influence of this important genre on the music of the world.

#510 :: Windy City Sound System :: Best of 2018, so far! (18 July 2018)

With the amount of truly excellent music that has come out so far this year, we decided to forgo the tradition of waiting until December to make a best of list, and instead put together an episode of the best album, singles, and compilations that have come out so far in 2018. Things may change come the end of the year, but we couldn’t help but highlight some of the new releases that we haven’t been able to stop listening to!

The Fuss - Driving Me

Dave Hillyard & The Rocksteady 7 - Ulysses

The Silvertones & The West Kensingtons - Soffling Green

Beverley’s All Stars - The Great Mogul

Hub City Stompers - What’s She Got

Dan P & The Bricks - The Show

Matt Wixson - Homophobin’

Ernest Ranglin - On Higher Ground

The Royal Architects - Night Howler

The Pandemics - Killing Time

Melbourne Ska Orchestra - Man In The Street

King Tubby - Psalms Of Dub

The Oldians - Suddenly

Le Birette - Wounded Man

Y-Bayani & His Band Of Enlightenment, Reason, and Love - Mi Sumolo

Gladstone Anderson - Words

Reggae Workers Of The World - Pot Of Gold

Alpheus - Nah Go Tek It

The Georgetown Orbits - Garden Of Love

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Hepcat's 'Right On Time' 20th Anniversary Double Vinyl PLUS Dub On Time

I remember the first time I heard Hepcat's 'Right On Time', I thought I was 18 again! It took me back a few years and I had to wonder, 'where the heck had I been?' I had always loved ska and most of its offspring but I guess I had wandered off into other musical paths exploring what was on offer instead of consciously following, the then, modern ska scene. I actually stumbled across The Slackers album 'The Question' online too at the same time that I discovered Hepcat. I remember making a large purchase through Amazon.com and eagerly awaiting the package to arrive to my home in Hamilton, New Zealand. It arrived and the rest is history.

Here's a blurp from Hepcat taken straight off their website that explains all about this 20th anniversary of Right On Time AND the fabulous dub versions. Read it if you must, otherwise, make no delay, get your copy today!

"This is our personal release to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of Right On Time. This is an exclusive double vinyl LP, which comes with a 180 Gram remastered version of our original release of Right On Time on Black Vinyl and an exclusive 2nd LP of Right On Time mixed in a Dubwise Fashion by DubClub's own Tom Chasteen, perfectly titled "Dub On Time" on White Vinyl and artwork by Parker Jacobs. 

"Dub On Time and the remastered version of Right On Time will arrive directly to you upon purchase and is not available anywhere else. All vinyl will be numbered 1-1000 and once these sell out, that is all we will print.

Right On Time Vinyl will not arrive for (approximately)12-14 Weeks (our apologies, but Vinyl takes longer these days to manufacture). But Hopefully, Dub On Time and the Remaster of Right On Time will keep you company as you wait.

"We will keep you up to date of the progress and ship date on our social media pages.

"This exclusive release is directly from Hepcat. Going 100% DIY for this limited edition and we thank our family at Hellcat/Epitaph for letting us do this special package.

"We thank you for supporting Hepcat for over 25 Years. We couldn't do these types of exclusives without you. Hope see you all soon."

~Hepcat

Here's a sample!

Ska-punk legends to co-headline New Zealand / Australia tour 2018

Ska-punk giants, The Selecter, and The Beat, are joining forces for an Australasian tour that will see them hitting New Zealand shores in early 2018 for two special co-headlining shows in Auckland and Wellington.

The Selecter and The Beat emerged from the UK’s late 70s/early 80s ska revival - AKA the ‘2 Tone movement’ - which also gave rise to the likes of The Specials and Madness. Renowned for putting on energetic shows, packed with back-to-back hits, each band will play a full set at the Powerstation in Auckland on Wednesday, January 24 and the Opera House in Wellington on Thursday, January 25.

The Australiasian tour follows their critically-acclaimed sold-out tour of the UK, which started out as six dates but was promptly increased to nearly 40 shows because of the phenomenal demand for tickets.

The Selecter is led by their frontwoman Pauline Black, alongside a talented band of musicians, and co-fronted by original member Arthur ‘Gaps’ Hendrickson. The anarchic passion that fuelled the band’s gigs during the 2 Tone era is still there, with hits such as Three Minute Hero, Missing Words and On My Radio, just as relevant and alive today as they were 30 years ago. The enduring classics come thick and fast in the show, interspersed with the band’s newer material, including songs from 2015’s critically-acclaimed album, SUBCULTURE, which was produced by dub-master Prince Fatty.

The Beat, fronted by Ranking Roger, released their spectacular fourth album BOUNCE (the first in more than 30 years) in September 2016. The album shows off every gleaming aspect of one of the most musically diverse bands to come out of the multi-cultural explosion that remade British pop from 1979 onwards. Joining Roger in the revitalised band is his son Ranking Junior AKA Matthew Murphy - a powerhouse MC who brings to the band an update on the toasting that made Ranking Roger such a pivotal part of the original band. The same energy that pumped through the hit singles of the 80s - Mirror In The Bathroom, Stand Down Margaret and Too Nice To Talk To – is still The Beat’s driving force.

Don’t miss your opportunity to relive one of the most iconic movements in music and culture when The Selecter and The Beat take to the same stage for two explosive nights of magic and madness.

THE BEAT AND THE SELECTER

NEW ZEALAND & AUSTRALIAN TOUR JANUARY 2018

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 24 – POWERSTATION, AUCKLAND

THURSDAY JANUARY 25 – OPERA HOUSE, WELLINGTON

SATURDAY JANUARY 27 – THE TRIFFID, BRISBANE QLD

SUNDAY JANUARY 28 – THE METRO, SYDNEY NSW

MONDAY JANUARY 29 – THE FORUM, MELBOURNE VIC

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 31 – THE GOV, ADELAIDE, SA

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 1 – ASTOR THEATRE, PERTH, WA

Tickets on sale Friday May 5 from 10am at http://mjrpresents.com/theselecterandthebeat/

www.theselecter.net / www.thebeatofficial.com

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