Hey, fyi, I’m going to start writing about some other stuff on here. I realized I’d be a psycho if I only wrote about an LADWP corruption case and nothing else. I’m still going to cover LADWP and local news, but will balance it out with some culture writing here and there, like music and book reviews. It’s gonna be called Nothing New. Maybe I’ll even have a spicy relationship advice column by a special guest. If y’all got questions, send ‘em in! Today is a look at 1960s Jamaican ska. Ska, I know, but lemme finish…
Nothing New: The Pre-Gentrified Ska of 1960s Jamaica
In 1960s Kingston, Jamaica, before cosmopolitans started staying in gated resorts and American stoners went searching for the ghost of Bob Marley, there weren’t really any music venues around. Bands played hotels to get exposure. And one of those bands was the Skatalites, a loose collective of reformed juvenile delinquents who mixed syncopated rhythms and bouncy horns with rock and roll. The original lineup was brief, continuing as a revolving door for the next 50 years.
It’s weird calling this Jamaican ska, because it feels like a subdivision of mainstream ska popularized in the 90s, when deeply lame boys in fedoras skanked with relentless optimism, sometimes in the name of Christ. But ska began in Jamaica with the Skatalites, and somewhat accidentally. The band said it was actually trying to imitate American R&B. Instead a new genre was born. Eventually the Skatalites’ influence seeped into pop culture. Today their sound can be heard in bands like The Police, The Clash, Sublime, No Doubt, Vampire Weekend, and yea, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones. Chances are if you hate the Might Mighty Bosstones, you’re going to love the Skatalites. This isn’t ska to skank to. It’s more raw and spartan, like looking at an old photo instead of an Instagram filter. You can almost feel the humidity in these songs. The drum fills alone are awesome, coming in random, quick rolling blasts.
This compilation, Skatalites Vol. 2, was originally released in 1965 and considered very rare until its first reissue in 2000. It gives a window into a very specific period of Jamaica, before dub or reggae took hold as the dominant cultural flashpoint, and just as imperialist vacationers were starting to take notice of the island.
Showcased here are original tunes as well as covers. The band is joined by a number of area vocalists, including Jackie Opel, Roland Alphonso, and the Gaylads. Dub pioneer Lee “Scratch” Perry joins for Mother in Law, and a cover of Dream Dream by the Gaylads feels like it could go on forever. But the group also shines just as much without a singer.
The compilation is available on Spotify and streaming sites. Ska might be due for a renaissance again after the Mighty Mighty Bosstones returned with a new song. Definitely skip that and listen to this instead. It will make you feel good.