Ska as a genre didn't exist in the Swedish north where I had my teens in the sixties. First I heard was Desmond Dekker "The Israelites", which became a hit in those parts around 1970, then played at discos and radio as something exotic. I came to like it back then and still do. But apart from that I haven't listened to much Ska since. Therefore it's nice to get in to the genre's early stages with this compilation of cuts recorded in Jamaica 1964 or before. I'm not familiar with any of the groups, but it sure works. Ska emerged from a blend of Carribean Music and American r&b and that's exactly what I get - slow or up-tempo soul numbers to a signature back-beat where you can hear the seeds to the rocksteady or reggae the genre would delvelop into eventually. It doesn't say who was responsible for track choice, but as both legendary producer Tom Dowd (1925-2002) and Atlantic president Ahmed Ertegun (1923-2006) was involved it might have been one of them. When it comes to this I'm a layman so I can give no expert input, but I do hear something genuine and entrancing well fit for dancing. And since it also provides a part of music history I'm in. Originally issued on Atlantic vinyl also in Canada (same number), UK (ATL 5010) and Downunder (SAL 931,402). To my knowledge never released this way on CD. Premiere US had label as shown here in a fully laminated cover. (YZÄ*) (SÄM*) (ÖXCÅ*)
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