The Prizefighters perform ska and rocksteady from Jamaica’s golden era, their brilliant sophomore studio album “Firewalk” was their first since 2010’s “Follow My Sound”. Since that release the band has perfected their craft working side by side with the stars that created the music back in the 60’s. That resume is now quite impressive, it includes backing the “King of Ska” Derrick Morgan at Reggae Fest Chicago, twice with Stranger Cole including a duet show with Patsy, plus Chicago and Montreal showcases with the dazzling Roy & Yvonne. Their relationship with legendary harmonica player and vocalist Charley Organaire might be the most special, as he joined The Prizefighters in the recording studio for a session that lead to the 2014 mini-album Charley Organaire Meets The Prizefighters which lead to their first European tour. In the band’s words “it’s not just about playing the songs well; it’s about playing them correctly and authentically” – and the several years worth of authentic 60s Jamaican music conservatory experience between the first record and “Firewalk” really shows. Working hard on tunes with a mantra of “will this be good enough for Derrick Morgan? Or for Stranger & Patsy?” has conditioned the band to push themselves to ever higher standards. We are so proud to present this stunning new album in 2019 from one of our favorite bands. Let’s face it, without The Prizefighters we wouldn’t have been able to bring so many Jamaican legends to Chicago and keep the spirit of 60’s Jamaica alive.
Tag: cassette
STOP THE PRESSES “Got It” LP / CD / Tape – mixed by Agent Jay!
Originally formed in 2010 by Ali Culotta and Danny Portilla, Stop The Presses has come a long way since their early days in Miami. The band deliver an incredible mix of traditional ska & reggae with pop hooks – new wave style and punk rock attitude with a splash of British 2-Tone. In 2019, they released “Money in the Bank”, produced by Agent Jay and featuring Dave Hillyard of The Slackers. This album quickly put the band on the international map with it’s a retro 80s sensibility and modern edge that won over ska fans of all types! Lockdown 2020 brought multiple high profile live streams, collaborative videos, and their “Dub in the Bank” 7 inch release. In 2021, Stop the Presses hit the ground running with an east coast tour, a stand out performance at Supernova Ska Festival and the contribution of their single “Make the Best of It” for the Jump Up / Supernova Alpha Boys School benefit double album “SKA CARES”. In 2022 the band recorded their second full length “Got It” right before heading out on an extensive US tour including an official SXSW showcase and a return performance at Supernova. This new album was entirely recorded in Brooklyn, mixed once again by AGENT JAY at STABBY ROAD. Eight tracks that prove how exciting and diverse a modern traditional ska band can be! Includes a fantastic cover of Bikini Kill’s “Rebel Girl”! As Agent Jay describes them: “A live natural feel, but a big sound with detailed arrangements.” Available on blue vinyl, compact disc, and cassette tape!
CASSETTE WEEK 2022 release still available!
It’s that time of the year again! Celebrate the tape! Magnetic Magic! Jump Up has celebrated the yearly event since 2014 – that year we rejoined the cassette game with a limited release of our PRESSURE DROP label sampler! This year the tradition continues with our “ON THE BEACH” sampler on blue shell cassette limited to 75 copies. We’re also dropping the Rude Girl Revue curated mixtape “RUDE GIRLS TO THE FRONT” which features all the bands that created the all-female ska sensation! Brand new albums from THE FUSS, STOP THE PRESSES, SMOKE & MIRRORS SOUND SYSTEM (all covers!), and THE BAKESYS (synth pop 80’s wave) are now on cassette, plus we reissue recent titles by ROGER RIVAS, MEPHISKAPHELES, and THE STEP DAUGHTERS. And the cherry on top is THE SLACKERS “Self Medication” on cassette for the first time ever – now with bonus tracks! Buy 5 or 10 tapes and save big bucks! To qualify for free shipping minimum order is 2 tapes. After purchase below send your list of tape selections to jumpuprecords@gmail.com Continue reading CASSETTE WEEK 2022 release still available!
Repress! BROOKLYN ATTRACTORS “The Move” LP vinyl (random color) / CD & Tape too!
VINYL finally back in stock on random color vinyl! JUMP UP is proud to release the follow-up studio album from one of today’s best ska-jazz-reggae acts – the BROOKLYN ATTRACTORS. Anyone familiar with the American Reggae and Ska scene has already heard the work of the musicians in the BROOKLYN ATTRACTORS. The group’s core line-up consists of New York City Reggae and Ska veterans, Jamaican percussion legend LARRY McDONALD (Carlos Malcolm, Toots & The Maytals, Count Ossie), guitarist ANDY BASFORD (Monty Alexander, Lee Perry, Gil Scot Heron), EDDIE OCAMPO, BIG DAN JESSELSOHN, BUFORD O’SULLIVAN, GIDDEON BLUMEBTHAL, MATT KURSMARK, MIKE SARASON, as well as Anant Pradhan and Luke Penella, two emerging musicians on the NY Jazz scene. The group was created by Westbound Train trumpeter and Void Union co-founder RICH GRAIKO in 2011 as a way to pay homage to 1960’s era Jamaican and American instrumental music. Continue reading Repress! BROOKLYN ATTRACTORS “The Move” LP vinyl (random color) / CD & Tape too!
RSD Drop! SMOKE & MIRRORS SOUND SYSTEM “Undercover” TAPE
You’re eyes don’t deceive you – the second full length album from the supergroup is available on cassette tape first! An entire album of amazing covers including Echo & The Bunnymen, Tom Petty, Spencer Davis Group, David Bowie, Tears For Fears, Edwin Starr and more. Guest vocalists include Jesse Wagner of The Aggrolites and Chris Dowd of Fishbone! A sneak peek exclusively for tape heads!
REPRESS: FLYING VIPERS “Cuttings” LP vinyl on weedy green vinyl
Flying Vipers’ sound is of another time and place. Deeply in debt to the original Jamaican engineers of the ’70s who turned their mixing consoles into the lead instrument, the Vipers lay down steady drum & bass driven rhythms with jazz tinged melodies and post-punk attitude. Recorded and mixed on a vintage cassette 8-track in a dank basement in Waltham Massachusetts, the songs are manipulated with twists and turns of the console, saturated tape delays and exaggerated EQ until the track becomes something new. Cuttings is the Vipers first full length album, building on the foundation of The Green & Copper Tape EPs while adding more horns, vintage synths, and eccentric effects. The band may have been begrudgingly prophetic when they released the first single “Two Twenties Clash” in February 2020, as shortly after the world turned upside down dealing with the Covid-19 crisis and America struggles with reconciling its racist foundations. Within its 12 instrumental tracks, Cuttings is a sonic search for meditation amidst the madness. Limited edition cassette tape 100 copies (SOLD OUT). We are so pleased to welcome the Vipers to the Jump Up Records roster!
REPRESS: THE TOASTERS “SKABOOM” LP – hear where American Third Wave Ska began 30 years ago!
The Toasters originally released their debut US album SKABOOM back in 1987, on the Celluloid label. The album is often stated as being the origin of modern, or “third-wave” ska in the United States. It followed the RECRIMINATIONS and EAST SIDE BEAT EPs that were released both in the USA and UK, introducing the world to a fresh new wave-y ska sound that was uniquely American yet linked to 2-TONE through secret producer JOE JACKSON. Two years later, THE TOASTERS’ official “debut” album POOLSHARK arrived via the UK label Unicorn, yet six tracks from that set were culled for inclusion on the legendary debut American full-length named SKABOOM. That set was brasher, brighter, and more emphatically ska driven than their earlier material, albeit with eclectic backdrops that ranged from the surf-side to the juke joint. Now boasting a brass section, and two new vocalists, THE TOASTERS’ sound was significantly shifting while the lineup continued expanding. By the time they came to record SKABOOM, the group had ballooned into an 11-piece aggregate. The resulting high adrenaline album found the band in top form, their playing extremely tight, and the arrangements increasingly intricate and innovative. Continue reading REPRESS: THE TOASTERS “SKABOOM” LP – hear where American Third Wave Ska began 30 years ago!
ROGER RIVAS “Live With Love” (+DUBS) LP vinyl / CD / Tape / 8 Track Tape!
We’ve got a brand new album from THE AGGROLITES organist ROGER RIVAS! This will be the fourth album we’ve released for Roger, following up on the critically acclaimed “Autumn Breeze”, “Last Goodbye”, and “Organ Versions Vol 1 & 2” – plus we’ve done three Christmas 7 inch singles as well! Another brilliant instrumental reggae rock steady gem created at his very own RIVAS studios in Los Angeles, 5 warm organ drenched pearls plus full dub versions on the second side. To keep it interesting we are releasing the album on four different formats – including super-collectible 8 track cassette tape! Color vinyl will be shipping the first week of December, and we expect to have all the product available on most of the upcoming December gigs with THE AGGROLITES. Pick one up on the tour and get it signed by the man himself!!!
STOP THE PRESSES “ORL VOL 1 & 2” TAPE / AMY WINEHOUSE “Ultimate Ska Collection” TAPE
Two more special CASSETTE TAPE releases for our Black Friday Celebration! The earliest demos of Brooklyn NY traditional ska warriors STOP THE PRESSES are now available on one cassette tape limited to 50 copies. And not to be outdone we have been able to get our hands on more Amy Winehouse tapes! It’s a classic clocking in at almost 90 minutes – and yes it’s all ska and reggae baby! Ask the internet for a track listing!
MEPHISKAPHELES “Never Born Again” Digital Print Picture Disc LP
Longtime fans of MEPHISKAPHELES know that JUMP UP has reissued their first three classic full lengths on vinyl over the past decade, plus we’ve distributed their self titled mini-LP from 2015. In 2019 the band released a brand new 4 song EP and since then we’ve been trying to figure out how to make this a cool vinyl release. Then one day we were shown a process where a printer can put a digital print on a blank side of a record – and the idea behind the “NEVER BORN AGAIN” vinyl was born! MEPHISKAPHELES added two never before released demo versions brining the music side to 6 songs total, pressed on clear vinyl and limited to 500 copies. Due to the complex nature of this project this will remain a one time pressing! Originally set to ship out the second week of December, a pressing and printer delay unexpectedly kicked this to the beginning of January.
