Tag: mad butcher

Restocked! MR REVIEW rarities, live, outtakes LP + “XXV” 10th anniversary reunion LP restocked!

The MR REVIEW vinyl keeps coming! One of our favorite bands from the late 80s / early 90s European ska explosion follow up the reissue of their  2010 “comeback” album XXV with a new collection of rarities, outtakes, singles, and live goodies titled “PRIOR 2 THE 0″s AND 1’s”.  When the dynamic Dutch ska duo of Rude & Visser got the band back together in 2010 we were so excited, the album “XXV” was originally self released by the band on CD and then in 2012 on a very limited vinyl picture disc. Fast forward to 2020 and reissue kings Mad Butcher released the band’s first two classics on vinyl (see earlier post) – fans immediately started to demand more vinyl!  Now in 2021 we get an even cooler rarities collection!

Tracks:    A1 Can’t do it alone   A2 Redemption Road  A3 Losin’ my mind   A4 A tree  A5 The feeling is alright  A6 Ice & Snow  B1 The strett where I’m living   B2 Africa (live)   B3 Ships that pass in the night  B4 Joe’s colors  B5 Christine Keeler (live)  B6 Mystery view (live)

Both these new vinyl editions are limited and are must have additions to every MR REVIEW collection!

Restocked: THE SPECIALS “Conquering Ruler” & “Skinhead Girl” LP vinyl in stock now!

After 90’s ska boom had come and gone in the USA, many albums released in the early 2000’s were simply missed by  fans worldwide.  Hopefully, you realize artists like THE SPECIALS and labels like JUMP UP continued to support ska during “the lean years”….labels ran to release other styles (dare I say emo), and ska bands “changed their sound” to avoid being called ska. Guess what? There were some cool ska albums released at the turn of the millenium, including 2 albums by THE SPECIALS! Both “SKINHEAD GIRL” and “CONQUERING RULER” dig into the TROJAN RECORDS soundbook, and the band’s sound was top notch lead by RODDY RADIATION, NEVILLE STAPLE, HORACE PANTER, and NEOL DAVIES. Well done MAD BUTCHER, releasing these records on vinyl give the albums a new lease on life and will be enjoyed by an entire generation of vinyl fans! Continue reading Restocked: THE SPECIALS “Conquering Ruler” & “Skinhead Girl” LP vinyl in stock now!

Restocked: THE HOTKNIVES early LP vinyl must haves! UK 2-TONE revival SKA!

hotknivesIt’s so exciting to see these late 80’s / early 90’s European revival albums originally released on UNICORN and SKANK RECORDS back on wax from our friends at MAD BUTCHER in Germany. To put it simply, labels like UNICORN, SKANK, SKA, and PORK PIE bridged the gap between the end of 2-TONE and the beginning of what became known as the “third wave”.  Super melodic with catchy vocals and gentle horns, THE HOTKNIVES “THE WAY THINGS ARE” was truly a modern British ska classic. To this day, this album is still my stone cold favorite from the Unicorn catalog. Songs like “DAVE & MARY”, “OLD MAN AND HIS DOG” and “DON’T GO AWAY” are so perfectly English, strong lyrics that stay in your head forever. Exact replica from the 1990 issue – we can not recommend this enough for people who like 2-TONE ska!!

Prior to THE HOTKNIVES debut studio album – SKANK records releases an amazing LIVE double LP capturing the band at it’s prime!! A two LP set full of tunes that would become popular worldwide, including covers of “LIQUIDATOR”, “DOUBLE BARRELL”, and “AL CAPONE”. Tracklisting: A1 Cryin’ A2 Alcoholic Nightmare A3 Don’t Go Away A4 Dick Barton A5 Turkey Stomp A6 Doing Alright B1 Skin Up Harry B2 Believe It B3 Driving Me Mad B4 She’s A Lady B5 Liquidator B6 Holsten Boys C1 Rio C2 W. L. N. C3 Jack The Ripper D1 Dust Of Death D2 Double Barrel D3 Al Capone

Restocked! MAD BUTCHER 80’s German Revival: THE BRACES “Prime Cut” & “Blue Flame” LP

THE BRACES were part of the first wave of amazing post-2-TONE German bands, but (in our option) had a more pop oriented songwriting style that set them apart from “harder” edged bands like No Sports, Blechreitz, Skaos, or The Frits. Songs on their debut “PRIME CUT” (Unicorn Records) have stood the test of time, specifically “Julie Julie” and “Her Smile Means Nothing” which we played to death on our radio show back in the day!  A couple years later they returned with their follow up “BLUE FLAME” on Pork Pie Records.

 

Restocked! MAD BUTCHER 80s German Revival: SKAOS “Beware” & “Catch This Beat” LP

Three more great German reissues from MAD BUTCHER! First off is the debut and second album of bouncy 2-Tone rhythms from SKAOS! These stone cold classic originally were released in 1989 on PORK PIE Germany, but also appeared later on UNICORN UK. From the get go this album gets your feet moving much in the same way as others from the era: MR REVIEW, NO SPORTS, NAPOLEON SOLO immediately come to mind.  SKAOS was always compared to MADNESS back in the day, and I can still see that – this album does have a constant “ONE STEP BEYOND” feel to it with it’s hypnotic horns and tight keys. Oh my listening to this once again brings back some memories! Reissued in original German art.

Restocked: JAMESTOWN SHEIKS “Lennon & McCartney Reggae Style” LP reissue – The Beatles go Jamaican!

Black Butcher Germany has just reissued the 1970 stone cold party classic on vinyl for the first time – original UK copies have become rare in recent years and are fetching high prices. Most original copies are also worn out from constant play! Twelve BEATLES classics in an uptempo early/skinhead reggae style, vocals are reminiscent of Desmond Dekker too! The origin of this band is still a mystery! A must for fans of THE AGGROLITES, and SYMARIP ! Don’t delay a minute, this limited edition one time pressing will go fast!

Tracklisting:  Let It Be / Ticket To Ride / I Want To Hold Your Hand / Michelle / Can’t Buy Me Love / The Fool On The Hill / Get Back / Yesterday / Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da / Eleanor Rigby / All My Loving / Hey Jude

 

Mad Butcher Germany: THE PIRANHAS LP reissue (1980) + GEIER STURZFLUG new LP

Geier Sturzflug is a German musical group created in 1979, playing a style of “West German New Wave” originally derived from post-punk/wave with electronic influences. Stylistically they combined rock, pop, ska, and jazz, always with cynical lyrics. They are best known for their hits “Bruttosozialprodukt” (Gross national product), “Pure Lust am Leben,” “Einsamkeit,” and “Besuchen Sie Europa.” – the first of these was number one in Germany for the entire month of May 1983. The band has stayed active over the years and returned in 2022 with an entire ska/reggae album entitled “IN DER GROSSEN” which shows signs of their 80’s new wave roots combined with a bluesy European revival ska sound (think The Busters, Braces, No Sports). A tight sound and infectious groove, highly recommended even if you don’t speak German. A pleasant surprise! Speaking of 80’s punk/ska/new wave THE PIRANHAS (UK) original album (that was shelved) has finally been re-released on vinyl (a few CD box sets exist with this material). The Piranhas formed in 1977, and were a British ska-influenced punk band from Brighton, first coming to prominence when DJ John Peel started playing their single “I Don’t Want My Body” on his BBC Radio 1 program, but achieved their biggest success with their cover version of the South African kwela song “Tom Hark”.  When “Tom Hark” became a hit the band suddenly signed to SIRE and the original album recorded for ATTRIX was shelved with much of the material re-recorded. Finally we can enjoy on vinyl this incredible and historic piece of unsung 2-Tone history!

Live Classics from THE TOASTERS! “Live At CBGB’s” (2002) LP vinyl / “Frankenska” (1989) LP vinyl

BLACK BUTCHER issues the legendary last CBGB’s set from THE TOASTERS in 2002, originally released my MVD Audio in 2015 and immediately went out of print! A great set captured professionally during the final weeks of the NYC club’s existence:  Shocker! / I’m Running Right Through The World / Shebeen / Sitting On Top Of The World / Modern World America / Mona / Can I Get Another? / Run Rudy Run / 2tone Army / Social Security. We’ve also restocked the the first ever LIVE album recorded in 1989 in London, featuring the first every appearance of COOLIE RANX on vocals, who was a temporary fill in due to the sudden departure of THRILL ME UP era singer CAVO and NENE (aka UNITY 2). Little did we know COOLIE would come back a few years later permanently. Originally issued on UNICORN records thanks to MAD BUTCHER Germany a whole new generation of ska fans gets to hear this classic on vinyl 30 years later. Limited to 500 copies. Read all about this great release at the DUFF GUIDE TO SKA.  Tracklisting:  A1 Matt Davis  A2 Weekend In L.A.  A3 Go Girl  A4 Run Rudy Run  A5 Thrill Me Up  B1 Don’t Blame Me  B2 One-Track Mind  B3 Ska Killers  B4 East Side Beat  B5 Pool Shark

Restocked: LAUREL AITKEN vinyl reissues on Black Butcher! Rare RIO & DOCTOR BIRD productions from the 60’s!

We are so proud to have these LAUREL AITKEN replica vinyl editions back in stock from Mad Butcher / Black Butcher classics! Must haves for fans of skinhead reggae, funky boogaloo soul, and Laurel’s unique style that can breath new life into pop standards. “SKA WITH LAUREL AITKEN” originally came out in 1966 on RIO UK, while the 1969 classic “SAY FIRE” originally came out on legendary imprint DOCTOR BIRD UK. We’ve also restocked the last copies of the 7 inch reissues of “Scandal In Brixton Market” and “Lawd Doctor” – essential skinhead reggae selections for the Boss DJ! Continue reading Restocked: LAUREL AITKEN vinyl reissues on Black Butcher! Rare RIO & DOCTOR BIRD productions from the 60’s!

Restocked! LAUREL AITKEN vs THE SKATALITES “Ska Titans” LP vinyl – 1999 Moon NYC classic on wax for the first time

First time on vinyl for this classic Moon Ska NYC title released in 1999 – “Ska Titans” is a wonderful collaboration between the “Godfather of Ska” Laurel Aitken and the legendary Skatalites recorded in the studio during 1996’s European Ska Splash tour – it was the first time the titans met up on record since 1964!  The album features original Skatalites Roland Alphonso, Lester Sterling, Lloyd Brevett, and Lloyd Knibb alongside longtime members Devon James, Will Clark, and Nathan Breedlove backing Aitken’s amazing vocals on a set of classics, including several Aitken originals. As an added bonus three live tracks are included, taken from the Ska Splash’s stop in Amsterdam. Continue reading Restocked! LAUREL AITKEN vs THE SKATALITES “Ska Titans” LP vinyl – 1999 Moon NYC classic on wax for the first time