British 2-Tone ska punk band THE TALKS formed in 2006 and had the distinct honor of opening for The Specials on their 30th anniversary tour way back in 2009. Their albums are a smorgasbord of catchy tunes, well crafted engaging songs that fit extraordinarily well within the confines of ska’s structural boundaries. We’be restocked their classic album from 2015 released on Grover Records in Germany, a must for fans of Buster Shuffle, classic 2-Tone. and modern American third wave ska. Inspired by bands like The Clash, The Specials, and Redskins, Germany’s T-KILLAS released their debut album in 2014 full of energetic 2-Tone ska mixed with a heavy dose of mod, garage, and punk. It’s fast, snotty and cheeky, with lots of guitar and organ as well as a dominant saxophone that brings to mind many of the European bands from the early 90’s ska explosion. Fans of Hellcat Records will also dig! In 2020, after a 6 year wait, the second album “Awareness” was dropped on Grover Records! British traditional ska band INTENSIFIED released “Yard Shaker” in 1997, and to this day it stands as one of the best 60’s inspired Jamaican ska albums of the decade, on par with HEPCAT, The Articles, Scofflaws, etc. Listen to the cut “FAT CAT” from this album and the comparisons to HEPCAT jump out at ya! This limited white vinyl re-press with fold around sleeve won’t be around for long!!!!
Tag: UK
Restocked: THE HOTKNIVES early LP vinyl must haves! UK 2-TONE revival SKA!
It’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.
Restock! MAROON TOWN “Freedom Call” LP
The latest import from BRIXTON RECORDS in Spain has arrived, the brand new album from UK ska legends MAROON TOWN, who were formed in the mid 80’s and created a fantastic sonic cocktail of Jamaican ska, Latin/World rhythms, hip hop vocals and modern acid jazz funky/soul styles. Maroon Town’s classic early material was featured on over 45 compilations, including releases on top European revival imprints Staccato, Unicorn, and Skank. One of our all all time favorite albums from that time was “HIGH AND DRY”, songs like “NOSTALGIA” and “POUND TO THE DOLLAR” are stone cold hip hop ska classics! That energy and feel is back in full force on this brand new album “FREEDOM CALL” – a must have for old and new fans alike!
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
THE BAKESYS “Sentences I’d Like To Hear The End Of” LP – debut vinyl release for UK ska lifers!
BRAND NEW 2022! One of the UK’s leading ska & reggae exponents THE BAKESYS return with their third album release titled SENTENCES I’D LIKE TO HEAR THE END OF. Having kicked out a storming 2 tone meets power pop sound with album number one & ploughed a darker anti-establishment reggae vibe with album number two, for their third long player THE BAKESYS decided to head back to the 1960’s for inspiration. “SENTENCES…” takes the sweaty heave-hoe chugging rhythm of authentic 60’s Jamaican ska & fuses it with 80’s & 90’s drum loops & an avalanche of brass, synth, drum & vocal samples to deliver a unique & highly contagious sound. It’s a mix of 2-TONE, roots reggae, trip-hop, sample-based electronica and modern UK bass culture. One you listen you’ll be instantly hooked – and we are quite sure there’s nothing in your LP collection that sounds quite like this! Lyrically the album digs deep into the 1960’s and covers events & characters that helped to define the decade. There are tales of Christine Keeler, Fidel Castro, Bobby Kennedy & Cassius Clay, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin & Yuri Gagarin. And tales of the Berlin Wall & the global fear of nuclear war! Limited edition of 350, including a very limited batch of white vinyl copies with silver “space suit” foil labels. Check out the great review at DUFF GUIDE TO SKA! NOTE: This will be sent to our LP subscription club members!
KING HAMMOND “The Beat Is Blue” LP vinyl {OUT OF PRINT}
KING HAMMOND is Nick Welsh. He is a musician, producer, and songwriter from the United Kingdom. He is by far one of the most prolific ska/reggae musicians on either side of the pond, his resume includes PRINCE BUSTER, LAUREL AITKEN, DAVE BARKER, RICO RODRIGUEZ, and JUDGE DREAD. Nick also played on LEE ‘SCRATCH’ PERRY’S Grammy Award winning album “Jamaican ET’. As a bassist and song writer in BAD MANNERS and THE SELECTER, he was integral to both band’s post 2-TONE success. Continue reading KING HAMMOND “The Beat Is Blue” LP vinyl {OUT OF PRINT}
MEOW MEOWS “Go Boom” LP vinyl {OUT OF PRINT}
If you haven’t picked up a MEOW MEOWS record yet….what on earth are you waiting for?? This English band has been a touring monster, their high energy 2-TONE ska brings to mind the DANCE HALL CRASHERS and THE SPECIALS!! Comparisons to THE SKINTS and HOLLIE COOK also are immediate – guess it’s that British accented sultry female wordplay? We fell in love with their first album “SOMEHOW WE MET” – of course immediately putting it to wax! A year or so later we released the limited “Friends on Benefits” 7″ EP …but we are so proud to say that thie brilliant new album is HERE on vinyl! We found this amazing write up from Brightonpost.com – we couldn’t descrive the album any better – so here it is!! Continue reading MEOW MEOWS “Go Boom” LP vinyl {OUT OF PRINT}
MEOW MEOWS “Friends On Benefits” 7″ EP (OUT OF PRINT)
What has UK ska darlings MEOW MEOWS been up to recently? Well, they’ve got a brand new 3 track 7” single called “FRIENDS ON BENEFITS” on JUMP UP RECORDS! Of course it’s a fantastic mix of 2 TONE ska and garage rock lead by a female vocal force, drawing comparisons to a wide range of artists like THE SKINTS, HOLLIE COOK, THE SELECTER, and DANCE HALL CRASHERS! But the origins of the title track is truly fascinating! Read on below! Continue reading MEOW MEOWS “Friends On Benefits” 7″ EP (OUT OF PRINT)
MEOW MEOWS “Somehow We Met” LP (OUT OF PRINT)
Are you looking for a new high energy 2-TONE ska band that brings to mind the DANCE HALL CRASHERS and THE SPECIALS? We’ve got your new favorite band: MEOW MEOWS! In the three years since their debut they have earned rave reviews touring the UK and supporting some of 2 TONE’s biggest names! Producer Mike “PRINCE FATTY” Pelanconi (SKINTS, GRAHAM COXON, HOLLIE COOK) locked the band in his Brighton-based Ironworks studio to capture the raucous energy of their live shows which have made them firm festival favorites. The twelve brand new sixties-tinged tracks blend ska, reggae and garage rock to create an upbeat summer soundtrack. BLACK VINYL COPIES REMAIN.
Continue reading MEOW MEOWS “Somehow We Met” LP (OUT OF PRINT)
