Great music, the English call it Two-Tone because the bands there usually wore a lot of black and white.
I loved SKA in college; The Specials, English Beat, Madness (pre-OurHouse days).
To me it represents a popular compromise between the ‘Western’ and the post-colonial that could have actually worked; but, alas, racial politics must intrude, post 60’s. So ultimately SKA failed.
Never got into Ska. My favorite Jamaican album is “The Harder They Come.” Wonderfully crude recordings full of soul. “Walkin’ down the road, with a ratchet in your waist, Johnny you’re too bad!” When they started to get into studios in Florida, and heavy production, they made music that sucked! Couldn’t stand the later Marley stuff, although his early music, recorded in garage studios was fun!
When I first heard this, I thought it was Fats Domino singing. Al T. Joe was also known as Jamaica Fats.
Must have missed that.
But I did propose that Giuliani make this one his campaign song:
Ping