LIQUIDATOR TALKS REGGAE

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100 GREATEST ROCKSTEADY TUNES

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THE SKATALITES STORY

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HIS STORY OF US SKA

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Phoenix City All-Stars to Release Debut Collection, A Tribute to Two Tone

By Lawless On August 6, 2012 · 1 Comment

The Phoenix City All-stars present a truly unique celebration of one of Britain’s most iconic labels in this year of the Olympics and Jamaica’s 50th year of independence celebrations. That’s a somewhat apt description of their debut album Two Tone Gone Ska soon to be released on Sean Flowerdew’s Phoenix City Records label.

As we mentioned before the group reinterprets songs by The Specials, Madness, The Beat, Elvis Costello and The Selecter in a more traditional 60′s Skatalites style sound. Guest vocalists featured on the upcoming release include Dave Barker (the voice of Dave & Ansell Collins) and AJ Franklin (The Federals and The Chosen Few).

The band will release a limited edition numbered 250 unit LP on Sept 3rd as well as digital and CD versions of the collection.

While I dislike the name of the album as I always thought the music from the black and white checkered label from the mind of Jerry Dammers that blanketed the UK in the late 70′s and early 80′s was always Ska – the title just makes me cringe cause it sounds like one of those cheesy comps like Metal Goes Ska – the video and sounds coming from this true all-star collective featured on the album sound oh so sweet.

United Reggae posted back in February songs included on the release include re-workings of The Specials’ “Too Much Too Young”, which was originally based around Lloydie & The Lowbites’ “Birth Control”, “Stereotype” and the iconic “Ghost Town”, then there is The Selecter’s self-titled theme song, originally the B-side to The Specials’ “Gangsters” and a version of Elvis Costello’s “I Can’t Stand Up For Falling Down”, a 2-Tone rarity as it was given away free a gigs after publishing issues, featuring Mr Barker on vocal duties.

Here’s the preview video clip from Cherry Red & Phoenix City!