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FORUM DISCUSSIONS
LAUREL AITKEN - THE GODFATHER OF SKA ANTHOLOGY  Laurel Aitken"The Godfather of Ska Anthology" Pressure Drop (n/a) File under Ska and Reggae For further details and full tracklisting click here The Godfather of Ska collection reviewed. The Godfather is right! From the very beginning of the Jamaican recording industry Laurel Aitken was there, cutting ground-breaking JA Boogie, mento, ska and R&B sides for Kalypso, Island and Duke Reid. Upon his relocation to the UK in the winter of 1960/61 he quickly became a name and frontrunner in the Caribbean music scene cutting sides for Emil Shalit’s nascent Blue Beat imprint.
In the years following Aitken cut dozens of sides for any number of labels including Nu-Beat, Rio, Rainbow, Dice, Camel, Black Swan, Pama, Doctor Bird, Horse and even Secret Affair’s I-Spy imprint. This marvelous double-disc helper bravely (and successfully I might add) attempts to collect some of Laurel’s greatest moments together so that we may continue to enjoy the music of one of the Caribbean’s (Aitken was actually born in Cuba) greatest musical exports. Each disc covers a specific period with disc one encompassing the years 1957-1967 and his mento to rocksteady era. Included here we find his classic early recordings like the mento-rific 'Nebuchenezer', 'Baba Kill Me Goat', the pure, raw, basic JA Boogie power of 'Boogie Rock', 'Boogie in My Bones' and 'Mary Lee'. The ska comes chugging like an old steam engine on the great 'Judgement Day' from 1960, 'Freedom Train' from 1963 and the jocular 'Bachelor Life'. Disc two captures Aitken’s career from 1969 to 1989 and his considerable importance and musical influence on the skinhead, rude boy and ska-revival scenes. You want rude? Try 'Pussy Price Gone Up' or 'Fire (In Your Wire)'. Raw, simple, funky boss sounds? Then grab a coke and crack a joke to 'Skinhead Train' or the jumping 'Jesse James'. During the Two-Tone era Laurel was signed to Secret Affair’s I-Spy imprint and was backed by the legendary Ruts for his slick and superb 'Rudi Got Married'. The tail end of the 80s saw Aitken working regularly with the Pressure Tenants and Potato 5 which is where this recorded collection ends. Aitken continued to work and record right up until his death in 2005. This release was compiled, co-ordinated and annotated by noted reggae historian Laurence Cane-Honeysett and I for one can’t think of a better man for the job. A fantastic collection and highly recommended. |
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