During the early 1960's, the sound of ska exploded upon Jamaica's musical landscape, with the driving dynamic sound championed by arguably the greatest ensemble of musicians ever to have performed and recorded on the island. Fronted by legendary saxophonist Tommy McCook, The Skatalites also comprised a veritable who's who of Kingston-based performers, their number including trombonist Don Drummond, tenor saxman Roland Alphonso, drumming supremo Lloyd Knibb and keyboard prodigy Jackie Mittoo. Following their creation in the summer of '64, this powerhouse instrumental combo dominated the island's music industry for 18 glorious months, the very best of their work produced by famed Treasure Isle Records boss, Arthur 'Duke' Reid.
1 (Music Is) My Occupation - By Don Drummond, Tommy McCook & the Skatalites
2 Alley Cat Ska - By Tommy McCook & the Baba Brooks Band
3 Cool Smoke - By Don Drummond & the Skatalites
4 Garden of Love - By Don Drummond & the Skatalites
5 Twelve Minutes to Go - By Tommy McCook & the Skatalites
6 Girls Town Ska - By the Baba Brooks Band
7 Vitamin a - By the Baba Brooks Band
- Disc 2 -
1 Latin Goes Ska - By Lester Sterling & the Skatalites
2 Alipang (Alley Pon) - By Roland Alphonso, Don Drummond & the Skatalites
3 Lucky Seven - By Don Drummond & Baba Brooks
4 Musical Store Room - By Frank Anderson, Don Drummond & the Skatalites
5 Musical Communion (Sly Mongoose) - By Baba Brooks
6 Sandy Gully - By Roland Alphonso & the Skatalites
7 Doctor Dekker - By Don Drummond & the Baba Brooks Band
- Disc 3 -
1 Nuclear Weapon - By Roland Alphonso & the Baba Brooks Band
2 Corner Stone (A Trip to Mars) - By Roland Alphonso & the Skatalites
3 Knockout Punch (Cotton Tree) - By Baba Brooks & Don Drummond
4 Don de Lion - By Don Drummond & the Skatalites
5 Rocket Ship - By Tommy McCook & the Skatalites
6 Feeling Fine - By Roland Alphonso & the Skatalites
7 Mesopotamia - By Don Drummond & the Skatalites
- Disc 4 -
1 Eastern Standard Time - By Don Drummond & the Skatalites
2 Thoroughfare (Treasure Isle) - By Don Drummond & the Skatalites
3 Silver Dollar - By Don Drummond, Roland Alphonso & the Skatalites
4 Street Corner
5 University Goes Ska - By Don Drummond
6 Good News
7 J.F.K.'s Memory - By Don Drummond & Tommy McCook
During the early 1960's, the sound of ska exploded upon Jamaica's musical landscape, with the driving dynamic sound championed by arguably the greatest ensemble of musicians ever to have performed and recorded on the island. Fronted by legendary saxophonist Tommy McCook, The Skatalites also comprised a veritable who's who of Kingston-based performers, their number including trombonist Don Drummond, tenor saxman Roland Alphonso, drumming supremo Lloyd Knibb and keyboard prodigy Jackie Mittoo. Following their creation in the summer of '64, this powerhouse instrumental combo dominated the island's music industry for 18 glorious months, the very best of their work produced by famed Treasure Isle Records boss, Arthur 'Duke' Reid.
