Internet Info 1994 March/Internet Info CD-ROM (Walnut Creek) (March 1994).iso/answers/rec/music/ska-faq/part1

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Path: bloom-beacon.mit.edu!hookup!swrinde!sdd.hp.com!saimiri.primate.wisc.edu!news.doit.wisc.edu!news
From: [e-mail] (Tomas Charlie Willis)
Newsgroups: alt.music.ska,alt.skinheads,rec.music.info,alt.answers,rec.answers,news.answers
Subject: FAQ: Ska (alt.music.ska) Frequently Asked Questions: Part 1
Followup-To: alt.music.ska
Date: 12 Apr 1994 11:09:01 GMT
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Summary: Answers to frequently-asked questions about ska music.
Keywords: ska,rock-steady,bluebeat,FAQ,Jamaica
Xref: bloom-beacon.mit.edu alt.music.ska:3614 alt.skinheads:5957 rec.music.info:3091 alt.answers:2410 rec.answers:4846 news.answers:17955

Archive-name: music/ska-faq/part1
Last-modified: $Date: 1994/03/22 02:58:26 $
Version: $Revision: 1.2.1.1 $
URL: ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/music/ska-faq/part1

 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
              FAQ for alt.music.ska

 In response to all of those ``Isn't ska some dance form of reggae?''
 questions, I present the following historical background to the
 music we call ska, gleaned from liner notes I have lying
 about the place, various postings to alt.music.ska, and sundry
 emailings with helpful ska fans.

 This is part 1, $Revision: 1.2.1.1 $ , posted to alt.music.ska,
 rec.music.info, alt.skinheads, alt.answers, rec.answers, and news.answers.
 I plan to post this FAQ about every two weeks.

 The FAQ file is also available for anonymous ftp on the archive site
 rtfm.mit.edu as the file `pub/usenet/news.answers/music/ska-faq/part1'.

 Disclaimer:  I am not a musician, nor do I play one on TV.
 Neither am I a musical historian.  I do love ska music, so I offer this
 material unto the public domain.

 Acks:
        Michael Cancilla ([e-mail]) posted a long list
 of ska bands that I have incorporated into this FAQ.  That list has grown
 to list over 300 bands!  Mike Fragassi ([e-mail]) emailed
 me about 10k in response to my request for more info and is still at it.
 Thanks Mikes!  Thanks also to everyone else in a.m.s and other reaches of
 netspace who sent me info.

        Dance harder!
        Tomas Willis ([e-mail])

 -- zero to 24 pages in only six months  ----------------------------------

  The ska FAQ is now distributed in two sections.  Part 1 addresses
general questions and part two contains information about bands and record
labels.

                Table of Contents:
 Part 1:
 o What is ska music?
 o Where did ska come from?
 o What is _first-wave_ ska?  Second-wave ska? Third-wave ska?
 o What is ska-core?
 o What is a _rude boy_?
    + Why did Prince wear that ``Rude Boy'' button all the time?
 o What is with the narrow-brim hats, dark suits and narrow ties?  How come
        some of these ska bands look like the Blues Brothers?
 o What is skanking?
 o What about _reggae_?
 o Oi! What about skinheads?
 o Where can I hear ska on the radio?
 o Is anyone doing ska video?
 o Are there any ska movies?
 o Are there any books about ska?
 o What are some ska-related 'zines (fan-created magazines)?
 o How do I get a ska email-based mailing list?
 o Can anyone reccommend some good ska albums for someone who has absolutely
    no clue about ska?
 Part 2:
 o What are the names of some ska bands?
 o Can I write to any of these bands?
 o What are addresses of some record labels producing ska discs?
 o Are there some mail order stores that carry ska?
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

 The ska FAQ, part 1:
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Q> What is _ska_ music?

A> Ska is dance music, first and foremost.  Ska was a Jamaican dance music
that swept out of Jamaica in the early 1960s to shake the butts of
working- and middle-class Jamaicans before going on, via the West Indian
immigrant connection, to the UK, and then on to the world.  In the UK, ska
was also known as `blue beat' music.  Rocksteady, and later, reggae
sprang from the loins of ska in the late 1960s.  Mid-1970s and 1980s/1990s
revivals of this popular dance form have kept this music alive and fun
through the present.  The ska beat on drums and bass, rhythm guitar, lots
of horns and maybe a Hammond organ --- that's the ska sound.

For the musically inclined, here is a description of the rhythmic structure
of ska:
        ``Musically, Ska is a fusion of Jamaican mento rhythm with r&b,
        with the drum coming in on the 2nd and 4th beats, and the guitar
        emphasizing the up of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th beats.  The drum
        therefore is carrying the blues and swing beats of the American
        music, and the guitar expressing the mento sound.''
        [SB(JJ)]

  Brendan Tween ([e-mail]) mentions that the Skatalites frequently
used a G--Em--C--D guitar progression, while most modern ska uses a
straight 1-4-5 progression (A--D--E  C--F--G), although A--D--E9--A is
another possible progression.

Ska features a strong bass and drum rhythm section, guitars, keyboards
and brass.  _I_ say, the bigger the ska band, the better.

Q> Where did ska come from?

A> In the Caribbean island nation of Jamaica _rhythm & blues_ sounds from
the African-American experience in America were adapted by Jamaican
musicians and blended with traditional Jamaican _mento_, spiced with jazz,
as well as _ya-ya_, _calypso_ and other island sounds and cranked out of
dance hall systems and mobile sound systems mounted on huge trucks.

In the late 1950s Jamaica was about to gain independence from Great
Britain, and pioneering Jamaican record producer Clement ``Coxsone'' Dodd,
no doubt in a spirit of nationalism and a desire to get down, called on his
musicians to create a danceable uniquely Jamaican sound.  Bassist Cluet
Johnson (Clue J) ran the ``hardest-driving dance and recording band''
developing this sound in Jamaica and went about the town greeting his
friends with ``Love Skavoovie.'' [SB(JJ)] From this greeting, the name of
the music naturally developed into ``ska.''  In late 1960 and 1961 bands
recording for Dodd laid down the first truly ska tracks, distinct from
calypso, r&b, jazz and American and British pop sounds.  There developed
``a unique Jamaican jazz culture where the melody of horns fused with the
drums in a free form music which was mellifluous and rebellious.''[RAR,
p.126]  Thus, ska became Jamaica's first indigenous popular music form.  A
hit at home, ska reigned supreme in Jamaica for many years:  ``The National
Dance,'' indeed.  As many have stated in alt.music.ska, ska did not spring
into sudden existence out of nowhere.  Many of the elements of ska can be
heard in recordings from the late 1950s.  It wasn't until these were all
brought together in the Kingston scene under the influences of Coxsone,
Prince Buster, Clue J and others that ska emerged as a distinct sound.
By the time ska made its ``world debut'' at the 1964 New York World's Fair
at the the Jamaican exhibition it was an established phenomenon at home.

Ska came to England with immigrants in the early 1960s.  Known in the UK
briefly as ``Jamaican Blues,'' ska inspired the formation of the Blue Beat
record company, providing yet another name for the ska sound: `blue beat.'
Ska gained popularity in the UK with the `Mod' scene, leading to the
residual association of small-brimmed trilby (hats) and scooters with ska
music.  [HSBR]  (For scooter talk, check out the alt.scooter Usenet group.)
Trojan Records was still releasing ska hits into the UK top 10 as late as
1969 or 1970, but by that time rock-steady and reggae were waxing as ska
waned, for a while, at least.

Q> What is _first-wave_ ska?  Second-wave ska? Third-wave ska?

A> These sound like musicology terms to me.  These terms are used by some
to describe ska music coming from three different time periods separated by
gaps in the popularity of the music.  Roughly speaking, first-wave ska
began in late 1960 in Jamaica and lasted until the late 1960s in Jamaica
and England (as blue beat), by which time its popularity had declined in
favor of ska offspring rock-steady and reggae.  Seminal first-wave
Jamaican ska artists include the Skatalites, Laurel Aitken, Prince Buster,
Derrick Morgan and Desmond Dekker.  Second-wave ska flourished in the
late-1970s and very early 1980s and saw the emergence of popular groups
such as the Specials, the (English) Beat, Madness and the like in England.
Second-wave ska is strongly associated with the 2 Tone scene [1979--1981]
in the UK, as shown in the movie _Dance Craze_.  Two-tone ska is faster,
tighter and uses more horns than some older Jamaican ska.  Third-wave ska
is a late-1980s/early- 1990s revival of ska, involving such bands as Weaker
Youth Ensemble, the Allstonians, Bim Skala Bones, the Voodoo Glow Skulls,
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and The Toasters.

Q> What is ska-core?

A> Yet another label.  Ska-core is either hardcore/punk-influenced ska or
ska-influenced hardcore music.  Or a fiction. Compared to traditional ska,
ska-core is faster and harder.  Voodoo Glow Skulls and Operation Ivy are
commonly called ska-core bands.

Q> What is a _rude boy_?  Why did Prince wear that ``Rude Boy'' button all
the time?

A>  A rude boy is not just an impolite male child.  The street-cool toughs
of Kingstown, Jamaica, dressed nattily in the latest and hep-est threads
were known as `rude boys' and they ruled the Kingstown dance halls. (Read
`rude' as `chill' or `dope' or, if you are older, `cool' or `reet').  The
term spread to the UK, and was revived by second-wave ska fans in the UK.

Academic Caribbean historian Horace Campbell writes, in ``Rasta and
Resistance'':
        ``Between 1964 and 1967 a subculture of angry youths developed in
the [Jamaican] society.  Answering to the psuedonym _Rude Bwoy_ [sic] and
searching for for avenues of self-expression and recognition, these
unemployed youths were quickly integrated into the [ganga] export trade,
many of them as enforcers.
        ...these young people created terror among working people, such
that they were feared by both citizens and police.''[RAR, p. 111]
        The [bracketed] comments are mine.

Referring to Desmond Dekker's ``Rude Boy Train,'' ``007,'' and other songs
describing rude boys, `Melody Maker' defined the term as ``a sort of cool
super-hooligan.' [DD] Dekker sings:
        ``Them a loot
          Them a shoot
          Then a wail
          At Shanty Town
          When rude boy deh 'pon probation
          Then rude boy a bomb up the town.'' [DD]
Obviously, the people your mother warned you about.  Consider Jimmy Cliff's
character in the film ``The Harder They Come.''

Laurence Cane-Honeysett wrote on:

        ``From the summer of 1966, up until 1967, a whole series of records
        referring to the exploits of so-called "Rude Boys" were released in
        Jamaica.  Almost every major artist on the island recorded material
        featuring lyrics either condemning or defending the actions of the
        young men who spread mayhem across the island.  Some described the
        Rude Boys as no more than glorified hooligans, who caused trouble
        for trouble's sake, while others depicted them as heroes, akin to
        the gangsters and cowboys featured in the popular films of the day.
        To most, however, they were simply victims of the deprived social
        conditions into which they were born and subsequently raised.

        Whichever way one viewed them, the Rude Boys were an established
        part of Jamaican life and had been around long before the glut of
        releases which drew attention to there activities.  The main reason
        for the sudden interest was the explosion of violence during the
        summer of 1966, undoubtedly agitated to a large degree by the
        exceptionally hot weather.  By October, following six deaths over
        the preceding three months, the Jamaican government declared a
        state of emergency and instructed the police and military to cordon
        off the trouble zone in Kingston and enforce a 10pm to 6am curfew.

        The fact that this period coincides with one of the major
        transformations in Jamaican music is no coincidence.[sic] The
        heat which had made tempers become frayed had also made dancing to
        Ska an exhausting experience and it was a natural progression to
        slow the tempo of the music.  Eventually the rhythm slowed to such
        an extent that it became a completely new sound - Ska had been
        replaced by Rocksteady.

        By early 1967, both the weather and tempers had cooled and the Rude
        Boy theme became less frequent in song lyrics.  Over the years that
        followed, Rude Boys were rarely mentioned and despite the succes of
        Perry Hanzell's film, "The Harder They Come", which starred Jimmy
        Cliff as the doomed anti-hero, 'Ivanhoe Martin Rhygin', they
        featured only occasionally in songs such as the slicker's "Johnny
        Too Bad".

        Towards the end of the seventies, British Ska bands such as The
        Specials and Madness re-invented the image of the Rude Boy,
        presenting him as a fun-loving young man, attired in a stylish
        two-tone suit and a pork-pie hat, more akin to the Mods of the
        sixties than [to] the original Jamaican version.  The British Rude
        Boy was not to last, however, and following the demise of the Ska
        revival, he quickly vanished.  Since then, Rude Boys seem to have
        been all but forgotten outside Jamaica...until now!''[RAR2]

As for Prince, the answer is not so clear.  Maybe he likes ska.

Q> What is with the narrow-brim hats, dark suits and narrow ties?  How come
some of these ska bands look like the Blues Brothers?

A>      This is rude boy fashion from Jamaica in the 1960s.

Jamie in NYC ([e-mail]) writes:
        About ska fashion:
        Maybe the ``dark suit and pork-pie hat'' thing comes from people
        trying to look like Jerry Dammers from those old Specials album
        covers. And _he_ was probably trying to look like ``Walt Jabsco,''
        the cartoon guy from the 2 Tone label design.   And Walt was (so
        I've read) modeled after the way Peter Tosh looked on the cover
        of the _Wailing Wailers_ album from Studio One.

        So, I guess all these ``Blues Brothers'' types are actually trying
        to look like Peter Tosh from 1965!

About rude girl fashion, Alex Whitten ([e-mail]) adds:
        When I was learning about rudeness I was told that rude girls
        (depending on what era they like best) can wear:

        1.  fifties type clunky-heeled black pumps, tight to the knee (or
        mid-calf) skirts with zipper sides, tight sleeveless shirt (or
        sweater set), (typical outfit would be a white shirt and black
        skirt), dark red lipstick, dark eyes, hair shoulder-length, small
        handbag, black sunglasses (cat's eyes)

        2.  or (nowadays it seems) ... psuedo-skinchick without the Chelsea
        hairdoo.

Q> What is skanking?

A> Skanking the canonical ska dance. Being canonical doesn't make it the
only or One True ska dance; it is, however, the standard dance.  Skanking
involves angular pumping of legs and arms, with knees and elbows bent.
Mike Fragrassi (I think) described this a rythmic "herking and jerking."

The original ``official'' ska dance was called ``the ska.''  This dance
originated in Jamaica and was the dance one did at ska shows.  It is not as
punk-influence as contemporary skanking.  Jeremy D. Mushlin
([e-mail]) described it as:
        Not like jamming your elbow to your opposite knee back
        and forth, but sort of like the milk-the-cow, do the
        monkey sort of thing...

   Controversy now rages over the propriety of slamming, moshing, body-passing
and stage-diving at ska concerts.  These dances, while wildy popular with
some, are reviled by more traditional types.  However, Jay Vidheecharoen
([e-mail]) wisely points out that ``Stage diving on top
of people who are skankin' isn't too smart...''

Q> What about _reggae_?

A> Reggae music is an offshoot of ska developed in the late 1960s.  Reggae
was developed out of _rocksteady_ music, a music developed by early ska
vocalists (e.g. Laurel Aitken, Derrick Morgan, Desmond Dekker) as
audiences demanded a more ``steady'' beat [TKS] and perhaps less
all-instrumental music.  Note that many reggae stars got their start as
ska musicians.  Notable examples are Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer, Peter Tosh,
Rita Marley Anderson, Toots and the Maytals, Desmond Dekker. As the fast
beat of ska mellowed through rock-steady, it gradually led to the
creation of reggae.

Note that reggae has not always been inextricably linked to Rastafarian
culture.  The British band UB40, loosely associated with second-wave ska,
offers the following thoughts about the origins of reggae in their all-
cover tribute album, ``Labour of Love:''
      ``This is a selection of songs.  They represent an era. An era,
        after the first skinhead wave, when black boys were still rude
        boys and only hippies wore their hair long.  They represent
        reggae when it was first called by that name.  Reggae before
        it was discovered by cops, sociologists and TV producers.
        Before it was claimed by lefties, liberals, punks and rastas.
        Reggae was just another dance music and most D.J.' still
        sniggered at it.

        In those days, reggae appealed not to the intellect or the
        social conscience, but to the heart and hips.''
        [LL]

(Side note for UB40 fans:  UB40 covers Tony Tribe's 1969 version of
``Red, Red Wine,'' but this song was written by _Neil Diamond_.)

Q> Oi!  What about skanking skinheads?

A> Skinheads, originally, come out of the same culture as ska.  Just look
at early Sixties pictures of Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer ---
they have no hair!  Skinhead culture spread more widely in the late
Sixties as more and more Jamaicans went to the UK and influenced the White
youth culture there.  These old UK bald-heads were rude.  Since the first
skinheads were Blacks, it makes all those Nazi skinhead types seem pretty
ignorant, eh?  It's a good thing they are in the minority.  For more info
see the FAQ for alt.skinheads by Sid Sowder.

Q> Where can I hear ska on the radio?

A> Not enough radio shows play ska.  Here are some (sorted by call letters):

        It's a Ska, Ska, Ska, Ska World
        Hosted by Paul Sachelari
        KAMP channel 57 cablevision
        Tuscon, AZ USA
        2--3 pm, Friday

        Skaboom!
        Hosted by Michael Cancilla and ``Uncle'' Larry Rodenborn
        California Polytechnic
        KCPR-FM, 91.3
        Graphic Arts, Room 201
        San Luis Obispo, CA, 93407 USA
        (805) 756-KCPR(5277)
        5--7pm, Wednesday

        Hosted by Nicole Lapusan
        KDHX
        St. Louis, MO 63118 USA
        [phone]

        Sid Sowder ([e-mail])
        Rude Rik
        KLWD 94.3 Cable FM
        P.O. Box 9451
        College Station, TX 77840  USA

        Hosted by Dan Melendez ([e-mail])
        KSDT
        UCSD
        La Jolla, California 92093 USA

        The Rude Review
        KSPC-FM
        Claremont, CA USA
        runs during the school year

        Arm the Insane
        Hosted by Father Tom ([e-mail]) {punk, industrial and ska}
        KSUN
        Sonoma State University
        CA USA
        12--2am Wednesday

        Jeremy U (Mostly punk, but some ska.)
        KTSB
        Austin, TX USA

        The Ska Parade
        Hosted by Bradford Stein
        KUCI-FM, 88.9
        Irvine, CA USA
        12--3pm, Saturday
        featuring live on-air shows

        Skankin' Round The World
        Hosted by Mike Elliot
        KUSF-FM, 90.3
        Los Altos, CA USA
        3--5pm every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month

        Hosted by Jamie Bogner ([e-mail])
        WEVL
        Memphis, TN  USA

        Hosted by Ben ([e-mail])
        WITR-FM, 89.7
        Henrietta, NY USA
        [phone]
        They hope to have a newsletter out soon.

        Hosted by Peter "Tigger" Lunney
        WMCN-FM, 91.7
        Macalester College
        1600 Grand Ave.
        St. Paul, MN 55105 USA

        The Dougly Show, hosted by Douglas Juilen ([e-mail])
        WMEB-FM, 91.9
        P.O. Box 336
        Orono, ME  04473 USA
        9pm--12am, Wednesday

        The Sally Brown Ska Show
        Hosted by Rude Girl Voovie, with David ``Allroy'' Sarno
        WMUA-FM, 91.1
        Amherst, MA USA
        7--9:30

        The Steve and Buster Ska Show
        WMUC-FM, 88.1
        University of Maryland
        College Park, Maryland USA
        Fridaym 9am--noon

        Chuck Wren's ska show
        WNUR-FM, 89.3
        Chicago, IL USA
        9--10pm, Sundays
        (Get the WNUR ska newsletter!)

        Hosted by Matt Ferguson
        WOWL-AM, 1610
        Boca Raton, FL  USA
        6-8pm, Tuesdays

        Hosted by Chris Terry
        WRST-FM, 90.0
        Oshkosh, Wisconsin USA
        Tues. 2-5 am, Sat. 7-10 pm


        Hosted by Pat O'Connor ([e-mail]) and others
        WRUV-FM, 90.1
        University of Vermont
        Burlington, VT 05405  USA
        Saturday Mornings 9:30-12, Sundays 6-8PM
        (Half ska/half punk)

        WRUW-FM, 91.1
        Cleveland, OH USA
        Hosted by Marla S. Lender
        12--3pm
        Hosted by Riot Grrg ([e-mail] (Gregory D. Lyle))
        11pm Sunday

        Hosted by Bob Stone
        WSKB
        Westfield, MA USA

        The Ska Hour
        Hosted by Todd Strauss and Steve Ensdorf
        WSPN-FM, 91.1
        Skidmore College
        Saratoga Springs, NY USA
        12--1 am Wednesdays

        Rock Steady Columbia
        Hosted by Brian Proust (aka Roland Bonner) and Robbie van Winkle
        WUSC-FM, 90.5
        Columbia, SC USA
        5--6pm Sundays

        Saturday Sunsplash Special
        Hosted by John A. Sullivan ([e-mail])
        WVYC-FM, 88.1
        York, PA
        7--10pm.
        Mostly reggae, but some ska.

        Ska on Boston College Radio
        90.3-FM
        Boston, MA USA
        5--6pm, Thursday (during the school year)

        Kickin' Skalistics
        Hosted by Jesse Miner
        Macalester College (?)
        St. Paul, MN USA

        Hosted by Lindsey Close
        Mount Holyoke College
        P.O. Box 1579
        South Hadley, MA 01075  USA


        Train to Skaville
        Hosted by Brian Thomsic
        88.3 FM
        University of Michigan
        Ann Arbor, Michigan USA
        Tuesday 7-8pm



Q> Is anyone doing ska video?

A> Yes.  Bradford Stein has finished a West Coast ska-umentary called ``The
Ska Parade.'' The 30 minute video includes interviews and performances of
Let's Go Bowling, Donkey Show, Skeletones and Jump With Joey.  [RPM]
  Contact him at
        A to Y Productions
        25 Via Lucca, Apt. G 112
        Ervine, CA 92715 USA

  Recently, Aldis Strazdins started a new ska documentary, focusing on
Midwestern (US) ska bands, called ``Last Train:  Ska in the Heartland.''
The Pacers, the Elevators, Lot Boy Steele and Weaker Youth Ensemble are
expected to appear, at least.  You can contact [e-mail].
More news as it develops.

Q> Are there any feature-length ska movies?

A> Yes.  There is a great concert film by Joe Massot about ska in 1980
Britain called `Dance Craze.' It features live footage of Bad Manners, The
(English) Beak, The Bodysnatchers, Madness, The Specials, The Selecter.
Rico Rodriques, trombonist from the Skatalites, plays horns with The
Specials.  You can order the video from Beat Hotel Records,
3022 W.  12 Mile Rd., Berkely, MI, 48072 USA, [phone] (and probably
other places, too).

   In the beach-blanket revival film with Annette Funicello, ``Back to the
Beach,'' Fishbone backs Annette singing ``Jamaican Ska (Do the Ska)'' and
the beach crowd skanks away (sort of).


Q> Are there any books about ska?

A> Here are some mentioned on the net.

[The info is sketchy, so if you have more complete infomation, please send
it to me.  Tomas]

``The Two Tone Book For Rude Boys,'' about the 1979--1981 British ska
scene.

``The Two Tone Story,'' (possibly) by George Marshall.  (Available from
Moon Records.)

``Skinheads,'' has some info on ska.  An American printing from 1986 was
mentioned.

``Complete Madness'' is about the band Madness. (Available from Moon
Records.)

Also, Campbell recommends the two-part series called ``Blue Beat and Ska,''
Melody Maker, May 12 and May 19, 1979, London. [RAR]


Q> What are some ska-related 'zines (fan-created magazines)?

A> Here is the info I have:

Carla Ronci Scooter Zine:
        Chris Tharp sent me the following note about this new zine:
        ``You see, me and R.S. (resident skinhead)
have begun a scooter zine that is chalk full of ska stuff like interviews
with the skatterbrains and King Apparatus.  Our main focus is on scooters;
however, ska is an essential component of the Carla Ronci Scooter Zine
(who's Carla Ronci? she may become the patron saint of the scooter).''
        Want more Info? Contact 3135408@[e-mail] or
                Chris Tharp ([e-mail]).
FBI:
        A 'zine that I have only sketchy info about is:
        F.B.I.
        c/o Marc T
        AP Co 19170
        08080 Barcelona, Spain
        $25 a year.

Hot Shot:
        Another 'zine that I have only sketchy info about is:
        Hot Shot
        c/o Dudley
        86 Ninian Road
        Roath, Cardiff CF2 5EP, UK

The Incognito Review:
        Mike F.  sez:  ``About 24 pages of text & pictures, well laid out.
Good reviews section.  Radio show, zine, and band addresses; lots of band
interviews.''
        The Incognito Review,
        P.O. Box 1091, Palatine, IL 60078
        Within the USA: $2/issue, $8/year
        Outside the USA: $3/issue, $12/year.

James Bond:
        Another 'zine that I have only sketchy info about is:
        James Bond
        c/o Apartado de Correos 1106
        08204 Sabadell, Spain

Mad Planet:
        Mad Planet (by Sarah Dyer)
        New York
        543 Van Duzer Street
        Staten Island, NY 10304
        $1, approximately tri-monthly

Monkey Man:
        (See the the next section!)

Moo Juice:
        A newsletter --- not quite sure it's even ska.
        Moo Juice
        1353 N. Ashland Ave Apt 2D
        Chicago,IL 60622

Moon Records Newsletter:
        Moon Records of NYC has a newsletter/catalog.  Send a SASE for the
newsletter to:
        Moon Records
        P.O. Box 1412
        Cooper Station
        New York, NY 10276 USA

The Nutcase:
        Another 'zine that I have only sketchy info about is:
        The Nutcase
        c/o Lecureuil Paskal
        61 Rue Des Forges
        44330 Vallet, France
        - write for info, include SASE.

Rocksteady Columbia Newsletter:
        This is the newsletter of the WUSC ska show of Robbie Van Winkle &
        Roland Bonner.
        Rocksteady Columbia newsletter
        1035 Comanchee Trail, Apt. K-2,
        W. Columbia, SC 29169

Pirate Corp$:
        `Pirate Corp$' is the one and only ska comic book, by Evan Dorkin.

Pulp:
        `Pulp' is the new and improved hardcopy version of `RPM,' by
Dave ``Allroy'' Sarno.  `Pulp' will remain based on ska, but will expand to cover a wider
variety of music.  He is also offering a 7'' ska record club.  You can
reach Allroy at:
        PULP
        P.O. Box 2771
        Amherst, MA 01004
Also, he has started a SKA HOTLINE.  The number is [phone].  You can
also leave me a message about shows in your area, and he will incorporate
them.

RPM:
        Currently available, and electronically distributed is a skazine
called `RPM.' It has been posted to alt.skinhead by David ``Allroy'' Sarno
([e-mail]) and is chock full of reviews from fans from all
over.  Get it.  You can also reach Allroy at
        P.O. Box 2771
        Amherst, MA 01004

Rude:
        Another 'zine that I have only sketchy info about is:
        Rude
        26a Craven Rd
        Newbury, Berks, RG14 5NE, UK
        - $10 USA for 5 issues

Rude Review:
        Absolutely no info here but the address.
        Rude Review
        2340 Craine, Kalamazoo, MI 49001

Rudies Revenge:
        ``California's Premier Skazine.'' The premier issue features reviews, a clendar section with the
latest California dates, culture reviews, more, and more...anyways.  It's
ten pages long and will be available at California music and clothing
stores and wherever.
    The staff of ``Rudies Revenge'' ask:
     ``Also, if you're in a band or in the know about one, send us your
        press kit/demo and we'll guarantee a review.  We'd also greatly
        appreciate it if you sent us your upcoming tour dates in
        California.  The deadline for the April issue is March 20th.  We
        also welcome your articles/reviews/whatever, though our focus is
        ska in California (as far as culture/happenings are concerned.
        Global in music, obviously.)''
    Either email Sally Brown ([e-mail]) or mail the ed-in-chief at
        Rudies Revenge Skazine
        James Fitzgerald, Ed-In-Chief
        5210 East 25th Street
        Long Beach, CA 90815
        [phone]

Skaville Times:
        According to Richard Atkinson ([e-mail]),
        you can get the the Skaville Times by sending a 29c stamp or IRC
        coupon to the address below.  The April edition will go to press on
        Wednesday, March 23rd and be mailed on Monday, March 28th.  The
        newspaper consists of one 11x17" broadsheet with ska and scooter
        news from around the country, and one 8.5x11" insert with a
        full-page illustration and show dates.

        The address is:
          The Skaville Times
          2500 Flintridge Place
          Fort Collins, CO  80521

Skinhead Times:
        By George Marshall.  $1.00.  Available from Moon Records.

Tighten Up:
        A ska and oi ``skinzine''
        Tighten Up
        c/o Udo Vogt
        Haupstr 144
        W-5102
        Wurselen  GERMANY
        Subscription costs $4 and 2 International Reply Coupons

Skactualities:
        Another 'zine that I have only sketchy info about is:
        Skactualities
        c/o Frederic Dornier
        Edenhall N.H.
        11 Lyndhurst Gardens,
        London NW3 5NS, UK
        - $6 per issue.

The Ska Flame:
        Another 'zine that I have only sketchy info about is:
        The Ska Flame
        Unit 7
        Cable St. Wook
        Cable St.
        Notham, Southampton,
        Hants, SO1 1RJ, UK

Skankersore:
        Another 'zine that I have only sketchy info about is:
        Skankersore
        96 Woodhill Rd
        Newtown, PA 19840, USA

Skalicious:
        Another 'zine that I have only sketchy info about is:
        Skalicious
        5352 Woodford Dr.
        Birmingham AL 35242, USA

Watch Your Step:
        Another 'zine that I have only sketchy info about is:
        Watch Your Step
        Get Smart Productions
        191 Fifth Ave, apt 2-L
        Brooklyn, NY 11217
        - uncertain schedule

WNUR Ska Newsletter:
     This skazine has no set schedule and it comes out every 2--3 months.
It is about 1--2 dense pages of new release and reissue information,
plus concert news for the Chicago area.
        WNUR Ska Newsletter
        (aka Searching (for Ska!))
        c/o Chuck Wren,
        WNUR 89.3-FM
        1905 Sheridan Rd.
        Evanston, IL  60208, USA
        - Price:  Free.  Outside of the USA, send a few SASEs.

Work Rest and Play:
        Work Rest and Play
        1 Clonard Road, Sandyford Road
        Dublin 16, Ireland
        - 5 pounds for some (?) issues

Zoot:
        One skazine named `Zoot' apparently went out of business a few
years ago.

Mike Fragassi ([e-mail]), who supplied much of this
info advises:
             I have personally not yet tried any of these, except for the
        WNUR newsletter, from which I have gotten the addresses of all of
        the rest. Some of these seem to be info-sheets for a given band.
        Others are more comprehensive (Rude & F.B.I., for instance, are
        highly recommended).  All zines should be assumed to be written
        in the language of the country they come from.  Prices are the most
        recent info, again obtained from Chuck Wren's newsletter; neither me
        nor he nor anyone who handed you a copy of this FAQ are responsible
        for mail screw-ups or unreturned money; if in doubt, send a SASE first.

Q> How do I get a ska email-based mailing list?

A> ``Monkey Man,'' The EMail Ska Distribution list, is available from
Joel Eisner.  Joel's hopes for ``Monkey Man'' are:
        The sole purpose of the newsletter is to unite people interested
        in SKA and the SKA culture, past and present, since the popular
        media time and time again over looks this important musical
        form.
        Finally, I only ask three things:
                1. Send me your e-mail address (if I don't have it)
                2. Send some e-mail  (I am not going to write this whole thing alone)
                3. Spread the word
        Thank you,
        Joel Eisner  ([e-mail])
        1223 Capitol Ct
        Madison, WI  53715

Already over 100 people are signed up.  Contact Joel and get involved today.
Tell your Usenet-less friends!

Q> Can anyone reccommend some good ska albums for someone who has absolutely
no clue about ska?

A> Here are a few choice titles, with an emphasis on compilations, so that
you can get a feeling for a lot of artists all at once.  Thanks to
Evan M Corcoran ([e-mail]) for some of this info.
Evan also maintains a more comprehensive list of ska albums that
is periodially posted to alt.music.ska --- check it out.

 ``This Are 2 Tone,'' Various Artists, Chrysalis Records.

 ``Ska Bonanza: The Studio One Years,'' Various Artists, Heartbeat
    CD: HB 86/87, (1992). The contents:
       ``Nimble Foot Ska'', The Skatalites
       ``Spred Satin'', The Skatalites
       ``Arte Bella'', Ken Boothe and Stranger Cole
       ``Streets Of Gold'', Roland Alphonso + The Soul Vendors
       ``A De Pon Dem'', Rita Marley + The Wailers
       ``Black Sunday'', The Skatalites
       ``Don't Want Your Loving'', Cornell Campbell
       ``Old Fowl Ska'', Roland Alphonso
       ``Enna Bella'', Eric "Monty" Morris
       ``Jezebel'', Owen Grey with Clue J + His Blues Blasters
       ``Always On A Sunday'', Frank Anderson + Tommy McCook
       ``Sugar Bag'', Lee Perry
       ``Settle Down'', Lester Sterling, Johnnie Moore, and Tommy McCook
       ``Turn Me On'', The Checkmates
       ``When The Well Runs Dry'', Bunny and Skitter
       ``Wheel And Turn'', Frank Anderson + Tommy McCook
       ``Oceans 11'', Cecil Lloyd + Roland Alphonso
       ``Over The River'', The Jiving Juniors
       ``My Heaven'', Alton Ellis + Eddie Parkins with Aubrey Adams +
                   The Dewdroppers
       ``Set Back (Just Cool)'', Roland Alphonso + Carroll McLaughlin
       ``Du Du Wap'', Chuck Josephs + Dobby Dobson with Aubrey Adams
       ``Don Cosmic'', Don Drummond + His Group
       ``Man In The Street'', Don Drummond
       ``Simmer Down'', Bob Marley + The Wailers
       ``Shining Light'', Toots + The Maytals
       ``Push Wood'', Jackie Opel
       ``Wonder No More'', Andy + Joey
       ``Bongo Tango'', Roland Alphonso
       ``Sucu Sucu'', Roland Alphonso
       ``20.75'', Roland Alphonso
       ``Stop Making Love'', The Gaylads
       ``How Many Times (Do You Remember)'', Bob Marley + The Wailers
       ``Roll On Sweet Don (Heaven And Hell)'', Don Drummond +
                                             Roland Alphonso
       ``Sit Down Servant'', Jackie Opel
       ``Go Jimmy Go'', Bob Marley + The Wailers
       ``Stew Peas And Cornflakes'', Aubrey Adams + Rico Rodriguez
       ``Answer Me My Darling'', Derrick Harriot
       ``River Jordan'', Clancy Eccles with Hersang + The City Slickers
       ``Salt Lane Shuffle'', Clue J + His Blues Blasters
       ``Jeannie Girl'', The Charmers
       ``Lonely Moments'', Lascelles Perkins with Clue J + His Blues


 ``Celebration: Twenty Five Years Of Trojan Records,'' Various Artists,
    Trojan Records CDTRD 413, (1991).

 ``The History of Ska, Blue Beat and Reggae,'' Various Artists,
    Esoldun S.A.R.L./Blue Beat REG 101, (1992).

  ``Intensified! Original Ska 1962-66,'' Various Artists, Mango
     Records ZCM 9524. The contents:
       ``El Pussy Cat,'' Roland Alphonso.
       ``Solomon Gundie,'' Eric Morris.
       ``Teenage Ska,'' Baba Brooks.
       ``Carry Go Bring Come,'' The Charms.
       ``Duck Soup,'' Baba Brooks.
       ``Rukumbine,'' Shenley Duffus.
       ``Stampede,'' Don Drummond + Drumbago.
       ``Independent Anniversary Ska,'' The Skatalites.
       ``John + James,'' The Maytals.
       ``Rocket Ship,'' Tommy McCook.
       ``We Are Rolling,'' Stranger Cole.
       ``James Bond,'' Roland Alphonso.
       ``Housewife's Choice,'' Derrick + Patsy.
       ``University Goes Ska,'' Don Drummond.
       ``Penny Reel,'' Eric Morris.
       ``The Higher The Monkey Climbs,'' Justin Hines.

  ``Mashin' Up the Nation, Volumes I & II,'' Various Artists, Moon Records.

  ``One Original Step Beyond,'' Various Artists, Castle Communications
     CTVCD 115 (cd), CTVMC 115 (cassette), CTVLP 115 (lp).
     The contents include:
        ``One Step Beyond,'' ``Judge Dread,''
            ``Madness,'' ``Al Capone,'' Prince Buster.
        ``Oh Carolina,''  The Folkes Brothers.
        ``Message to You Rudie,'' Dandy.
        ``Red Red Wine,'' Tone Tribe.
        ``Madness,'' Prince Buster.
        ``One Love,'' Bob Marly and Wailers.
        ``Skinhead Moonstomp,'' Symarip.
        ``Guns of Navarone,'' The Skatalites.
        ``OK Fred,'' John Holts.
        ``Easy Snappin','' Theophilus Beckford.

     ``The Real Jamaica - SKA,'' Various artists, Epic Records,
        EK 52724. The contents:
       ``Ska All Over the World'', Jimmy Cliff
       ``Little Miss Princess'', Lord Creator
       ``You Are the One'', Winston Samuel
       ``No One'', The Techniques
       ``Golden Love'', Lord Creator
       ``Angela'', Winston Samuel
       ``Man to Man'', Lord Creator
       ``Time After Time'', The Charmers
       ``Don't Stay Out Late'', Lord Creator
       ``Remember I Told You'', The Techniques
       ``Trust No Man'', Jimmy Cliff
       ``Misery'', The Charmers



Recommended Reading:
        The liner notes to [SB] are particularly rich, with extensive text
and great photographs.  Also, the notes for [C25] and [DD] are quite
informational.

        Also, check into the alt.skinheads and rec.music.reggae Usenet
groups for related topics.

        There is a glossary of Jamaican terms and idioms in the book ``The
Harder They Come'', by Michael Thelwell (Grove Press, NY, or Pluto Press,
London, 1980).  More etymological information is available in ``Dictionary
of Jamaican English, by F.  G.  Cassidy and R.  B.  Le Page (Oxford
University Press).

Cited Sources:
[SB] ``Ska Bonanza: The Studio One Years,'' Various Artists, Heartbeat
        CD: HB 86/87, (1992).  Liner notes by Julian Jingles (JJ) and
        Chris Wilson (CW).
[C25] ``Celebration: Twenty Five Years Of Trojan Records,'' Various Artists,
        Trojan Records CDTRD 413, (1991).  Liner notes by Laurence
        Cane-Honeysett.
[DD] ``The Best of Desmond Dekker: Rockin' Steady,'' Desmond Dekker,
        Rhino Records R2 70271, (1992).  Liner notes by Harry Young.
[LL] ``Labour of Love,'' UB40, Virgin/A&M Records, CD4980, (1983).
       Liner notes by the band.
[HSBR] ``The History of Ska, Blue Beat and Reggae,'' Various Artists,
        Esoldun S.A.R.L./Blue Beat REG 101, (1992).  Liner notes by
        Delroy Sion Eccles.
[TKS] ``Two Knights of Ska: Derrick and Laurel,'' Derrick Morgan and
        Laurel Aitken, Unicorn Records PHZD-61, (1992).  Liner notes
        anonymous.
[RAR] ``Rasta and Resistance,'' by Horace Campbell, Africa World Press,
        Inc., P.O. Box 1892, Trenton, New Jersey 08607, USA, (1987).
[RAR2] ``Rudies All Round,'' Trojan Records, CDTRL 322. Liner notes by
        Laurence Cane-Honeysett, (1993).
[RPM] ``RPM'' A Ska museletter.  (See the fanzine section.)

Uncited Sources:
[AMS]  alt.music.ska, various postings. This has become the largest source
        of info for this FAQ.

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