Sounds

Ska La-Rama – Treasure Isle Ska 1965-1966 CD set

Ska La-Rama – Treasure Isle Ska 1965-1966 CD set
Ska La-Rama – Treasure Isle Ska 1965-1966 CD set (image credit: Dr Bird)
Note that I independently write and research everything in this article. But it may contain affiliate links.

A mix of the known and the lesser-known within this Ska La-Rama – Treasure Isle Ska 1965-1966 CD set, which lands in June.

By that, I mean there are tracks that have been given plenty of airplay in the past as well as songs that haven’t been released in the past. 20 of the latter, to be precise. That should appeal to newcomers and collectors alike.

But at its heart is the music of Duke Reid’s legendary Treasure Isle label and specifically, the recordings from the mid 1960s.

The first of the discs brings together many of the producer’s best-known recordings from 1965, with all of the material making its debut on the Doctor Bird label.

The second CD is the rare recordings section from the Treasure Isle vaults, with 20 of the tracks previously unreleased. Other compilations from others eras will follow but if you love your mid-60s ska, this is well worth a look.

CD only as far as I can see, with a price of £12.99. It lands on 17th June and is available to pre-order now at Rough Trade or Amazon.

Track Listing:

DISC ONE:

FROM THE CHARTS
1 Ska La Rama – Lyn Taitt & The Comets
2 Renegade – The Zodiacs
3 Independent Ska (Pussy Cat) – Baba Brooks & His Band
4 Around The Corner – Derrick Morgan
5 One Eyed Giant – Baba Brooks & His Band
6 Koo Koo Doo – Stranger Cole & Owen & Leon Silveras
7 Rocket Ship – Tommy McCook & The Skatalites
8 Jo Ann (take 2) – The Movers
9 Duck Soup – Baba Brooks Band
10 I Wish I Were An Apple – Derrick Morgan & Naomi
11 Nuclear Weapon – Roland Alphonso & Baba Brooks
12 Never Too Young – Justin Hinds & Dominoes
13 University Goes Ska – Don Drummond
14 Run Joe – Stranger Cole & Techniques
15 Teenage Ska – Baba Brooks Band
16 Don’t Call Me Daddy – Derrick Morgan
17 Thoroughfare (Treasure Island) – Don Drummond
18 Toy Cat AKA My Pussy – Stranger Cole
19 Vitamin A – Baba Brooks Band
20 Don’t Do It – Dotty & Bonnie
21 Stampede – Don Drummond & Baba Brooks
22 Seven Days – Stranger Cole & Claudette 2
3 You Are A Fool – The Clarendonians
24 Virginia Ska aka Virginia Ska – Baba Brooks & His Band
25 My True Confession – The Silvertones
26 Tribute To Don – Roland Alphonso & Baba Brooks

DISC TWO:

SKA GEMS FROM THE VAULTS
1 Guns Fever (take 1) – Baba Brooks & His Band
2 Always Remember Me (take 3) – Stranger Cole
3 I Can’t Do The Ska (take 2) – The Zodiacs
4 Forty Miles Of Bad Road (take 2) – Lyn Taitt with Baba Brooks & His Band
5 My Lover Has Left Me – Derrick & Patsy
6 Smokey Ska (take 2) – Baba Brooks & His Band
7 You Wish Me Bad (take 4) – The Spanishtonians
8 Alcatraz (take 1) – The Baba Brooks Band
9 Verona (take 3) – Justin Hinds & The Dominoes
10 Storm Warning (take 3) – Lyn Taitt & The Comets
11 Oh Misery (take 1) – The Movers
12 Western Flyer AKA Road To Nowhere – Ernest Ranglin with Baba Brooks & His Band
13 Ska La Rama (alt. take) – Lyn Taitt & The Comets
14 Wake Me, Shame Me (take 1) – The Zodiacs
15 Love Me Or Leave Me (take 2) – Owen & Leon Silvera
16 Joe Snow Kone (take 2) – Baba Brooks & His Band
17 I Want A Lover (take 2) – Derrick Morgan & Noami
18 I’m All Alone (take 2) – Frank Cosmo
19 Peace And Love (take 3) – Justin Hinds & The Dominoes
20 The Clock (take 2) – Baba Brooks & His Band
21 My Heart Is Aching (take 2) – The Zodiacs
22 How You Know Your Friend (take 2) – Derrick Morgan
23 What A Bailing (take 4) – Duke Reid’s Group
24 Dog War (take 2) – Lyn Taitt & The Baba Brooks Band
25 The Army Is Searching (take 1) – Basil Caral & His Group
26 After A Storm – Baba Brooks & His Band

Love Modculture? If you enjoy what you read or have benefitted from it and want to help with the ever-increasing costs of the site and newsletter, you can always buy me a coffee at Ko-Fi. Every penny is helpful and appreciated.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*