Stiff Records' Fortieth Anniversary and Their Support of Ska

Forty years ago yesterday, August 14, 1976, Stiff Records issued their first release, Nick Lowe's single "So It Goes" b/w "Heart of the City," and launched one of the most successful independent punk and new wave labels known to humanity. Stiff, of course, was home to several notable ska acts, including Madness, Desmond Dekker, The Untouchables, and The Equators.

Anyone wanting to learn more about the Stiff-ska connection, might want to check out the following Duff Guide to Ska posts:

• Our review of "Be Stiff: The Stiff Records Story" by Richard Balls, which includes some terrific tales related to Madness, Desmond Dekker, and The Equators


• Our in-depth look back at Desmond Dekker's 1980 Stiff Records release, Black and Dekker


• Our overview of all of The Untouchables' releases, which includes their essential 1985 Stiff release, Wild Child

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