If you are in NYC on the 4th of July, you might want to make your way to the bottom end of Flatbush Avenue, just before you hit the Rockaways, for the Brooklyn Music Festival. This massive event features some major dancehall, lover's rock, and reggae artists--plus there is some ska thrown in the mix for good measure with The Rudie Crew and The New York Ska Jazz Ensemble (both which should go down well with fans of the headliners). Details are as follows...
From out there, you just might be able to see the fireworks going off over the East River that night...
Being the old family man that I am, I only had a limited window in which to go out last Saturday night to the Version City party featuring NY Ska Jazz Ensemble, The Bluebeats, Hey Stranger, Freddy Loco and The Gordo's Ska Band, and Silver Dollar at The Knitting Factory, Brooklyn. My friend Joe and I arrived a bit late and missed Silver Dollar (I had family stuff just beforehand) and both of us had early Sunday morning things to do with our kids, so it couldn't be a late night (sadly, at our age, you just don't bounce back quickly from a late night of bending elbows and ears).
We did catch Freddy Loco and The Gordo's Ska Band's set, which was rich with mellow, vintage instrumental ska--punctuated by Freddy Loco's heavily-accented exclamations (the gist of it was that he was psyched to be playing in New York City and he wanted us to dance to the ska). Rocksteady Freddie Reiter of NYSJE sat in our their set, which was way too short--and not loud enough (note to sound person: turn it up for Freddie Loco next time!).
Hey Stranger delivered a great set of their tight, high-energy ska-punk-pop tunes. Clearly, they were having a blast on stage and so was the audience, which seemed to be heavily stacked in their favor. Trombonist Ginger Hale ("heartthrob" according to their MySpace page), the most uninhibited and irrepressible member of the band, may have had the most fun of all (and his performance was strangely riveting--notice how in the videos I shot that I usually placed him in the center of the frame...).
The Bluebeats had expanded their numbers since I saw them last in September--at the beginning of the set, Mike Drance announced that "the girls are back" (including Lizanne Lachat on vocals), which only enhanced the band's already incredible rocksteady-soul sound. During a quick dash to the head and the Kontrol Room for some more cervezas, I ran into Freddie Reiter and we talked about how things were going for NYSJE (pretty good--they had just toured Greece, playing a couple of gigs before several thousand fans, and had been to Japan on bills with Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra). While it was really great to catch up with Freddie, I ended up missing a chunk of The Bluebeats' set (which I could see slipping away through the giant windows behind the bar), but what I did experience was nothing short of brilliant.
After The Bluebeats, we had to split, so I offer my apologies to NYSJE for missing their performance (and does anyone know how the Version City All Star Jam Tribute to Jackie Mittoo turned out?).
Boldface names that were in the crowd that night (it was like a freakin' Scofflaws reunion) included Buford O'Sullivan, who when not roaming the world as trombonist for the Easy Stars All Stars, is getting set to release a new vinyl and digital single on Megalith Records (he said that one of the songs is the "darkest" thing he's ever recorded) and might be getting his own band together for some gigs (hey, Jeremy or Django--put Buford on one of your next Knitting Factory showcases soon!). Victor Rice was in the house, but I never made it past the permanent mob around him, and, of course, King Django was selling Stubborn Records merch and occasionally toasting as the deejay spun some wax.
Much thanks and respect to Jake Stranger for getting Joe and myself into the show!
[Editor's note: the fantastic Madness 30th Anniversary logo was designed by Lee Jepson at Kayfabe Design--and he was kind enough to let us use it here.]
According to Jean-Pierre Boutellier of Skanews and the French Madness Fan Club (French MIS: French Madness Information Service), the Madness double-CD tribute album 30 Years of Madness (Big 8 Records) will be released on October 5, 2009 in record shops across France and on the web via the Amazon in France and other fine internet retailers.
JP reports that members of Madness have heard advanced copies of the record and "love it." At the moment, the CD is the top selling 'World Music' album on Amazon.co.fr.
For more background about this project, check out the interview I did with JP (who is one of the producers of the album) back in November 2008.
The Duff Guide to Ska hopes to be posting a review of 30 Years of Madness in the near future...
In the meantime, here's the tracklist:
CD 1
THE MIS MC'S: "We Love You Madness" Featuring Jonathan Young, Robert Hazelby, Lee "Loobyloo" Buckley & Daughter Danni, Arno & Jean Pierre Boutellier , Benoit “MR B” De Gauléjac, Steve Bringe, Graham Yates, Owen "The Nutter" Collins, Garry Scurfield of Shut Up & Vince Carden.
Backy Skank: "In The Rain" (McPherson/Madness) Boy In The Boat: "Day On The Town" (McPherson/Foreman) Cherry Boop and the Sound Makers: "Cardiac Arrest" (Smyth/Foreman) Desorden Publico: "It Must be Love" (Siffre) Ejectés: "The Prince" (Thompson) Freddy Loco featuring "Rocksteady" Freddie of NYSJE: "Return of the los Palmas 7"Barson/Woodgate/Bedford) Gordon: "Michael Caine" (Smyth/Woodgate) Indeed: "The Sun And The Rain" (Barson) Inspector: "Our House" (Smyth/Foreman) JAG: You Said (McPherson/Barson) Jah On Slide: "Bed and Breakfast Man" (Barson) JNEB: "In The City" (McPherson/Smyth/Barson/foreman/crutchfield/inoue) King Django: "Nakht Shifl Ken Kayro" (Night Boat To Cairo) (McPherson/Barson) Les Touffes Krétiennes: "On The Beat Pete" (Thompson/Madness) MOT: "Sign Of The Times" (McPherson/Barson) No Dread & Black Sifichi: "Never Ask Twice" (McPherson/Barson) Niko Costello: "Drip Fed Fred" (Thompson/Barson) Statuto: "Un Fiore Nel Cemento" (Johnny The Horse) (Smyth) The Chancers: "Deceive The Eye" (Foreman/Bedford) The Inflatables: "One Better Day" (McPherson/Bedford) The Opium Eaters: "The Opium Eaters" (Barson)
THE MIS PLAYERS: "02 Ole Ole Ole" (Finally The Weather) Featuring Jonathan Young, Micheal Gillis, Benoit “Mister B” De Gaulejac and the Madness fans in the 02 Arena 19th December 2008.
God save The Dendrites! What with the music industry in shambles (thanks, in large part, to illegal file sharing), a fragmented American ska scene (still licking its wounds from the crash of the late 90s), and scattershot coverage of the music by bloggers and podcasters, they decide to drop this superb album of instrumental ska on the world now? In a different time (say 1997, when they would have been compared to The Scofflaws, New York Ska Jazz Ensemble, Skavoovie and the Epitones, and Dr. Ring Ding & the Senior Allstars) or place (Europe, Japan, South America, where they are not as rigid in their tastes--anywhere but here), The Dendrites' Mountain Standard Time would be hailed and celebrated by the ska masses--it's that good.
Ostensibly a vintage ska band in The Skatalites mold, The Dendrites (based in Denver, CO) take it all to the next plane, in a manner that reminds one of an act like the Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, as The Dendrites' music is influenced by a wide array of genres (surf, latin jazz, soul, reggae/dub, 2 Tone, 1960s movie soundtracks). And there is a wonderful fluidity between these musical styles that brings a complex texture to The Dendrites' songs, as they often take many unexpected turns (see the Dick Dale surf guitar break in "Murder Mystery Weekend," the Eric Dolphy-ish jazz flute riff in "MMGF Dub," or the funky soul intro to "Street Walkin'"). There is also a surprising dreadness--not typically found in the ska-jazz genre--to some of their bass-heavy and dub cuts, like "Head Game" and "Interplanetary Space Sex," that are in a similar vein as those on Dub is a Weapon's powerful Armed and Dangerous EP.
The songwriting, performances, and production captured on Mountain Standard Time are uniformly excellent--there isn't a bum cut on this album (make sure to catch the bonus track at the end, the gorgeously melancholy "Trouble," that features vocals!). While a record brimming with instrumental songs may not to be every ska fan's tastes (I'm looking at you ska-punkers), those who are open to this style of ska will find much to love here.
Yours truly recently received a request for a complete Moon Records vinyl discography to help him out with tracking down some of the label's releases. Fortunately, I was able to pull a complete Moon discography with notes out of my archives (I don't have this electronically, just a paper copy--otherwise I would be tempted to post the whole thing).
Please note that the first eight releases on Moon have two TOAST matrix numbers, rather than one MR (Moon Records) release number. This was due to the fact that these were all released on vinyl and each side needed its own number at the pressing plant (in those glorious analog days). In addition, since Moon was originally established in the early 80s as a label to release The Toasters' recordings (in true DIY fashion), it made sense to have such a reference. However, as the label and scene grew, it became a matter of pride to change the release numbers to MR.
Needless to say, since many of these vinyl releases had limited print runs, some of them are very hard, if not impossible, to find.
The Toasters "The Beat" b/w "Brixton Beat" TOAST 1/TOAST 2 7" 1983 Technically, this release is on Ice Bear Records--in deference to a band member's father who fronted the money for the single. Only 1,000 were pressed. I've never seen a copy of the single (I have the picture sleeve), though you can hear the tracks on the 1995 expanded CD re-release of Thrill Me Up.
East of Eden "Mystic Mood" b/w "Sea of Happiness" TOAST 3/TOAST 4 7" 1984 The first release with a proper Moon paper label, but it's not a ska record (d'oh!). East of Eden's sound was a downtown 80s blend of funk/disco/reggae/rock.
The Toasters Recriminations EP "Recriminations"/"Razor Cut" b/w "Run Rudy Run"/"Radiation Skank" TOAST 5/TOAST 6 12" 1985 Also re-released in 1988 with new cover (not the one with cartoon versions of the band members in front of CBGBs) as MR005.
Kill Me s/t TOAST 7/TOAST 8 LP 1985 Funk rock band comprised of Buck's friends from Forbidden Planet, as well as a few of The Toasters.
Various Artists NY Beat: Hit & Run TOAST 9/TOAST 10 LP 1986
East of Eden s/t TOAST 11/TOAST 12 LP 1986
The Toasters/Beat Brigade "Talk is Cheap" b/w "Try and Try" TOAST 13/TOAST 14 split 7" 1987
Legal Gender/The Scene "Overcast" b/w "Bruise Me" TOAST 15/TOAST 16 split 7" 1987 Legal Gender changed their name to The NY Citizens soon after this single was released.
Second Step "Do You Know This Man?" b/w "2 Men in Suits" TOAST 17 b/w TOAST 18 7" 1987
The Toasters Skaboom MT11 LP 1988 Not a Moon Records release--at the time, the label didn't have the funds to press it--so Skaboom was picked up and released by Moving Target, a subsidiary of Celluloid.
The NY Citizens On the Move MR017 LP 1988
The Boilers Tap It MR018 LP 1988 Tap It never saw the light of day in the US, as the masters were lost when Ska Records (UK), which licensed and released Tap It as Rockin' Steady in England, went belly up.
Various Artists Ska Face: An All American Ska Compilation MR019 LP 1988
The Toasters Thrill Me Up SKL8001 LP 1988 This is another non-Moon release that is vital to the Moon discography. For Thrill Me Up, Celluloid created a new ska imprint titled "Skaloid," which also released the first volume of Unicorn's Skankin' Around the World ska compilations.
Various Artists NYC Ska Live MR022 LP 1991
The Toasters This Gun for Hire MR023 LP 1990
The Fiascos/Otis Reem "Goodfellas" b/w "The Sophomore" MR049 split 7" 1994
The Scofflaws "Spider on My Bed" and "Parish" b/w "Nude Beach Version" MR051 7" 1995 Issued on blue vinyl at 33 1/3 rpm.
NY Ska Jazz Ensemble "Jive Samba" b/w "Blow Wind Blow" MR060 7" 1996
The Toasters "Chuck Berry" b/w "Maxwell Smart" MR063 7" 1996
The Bluebeats "Hardest Working Man" b/w "Why Not?" MR064 7" 1996
The Slackers "Tonight" b/w "2-Face" MR073 7" 1996
Let's Go Bowling "You Take Me" b/w "Uncomfortable Sidekick" MR074 7" 1996
The Pietasters "Ocean" b/w "Crazy Monkey Lady" MR075 7" 1996
Inspecter 7 "Agent 86" b/w "See Ya!" MR089 7" 1996
Buford O'Sullivan "I Can't Decide" b/w "I'll Do It Someday" and "Decade Revival Song" MR095 7" EP (33 1/3 rpm not 45!) 1996
Here's a nice preview for The Toasters gig at the Highline Ballroom this Sunday (February 22) in The New Yorker, of all places:
Though the local group the Toasters never scored any major hits, they were a major influence on the American ska scene during the eighties, inspiring later successful acts like the Mighty Mighty Bosstones and No Doubt. The brainchild of the Brit expat vocalist Rob (Bucket) Hingley, the Toasters imbued their hiccupy Two Tone-inspired music with a distinctive New York sensibility. The ska-revival trend has long since moved on, but Hingley—he’s the band’s only remaining original member—and the Toasters still attract a loyal following.
This all-ages show, billed as "Ska Splash," starts at 6:30 pm and also features the NY Ska Jazz Ensemble, the Hub City Stompers, Westbound Train, and Across the Aisle.
To mark the 30th anniversary (!) of the release of Madness' first single and their debut album One Step Beyond... (both in 1979), mega-fan Jean-Pierre Boutellier is assembling a Madness tribute album that will be released on Big 8 Records in the spring of 2009. As you will read below, JP is no stranger to the French ska scene--he's managed a few ska bands (like Les Frelons, who were featured on several Unicorn "Skankin' Round the World" compilations in the late 80s/early 90s); produced two French ska comps, including one for Moon; hosted a plethora of ska radio shows; and published the long-running Skanews zine (JP was kind enough to remind me of an interview he did with me in 2000, when I was running 7 Wonders of the World Music, which can be found here).
To date, JP's Madness tribute album features some big brand-name acts on the scene, such as Dr. Ring Ding, King Django, Desorden Publico, "Rocksteady" Freddie Reiter (of the New York Ska Jazz Ensemble), as well as Nouvelle Vague (a pop group that covers New Wave and post-punk songs in a lounge style) and a slew of newer European, South American, and Australian ska bands. Considering the extraordinary array of brilliant ska and pop songs that Madness created over the past three decades, this record should be a winner and we can't wait to hear it!
Thanks to JP for taking the time to do this interview, both in English and French (DGTS's first bilingual interview)!
Duff Guide To Ska: On the Madness tribute album's Facebook, page, you state that the band is aware that you are putting together this compilation and has essentially given you their blessing. Which members of Madness have you been in touch with and what has been their reaction to this project? And will they have any involvement in the release of this record?
Jean-Pierre Boutellier: First thanks a lot for this interview.
Let's introduce myself for your readers. I am Jean-Pierre Boutellier, 42 years old. I run the http://french-mis.be French non-official Madness fan club. In the past, I managed some Ska Reggae bands like Les Frelons (1988-1991). I also produced some [French ska] samplers like Skappellation for Moon Ska/Moon Ska Europe in 1999 and It's a Frenchy Ska Reggae Party 3 in 2001. I also worked on a paper skazine called "Skanews" between 1993 to 2002 (I put the interviews and reviews on http://skanews.net) and released Ska radio show called "Skanews" on several Independent French FM and web radios between 1984 to 2003.
Madness is my favourite band since 1979. I wanted to do something for the 30th anniversary of the first Madness hit, "The Prince"... Madness gave me since 29 years lot of emotion and more! Madness, it's like a brother for me, who give me energy when I am sad, and give me more happiness when I am top of form... So, I wanted to do something to pay tribute to this great band. My first idea was to release a remix album of some of Madness tunes and send the CD to the members...But Jérome Lanvin who run Big 8 Records in France (Big 8 Records produced some bands like Jah On Slide and Cherry Boop and the Sound Makers and some Ska samplers as So Precious Ska) ask me to work on a Madness tribute album.
I send an e-mail to Garry Blackburn, Madness' manager. He send me an e-mail to tell me: "Thanks for the amazing job you do on the Madness info service (French MIS). The band are very flattered by your idea (Madness tribute album) and wish you all the best with the project".
No, Madness members are not involved on the release of this record. But some musicians (very good friends to Madness members) will play on this record!
Heu... perhaps we will receive a Madness cover by the Maddies under a nickname! Who knows? Imagine Chris on vocals, Carl on piano, Mike on bass, Suggs on guitar... it will be great, but, JP, please, stop dreaming!
I am also very happy that the MIS Online/Madness Central (UK and US fan clubs featuring members of all the world) is also involved on this project... They will record some "surprises" for this tribute album.
The artwork of the cover and the booklet will be release by Mister B and Sean Gaskin.
In fact, it's important to say that all the rights of the songs will be paid to Sacem/SDRM in France, who distribute the writers, artists etc. royalties via MCPS/PRS, copyright control etc...
When I said yes to Jérome Lanvin to work on the band choice for this sampler, I said to him that it is very important to me that the all the rights will be paid and that all the bands will a have a deal. I saw too much problems about this (money, deals...) in the past with other labels. Jérome is a serious man, so no problems to me to work with him on this record.
About the bands and the covers. We can't say to a band that we put it on the sampler if we have not listen to their cover (demo version in the first time or final mix for the bands who have recorded a Madness song in the past). We have received many tracks and for some we have said yes, it's alright, your version will be on the tribute album and you will have a deal etc... and for some we have said no (for different reasons)
Merci beaucoup de m'interviewer.
Je me présente pour vos lectrices et lecteurs. Je m'appelle Jean-Pierre Boutellier, j'ai 42 ans. je m'occupe du site http://french-mis.be fan-club francophone non offciel du groupe Madness. Dans le passé, j'ai managé des groupes Ska reggae dont les Frelons (de 1988 à 1991), travaillé sur plusieurs compilations dont Skappellation pour Moon Ska/Moon Ska Europe en 1999 et It's a Frenchy Ska Reggae Party 3 en 2001. J'ai édité un fanzine Ska, "Skanews" entre 1993 et 2002 et produit une émission de radio Ska sur différentes FM et web radios françophones entre 1984 et 2003.
Madness est mon groupe préféré depuis 1979. je voulias absolument faire quelque chose pour les 30 ans du premier tube de Madness, "The Prince" en 2009. Madness m'a donné beaucoup de bonnes vibrations durant 29 ans. Madness, c'est un peu comme le grand frère que je n'ai jamais eu. Ce groupe par sa musique m'a donné de l'énergie quand j'étais pas bien, et plus de pêche encore quand j'étais en gand forme. Donc je voulais, en retour, leur rendre hommage. Ma première idée était de remixer plusieurs de leurs morceaux de de leur envoyer le CD. mais Jérome Lanvin du label Big 8 Records (production de groupes comme Jah On Slide et Cherry Boop and the Sound Makers ou de compils Ska comme So Precious Ska) m'a proposé de travailler sur le Madness tribute album.
J'ai envoyé un mail au manager de Madness, Garry Blackburn, Il m'a répondu dans la positive, me disant que le groupe était très flatté par ce projet.
Aucun membre de Madness n'est impliqué dans ce projet. Mais certains musiciens très amis du groupe y participent.
Mais...peut-être allons-nous recevoir un titre enregistré par les maddies sous un faux nom... Imaginez Chris au chant, Carl au piano, Mike à la basse... Se serait génial! Mais, bon, c'est beau de rêver! Lol.
Je suis très heureux que le MIS Online/Madness Central (fan club anglais et US réunissant des membres du monde entier) participe aussi à ce projet avec l'enregistrement de plusieurs surprises pour le disque.
La pochette et les dessins du livret vont être réalisés par Mister B et Sean Gaskin.
C'est très important pour moi de dire que tous les droits des chansons de ce disque seront payés à la SACEM/SDRM en France qui s'occupera de la redistribution à MCPS/PRS, copyright control etc...
Quand j'ai dis à Jérome que j'étais d'accord pour travailler sur le choix des groupes/morceaux pour cette compilation, je lui ai précisé qu'il était très important pour moi que tous les droits soient payés et que les groupes aient un contrat. Jérome est quelqu'un de sérieux, donc pas de problèmes de ce côté là, j'ai confirmé le fait que je bosserais sur ce disque.
Au sujet des groupes et des reprises. nous ne pouvons dire à un groupe qu'il sera sur le disque si nous n'avons pas écouté sa reprise (en premier lieu une démo). nous avons reçu de nombreux titres. Pour certains groupes nous avons dit "oui", pour d'autres "non".
DGTS: Of the tracks you are receiving, are they mostly faithful covers of Madness tunes or are the ska bands doing their own interpretations--changing the songs a bit to reflect their own particular style of ska? And which Madness song have the bands wanted to cover the most?
JP: The idea is very simple: try to find bands all over the world who want to release a very own cover of a Madness song.
I don't want to do a Ska sampler. Madness is not a Ska band. It's a band who like to put time to time some Ska and Reggae spices on their music! I am not happy when on radios the DJ say: "It was 'Our House,' a big Ska hit by the best UK Ska band, Madness."
If "Our House" is a Ska tune, "Let's Dance" by David Bowie is a big rap hit!
I don't want on this record "clone covers" (I have lot of respect to all the Madness tribute bands in UK, but it was too simple and not exciting to put songs by these bands).
I think it will be great to have several styles...imagine "Los Palmas 7" in a 60s Ska style, "Mrs. Hutchinson" or "Our House" in Latin Salsa Style, "My Girl" in a great pop style sung by a woman, "Johnny The Horse" sung in Italian, "The Opuim Eaters" in Electro Dub style or "You Said" in a today Brit Rock Pop style!
No problems with the covers, we send list of "free" tracks to the bands. Also, bands are very imaginative. It's a great good surprise for me to see bands who want to cover songs like "Never Ask Twice" or "Day On The Town."
At time we try to find bands who want to do very own covers of "Embarrassment" or "Shut Up."
L'idée est très simple, trouver des groupe du monde entier qui veulent reprendre dans leur propre style un titre de Madness.
Je n'ai jamais eu l'idée de faire une compilation Ska. Madness n'est pas un groupe de Ska. C'est un groupe qui de temps en temps épice sa musique de sons Ska ou Reggae. Je suis outré quand j'entends à la radio l'animateur dire "C'était le plus grand groupe Ska anglais Madness dans l'un de ses tubes Ska "Our House." Si "Our House" est un morceau Ska, "Let's Dance" de David Bowie est un tube rap!
Je ne veux pas non plus d'un tribute avec des morceaux "Clonés." J'ai beaucoup de respect pour les Madness tribute bands anglais, mais les mettre sur cette compilation aurait été trop facile et pas assez original.
Je pense qu'il faut laisser libre cours à l'imagination des groupes quant à l'interprétation de leur reprise. Imaginez "Los Palmas 7" en version 60's Ska, "Our House" ou "Mrs. Hutchinson" en version Salsa Latino, "The Opium eaters" en Electro Dub!
Nous recherchons actuellement des groupes pour reprendre à leur manière "Embarrassment" et "Shut Up."
DGTS: From what you've heard so far, do you have any favorite covers that have been submitted for inclusion on the album?
JP: I love all of them...but I am very happy for the JAG version of "You Said." Very own version! Kick the ass... I think it will be a massive hit, if the band put the video on MTV2!
Je les aime toutes! Mais je suis envoûté par la version de "You Said" par JAG. Un vrai coup de pied dans le cul! Si la vidéo passe sur MTV2, je suis sûr que se sera un véritable tube!
DGTS: What is your all-time favorite Madness song? And how did you come to be such a huge fan of the band?
JP: I love all the Madness tracks, except the melody of "Memories"...don't know why! My favourite album is The Rise and Fall. Favorites songs: "Embarrassment," "NW5," "Johnny The Horse," "You Said," "Samantha," "Missing You," "Give Me a Reason," "Bingo," "Dust Devil," "Sarah's Song"...stop!
J'aime tous les titres de Madness sauf la mélodie de "Memories"... Je ne sais pas pourquoi! Mon album préféré est The Rise and Fall. Mes titres favoris: "Embarrassment," "NW5," "Johnny The Horse," "You Said," "Samantha," "Missing You," "Give Me a Reason," "Bingo," "Dust Devil," "Sarah's Song"...stop!
DGTS: It seems like the majority of bands involved in this project are European. Are you expecting more contributions from American ska bands? (If not, why do you think there hasn't been more interest on this side of the Atlantic?)
JP: Lot of European bands, but some of South America, like Niko Costello, Desorden Publico, and Inspector.
From USA we will have King Django with a great version of "Night Boat To Cairo" and Freddie of NYSJE who played as Freddy Loco. Perhaps more from US soon, but lot of US (very popular in all the world) bands want many dollars before the release of the sampler!
We also have bands from Down Under.
You can find all the news, photos, videos, listen to some tracks of the Madness tribute album on our Facebook page.
Oui, beaucoup de groupes Européens. Plusieurs aussi d'Amérique du Sud comme Niko Costello, Desorden Publico, et Inspector.
Pour les Etats-Unis, King Django reprend de très belle manière "Night Boat To Cairo" et Freddie du New York Ska Jazz Ensemble joue de la flûte sur le morceau de Freddy Loco. Il y aura peut-être d'autres groupes US. mais de nombreux groupes américains très connu nous ont demandé beaucoup de Dollars avant la sortie du disque pour qu'ils jouent dessus !!
Vous pouvez trouver toutes les informations, photos, vidéos, titres à écouter du Madness tribute album sur Facebook.
DGTS: Will the Madness tribute album be distributed in the United States?
JP: Don't know at yet. I hope so. I think it will be on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.
Je ne le sais pas encore. Je pense qu'il sera en vente sur Amazon.com et Amazon.co.uk.
DGTS: Since you're a massive Madness fan with connections to the band, do you have any idea when The Liberty of Norton Folgate [their brand new album] will be released?
JP: Madness have work on this album since around three years. I have listen to lots of tracks of this record (live versions) and I can say that the band done a great work. I think it will be a masterpiece like The Rise and Fall. I think the band wait until 2009 to release this record. 2009 will be a great year for Madness fans...30th anniversary! Records, concerts, surprises!
Madness a travaillé sur cet album pendant près de 3 ans. J'ai écouté de nombreux titres en version live de cet album et je peux dire que le groupe a fait de l'excellent travail. Je pense que se sera un Chef d'oeuvre tout comme l'était The Rise and Fall. Le disque sortira certainement en 2009 pour les 30 ans du groupe. 2009 sera une belle année pour les fans de Madness: disques, concerts, surprises...
Again thanks a lot for this interview. The Madness tribute album will be out in spring 2009. Bands who want to be involved in this project can contact us as soon as possible at jp-boutellier@wanadoo.fr or big8records_productionska@orange.fr.
The deadline to receive final mix tracks: 15th Janury 2009.
Encore merci pour cette interview. l'album en Hommage à Madness sortira au printemps 2009. Les groupes qui veulent particper à ce disque doivent nous contacter rapidement aux adresses suivantes: jp-boutellier@wanadoo.fr or big8records_productionska@orange.fr.
Date limite de réception des morceaux mixés: 15 janvier 2009.
JAG You Said
From the upcoming 30th Anniversary Madness Tribute Album on Big 8 Records (spring 2009).
What They're Saying About My Book "The Duff Guide to 2 Tone"
“An essential read…Stephen's eye for detail is incredible and his love for 2 Tone oozes from each page.” — Kevin Flowerdew, Do the Dog Skazine
“Written with a personal touch and with great passion about the bands and releases while giving a lot of emphasis to the lyrics, Stephen’s book is a great guiding hand to navigating your way to some great new music.” — Peter Walsh, 2-Tone.info
“It's some of the finest Madness analysis I've ever read.” —Donald Trull, Stateside Madness
“Steve's own story would make a great book, but instead he's written The Duff Guide to 2 Tone, a 250+ page collection of 2 Tone-related pieces from his blog. There are reviews of original pieces, but the book's real purpose is to show how the 2 Tone sound and—more importantly its ideals—carry on today...Get this book right away!" — Charles Benoit, Reggae Steady Ska
"...Shafer has definitely not forgotten how socially conscious issues were at the root of Ska even from the beginning. He makes certain to thread the political issues that motivated the development of Ska throughout his narrative; painting a picture that took both the oppressive political environments and the often ecstatic musical content into account. And in that, he nails down for me what the enduring pull of Ska was to its many fans. Was there ever a more upbeat dance music that combined its boundless energy with a push for progressive social values and calling truth to power?" —Post-Punk Monk
"...[The Duff Guide to 2 Tone is a] chatty, informative and knowledgeable work, one that you can either sit down and read or use as a reference source..." —Nik Skeat, Scootering Magazine
"During the reading of the book it is dangerous to have a screen open next to you with Discogs. I have found lots of ‘new music’ via the stories in The Duff Guide to 2 Tone which I must have." -- Peter Vrakking, Blue Beat & Ska
In the mail today, I received the first copy of my new paperback book The Duff Guide to 2 Tone --and am thrilled to announce that it is now...
About Your Duff Guide
Steve Shafer/The Duff Guide to Ska For most of the 1990s, I was the promotions, marketing, production guy for Moon Records (RIP). It was one of the best jobs I ever had. Seriously, I miss it badly. During 1999/2000, I ran 7 Wonders of the World Music, the first digital download-only ska label that was too ahead of the curve for its own good (RIP).
I filmed and edited this Toasters video for $2,500, which made its debut on MTV's 120 Minutes. I also put together these compilations for Moon: the first three Skarmageddons; Ska United: A Global Ska Sampler; Skank Down Under; This Are Moon Ska I, II, and III; and Moonshot!
Here's an old interview with Adam Monkey from Read Magazine that covers my days at Moon and 7 Wonders. I also did a somewhat more recent interview with Read Junk.
I've been interviewed about ska music and Moon Records for The New York Times, Heather Augustyn's "Ska: The Rhythm of Liberation," Aaron Carnes' "In Defense of Ska," Kenneth Partridge's "Hell of a Hat: The Rise of '90s Ska and Swing," and Marc Wasserman's "Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History" (I also wrote the introductory chapter "1985: The Year American Ska Broke" for Wasserman's book).
And I'm the author of "The Duff Guide to 2 Tone," which can be ordered from Amazon--and is available in the US from Jump Up Records, and in Europe from the 2 Tone Village Shop (Coventry, UK), Champion Sound Records (Hull, UK), Aggroshop (Nijmegen, Netherlands), and Copasetic Mailorder (Hamburg, Germany). Plus, my book was on sale in the museum shop for the "2 Tone: Lives & Legacies" exhibition (May 28 - September 12, 2021), curated by Simon Reynolds, Cory Barrett, Pete Chambers, Jennifer Otter Bickerdike and Daniel Rachel, at the Herbert Art Gallery Museum in Coventry, UK.
I'm now working on my next book, "Calling All the Rude Boys: The Duff Guide to The Toasters, 1981-1992," to be published in 2023.
If you have a ska or reggae release that you'd like me to consider reviewing, please send an e-mail to Steve at duffguidetoska@gmail.com. You should know that I am old school and prefer music in tangible formats (plus I might use your music when I DJ ska events). I'd also appreciate any news or tips you may have about bands.
All reviews and interviews posted on The Duff Guide to Ska are copyrighted and are the sole property of Steve Shafer. Please contact me for permission to reproduce anything on this blog.
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See Live Ska Bands in NYC!
Check out the NYC ska shows I co-host and co-DJ with Ryan Midnight!
The Untouchables "Free Yourself" picture disc featuring Clyde Grimes, Jr. from my record collection. I'm very sad to repo...
Visit The Duff Guide to Ska Video Channel!
Check out The Duff Guide to Ska Video Channel for footage of ska bands in action in clubs around NYC, as well as unusual and rare ska videos from the 90s! Bands featured include The Toasters, The Bluebeats, The Forthrights, Across the Aisle, The Caroloregians, The Moon Invaders, The Rudie Crew, Tip the Van, Hey Stranger, Beat Brigade, Bigger Thomas, King Chango, The Scofflaws, UB40, The Hard Times, Jah Love and the Valentinians, The Shifters, Rudies Don't Care, Big Audio Dynamite, Stranger Cole and Patsy with Crazy Baldhead, Queen P of Ocean 11, King Hammond, The Snails, King Django, Doomsday! The Ultimate Tribute to Mephiskapheles Consisting of Former Members of Mephiskapheles, Destroy Babylon, The Frightnrs, The Pandemics, Los Skarroneros, The Bullbuckers, The Scofflaws, The Reggay Lords, The Copacetics, Rude Boy George, Dave Hillyard and the Rocksteady 7, Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, The Specials, Roddy Radiation and Lynval Golding, The Ladrones, Chris Murray, Radio Riddler, UB40 featuring Ali Campbell, Astro, and Mickey Virtue, Barbicide, The Twilights, Bim Skala Bim featuring John Bunkley (Gangster Fun), The Pomps, and more!
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