Record Store Day 2018: US and UK Ska and Reggae Releases!

As always, the UK Record Store Day ska and reggae offerings outshine their US counterparts (I'm looking at you, Madness, Jackie Mittoo, and Prince Fatty!). Good luck tracking these down if you're not in the UK--they're gonna be pricey (and then there's the shipping...).

I do want to highlight that Chuck Wren's Jump Up Records is participating in the US RSD and issuing The Skatalites' 1994 album Hi-Bop Ska for the first time on vinyl! This is a big deal! Congrats, Chuck! And the fantastic DC-area indie record shop Crooked Beat is releasing the second volume of Recutting the Crap (read The Duff Guide to Ska review of Recutting the Crap, Volume 1).

Record Store Day 2018 is taking place on Saturday, April 21, which gives you some time to stockpile some cash for when you hit the shops and (hopefully) buy some of these beauties.


Record Store Day 2018 UK

Bim Sherman: "Lightning and Thunder (Mungo's Hi Fi remix)" 10" (Scotch Bonnet Records)

Black Slate: "Peaceful Demonstration"/"Redemption Song"/"Should I Go or Should I Stay" 12" (Slate Records)

Bunny Striker Lee: Reggae Going International 1967-76 2xLP (Kingston Sounds)

Creation Rebel: Dub from Creation LP (On-U Sound)

DJ Spooky: Phantom Dancehall LP (VP Records)

Duke Reid All Stars/Roland Alphonso: "Judge Sympathy" b/w "Never To Be Mine" 7" single (Trojan)

Eek-A-Mouse: "Ganja Smuggling" b/w "Smuggling Version" 7" single (Greensleeves)

The Hempolics: "Riding for a Fall" b/w "Come As You Are" 12" (Shark Free Records)

Madness: I Do Like To Be B-side The A-side 12" heavyweight black vinyl (Universal) -- This is a compilation of their b sides, includes "Madness," "In The City," and "Mistakes."

The Maytones: Only Your Picture LP (Burning Sounds)

Jackie Mittoo: Showcase ("Disco Jack," "Earthquake,"Brain Mark," "Drum Song") 7" (VP/17 North Parade)

Prince Fatty: "Sunshine (featuring Omar and Fatlip)" 7" (Evergreen Recordings)

V/A: Rock Steady Box 7" box set (Trojan)

V/A: Soul Jazz Records Presents Studio One Dubplate Special 7" box set (Soul Jazz) -- This features eight singles featuring Alton Ellis, Cedric Brooks, Brentford Road All Stars, Jacob Miller, and more!


Record Store Day 2018 USA

Creation Rebel: Dub from Creation LP (On-U Sound)

DJ Spooky: Phantom Dancehall LP (VP Records)

Duke Reid All Stars/Roland Alphonso: "Judge Sympathy" b/w "Never To Be Mine" 7" single (Trojan)

Eek-A-Mouse: "Ganja Smuggling" b/w "Smuggling Version" 7" single (Greensleeves)

The Maytones: Only Your Picture LP (Burning Sounds)

The Skatalites: Hi-Bop Ska LP (Jump Up/Shanachie)

V/A: Natural High: The Bongo Man Collection 2xLP (Studio One)

V/A: Recutting the Crap, Volume 2 2xLP (Crooked Beat Records)

V/A: Soul Jazz Records Presents Studio One Dubplate Special 7" box set (Soul Jazz) -- This features eight singles featuring Alton Ellis, Cedric Brooks, Brentford Road All Stars, Jacob Miller, and more!

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Happy hunting!

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Confirmed US and UK Record Store Day 2017 Ska and Reggae Releases

This year's Record Store Day is right around the corner (4/22/17), so the powers that be have finally revealed the official list of releases that will see light of day and, in some cases, may work their way into your record collection (and your hearts?).

Below, please find the official list of RSD 2017 ska and reggae releases for the US and UK that may be of interest to Duff Guide to Ska readers.

Happy hunting next week!

US Releases

Creation Rebel: Starship Africa 12" (On-U Sounds)
Ken Boothe, Dillinger, Leroy Smart, Delroy Wilson: White Man in Hammersmith Palais 7" -- Features one hit from each artist named-checked in The Clash's song of the same title. (Greensleeves)
Mad Professor: Mad Professor Meets Jah9  LP (Greensleeves)
Peter Tosh: Legalize It LP -- Pressed on red, yellow, green striped vinyl with scratch and sniff inner sleeve. (Brookvale Records)
U-Roy: Dread In A Babylon LP (Get on Down)
Various Artists: House of Joy 15 x 7" box set (Studio One)
Various Artists: Recutting The Crap LP (Crooked Beat Records)
Various Artists: Studio One in Hi Fi 5 x 7" box set (Soul Jazz)

UK Releases

The Congos: Heart of the Congos LP -- This version features the original mix. (VP Records)
Creation Rebel: Starship Africa 12" (On-U Sounds)
Georgie Fame: R and B at the Ricky Tick 65 LP (1960s Records)
Joe Higgs: "Invitation to Jamaica" 7" (Pressure Sounds)
Hopeton Lewis/Vin Gordon and The Supersonics: "There She Goes" b/w "Reggae Trombone" 7" -- Both tracks are unreleased. (Trojan)
Ken Boothe, Dillinger, Leroy Smart, Delroy Wilson: "White Man in Hammersmith Palais" 7" --Features one hit from each artist named-checked in The Clash's song of the same title.
(Greensleeves)
Madness: "Drip Fed Fred" b/w "Johnny the Horse" 7" (Salvo Music)
Mungo's Hi Fi featuring Johnny Clarke: "Rain Keeps Falling" 7" (Scotch Bonnet)
Revolutionaries: Green Bay Dub LP (Burning Sound)
Various Artists: House of Joy 15 x 7" box set (Studio One)
Various Artists: Tighten Up, Volume 2 Picture disc LP (Trojan Records)
Yabby You: Songs of Love and Unity 5 x 7" box set (Pressure Sounds)

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Rumored Record Store Day 2017 Ska and Reggae Releases

The beloved/despised Record Store Day will be upon us next month (April 22, 2017) and even though the official list of releases is not yet public, like all private-confidential-classified information, it has been leaked on the internet for all to see. Vinyl Factory (amongst others) has posted a list of anticipated releases and from it I've sorted the ska/reggae keepers from the dross (like--I kid you not--a 12" picture disc for Toto's "Africa" and Corey Feldman's "Go 4 It" swirl-colored vinyl single, featuring Snoop Dogg):

Creation Rebel – Starship Africa [LP] (limited to 1000, indie-retail exclusive) LP

Ken Boothe, Dillinger, Leroy Smart, Delroy Wilson – White Man In Hammersmith Palais [7”] (wrapped in a two-sided replica promotional poster, limited to 1000, indie-retail exclusive) 7″

Mad Professor Meets Jah9 – Mad Professor Meets Jah9… In the Midst of the Storm [LP] (limited to 900, indie-retail exclusive) LP

Peter Tosh – Legalize It [LP] (POT-SCENTED! Jamaican Red/Yellow/Green-Striped Colored Remastered Vinyl, limited/numbered to 2500, indie-exclusive) LP

U-Roy – Dread In A Babylon [LP] (18” x 24” color poster, limited to 1000, indie-retail exclusive) LP

Various Artists – Recutting The Crap Vol. 1 [LP] (Green or Black Vinyl, reinterpretations of The Clash ‘Cut The Crap,’ includes Joe Strummer interviews, download, indie-exclusive, limited to 1000) LP

Various Artists – Soul Jazz Records Presents: Studio One Hi-Fi [5×7”] (limited to 500, indie-retail exclusive) 7″

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I'm sure most of these releases are UK-only, though I do know that Crooked Beat Records in DC area is releasing the Clash tribute (the Scotch Bonnets contributed a track, "Are You Red...Y"). I have no idea what the deal is with the White Man In Hammersmith Palais single is, though I strongly suspect that it is actually a Clash re-issue, since those are the reggae singers referenced in the song.

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