Posts Tagged ‘The Skatalites’

Digital Digging: Tropical Funk Experience

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

TFE Digital Digging: Tropical Funk ExperienceArtist: Various
Title: Tropical Funk Experience
Label: Easy Star Records
Genre: World : Tropical
UPC: 5032698624010
Territory: World
Release Date: 10.20.09

Featuring rare tracks from Caribbean greats such as The Skatalites & Mighty Sparrow and tropical versions of funk classics such as “Soul Makossa”, “Jive Samba” & “Cissy Strut” Tropical Funk Experience is an amazing new compilation. Put together by Hugo Mendez, globe-trotting DJ and producer, this is one compilation you don’t wanna miss.

“Following on from Nascente’s Cuban Funk Experience & Brazilian Funk Experience comes Tropical Funk Experience Island Jump-up: the hottest funk, soul, reggae, calypso & Afro sounds from the golden era of Caribbean funk. Featuring tracks from Jamaica, Bermuda, St Lucia, Barbados, Trinidad, Guyana, Dominica & Panama Tropical Funk Experience is the most extensive overview of tropical funk from the golden age of the late 1960s to the mid 70s.
Virtually all the tracks are hard-to-come-by on CD and here Hugo has selected the hottest funk, soul, reggae, calypso & Afro sounds tunes that are sure-fire dancefloor dynamite as tested by him on his trips across the planet spreading the gospel of tropical funk.” -Amazon UK

With exciting covers and a classic island feel this is another stellar release from Nascente. From calypso to reggae to funk and everywhere in between Tropical Funk Experience lives up to it’s name. It’s a great record for lovers of reggae, funk or world music in general. An upbeat fun journey through a special time and place in music.

“This collection is part of a new generation of compilations which open new ways in to worldwide sounds, celebrating the richness of music scenes all over through shared global crazes. Tropical Funk Experience salutes that common ground, namely the dance floor, where across the decades and oceans, funk rules.” -Jody Gillett @ Mondomix

Featured Label: Treasure Isle Records

Tuesday, September 8th, 2009

Picture 2 Featured Label: Treasure Isle RecordsWe are extremely excited about one of IODA’s newest additions, the great Jamaican Ska, Soul and Rocksteady label Treasure Isle Records. Founded by Jamaican music giant Arthur “Duke” Reid in the early 1960′s, Treasure Isle quickly became one of the leading purveyors of Jamaican ska and rocksteady music. Working with artists such as The Skatalites, Tommy McCook, Alton Ellis and The Paragons, Duke Reid distinguished himself as the forefront producer of ska and the brand new rocksteady genre.

Duke Reid got his start in Jamaican music in the 1950′s as a mobile DJ. At that time in Jamaica DJ’s put together mobile sound systems and lugged them around to dance halls and open air parties. Duke used a large truck to cart around his system which lead to the name Duke Reid’s The Trojan after the British manufacturer of his truck. The Trojan became known as the best sound system in Jamaica and gave it’s name to Duke’s first label Trojan Records. Trojan Records put out a number of 78′s in the late 1950′s and early 1960′s.

By the mid 1960′s Duke had built a beautiful wooden recording studio above his wife’s liquor store The Treasure Isle Grocery and Liquor Store. His popularity and influence in Jamaica was far reaching and allowed him to work with the premier ska artists such as The Skatalites and The Paragons. After the Skatalites broke up in 1965, ska gave way to the newer rocksteady style and Duke Reid became the foremost producer and purveyor of this new Jamaican music. Working with the likes of The Paragons and the unofficial “Godfather of Rocksteady” Alton Ellis, Reid produced hit after hit like Ellis’ “Rock Steady,” the first song to refer to the new genre by name. In addition to his production efforts Duke put together a backing band The Duke Reid Group to back young vocalists like Derrick Morgan and the Jiving Juniors on their records.

In the mid 1970′s with his health failing Arthur “Duke” Reid decided to sell Treasure Isle Records to his good friend Lyndon Pottinger’s wife Sonia. Already the proprietor of the successful labels Gay Feet, Tip Top, Rainbow and High Note Records Sonia’s acquisition of Treasure Isle vaulted her to the top of Jamaican music.

Check out some of the Treasure Isle classics:

skata 150x150 Featured Label: Treasure Isle RecordsArtist: The Skatalites
Title: The Skatalite!
Genre: Reggae : Soul
UPC: 844185089814
Territory: World
service icon 4 Featured Label: Treasure Isle Records Buy at iTunes Music Store

paragons 150x150 Featured Label: Treasure Isle RecordsArtist: The Paragons
Title: On The Beach
Genre: Reggae : Soul
UPC: 844185038867
Territory: World
service icon 4 Featured Label: Treasure Isle Records Buy at iTunes Music Store

AltonEliis 150x150 Featured Label: Treasure Isle RecordsArtist: Alton Ellis
Title: Mr. Soul of Jamaica
Genre: Reggae : Soul
UPC: 844185038850
Territory: World
service icon 4 Featured Label: Treasure Isle Records Buy at iTunes Music Store

TommyMcC 150x150 Featured Label: Treasure Isle RecordsArtist: Tommy McCook
Title: Tommy McCook at Treasure Isle
Genre: Reggae : Dub
UPC: 5060130072259
Territory: World
service icon 4 Featured Label: Treasure Isle Records Buy at iTunes Music Store