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The Sound of Jamaican Ska

“The Sound of Jamaican Ska” captures the energy and evolution of Jamaica’s early ska scene, packed with horn-heavy instrumentals, offbeat guitar rhythms, and vocals that bounce between playful storytelling and soulful longing. This playlist brings together foundational tracks from the golden era of ska, showcasing artists like The Skatalites, Prince Buster, and Justin Hinds alongside vocal duos and solo pioneers who helped define the genre’s upbeat sound.

From Millie Small’s international hit “My Boy Lollipop” to deeper cuts like “Copasetic” by The Rulers and “Cuss Cuss” by Lloyd Robinson, the tracklist blends lively dancefloor-ready grooves with laid-back rocksteady leanings. Instrumentals like “1000 Tons of Megaton” and “Swing Easy” highlight the musicianship at ska’s core, while vocal tracks by Derrick Morgan, Stranger Cole, and Patsy Todd nod to ska’s early relationship with love songs and social commentary. This is a snapshot of the sound that laid the groundwork for reggae and beyond.

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Playlist Artists Spotify Logo
Alton Ellis 2 tracks
Alton Ellis & The Flames 2 tracks
Andy and Joey 1 track
Annette 1 track
Baba Brooks 3 tracks
Baba Brooks & His Band 2 tracks
Baba Brooks & His Recording Band 4 tracks
Baba Brooks Band 1 track
Baba Brooks' Recording Band 1 track
Basil & Yvonne 1 track
Basil Gabbidon 2 tracks
Billy & Bobby 1 track
Blues Busters 2 tracks
Bobby Aitkin 1 track
Bobby Kingdom & The Blue Beats 1 track
Buster's Group 3 tracks
Byron Lee & The Dragonaires 2 tracks
Cecil Byrd 1 track
Charley Organaire 1 track
Charlie Organaire 2 tracks
Charmers 1 track
Chuck & Dobby 1 track
Chuck Josephs 2 tracks
Clancy Eccles 3 tracks
Clive Wilson 2 tracks
Clue J & His Blues Blasters 2 tracks
Cluett Johnson 1 track
Dave Barker 1 track
Denzil Dennis 1 track
Derrick & Patsy 2 tracks
Derrick & Yvonne 1 track
Derrick Harriott 3 tracks
Derrick Morgan 4 tracks
Desmond Dekker 2 tracks
Dobby Dobson 1 track
Don Drummond 4 tracks
Dotty & Bonny 2 tracks
Drumbago & His Orch 1 track
Eric "Monty" Morris 1 track
Eric Monty Morris 2 tracks
Eric Morris 3 tracks
Errol Dixon 2 tracks
Ferdie Nelson 1 track
Frank Anderson 2 tracks
Frank Cosmo 2 tracks
Friends 1 track
Glen Brown 1 track
Granville Williams 1 track
Hortense Ellis 3 tracks
Ivan Yap 1 track
Jackie Edwards 2 tracks
Jackie Estick 2 tracks
Joe White 3 tracks
Joe White & Chuck 2 tracks
Junior Smith 2 tracks
Justin Hinds 2 tracks
Justin Hinds & The Dominoes 4 tracks
Karl Walker 2 tracks
Keith & Ken 2 tracks
Kent & Jeannie 1 track
Laurel Aitken 2 tracks
Lee Perry & The Soulettes 1 track
Leon Silveras 2 tracks
Lester Sterling 3 tracks
Lloyd Clarke 3 tracks
Lloyd Robinson 3 tracks
Lord Briscoe 2 tracks
Lord Creator 3 tracks
Lord Tanamo 3 tracks
Lyn Carby & The Originals 1 track
Lyn Taitt 2 tracks
Millie Small 3 tracks
Monty And Roy 1 track
Mudies' All Stars 1 track
Neville Esson 1 track
Owen Gray 3 tracks
Owen Grey 1 track
Owen Silveras 2 tracks
Patsy Todd 4 tracks
Prince Buster 3 tracks
Reid's Selected Group 1 track
Rico Rodriguez 2 tracks
Roland Alphonso 3 tracks
Roland Alphonso & The Skatalites 1 track
Roy & Millie 1 track
Roy & Yvonne 2 tracks
Roy Panton 3 tracks
Roy Richards 2 tracks
Rupert Edwards 1 track
Shenley Duffas 1 track
Shenley Duffus 1 track
Sir D's Group 1 track
Sir Dee's Group 1 track
Sir Lord Comic 2 tracks
Sir Lord Comic & His Cowboys 1 track
Smithie's Sextet 1 track
Sneer-Towners 1 track
Stranger Cole 5 tracks
Swingrowers 1 track
The 18th Parallel 1 track
The Aggrovators 1 track
The Baba Brooks Band 6 tracks
The Blues Blasters 1 track
The Blues Busters 3 tracks
The Charmers 2 tracks
The Cherry Pies 2 tracks
The Delkins 1 track
The Dominoes 2 tracks
The Ethiopians 3 tracks
The Granville Williams Orchestra 1 track
The Mighty Vikings 2 tracks
The Moonlighters 1 track
The Prizefighters 1 track
The Rulers 3 tracks
The Silvertones 3 tracks
The Skatalites 10 tracks
The Specials 1 track
The Supersonics 2 tracks
The Techniques 3 tracks
The Virtues & The Ambassadors 1 track
Theo Beckford 2 tracks
Theophilus Beckford 3 tracks
Tommy McCook 8 tracks
Tommy McCook and The Skatalites 1 track
Val Bennett 3 tracks
Winston & George 1 track
Winston Samuels 3 tracks