Great Ska music

Russel, the above recommendations are good, but you may want to try the original Jamacian Ska which later influenced the English bands listed above. Early Bob Marley is an excellent place to start. Simmer Down, which you can find on the Bob Marley & the Wailers Trenchdown Days, Birth of a Legend CD, is considered one of the best Ska songs ever written. The Skatalites, which was the house band performing on Simmer Down have several great albums out. If you can find it, pick up Stretching Out, 2 cds worth of live SKA with killer songs such as Latin Goes SKA, Guns of Navarone, Man in the Street, and Big Trombone. Although not quite ska, which is essentially fast reggae, The Best of Desmond Dekker is a wonderful album featuring the song Israelites. For a new band entrenched in the classical roots of Jamacian SKA, try Out of Nowhere by Hepcat. Hope this helps

2nd on "The Specials" and "The English Beat". I remember seeing The English Beat in Rochester NY in 1982, they did not disappoint. Better musicians than most. Does anyone remember seeing The Specials on Saturday Night Live, I think they debuted the summer of 1979?

Px25: you certainly have a knowledge on the subject! I'm really a "Roots Rock Reggae" man myself, not really into Ska for the last 20 yrs. One of the "new guys" I like is Luciano.

Also not mentioned: "Madness"

Xiekitchen...I was gonna mention Madness...but I figured that everybody had heard of them...shows how out of touch I am...good call.

I always loved "Dance Craze" that great concert movie which featured most of the great English ska bands live. Like Madess, English Beat, Bad Manners, etc.

I have the soundtrack on vinyl. Looks like there is an ancient CD release. Wonder if it ever made it to video ?

Early Toasters is pretty good. For "newer" ska, most of the stuff on Moon Ska records is good.

New York Ska Jazz Ensemble and Skandalous All Stars are two other good bands