Ska: From The Vaults Of Federal Records
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Label
- Kingston Sounds
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Release date
- November 7, 2025
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Conditions
- New
Description
Between 1961 and 1966, ska emerged as Jamaica’s first major musical genre, inspired by American R&B and doo-wop but reinvented with a more upbeat rhythm. Pioneers of the Sound Systems, such as Sir “Coxsone” Dodd and Duke Reid, became producers, gathering the island’s best musicians to create this distinctly Jamaican style.
At the heart of this revolution, Federal Records, founded in 1961 by Ken Khouri, played a decisive role. As the country’s first true recording studio, it facilitated both the distribution of American records and the recording of the first Jamaican R&B and ska singles. With engineer Graeme Goodall, Khouri developed a modern complex including a pressing plant and mastering room, making Federal the cradle not only of ska but also of the genres that followed. Acquired in 1981 by Bob Marley, the studio became the legendary Tuff Gong Studios, whose legacy continues today. This compilation pays tribute to that formative period by drawing from the Federal Records archives, featuring iconic recordings by figures such as Lord Tanamo, Don Drummond, Rico Rodriguez, and Roland Alphonso, as well as lesser-known artists who helped shape the golden age of ska.
Tracklist
2. COME DOWN - LORD TANOMO
3. YARD BROOM - ROLAND ALPHONSO & DON DRUMMOND
5. GOOD NEWS - THE SKATALITES
6. BIRDS AND BEES - FERDIE NELSON
7. PLEASE BEVERLY - BIBBY AND THE ASTRONAUTS
8. EASTERN STANDARD TIME - LORD TANAMO
9. LONELY AND BLUE BOY - FERDIE NELSON
10. LET GEORGE DO IT - RICO RODRIGUEZ
11. SKA DOWN JAMAICA WAY - FERDIE NELSON & IVAN JAP
12. SWEET DREAMS - BIBBY & THE ASTRONAUTS
13. VALLEY OF GREEN - JACKIE OPEL
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