Since the mid sixties scooters have been an integral part of the Ska scene. Most Ska fans have seen scooters on record covers, at shows and even in a recent article about Ska and MoD's in Details magazine. Yet most fans really don't know exactly how this union of music and mechanics came about.
In the late 1950s, soon after World War II, Jamaica was about to gain independence from the British Empire. Pioneering Jamaican record producer, Clement Dodd, wanted to find a danceable, uniquely Jamaican sound to unify the people. In late 1960 and 1961 bands recording for Dodd laid down the first truly Ska tracks by combining American R&B, Swing, Boogie Woogie, early Rock and Jazz influences with local folk music.
Ska went to England with the mass migration of West Indians in the early 60's. Some of the younger immigrants and the children of immigrants were called Rude Boys. They were called Rude Boys or 'Rude Bwoys' because they were the "cool" hoodlums ruling the dance clubs and marijuana trade in Kingston Jamaica. Many of these Rude Boys were already into Ska. Rude Boys sported the clean cut suit and Polo shirt style that is still prevalent on the Ska scene today. This Style matched closely the look of the English MoD's, and Rude Boys were quickly adopted into the Mod scene. A clear example of this can be found in the movie Quadrophenia by the Who.
The MoD's in Quadrophenia were all scooter riders, which was fairly typical of the time. Scooters are inexpensive, small, light weight, manoeuvrable, incredibly fuel efficient, and have all the sexy design sense of that era. It is therefore, no real surprise that MoD's, with their tailored three button suits would love these little marvels of modern automation; adding excessive amounts of lights and mirrors, whip antennas, fur covered seats and every chrome accessory available. As time went on, the Mod scene (like most) grew and began to subdivide. Yet scooters remained an essential component of the many subsequent groups.
Other MoD's preferred harder Rock and Roll. Heavily influenced by groups like the National Front and finding it difficult to get jobs in a country filled with recent immigrants, they cut their hair short and became known as Hard MoD's. These Hard MoD's would later become the first Skinheads.
Skinheads, originally, come out of the same *working class* culture as Ska. Just look at early Sixties pictures of Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer -- they have no hair! Skinhead culture spread more widely in the late Sixties as more and more Jamaicans went to the UK and influenced the White youth culture there. These old UK bald-heads were rude boys. Yesterday's and today's skinhead fashion has a legacy
from Black Jamaica. Since the first skinheads were trying to look like shave-head rude boys, it makes all those Nazi skinhead types seem pretty ignorant, eh? It's a good thing they are in the minority.
English Ska and bands like Madness, the Specials and The (English) Beat; bands who would influence all types of popular music. The Beetles, Paul Simon, J. Giles, Led Zeppelin, Tom Petty and the Police were all influenced by Ska music, Sting was even in the movie Quadrophenia riding a Vespa G.S. replica.
I was definitely a part of the two-tone revival of the late 70s and early 80s. I still remember the first time I heard I Just Can't Stop It and still feel the same rush of pleasure when I hear it to this very day. From there, it was just a matter of time before the Specials, the Selecter, Madness, and all of the other two-tone bands entered my collection. Ska was great back then; it took the best qualities of the MoD's and punks and put it with a skanking beat. Some of the great Ska albums from that period are
The (English) Beat I Just Can't Stop It
The first Ska album I bought, way back in 1980, and one of my favourites. Contains two of the best known Ska songs, "Mirror in the Bathroom" and the killer cover of Smokey Robinson and the Miracles "Tears of a Clown," as well as "Twist and Crawl," "Ranking Full Stop" and "Jackpot." Go Feet!
The (English) Beat Special Beat Service
It's got more than just straight Ska, but it's almost all good. "Ackee 123" and "Jeanette" are great, as are the well-known
"Save it For Later" and "I Confess." The other Beat album, Whappen? is good too, and the greatest hits compilation
What is Beat? is required listening in my home town of Laguna Beach, California.
The Specials The Specials
When they were a great straight Ska band--produced by Elvis Costello, and includes "Gangsters," "Rudi, A Message to You," and, especially, "Nite Club." They drifted into lesser non-Ska stuff later, but The Singles Collection has their career high points.
The Selecter Celebrate the Bullet
A great album, especially the title cut. The Selecter recently reunited, and can now be seen touring with fine young Ska bands such as Mustard Plug and the Toasters.
Madness One Step Beyond
Somebody tell me why this isn't out on CD in the U.S.! Majestic songs such as "One Step Beyond," "Night Boat to
Cairo," and "My Girl" deserve a re-release. Just a great album all around.
What can you say about the return of Ska? Call it what you want; third wave Ska, skacore, new skank--it's great by any name. My heart will always be with the great Two Tone bands of the late70s and early 80s, but my head and feet recognise fine Ska quality in much of this new music too. Here are some of my personal favourites.
Let's Go Bowling
They've got it all; cheesy organ, cranking horns, and great songs. You can't miss with this band. Their excellent new CD
is Mr. Twist, which is being played on Ska shows at colleges around the nation.
The Allstonians
Another band whose sound is both modern and rooted in the classic Ska groove. You have to love a band with songs like "Mariachi Go Ska," available on Go You!
Goldfinger
More skacore than true Ska, but they have a couple of righteous tunes on their release, even if radio is beating "Here in My Bedroom" into the ground.
Buck-O-Nine
The skanking sounds of Southern California, where Ska never went out of style. Rough and rude, and ready to be skanked to. Their album title sums it all up--Barfly
The Scofflaws
A truly great band that has elements of the original rudie sound mixed with modern ideas. On their Ska in hi-fi release, the connection between the great sound and beat of Ska and William Shatner, aka Capt. James T. Kirk was finally established.
Mustard Plug
A really excellent Midwestern Ska band; proof that the upbeat sounds has permeated our entire nation. Finally. How can you possible go wrong with a song called "Brain On Ska"?