essential
The Skatalites are one of the most fantastic ska bands ever, they practically started ska. The two discs contain the amazing feel of the Skatalites. Def recommend for anyone into old time ska :]

Foundation is right!
The title fits. This was the birth of reggae with Jamaica's Jazz and R&B supergroup the Skatalites in the 1960s. Hear them back up Bob Marley dn the Wailer's first record "Smmer Down" and you will do just the opposite. Enjoy "Exodis," Cool Smoke," and their lovely rendition of "I Should Have Known Better" (aka Independent Anniversary Ska).

But the real bonus here is the late great genius Don Drummond's wailing trombone in "Eastern Standard Time." Why more people in the uSA aren't familiar with this is a mystery. But in either case, this is one of those happy Cds that is recommended listening after a hard day.

Skatalitesmyfire

This is an excellent collection of songs. Can't really find a single poor track on either CD. These guys somehow combine a mastery of their craft with the primeval feeling of true ska. If I was to subdivide the many flavors of ska even further, I'd say this was "Big Band Ska" - a category the Skatalites own. While I'm generally not too keen on instrumentals, this album is way too good to pass up - and with 32 songs is also a bargain. Can't imagine a lover of ANY type of ska not enjoying this... 4.5 stars.

Ska-tastic...
I caught a whiff of this great music late at night on the left side of the dial where the public sponsored stations all hang out in a small, little huddle trying to remain fiercely independent. Most of these stations play incredible music of all types and this was one of the records the midnight DJ spun....

Oh, man...this is great stuff. I've always liked ska music, mostly English Beat and General Public, but that music almost sounds contrived compared to the "real thing"...

This music has a jumpy, happy beat...I mean, if you can make the song "Exodus" into something you want to dance to, you're onto something.

I have very eclectic tastes ranging from the conventional to the obscure. To me, music has the obligation to move the soul. If the soul is happy then the feet will be happy and if the feet are happy the hips will be happy until pretty soon your happy soul will unite with your happy body and you have what we call dancing and as Nietzche said in one of his essays, "I can only believe in a God that dances..."

Well, God does dance, friends, so let the spirit/the soul within you come out to play and buy this fantastic collection. It's a little pricey for something that's over 40 years old, but it still beats a lot of the stuff that's currently "out there".

Right
I agree with Skibz here. The Bosstones, RBF, LTJ, FIF (ok, enough acronyms), et al. are not traditional ska - they are their own thing. There's connections and influences, but stepping up onto your pedestal and proclaiming that the heathens listening to these lowly recent bands should listen to 'real' ska does not make any sense. If someone likes ska-punk, they might absolutely hate traditional ska, and your admonitions will do nothing to change that. They'll just be given one more reason not to at least try to like it. If someone disdainfully reproached you for your musical interests, would that really inspire you to look into that person's musical interests?

Of course, the reviewer comparing them to the Bosstones was most likely just trying to stir up crap, and has succeeded. There's more than a few people doing that on here. Don't take every review as if the person was perfectly serious: I think there is great humor in such facetious posts, as long as you are able to see it for what it is.

Now for another realization. Some of the first few bands I got into were Less Than Jake and Reel Big Fish. The Bosstones were, and still are, one of my favorite bands. They are exceptional at what they do. I *also* like more traditional ska, but I've had enough with the naming of names, and trying to one-up everyone by being more 'pure' in their selection. I don't feel it's any more 'real' - it's a totally different style, for a totally different mood.

Anyway. The Skatalites are great. Goodnight.

/steps down from own pedestal