Track Listing

1. James Bond Theme
2. Latin Goes Ska
3. Confucius
4. Occupation
5. Rock Fort Rock
6. Eastern Standard Time
7. Ball of Fire
8. Swing Easy
9. Ringo
10. Freedom Sounds

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #138967 in Music
• Released on: 1998-01-27
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.com
The Skatalites' return to a major label was long overdue. For a band whose original incarnation had only lasted 14 months in the '60s, their influence had been tremendous. Resurrected in 1983, they were definitely jazzers with a ska beat these days. Ball of Fire was made up of old Skatalites material, all reinterpeted by a band that included four founder members, and it taught a lesson in sophistication and swing to all aspiring ska instrumentalists. Everything had a groove; the solos were fluent and never self-indulgent. In other words, it was everything they ever aspired to be, and glorious fun, too. Chris Nickson

Customer Reviews

Rock Skatalites Rock
Sweet instrumental reggae with fierce horn and guitar solos throughout. This music speaks volumes despite lacking vocals. The sound quality is awesome, jams are all over, and whether you are new to the Skatalites or not, this album is a must have. Track 5, Rock Fort Rock, is single-handedly nasty enough to warrant the five star rating. If you like this stuff, which you will, get your hands on the hard-to-find double "Stretching Out" as soon as possible.

The real thing
My ears have listenened to a lot of things including saturday afternoon IRIE-FM, the thing the average Jamaican is given. This album represents the class and style that someone (god bless their soul) has the sense to preserve and disseminate to the masses. Listen to Earnest Ranglin. JAH People live. Ken

I like Mike!
there's that kid sitting at his desk, laughing his arse off reading your comments. he can't be serious, he just can't be!
now this recording offers you some of the finest the skatalites recorded since their reunion. featuring special guest ernest ranglin on guitar (check his duet with devon james on "rock fort rock", the skatalites give you a great rendition of a nice assortment of classics. there are crowd favourites such as "eastern standard time", with will clark nicely throwing in a few don drummond quotes, or "latin goes ska" with roland alphonso at his best.
this is a must have for every ska fan and a good start if you want to get into the music!