19th July 2023

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THIS IS JAMAICA SKA1
Various Artists (1964)

No catalogue number
matrix: C.Dodd 001-1 // C.Dodd 001-2

Simmer Down (Wailers); Push Wood (Jackie Opel); Salt Lane Gal (Skatalites); Wonder No More (Andy & Joey); Bongo Tango (Roland Alphonso); Sucu-Sucu (Roland Alphonso) // 20-75 (Roland Alphonso); The Vow (Jackie & Doreen); How Many Times (Wailers); Heaven & Earth (Don Drummond & Roland Alphonso); Sit Down Servant (Jackie Opel); Go Jimmy Go (Wailers)

Original Jamaican issue. The first press was probably released on the WIRL label, and later repressed on the ND Records label and coloured vinyl. Heaven & Earth is wrongly listed on both sleeve and label as Roll On Sweet Don. Thick grey card sleeve. ((Click sleeve to enlarge.))

A strong selection of contemporary (1964-65) ska stompers, most originally released as 7" singles but including some tracks that appear on LP only. Roland Alphonso, Don Drummond,The Skatalites and Jackie Opel feature prominently, and there are three tracks by The Wailers, including the hard-to-find How Many Times (aka Do You Remember) and Go Jimmy Go. (Thanks to Luc Chemin for coloured vinyl photos.)

THIS IS JAMAICA SKA1
Various Artists

Studio One
matrix: C.Dodd 001-1 // C.Dodd 001-2

Simmer Down (Wailers); Push Wood (Jackie Opel); Salt Lane Gal (Skatalites); Wonder No More (Andy & Joey); Bongo Tango (Roland Alphonso); Sucu-Sucu (Roland Alphonso) // 20-75 (Roland Alphonso); The Vow (Jackie & Doreen); How Many Times (Wailers); Heaven & Earth (Don Drummond & Roland Alphonso); Sit Down Servant (Jackie Opel); Go Jimmy Go (Wailers)

Jamaican repress on the Studio One label in the same thick card sleeve as the original press. Heaven & Earth is still wrongly listed as Roll On Sweet Don.

THIS IS JAMAICA SKA2
Various Artists

Studio One
matrix: C.S.Dodd - This Is Jamaica Ska - KK Mastering 3318

THIS IS JAMAICA SKA3
Various Artists (2020)

ND Records CLD 003
matrix: SO CLD-LP 003 A // SO CLD-LP 003 B

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ThisIsJamaicaSkaNDlabel
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ThisIsJamaicaSka2
ThisIsJamaicaSkaS1label

Simmer Down (Wailers); Push Wood (Jackie Opel); Salt Lane Gal (Skatalites); Wonder No More (Andy & Joey); Bongo Tango (Roland Alphonso); Sucu-Sucu (Roland Alphonso) // 20-75 (Roland Alphonso); Stop Making Love (Gaylads); How Many Times (Wailers); Heaven & Earth (Don Drummond & Roland Alphonso); Sit Down Servant (Jackie Opel); Go Jimmy Go (Wailers)

US remix on the Studio One label in thin white card sleeve. ((Click sleeve to enlarge.))

Stop Making Love (Gaylads) replaces Jackie & Doreen's The Vow. A paper sticker on the rear of the sleeve correctly credits Heaven & Earth to Don Drummond and Roland Alphonso. Distribution is by Coxon's Music City with both the 13 Brentford Road and 3135 Fulton Street, Brooklyn N.Y. addresses.

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thisisjamaicaskabluevinyl202

Simmer Down (Wailers); Push Wood (Jackie Opel); Salt Lane Gal (Skatalites); Wonder No More (Andy & Joey); Bongo Tango (Roland Alphonso); Sucu-Sucu (Roland Alphonso) // 20-75 (Roland Alphonso); The Vow (Jackie & Doreen); How Many Times (Wailers); Heaven & Earth (Don Drummond & Roland Alphonso); Sit Down Servant (Jackie Opel); Go Jimmy Go (Wailers)

Rock A Shacka reissue of the original 12 tracks, with informative and comprehensive sleeve notes provided by
Brian Keyo. ((Click sleeve to enlarge.))

Also released on CD with 4 bonus tracks: Change Your Gear (The Blue Beats), Finger Mash (The Blue Beats), Gal & Boy (The Gaylads) and Lee Harvey Junior (Roland Alphonso & The Skatalites).

thisisjamaicaskarockashacka200
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Simmer Down (Wailers); Push Wood (Jackie Opel); Salt Lane Gal (Skatalites); Wonder No More (Andy & Joey); Bongo Tango (Roland Alphonso); Sucu-Sucu (Roland Alphonso); Dr Ring Ding (Take.4) (Roland Alphonso; Change Your Gear (Take.2) (The Blue Beats) // 20-75 (Roland Alphonso); The Vow (Jackie & Doreen); How Many Times (Wailers); Roll On Sweet Don (Don Drummond & Roland Alphonso); Sit Down Servant (Jackie Opel); Go Jimmy Go (Wailers), Finger Mash (The Blue Beats); Gal & Boy (The Gaylads)

Extended 16 track US edition including Roll On Sweet Don (in place of Heaven And Earth) and adding Dr Ring Ding (Take.4), Change Your Gear (Take.2), Finger Mash and Gal & Boy.

All tracks are transferred from the original tapes as part of the Studio One Original Masters Series Archive under license to Redeye Incorporated. Also available on CD.

THIS IS JAMAICA SKA1
Various Artists (2020)

Rock A Shacka RSCSLP-002
matrix: 208300E1/A // 208300E2/A