This is thee much aticipated follow up to Phoenix City All-Stars critically acclaimed 2 Tone - "Gone Ska" album.
Once again we're transported to 60s Jamaica by a stellar cast of players. With both Jamaican Ska & The Stones drawing heavily from Rhythm & Blues, the marriage is a simple and joyus one. The All-stars influences are unashamed and burst through.
Beit Skatalites inspired horn driven instrumentals (Play With Fire, Paint It Black, Time Is On My Side, Love In Vain & Sweet Virginia), Jackie Mittoo organ homage (Under My Thumb), the soul-fired vocal cuts of Freddie Notes (Satisfaction & Little Red Rooster) or Rocksteady lament of Nathan Thomas from Sidewalk Doctors (Wild Horses & Honky Tonk Woman) rarely has such authenticity been produced outside of Jamaica.
The All-stars take on Play With Fire has gone on to be played every day on Steve Lamacq's BBC6 show at 4.40pm for over 3 years!
Phoenix City All-stars is an ever-growing all-star collective that includes members from Pama International, The Specials, The Sidewalk Doctors, The Loafers, Big Boss Man, Kasabian, Dub Vendor All-stars, The Bongolian, Forest Hillbillies, Intensified, The Delegators plus guest appearances by classic Jamaican singers; Dave Barker (Dave & Ansel Collins), AJ Franklin (The Chosen Few/The Federals) and Trojan Records legend Freddie Notes, famed for his global hit Montego Bay.
In 2012 they launched their debut album 'Two Tone Gone Ska' to critical acclaim. It delivered a truly unique celebration of Britain's iconic 2 Tone label by replanting the hits of The Specials, Madness, Elvis Costello, The Beat & The Selecter in 1960's Jamaica. The resulting tracks are wonderfully inspired, authentic 60's ska, rocksteady & early reggae.
Having stormed Notting Hill Carnival and The London Intl Ska Festival, backed Dave & Ansel Collins and Rico Rodriguez and received national airplay from BBC Radio 2 (Alex Lester, Rodigan), Kiss100 (Rodigan) and BBC6 (Gideon Coe, Radcliffe & Maconie, Steve Lamacq) the all-stars now turn their attention to another British institution - Dexys Midnight Runners for their third release (due out summer 2016).
supported by 105 fans who also own “Skatisfaction”
A Nice little Ska sampler . a lot of great tracks, the best being The Scotch Bonnets - Sheena Is A Punk Rocker! Avoid the Sham 69 cover - just as bad as the original. Erasmus Windage
excellent and inventive versioning in an authentic style with a nod to the present - along with a few others, manasseh keeps the flag waving - i'm not familiar with the source album, but with respect to pama intl, i don't need to be - a valid piece of work! tech23