Quality recordings of reggae/ska and alternative


I need help expanding my "reference" cds of reggae, ska and alternative rock; I'm interested in those with the highest quality recording and wide soundstage (if possible with this genre of music!). Does near audiophile quality exist for these genres? What are your recommendations? Some of the favs in my collection are: Cake, Ben Folds, Beck, Bare Naked Ladies, Bob Marley Legend, Steel Pulse, They Might Be Giants, Muse; I could go on with my list but want your suggestions on music that sounds great on 2 channel audiophile systems. Thanks!
canjo07

Showing 3 responses by bongofury

Arkology: the 3 CD retrospective of Ark Studios in Kingston: the near complete Lee "Scratch" Perry
Asward
Augustus Pablo
Black Uhuru
Burning Spear
Chaka Demus & Pliers
The Congoes
Devon Irons
Dillinger
The Heptones
Jacob Miller and Inner Circle
Jimmy Cliff
Junior Dread
Luciano
Max Romeo
The Meditations
Mikey Dread
Peter Tosh
Raphael Green
Steel Pulse
Third World
Toots and the Maytals
U-Roy
Ska:
The Bodysnatchers
The Beat
Goldfinger
Less Than Jake
Madness
Operation Ivy
Rico
The Selecter
The Specials
Sublime
311
The Specials first album should be in every collection. Amazing writing, playing and production.

There is also a wonderful compilation from the 1980s called the "2 Tone Story" that assembled all the English bands together, including the Bodysnatchers, The Beat. Madness, Rico, the Selecter and the Specials.

Island Records came out with a similar compilation called "Island 40th 1972 - 1995 Reggae Roots" that has many of the seminal artists listed above.

I highly recommend "Arkology Volumes 1 to 3" for dub reggae by Lee "Scratch" Perry and some of the newer Trojan Records compilations for lessor known Reggae groups.

A great source of information is Wax Poetics Magazine, which has featured Jamaican artists over their 37 editions. Check out their website.