I was just playing the hourly WTS game. The subject was music and I got a question about The Specials, one of my all-time favorite Ska bands. It led me to wonder if there are any Ska/Mod fans out there. I am of the Second Wave (late 70's- early 80's) generation. Anybody out there have any stories or music recommendations?

For Ska...I'm sure you know of these people...but I would say Mad Caddies are my all time favorite ska band. They're just so smooth. I also really like Goldfinger.

Have you ever heard of "The Gents" clipper?
They were a local band in the NE UK in the early to mid 80's and did some good stuff.
Their first album is nigh on impossible to get hold of alas, but their second one is easier to find and there were a couple of singles released around 83 too. I think "Revenge" would be the most sucessful one.

Hey Rowena, I haven't heard of The Gents, but I love to check out recommendations. I'll definitely seek them out. Thanks for the heads up!

King, the last time I saw Goldfinger, Dave Wakeling from the (English) Beat came on stage and they segued from the Beat's "Mirror in the Bathroom" to Goldfinger's "MITB" inspired "Here in Your Bedroom". It was pretty cool.

Woah...that's freaking awesome!

I think if you can get 'This is Ska', a not very old CD/LP you will get a selection of the best original stuff from the 60s onwards. Apart from a few hits reggae and ska never did much in the UK charts before the Specials so without becoming an authority it's very hard to find the good stuff even now. But get that album, it has everything worth hearing old and less old.

Ska - Loved the British stuff, early 80's - Madness, English Beat, JoBoxers,

stuff that came out in the mid to late 90's just didn't hold water for me. Did see the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, they were great.

Mod - For me it starts and ends with the Yardbirds. The early Who stuff was great, think it was evident they were going to evolve as most great bands do. The Kinks and the Animals had some good songs in there as well.

Looooove "Madness" - Give me Baggy Trousers any day!

Another rarity that's well worth a listen if you can track it down is "Mod's Mayday 79" - afaik it's only on vinyl but it's brilliant - Nine Below Zero, Cross Section, Purple Hearts, Secret Affair etc

My favorite ska era was the third wave of the '90s. The Moon Ska label artists, the Slackers, Skavoovie the Toasters, the ska/caribbean crossover artists, the ska/swing sound- that's what I love best.

The Jump Up records site sells some rare '80s ska but I haven't explored the scene much yet (beyond the obvious Madness, English Beat & Specials).