Various Artists: Ghetto Ska - From The Vaults Of Wirl & Federal Studios (CD)

The shuffle rhythm that was born from the American Rhythm and Blues tunes that hit Jamaica in the 1950's would soon fuse under its Jamaican influence and find an emphasis on the second and fourth bars of the beat. This OffBeat would create the Ska Sound and no finer exponent of this in the sounds early days was Theo Beckford.

Theophilus 'Easy Snapping' Beckford (born 1935, Kingston, Jamaica) began his musical career in the mid fifties and had after only two years mastered his instrument of choice the piano. His first hit for Coxonne Dodd's Worldisc label was the classic ‘Easy Snapping’. He had created his own laid back style that simply rolled off his piano and his musical arrangements became the backbone of so many early Ska tunes. His services were soon in demand with not only Coxonne Dodd but all the other top flight producers of the time, Duke Reed, Beverley's, Prince Buster and Clancy Eccles. His session work alongside his playing as part of the big group of the time Clue J and His Blues Blasters, that would eventually morph into the legendary Skatalites, meant that his fingers were truly on the musical pulse of the time.

We have compiled some great early Ska cuts for this release that have been touched with the T. Beckford magic. Some of his own classic hits 'Flip, Flop and Fly' (aka Walking Down King Street), 'Mr Downpressor' the fantastic 'Don't Have a Ticket Don't Worry'. His poignant duo of 'Grudgeful People' and 'Ungrateful People' and two other timeless tracks 'What A Woe' and 'Boilerman'. Alongside some of his productions for some of the other long - forgotten hero's of the early Ska Sound. Basil Gabiddon's 'Streets of Glory', Frank Cosmo's 'On Your Knees', Shenley and Annette's 'Now You're Gone' and Daniel Johnson's uplifting 'Come On My People'.

1. Don’t Have A Ticket Don’t Worry - T. Beckford
   
2. Come On My People - Daniel Johnson
   
3. Love Me or Leave Me - Lloyd Clarke
   
4. Seven Long Years - T. Beckford
   
5. Hit You Like You Feel It - The Tenor Twins
   
6. Daphne - T. Beckford
   
7. On Your Knees - Frank Cosmo
   
8. Grudgeful People - T.Beckford
   
9. Flip Flip And Fly - T. Beckford
   
10. Brother Nathan - Daniel Johnson
    
11. Streets Of Glory - Basil Gabiddon
    
12. Bajan Girl - T. Beckford
    
13. Now You’re Gone - Shenley & AnneWe
    
14. Mr Downpressor - T. Beckford
    
15. Boiler Man - T. Beckford
    
16. Ungrateful People - T. Beckford
    
17. What A Woe - T. Beckford*
    
18. Take Your Time - T. Beckford