Top 10 Ska Bands
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- Опубліковано 17 лип 2024
- Top 10 Greatest Ska Bands of All Time
The best ska bands are spread out across all 3 waves of the genre. WatchMojo counds down our picks for the ten best ska bands of all time.
List Entries and Rank:
#10. Sublime
#9. The Beat
#8. Madness
#7. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
#6. The Wailers
#5. Toots and the Maytals
#4. Operation Ivy
#3. ?
Why does everyone get so pissed, it's a watchmojo list. Lower your expectations
bang on
Nah, we all know ska better than you. And you son, I was around when...and you, I saw..... blah blah, ska is always a dick swinging contest because everyone thinks they're unique and have seen something that's not been in the top 40.
Just enjoy it folks
True, it’s watchmojo. Can’t drill down accuracy too much. Reggae and ska being the same and all, expectations lowered.
Lol good point
No, raise your expectations, idiot!
For the person who commented that Ska started in the late 70's, you are very wrong, it started in the late 50's, in Jamaica, Ska was before Reggae...
reteposh not sure if a funhaus fan or music history buff
The lack of Lord Creator and their infusion of jazz horns in Reggae was very disappointing to me.
Wrong also it started in the 30s in irland
Agree with you Pete! Not really accurate is it, the wailers were never Ska. What about Selector and Bad Manners? Still enjoyed watching this though! 😃
DID YOU KNOW SKA CAME BEFORE REGGAE?
The Selecter definitely need to be mentioned here. Grew up on the second wave and that is how I learned about the first. So glad The Toasters made your list.
😂 The who??
Totally agree Pauline Black is Legend been 53 and from England I grew up on second wave of Ska more into oi! these bays I've been a Skinhead since 1984.
Y'all should listen to Latin Ska, I personally think it's better.
1. The specials
2. Madness
3. Bad manners (WHICH THEY DIDNT EVEN HAVE IN THERE)
Bad Manners was the best concert I ever saw. An amazing energetic Ska show of 1000 Mods slam dancing in Reseda,CA.
The Specials will always be the not only the greatest Ska band, but also one of the greatest political bands ever.
When I heard the "take reggae, add a little R&B and jazz and you have ska" I knew I needed to come to the contents section for the dumpster fire. Not disappointed. Ska was a Jamaican musical form that preceeded both rocksteady and reggae. It developed after Jamaican indepenence from England in both a deliberate attempt to craft a destinctly national sound and an organic outgrowth of the sound system culture.
I learned this in the last two days after going on a ska binge. And I'm not even getting paid to write a garbage article.
brass section = 'jazz'! LOL
Thank you. So much to say here about this list but why bother.. Those who know, KNOW.. :)~
And nobody but nobody did this fusion better than The Police 👍🏻 there are good bands on this list but The Police kicked ass 👍🏻
She was way off the mark here, I'd want my money back 😂
@@thornbird6768 Nope ,are you saying the Fucking Police are better at ska than the Specials,you are having a laugh mate
"Hey, you! Don't watch that -- watch THIS!!!!"
Gerpic59 after the disapointment that was this list, i might just go watch *that*
It's the heavy heavy monster sound
Uriel Ramirez The nuttiest sound around
@@joseortiz4631 ...which is a cover of a Prince Buster song.
The nuttiest songs around
Catch 22 (Streetlight Manifesto) and Five Iron Frenzy should at least be mention here.
Streetligt has the best horn section for sure
@@megamegapop12 Yep, pretty hard to do better than them. :D
Those were the bands the introduced me to ska
Now it’s my favorite music genre
Love FIF but some of the pioneers of ska needed to be listed
I saw FIF in Philly last month. I felt like a teenager again, but I could only go in the mosh pit a little at a time.
Can't believe Madness was only number 8! They're one of England's finest
So can’t I.
No Bad Manners either. Seen Buster live a few years ago. Still amazing today
Madness were crap, stupid band, insulting Prince Buster by naming themselves after this great legend, The Specials are the only true British ska band. Oh, let's not forget The Selector.
There's so much wrong with this list:
-A few of those bands you named are reggae, not ska. Now some might think it's the same, but there actually is a difference between the two genres.
-No Bad Manners in the list
-Madness as #8? The band that holds the record of spending most weeks in the UK singles charts in the 80's.
Couldn't agree more. Plus The Selecter not even on the list.
@@tomkowo485 The fact that The Toasters beat Toots and the Maytals makes it an insult. And yes The Selecter should have been in this list.
The "Skatalites" are the true original "Ska" band. In the early days of Jamaican "Ska", they were the backing band for "The Wailing Wailers" and "Toots n The Maytals". Every other band outside of Jamaica plays a watered down version of "SKA" music..
Check your history folks!!
I saw Skatalites over the summer! Great show.
I would have put The Specials at number one. Even their Return of the Specials was awesome (and featured a killer cover of Pressure Drop).
1. The Specials (for their overall fun songs)
2. Madness
3. The English Beat (although they could easily be 1 or 2 over Madness)
4. Bad Manners (if not in the top 5, Fatty Buster Blood Vessel would wreck me)
5. The Selecter
****end****
The Selecter shouldn't be in that top 5 imo, they have catchy songs, i'll give them that but their stage presence is awful. I'd do mine for music quality and live shows so it would be:
1: Bad Manners (seen 3 times)
2: The Beat (seen 3 times)
3: The Specials (yet to see but seen videos)
4: Madness (yet to see but their shows have gone downhill)
5: The Selecter (seen once, never again)
***** You must have seen The Selecter on a bad night.I've seen them loads and they always put on a great live show. I must admit Bad Manners are my favourite,probably because I've seen them so many times!!
Bad Manners never fail to put on a cracking show
Number 8 - Madness. The rest of this list must be fucking spectacular then...
+theakstonsrock The list is a joke really.
Ska is a genre of music that was created in Jamaica in the 1950s. It was created before reggae and it’s a mix of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and R&B.
Never seen such BS!!! hahahaha
1. The specials
2. Madness
3 .The Beat
4. Bad Manners
5. Selector
6. The Body Snatchers
A Much Better List!
Yeah that’s a good point where tf are bad manners
So no original ska bands why not
Go buy the album or rent the early 80s movie Dance Craze. I have both and play them often. ENJOY!!!
Prince Buster would get on the list
why mention the wailers and make a case for them being ska if you're not gonna actually play any of their ska tracks? and not even an honourable mention for the likes of Reel Big Fish or Less Than Jake?
one last thing... what the fuck is wrong with you putting Madness at number 8?!
+Insomniac Coffee or Streetlight Manifesto
I was really missed when reel big fish wasn't on there. Then at the end it's mentioned.
+Insomniac Coffee That is true, and the Wailers are a true Ska band, no one wants to listen to that. lol
Wailers is reggae
+Mike Giordano During the sixties, the wailers were a ska band and produced over a hundred such tracks for Studio 1. Simmer Down is perhaps their best known song from this period and there is an early ska version of One Love which is worth listening to.
This mogo has no idea abut music
1 The specials
2 madness
3 The beat
My list would go like that too! 100% agreed
I think I would add No Doubt to the list
The selecter
The Beat at No1...but yeah easily the top three
Agreed.
'The Selector' should have been in the top 10. 'On my Radio' is a classic!!!!!!!!
Totally agree with you buddy ...THE SELECTER should be up there with THE DELTONES, as for the PUNK / SKA music I think that they forgot about the CLASH, THE RUTS AND THE SLITS who were doing that back in 1977 -- 78
Bogus,..... not even a mention of "The Selector"
Because its "The Selecter"
@@Rj-tz5kb Well whatever it certainly is a gross ommision (sp) Two tone was an important movement in Coventry, it was a time of interacial violence, of murder and the appeal of right wing anti immigration parties (does that sound similar)
The whole Coventry music scene was vast and complex with a history before two tone, you can't imagine the various influences on a young man as I was back then, playing Irish music in sessions, singing in clubs alongside Pauline Black (pre selector) Growing up with so many different musical influences from Reggae and Heavy Metal to Prog Rock. A spiders web of connections I and my friends were part of. It wasn't just the music though, we were anti apartheid we fought on the streets for equality. Rock against Racism and Two Tone were both expressions of that
What about the Bad Manners?
Bob marley and the wailers, Toots maytall are definitely Reggea and NOT SKA.
Just saying
Wouter Smit Yep, this list sucks like many similar ones. Everybody likes something of his/her own, we are all very different individuals. Our emotions are not a matter of any competition or making stupid lists.
Wouter Smit Toots and the Maytals are ska, so were The Wailers.
Bob Marley and the Wailers on the other hand weren't.
Wouter Smit the Wailers were 1st Wave Ska, until they started with Reggae. 1st Wave Ska Music sounds quite different from the Ska Punk we know today, it established from Boogie music.
Bob Marley and the wailers is Ska have you never heard of simmer down judge not and toots and the Mytals is also Ska its just older and towards the front of the reggae era okay
+jemoeder2021 Yeah, early Maytals were definately Ska. 'Treating me bad' was Toots and the Maytals at their best. That song is ska!
Madness literally caused an earthquake at one of its reunion concerts... it should be higher.
So should Sublime!!! Newer ska bands y’all should check out are Pepper and Stick Figure
Agreed for Madness, there's no way Op Ivy and Toasters deserves to be on this list. Where are Bad Manners, Selecters, Desmond Decker, Laurel Aitkens or even Judge Dread ffs!
@@Grilapin well I mean without op we wouldn’t have many 3rd wave ska bands
I think that Prince Buster, The Police, Five Iron Frenzy, The O.C. Supertones and No Doubt deserve a mention too (although No Doubt was more of a pop band by the end).
I used to play for a Ska band called Fixed Idea from El Paso, Texas. They are still together after 25 years. They never hit the big one. Nonetheless the love for Ska they have is still to this day unbelievable.
ayoooo hello from el paso too lol
Fixed idea are sick man!!
An ignorant list of bands, many arent even ska! They have ska influences.
This is rubbish
agreed - Bob Marley? Seriously? I was under the impression Bob Marley was the grand poobah of reggae, I would never consider him ska. And I always considered the song "Our House" as New Wave or 80s punk, all the "wavers" were listening to that when I was in high school.
Madness, madness, madness...
Can anybody name a few? I'm just starting to get into this
@Traxxattaxx fuck yeah 😁
My grandpa was Tommy McCook who played saxophone for the Skatalites and it brings a smile to my face to see him being recognized for him, and his bands work, thank you WatchMojo :)
That's awesome
Cool
I'm Roland Alphonso's daughter n I loved ur grandpa. May they both RIP ❤💛💚
Very cool!
Wow awesome xx
I m impressed by the huge knowledge, in detail, you all have here. That way I can learn something about Ska and more as from the video.
Another crap list from watch mojo whereby they just make up a list after googling "ska"
Madness number 8???? Bob Marley is Ska???
very odd list...
made by someone who appears to have no clue...
I would say this list is a joke.
The list is flawed yes, but the Wailers we know for the Reggae they made, started of with ska, all early Jamaican music started of as Ska and grew into Reggae.
Most people know Ska as the British version, but its so much older, dates back to the late 50's already.
Top 10 Ska bands, and, no Desmond Dekker, Selector, Bad Manners, or, Judge Dread? You never heard of Ska before you made this video, did you?
I agree. Spot on.
+Dimitri Sanchez (08Cheeseits) I keep hoping they'll get one right.
you serve a good point i love the selecter
I know, right?
My thoughts exactly. None of the bands in the video are real Ska.
Hey you, don't watch that, watch this
This is the heavy heavy monster sound
The nuttiest sound around
So if you've come in off the street
And you're beginning to feel the heat
Well, listen buster
You better start to move your feet
To the rockinest, rock-steady beat
Of madness
One step beyond
@7:18 is the legendary Roland Alphonso OD,,, My father 😍 RIP Rollie ❤💛💚
I had the luck to shake him and Tommy McCook both a hand, thanking them for a nice gig at Doornroosje, Nijmegen (NL), 8 months later they both where unfortunaly gone...
Such a sweet and wonderful man. I used to film reggae music, and became friends with the Skatalites. You'd be hard pressed to find a better group of gentlemen. Much love.
Dear Michele, gods don't die they take their place in the stars and wait for the rest of us, and long for you and loved ones to sit at their side again and for ever.
I met your dad and Lester Sterling briefly in early 1998. It was a pleasure and an honor.
watchmojo you understand what ska is right?
Hahahahaha
+Gavin George I dosent think so ;) :D
Well, since they seem to think Sublime was a Ska band, obviously, they have no idea.
+Laith Fisk I agree with you on some of the point you were making, most specifically the "once something becomes pop" part. I saw the Ramones at Toad's Place in CT quite a few years back now, and that was a cool show. Was surprised many years later to hear "Sedated" on the mainstream radio, and even as elevator music one time. Was the strangest thing to me.
Anon Nymous actually they are. Sublime is Reggae/Ska/Punk Rock
Madness, The Specials are the top 2 no question. Britain rules the ska genre.
Word!
Madness = great, specials = great, but no Beat? Where's your heart?
C Lewis Messina I'd say Madness and the Specials are better. But The Beat are good and yet another British band. Also, Bad Manners and The Selector are good. Surprise surprise they're British too.
ONE STEP BEYONDDDD!!!
So much jamaican ska. Original sound they missed. Desmond Dekker, Prince Buster, Peter Tosh, The Clarendonians, The Aces, etc. All original. The first wave that came before the 2nd wave. I play in The Uptones (Joined in 2005). another Ska band that was missed. Jesse Michaels from OP ivy says The Uptones are one of their major influences. I mean no disrespect, but I just wanted to add to the clarification of the term SKA GENRE. It started in Jamaica. And Even Toots claims that Desmond was one of the first pioneers. I hope this knowledge adds strength to your idea of unity.
May we rock steady this spinning ball of chaos...
Moose
Reel Big Fish?
I miss Reel Big Fish, Suburban Legend or Streetlight Manifesto. Maybe they are modern ska, but still good :)
RunningGirl1985 And Mustard Plug and The Voodoo Glow skulls.
Big D and the kids table. Goldfinger. Suicide machines
All of these bands still record and tour. How can you miss them?
Yup, they're all still around.
@@dsook4520 a group I found thru MySpace was The Taj Motel Trio!! They were good!! Are Mad Caddies punk or ska??
The wailers is reggae not ska
Check out lemon tree by the wailers
Kinda sad how they mention them instead of The Prince.
The Wailers started out as a ska band. Their first big hit was "Simmer Down" a traditional SKA tune
The Wailers, formed In the early 1960s, when the upbeat rhythm ska sound was still the dominant music genre of Jamaica. The slower rhythmic style of reggae, that evolved from ska, took hold in the 1970's. The Wailers and later, when their lead singer, Bob Marley went solo, settled into their more familiar known reggae sound.
Wailers have songs that are Ska. The main difference between Reggae and Ska is where the guitar notes are. In ska it's on the off beat for example........ in ska you have "1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +" but the guitar plays on the "+" in each beat. In Reggae it's the opposite, the guitar is played on 8th note beats 1, 2, 3, 4 and muted one the "+" The Wailers had song with both types of rhythm composition, Ska and Reggae.
10.- The Selecter
9.- Fishbone
8.- Ska-P
7.- MM Bosstones
6.- Los Fabulosos Cadillacs
5.- Prince Buster
4.- Desmond Dekker
3.- Laurel Aitken
2.- Madness
1.- The Specials
*1.- The Skatalites!!!!!! Los dioses del Ska!
juan alejandro lucero obando
MALDITA VECINDAD
HEPCAT?
Replace Laurel With Sublime and We cool
Better list... Although I'd throw in that combining Studio One Blue Beat and Rock Steady, along with 2nd and 3rd gen + the differences in British versus American and in America, East Coast (NY) versus West Coast (LA), plus sub-generas does not do the music justice. That being said, hell of a better list than Mojos...
Panteón rococo
I loved my youth in the late 70s and 80 in the uk,not just the ska scene but the mod scene and the metal rock scene.Amazing times.
my list..top 10 ska bands
1. The Specials
2. Madness
3. The Selecter
4. The Beat
5. Judge Dread
6. Prince Buster
7. Symarip
8. Laurel Aitken
9. Bad Manners
10. Desmond Dekker & The Aces
ska came before reggae #funhaus
DeanBean No
1957 was ska. Reggae was late 60s
desmond deckker
@@jimmyponciano8186 yes
Ed Masterson ok u win
No Bad Manners!!!!
The selector????
EXACTLY
Haha THATS WHAT I SAID TOO 😂😂
The Selecter, not Selector.....
No Bad Manners??? Ok. Stopped watching at No.5 after reading this comment. Thanks for saving me a couple of minutes :)
Tooootally. The Selector being left off was a major mistake.
Madness at only 8, you’re fucking with me 😂
I suspect that the compiler of this has no clue what they are talking about.
the wailers are reggae not ska...
They did both reggae and ska. It saddens me that so many people are only aware of the radio-friendly reggae tracks.
agreed...
The Wailers began as most Jamaican artists did as a vocal group singing Ska before the group split. Their sound evolved as Jamaican music evolved
Many people claim that the forerunners of what is called Rock and Roll to not be Rock and Roll, doesn't change the facts that it is. Same thing with Ska, while some songs may be specifically reggae, some are Ska sounding, and you can hear the strong influences of reggae in MANY Ska songs.
Wulf-359 But Ska came first, Reggae evolved from Ska and Rocksteady, there was no Reggae before there was Ska
Very american-biased. Toots and the Maytals should be definitely upper, and what about Laurel Aitken, Desmond Dekker, and Dr. Ring Ding and The Senior All Stars?
yeah! What about D Dekker!
I do think Sublime deserves a spot
@@angelocemoni4100 If the list was top 10 ska-punk bands, then yes, they would deserve a spot. Half on this list dont belong...
I agree!
Oh no, an american based youtube channel is more focused on the home country.. big surprise.
And THE BAD MANNERS! They deserve a place in the top!
just found this and I guess its a USA scoring. I have played in SKA bands for over 20 years, supported The Selecter, Bad Manners, The Beat and played on stage with Roddy Radiation from The Specials, Rhoda Dakar from the Body Snatchers and Nick Welsh (Skaville UK). These bands were the very backbone of the first SKA revival in the UK and none of them would be pleased to see their scoring, least of all Doug Trendle and Pauline Black who didnt make the list and still tour to this day. Good to see its still alive though
Oh man,The Selecter.Sounds of my salad days.
Madness should have had better justice than #8
+Foxtrot760 In the top 5
and what about Bad Manners?
They also forgot UB40, and I'm pretty sure Bob Marley and The Wailers should've been #1.
+R Linders The clips title is "Top 10 Ska Bands" .... UB40 and Bob Marley and the Wailers are much more Reggae than Ska.
+StewO101 Aren't Reggae and Ska almost the same thing? Besides, if you check the pages for The Wailers and UB40 on Wikipedia, you'll notice they're credited as "Ska".
My Top 10:
10: Sublime
9: Mighty Mighty Bosstones
8: Reel Big Fish
7: The Wailers
6: Rancid (as in Ska-Punk)
5: Toots and the Maytals
4: Skatalites
3: The Selecter
2: Madness
1: The Specials
+I Geriatrici I would put Madness at number 1 and id fit Bad Manners in too, prob at number 4.
+Jim Tom I agree!
Replace Rancid with Operation Ivy
+I Geriatrici Skatalites should be at number one ALWAYS, they are the fucking fathers of the ska, speaking not even of their unique swing and feeling
Less than jake?!?!?!
Free Nelson Mandela was not by the Specials, rather the post break up Special aka, led by Jerry Dammers. Album was called “In the studio.”
A Ska hit-list without Desmond Dekker and Laurel Aitken? This is so sad. Seriously.
Prince Buster, Desmond Dekker & The Aces (not The Israelites), Toots & The Maytals, Skatalites, Dave & Ansell Collins, The Specials, Madness, The Selecter, Bad Manners, The BodySnatchers, The Belle Stars...
You make the list next time!
Awesome list! Dead right 😃
Hellwyck The Untouchables
The Beat
A proper list !!!
Madness at 8, that is fucking MADNESS. They should be atleast top 3... if not first.
I'm not sure, the new album is shit and it's too poppy
Josh Badge
It's a little difficult to dismiss a band with over 35 years of success just because their latest album is "Shit and too poppy", especially when said album went top 10 in the UK and has gold status. They must be doing something right.....
Man, that is like saying you don't think The Beatles are up to much because you didn't think Abbey Road was all that great. Think! Think before you type, compadre.
I had low expectations but the frustration started at number 10...wow do your research!
To each their own. While I'm a huge fan, my top 10 doesn't even include Two Tone or Third Wave.
The Blues Busters
Bob Marley and The Wailers
Desmond Dekker
The Gaylads
Judy Mowatt
Lord Creator
Phyllis Dillon
Prince Buster
The Skatalites
Toots and The Maytals
And so many more. But that's just me.
,
The Gaylads had only a very few ska songs. And I don't think Judy Mowatt or Phyllis Dillon had any.
They all fiddled with ska before transitioning to rocksteady. Judy Mowatt is the only one that is on the bubble. She had a few rocksteady tunes she sang on her own or with The Gaylettes/Gaytones. Try to find the disc "The Gaylettes Featuring Judy Mowatt - We Shall Sing".
The Gaylads- ua-cam.com/video/zOIF3c3tPuA/v-deo.html
Phyllis Dillon- ua-cam.com/video/ellBKrnKBBM/v-deo.html
@@ska_jerk The Gaylettes had maybe 2 ska songs. Ive yet to find a Phyllis Dillon ska.
While I love every single one of these and agree that they are some of the best ska bands, I feel you should either make another list or have honorable mentions such as Streetlight Manifesto, Reel Big Fish, Less Than Jake, The Selecter, Bad Manners, Mad Caddies, and plenty more.
No 3rd wave ska should be ahead of The Beat and Madness. Plus you need Desmond Dekker on this list along with The Selecter and Bad Manners.
daddysensei Silver Half these bands are not even SKA. Actually early No Doubt should be in this list. Amazing SKA band!
daddysensei Silver thank you
daddysensei Silver Man, Pauline Black and Buster Blood vessel!!!!
@@Dakitu2000 Laurel Aitken is the GODFATHER of Ska but, yeah I got you.
Thank god true Ska people are here to tell the truth even now years later ( i know i am late to the party ) but my heart is true SKA
This video was very informative, I like the English Beat but didn’t know much about ska. It’s a very unique sound.
I came here knowing that Operation Ivy would be on the list and Desmond Dekker would not but it was so much worse than I imagined because it’s watch mojo.
Showing clips of Bob Marley and the wailers performing in the 70s is sending off the wrong message here. They did straight 1st wave ska in the early 60s, but didn't show any music from that time. They just played total reggae music which is a different genre. They're both Jamaican, but stop getting Bob Marley's later music confused with what the original Wailers actually played.
WatchMojo, you piss me off.
THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU SOMEONE ISNT RETARDED I LOVE YOU
Cameron James There is no such thing as 1st wave ska. It's just called ska. Everything else is a bastardization of an original art form.
How the hell is Madness only number 8?!?!?!?!?!?!?
I never knew how many ska bands were still being played on the radio at work until I actually researched a bit on the genre. I've come to the conclusion that ska isn't dead in certain metropolitan regions of the US because there is always that DJ who sneaks in "I'm Just a Girl" and "Our House" on the PA system and influencers who namedrops the Mighty Might BossToneS. Sure I'm not going get past the gatekeepers with the stuff I like but I'm happy I know now what I've been listening to all this time.
They’re angry, they have trumpets, and they’re ready to rock out.
I know it's a list and subjective but this is so very wide of the mark it's untrue. To have these '3rd Wave' US bands higher than the likes of Madness, no mention of some top 60s/70s Jamaican ska like The Ethiopians or The Upsetters, no mention of Bad Manners, The Selecter is just wrong. You make out Madness were the first ska band to have a horn section when lots of the early Jamaican bands had them. Why make a list when you clearly have no idea what ska is or its history.
+Graeme Matthew Indeed, this list is full of fail. So many better representations. King Edwards and Babba Brooks spring to mind.
+Graeme Matthew Finally some one who knows there Ska. They said madness first to have a horn section then have the skatalites as #1 who have a horn section. The Selector not even mention and should of been in the top 5 .
The wailers are a major stretch in calling them a ska band.
+Jett Crash Early Wailers yes .
The wailers were mento and ska and rocksteady... Bob marley & THE WAILERS were reggae... Thats why there albums are either THE WAILERS or BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS... Uf you want the reggae grab the bob albums uf you want the other stuff grab tge albums not preceded by BOB
how the HELL was Streetlight Manifesto not on this? or Catch 22?
Catch 22 is not groundbreaking. They just took ska to another level of awesomeness
It's good to see the Mighty Mighty Bosstones on here along with the Toasters and The Specials and Skatilites
I'm sorry but any top 10 that has The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Operation Ivy and The Toasters over Madness is just laughable, ask anyone from England and it's a hard call as to who's better/more important between Madness and the Specials.
The Specials had 2 #1's compared to Madness's 1 but Madness had 14 top 10's (inc 10 top 5's) compared to The Specials 7 top 10's over that 3 year period.
All I remember from that time is Madness were on the TV every week and The Specials just seemed to be on TV every now and then.
I couldn't agree more, my friend. As much as I enjoy new ska bands, and ska punk, everyone seems to blank out the roots of Ska and where it all came from.
I was in the Toasters and I say your right I bet Rob would to.
Totally! im from Argentina and Madness should be in one of the top 3 at least if not the 1st
point taken, although Madness changed their genre, with baggy trousers ,house of fun and it must be love. BTW i love those songs, i just want to say 2 things . 1 i thought the specials were equal to madness if not slightly better with SKA music 2 why do i as an Indian think that all the British ska bands were better than the American bands . If Madness ,the specials are 1 and 2 (depends on which order you prefer) then surely The beat and Selector come in 3 and 4 in that order.like to hear your opinion on that . Tc spurs rule 1969
JCBAirmaster73 i was born in Glasgow , i have never ever been to America
Definitely missed Reel Big Fish and Streetlight Manifesto. Reel Big Fish are just fun third wave, while Streetlight took 3rd wave, and made it their bitch (in a good way). Streetlight sounds like no other band, ska or not. They took that genre, and completely turned it around and gained a cult following in the process. With all the attention on the horns and bass lines, their ferocious drummer, and Tom's lyrics are second to none in the genre as well. On top of being one of the greatest in their genre, objectively speaking each member of the band is also INSANELY talented.
Sublime shouldn't even count as a ska band, their genre is alternative
Yeah definitely should have added streetlight manifesto
It's more alternative than reggae, as much as I like Operation Ivy I don't consider them a real ska band, but they're closer to being a ska band than Sublime.
Hopefully you have heard of Catch-22 then, because they came before Streetlight. :) There are a lot of good bands missing (Goldfinger, Reel Big Fish, Mustard Plug, Less Than Jake, Suicide Machines, Save Ferris, No Doubt, to name a few) but there are so many sub-divisions of ska its hard to choose "the best". It would seem they focused on "the most influential"?
Jen H yeah I love them all but in my opinion streetlight is my favorite.
The music made England in decade 60/70/80 is brilhant! Oi music!, Skinhead Reggae, Ska, Street Punk, Pos Punk, Dark/gothic rock, New Romantics, Symthpop, acid House and more...
Citizen Fish - Leftover Crack
The Slackers (Vic) - Falling Sickness - The Interrupters
Big D - The Planet Smashers
Against All Authority
The Wailers were a ska band?!?! News to me - That was straight up reggae, folks. Also, the 1980's ska scene in NYC was so fertile that there were at least a half dozen other bands that could have been put on this list instead of The Toasters. Unfortunately, they were only truly powerful until 1988 when Cavo and Nene split off to found Unity 2. Now there's only one original member left, which is pretty depressing. I'm just glad you guys didn't put No Doubt on this list. Otherwise you did a pretty good job.
Early Wailers were. Ska Jerk.
Yes, JoshDone didn't take his lesson in ska music. ;)
Originally, yes, they were ska. Studio One, son!
@JoshDone You're a moron
overenthused
See, by the looks of things, you have no leg to stand on, other than to call me names an invite me to kill myself. I've forgotten more about music than you will ever know. Your haircut and photograph seems like you're the kind of guy that thinks My Chemical Romance and The Offspring are geniuses. See, I'm 44. I saw The Clash. I saw Nirvana. I saw The Beat before they broke up in '84. I grew up in Alphabet City in NYC in the 1970's and 1980's, where, had you been there, you would have shit your pants like a little girl. I saw The Ramones with Dee Dee and at Coney Island High (a club you've never heard of). I saw Fishbone at The old Ritz in 1986. The list goes on and on, and the fact that you have the gall to call out someone older than you that has been there and has seen more classic bands than you is a shame. You can't debate me on the merits of my points - you simply respond with insults. We're both music lovers - we could probably have a civilized conversation about it without turning it into a pissing contest, but since you have, you're gonna lose this argument every time, kid. Ask your mommy what bands were cool. Do you even know the real names of Cavo and Nene? Have you ever seen Missing Foundation at the bandshell in Tompkins Square Park? Were you at the police riot there in 1988? Of course not - You're a snot nosed little internet tough guy that essentially knows very little and has experienced even less. Go ahead - Show us how smart you are, asshole.
I'm a Original Jamaican & New Wave ska fan, and am disappointed that short-lived 3rd wavers, such as Original Ivy & Bosstones, are rated higher than cornerstoners like The English Beat, The Wailers & The Maytals. At least The Skatalites are where they belong.
the bosstones shortlived? over 30 year career! #1 in ska-core, maybe ranked too high here against pure ska legends but not short lived!
Mojo doing a Ska list...i jumped right to comments to bask in the indignation and you’ve made me proud. “No mention of Stinky and the Fish Market??” “Ska was created on my 6 of 1958 not the 9th!” “The Electric Boogers were techno-reggae-punk, not Ska!!”. Man, I love you all.
Can't believe they'd diss Goldfinger like this. Unforgivable
who here thinks the specials should be number 1 on this list
Wow how could you forget Prince Buster?! How could you forget The Selector?! How could you forget Jackie Opel?! Forgetting 3 of the most important influential Ska band of all time really puts the whole list into question. Seriously forgetting Prince Buster is unforgivable.
The first Ska record I ever heard and this was before I even knew Ska was a thing, was Prince Buster - Al Capone. Many years later I heard Gangsters by The Specials on Top Of The Pops and I instantly recognised it, jumped aboard The Ska Train and was Ska`d for life. Shame on WatchMojo
And Desmond Dekker.
Honorable mentions: Voodoo Glow Skulls, The Selecter, Bad Manners, Skankin' Pickle, Prince Buster, Fishbone, Oingo Boingo, Blue Meanies
Killer list! All these bands are AWESOME. Less than jake is definitely up there though
I am missing from this list The Selecter, Bad Manners and even The Bodysnatchers, I wouldn't know in which order I'd select the most important bands in the Ska from the late 70's and early 80's but probably I'd choose The Specials and Madness, I love Ska!!!!!
+Manuel Fernandez Yeah, where is Bad Manners. Their Ska 'n' B album was great. I liked The Bodysnatchers too Manuel, but did they release enough material to make a top 10?
+Manuel Fernandez
I agree. You should have done this list instead of these nincompoops. How about The Skatelites?
Omg yes!!! Need the Selector and Bad Manners on this list!
Not even gonna mention Madness" influences from Prince Buster? Also, don't know if I would count Bob Marley And The Wailers as ska... No Selecter? Madness needed to be higher than eight...
no shit mate, madness are the most successful ska band ever!!
Also, the Mighty Bosstones are just like screaming into a microphone... it isn't what Ska should be. Operation Ivy? Who???
I think the view on Madness is they where a bit comercial, not as edgy as say The Selecter or Specials
Clive Ellis They didn't need to be as edgy as anyone else, they made their own ska sound. Plus's they did "hide" some messages(?) in quite a few of their songs...
Bentley Walker what are some of the messages? In Black by Design, Pauline Black says that Madness would dress in silly out fits when they went on certain shows, like Swap Shop, to please producers, which The Selecter would never do.
I know not many people listen to Christian ska but u have to have a listen to the W’s, Five Iron Frenzy and the Supertones!!! They also look like they enjoy themselves when they do shows and their own music videos!!!
Leaving out one of the most important Ska band: Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra. That's borderline Criminal. They sold out concert halls outside of their native Japan way before J-Pop went international.
"Down Beat Stomp", "Skaravan" and "Ska me Crazy" get any crowd anywhere moving and stomping.
Should have had an honorable mentions section with Less Than Jake, Reel Big Fish, Five Iron Frenzy, OC Supertones, and Aquabats.
Spencer Chapman and Golfinger, Mustard Plug, the Selecter, and Desmond Dekker shoulda been on the list instead of “the toasters”
And rancid
I saw reel big fish live they are great
Oh no man, good bands but NOT great bands.
Lets throw some Voodoo Glow Skulls in the mix
whatabout the selecter
ikr not a ska list without all two tone
U wot m8?
+terawattz and the Lambrettas?
piter loko What shit you talk they were one of the best bands on the two tone label during the 70s better than that American bullshit what passes off as ska..
piter loko I have they're fucking crap embarrassment to be classed as ska not fit to lick Desmond Dekkers boots or The Selectors
So many wonderful ska bands over the years,and don't be fooled--although ska music sounds silly and bouncy, many ska songs are extremely meaningful. My honorable mentions include:
Alton Ellis and the Flames
Streetlight Manifesto
Mustard Plug
The S. Machines
Anesthesia
Bill Skasby
Desmond Dekker and the Aces
Lee "Scratch" Perry and the Upsetters
Less Than Jake
Some of my favorite Ska groups are Reel Big Fish, Madness, Five Iron Frenzy, OC Supertones, Sublime, Less than Jake, and maybe Fishbone!! I don’t know many of the earlier groups that well
Fishbone's from the 70s - For the US, it'd be hard to get much earlier for ska than that. In the UK, you can go back to the mid-late 60s but for the US I'm pretty sure it started JUST before the 80s and then the early 80s kicked it off with the Uptones and Toasters. I just remember seeing a docu on Fishbone forming in late 70s, might've been slightly less than sober at the time but this is one of the details I remember
Where is Robbie Rotten?
Lol
Madness will always be one of the best bands of all time.
Just tell us about Specials with a bit of Madness, the rest you can forget,
SKA : Shake it and Catch it Again, the music and it's rhythms we're to agressive so the Jamaican government ordered to slow it down, what followed was reggae, I miss the SKA music style so much, it is so actually in this vingt-age recycling times.
The wailers were ska, like Nirvana is rap
The Wailers produced some of the best ska out there - 'Simmer Down', 'Maga Dog' and 'Rudeboy' are great examples of this. Bob Marley also released some great ska music before the wailers formed - listen to 'Judge Not' or his cover of 'One Cup of Coffee'.
***** I'm sure he meant it as sarcasm...Wailers is not ska, just like nirvana is not rap. Its what he meant.
Michael Vigil
I actually think you missed Derp's joke - the point is that they were originally a ska band to begin with - 'Simmer Down' is one of the great ska anthems.
Why didn't The Ethiopians make this list? Check out Train to Skaville and thank me later.
I checked them out, good call mate, thank you.
They were a reggae band
Bob Marley at 6 isn't? :))))
I agree, Bob Marley was the king of reggae, not ska.
They weren't talking about Bob Marley solo, they were discussing the Wailers, a completely different line up, which included Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh. This particular group produced dozens of ska songs - Simmer Down went to no.1 in Jamaica and was hugely influential. Have a listen to the first recording of One Love - pure ska and very different to the later version.
I'll keep this simple ska is subjective, for me I respect the ones who mean something to me. Real ska people know what's what, in my heart The Specials, Madness & the Beat.
😄👍🏾🙏🏾
Your welcome.
My favorite ska punk bands: op ivy, mu330, less than jake, catch 22, the supervillains, mad caddies, slow gherkin, the impossibles, asob, and the suicide machines
Seriously, you put The Beat at #9? Are you out of your minds???
Tell me about it.
The Beat are not a Ska band.
EXACTLY they are EASILY NUMBER 1##
@@scooterboi17 YOU ^^ HAVE ZERO CLUE WHAT SKA IS ^^^^
And Madness at #8 lol No Bad Manners..... Utter BS list
Sublime is at #10???
Ikr
Sublime isn't even ska, it's surf rock
Your profile picture is perfect
+TheFashionbugs Toxic much lmao
***** You don't tell someone to kill them self lmao
After 3 yrs. Posted.... Was The Untouchables ever mentioned....
Anyone remember Them ?
My Fav. Song " Free Yourself "
That intro really brings me back.