Customer Reviews
THE KING NOT JUST A PRINCE - By: P. Heed, 25 Jun 2007 
EVERY TRACK A GREAT SONG WELL WORTH THE PRICE, REAL SKA BY THE KING
Trojan version has more tracks... - By: , 07 Dec 2005 
Great album but make sure you order the Trojan version with 6 extra tracks rather than this one.
Raw, original ska - where it all started - By: M. Williams, 27 Mar 2001 
Growing upin the late 70s & early 80s, British ska from The Specials, The Selector, early Madness & all the other 2 Tone acts was music different to any other I had heard before. The rhythms of the Carribean combined with the hard edged lyrics of those grey years were adopted by me & my peers to the exclusion of any other music, along with the regulation drainpipe trousers, loafers, white socks etc. Throughout the records references were made to "The Prince", "Buster", "Orange Street" & the origin of ska. Finding out about this earlier music was something to do some time, & it took me twenty years! As soon as this cd started with its first track "Earthquake In Orange Street", the links to my own time were there, & they continued throughout, especially "Al Capone", which I recognised from the virtual cover "Gangsters" by "The Special AKA". The whole album was a revelation & an education. The same beat & rude boy attitude I knew from 2 Tone is here, but it has a rawer & more authentic edge. The lyrics cover everything from the forced adoption of British names onto the African slavesin "Free Love", to lighter moments such as the hilarious & very Carribean issuing of "The Ten Commandments" by Prince Buster to his woman as to how she should behave & avoid spending his money, while turning a blind eye to his own indiscretions. Most of the album is simply great fun & it has been playing non-stopin my car since I bought it. Evenin a miserable, grey, stressed-out, British March it has lifted me, relaxed me & allowed me to drift to Jamaica & dancein the heat. If, like me, the British ska of 20 years ago is something you look back on as a mini golden-era, but you never previously explored further backin time, you must get this album. You can't fail to love it.
