Ska's Greatest Stars [Box]

Vs. The Untouchables.THE VERY BEST OF THE SPECIALS AND FUN BOY THREE:The Specials & Fun Boy Three: Neville Staple (vocals); Travis Laws, Jesse Wilder (vocals, guitar); Chris Colonnier (vocals, trombone); Ed Kampwirth (vocals, bass); Chris Clawson (drums).Additional personnel includes: Jane Wiedlin (vocals); Jennifer Avita, Leila Avila, John Avila (background vocals).Producers: John Avila, Neville Staple.Recorded at Brando's Paradise, San Gabriel, California. Includes liner notes by Dave Thompson.LATEST AND GREATEST: GHETTO STOUT:The Untouchables: Clyde Grimes (vocasl, guitar); Jerry Miller (vocals); Danny Moynahan (saxophone, background vocals); Timothy Moynahan (trombone, background vocals); Mark Simms (bass); Doug Sanborn (drums, background vocals); Richard Marquez (percussion); Dave Ramsey (tambourine).Additional personnel includes: Dave Blazer (trumpet); James Debrose (keyboards); Derek Breakfield (bass).Producers: The Untouchables, David Ramsey, Tim Moynahan.Engineer: Brian Webster.Personnel: Clyde Grimes, Jr. (vocals, guitar); Jerry Miller (vocals); Danny Moynahan (saxophone, shaker, background vocals); Timothy Moynahan (trombone, piano, Fender Rhodes piano, bells, background vocals); Dave Ramsey (drums, tambourine); Richard Regueira Marquez (percussion).Audio Remixer: Julian Beeston .Recording information: Desert Moon Studio; Stanley Studios.Photographer: David Coralnick.This confusing release packages two minor ska releases together, offers two remix tracks, and misspells "millennium" on the front and back cover. The first disc is called "The Very Best of the Specials and Fun Boy Three," but it's subtitled "Featuring Neville Staples." This footnote makes it clear that the versions of Specials and Fun Boy classics like "Rude Boys Outta Jail" and "Our Lips Are Sealed" heard here are not the originals; their bland production is a dead giveaway as well. After their brief, prolific stay at the top of the 2 Tone scene, the Specials fragmented badly. This release is only a bitter reminder of that breakup. For a definitive retrospective, look no further than Chrysalis' 2 Tone Collection, unless, of course, a copy of the more involved Chrysalis import 2 Tone Story is available. The other release packaged inside Ska's Greatest Stars is a greatest-hits of sorts from the California ska revival group the Untouchables. While it's a relatively decent collection of the band's effective mixture of Desmond Dekker and the Jam, their 1985 release, Wild Child, is a better document of the band's influential sound. ~ Johnny Loftus

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