Description : Ska bands like The Specials, Madness, The Beat, The Selector and Bad Manners all carried horns, the music was fun and live these bands were a great night out. After buying all the ska I could from these above bands I started looking back to the 60's ska bands Prince Buster, The Skatalites and Jimmy Cliff to name a few. So I felt why not try to capture that flavour and fun for all to enjoy. If you have any constructive comments on any aspect of this song please feel free to express them. I have decided from here on in I'm trying to reach perfection for each song/track. I hope you enjoy the first of few ska songs I will be loading over the next week. I thank you all in advance for taking the time to listen. All instruments and vocals Slap J, drums and percussion Sonic foundry. Cheers Slap...
Description : This track is about the excitement I get before I go to watch a band. I remembered going to see Madness, the Specials,the Beat, the Selector , UB40 and Bad Manners. I recall traveling to see Bad Manners one October, it was really foggy and we arrived late(but they were playing in the lake district which is a bit of a trek). The support band had just finished as we walked into the foyer, the place was dead!! The main hall with a capacity of 2000 only had 150 people in it. I thought everyone must be in the bar, but after closer inspection, that too was empty! The band at the time were in the charts, so I was a bit confused why it was so empty. I approached a member of staff, who then told me that Bad Manners had taken the date on last minute, and the venue hadn't really had the time to fully promote the show. Then I remembered my mate had only told me the day before, that they were playing there. Anyway! The band came on and were amazing. The fatty man Buster was all over the place., on stage, in the audience, on the speaker stacks, in the bar drinking and singing at the same time( now that was a funny sight). Later in the set he invited all of the audience on to the stage, while he and the horn section went out front and played (again a funny sight).Great night had by all, and what a memory!!! So this song is kind of about that night. The band were Rock steady. All instruments & vocals Slap, drums by sonic foundry. I feel this song captures a live band sound. 7 piece horn section, 4 guitar tracks, 1 bass, 1 drum, 1 cowbell (listen out for that, you can't beat a cowbell to beef up the rhythm), 1 cymbal, two vocal & 2 toaster tracks complete the full arsenal on this song. Again please feel free to express your views towards this and any of the Global Ska Network tracks. As I've said before, I'm trying to get them perfect... Thanks in advance for your time...
Cheers Slap...
Description : The current economic climate has been the inspiration behind this song. The Ska bands that inspired me in the 80's always spoke their minds on the issues of the day. If you haven't heard Ghost town by the Specials, then you are missing out on a classic track. The last down turn we had in the UK made them write a masterpiece. This my attempt at a political song, I hope it floats your boat. All instruments and vocals Slap. Drums and percussion by Sonic Foundry. All comments welcome, I am trying to make these new songs really special... Cheers Slap
Description : This is the biggest arrangement I have done to date! 24 tracks ( 3 percussion,9 horns,1 bass, 4 guitar,3 vocal,2 lead/ solo, 1 cymbal, 1 toaster ). It sounds massive! This is another GSN (Global Ska Network) track just finished today. The story behind the song is simple! Don't give up on what you believe in, or as I've put it "Keep on pushing through" . I hope you dig it...
Cheers Slap...
Description : Hard rhymes is a song of hope, you know the saying "You have to laugh or else you will cry" ,well that's the idea behind this song.. I have taken a lot of time on this one (just as I did on Ska Skank), so if you feel something needs a tweak please let me know. All instruments and vocals Slap, drums and percussion Sonic foundry... I hope you enjoy this bouncy little number!
Description : This is a rock ballad. I know I was concentrating on Ska, but this chord progression just happened, so I decided to keep adding to it. I'm glad I did. The song has a lot of heart and soul. Classic love lost lyric, with a Les paul guitar solo, followed by a soprano sax (you don't hear those in your average rock ballad). All instruments and vocals Slap, drums by sonic foundry.. All comments welcome. Cheers Slap...
Description : Ok! This is more of an up tempo Mod style track. Great bands like the Small faces, the Who, The Kinks is where the inspiration has been drawn from. I have added the toaster doing the off beat chant that swings the track back into the Ska genre even though the track is quite rocky. A nine piece horn section sets the GSN trade mark sound. I have panned the guitar tracks so they don't get lost in the mix and added a change of feel through the middle solo section. Again all comments are most welcome, and I thank you in advance for taking the time to listen... Cheers Slap...
Description : This is the final track from the first Global Ska Network album. I started this album in Feb thinking I could do all the tracks in time to finish the RPM challenge. I was wrong, but I didn't want to rush what I had started and compromise quality. This track is about the general can't be bothered culture we are facing. You know the kind of people I'm talking about! They want everything for nothing,and expect everything to be handed to them on a plate. They also would rather do dirty deeds to (lie,cheat ect) Than walk the right path.. Verse..How many more times,how many more lies spat at our faces.you wheel and deal,cheat and steal won't win the races.I turn my back,try to protect the love that's left,you want that too, the greed you show despises you.Chorus.You'll always learn the hard way, you have to have the last say,stop living day to day, the future's what you make it,get out there and take it.. 10 piece horn section, including a clarinet high up to add a sparkle. All instruments and vocals Slap, drums by Sonic foundry. Again I'm looking for constructive comments towards the arrangement and mix/production. This track has 24 tracks, so if you feel a tweak is needed please say. I thank you all in advance for taking the time to listen and review... Cheers Slap...
Description : A Global Ska Network song with a truly global collaboration quality. This track features Planet on jazz bass and Bilbozo on guitar and hammond organ.The song has a total of 24 individual tracks (nine piece horn section,mutiple rhythm and lead guitar tracks using various effects,percussion,cymbals, 4 vocals ect). I just love the way the track knits together with Dave & Bill's parts just slotting straight in. The track is 6mins in length, which is long for me, I normally have things finished at around the 3-4 minute mark, but this track just came out like that, so I hope you dig the arrangement. I have to thank Dave & Bill for their input into this song, and for wanting to get involved in the GSN project. Please feel free to comment on any aspect of the track. This is the first mix of the song, so if you feel a remix is in order, please feel free to say what needs to be changed, and I will endeavour reach perfection. Drums by Sonic foundry, Slap on vocals,horns,guitars, Dave (Planet) Bass, Bill (Bilbozo) lead guitar and hammond. Recorded in ableton live using line 6 tone port ux2.... Cheers Slap...
Description : Yet another Ska track to get you skanking. I have come full circle by concentrating on this great genre. This was the first music I really subscribed to as a kid, I mean wearing the clothes, buying the records,starting my first band and wanting to be a musician. This song is all about not worrying about trivial stuff and living your life as best you can. All instruments and vocals by Slap, drums and percussion by Sonic foundry... All comments welcome, as I have said on all of these songs, I'm trying to get the best all round results possible! I thank you all in advance for taking the time to listen. Cheers Slap...
