Ska All Stars
The Ska All Stars is a UK studio collective made up of musicians who’ve spent years in the reggae and ska scene. Their LP Ska Classic Hits, released by Burning Sounds and produced by Delroy Williams, was recorded in 2017, with the sole exception being Return of Django, which dates from 2011.
Musicians
Delroy, known for his work with Desmond Dekker and Jimmy Lindsay, kept the sessions warm and authentic, letting the band’s energy shine through. The lineup is packed with seasoned players: guitarist Steve Baker has roots in the UK ska circuit, Gordon Mulrain handles bass while his brother Aubrey Mulrain plays piano and organ, both long-time session musicians who’ve backed acts like Desmond Dekker and Judge Dread. Drummer Learoy Green brings experience from playing with Brown Sugar and Winston Reedy. The horn section is just as strong, with Dave Sanders on saxophone, Jamie Wall on trumpet, and Joe Roberts on trombone. Mikey Campbell engineered the sessions, the same Mikey who worked with Aswad and other UK reggae legends.
Ska History
The tracklist is a real celebration of ska’s history. Guns of Navarone opens with the Skatalites’ bold horn lines, while One Step Beyond honors Prince Buster’s original. Liquidator and Long Shot Kick the Bucket bring the early reggae swing of The Harry J All Stars and The Pioneers. A Live Injection and Return of Django are classic Upsetters tracks produced by Lee “Scratch” Perry. Phoenix City comes from Studio One veteran Roland Alphonso, and The Russians Are Coming is Val Bennett’s 1968 instrumental hit. Rudy, A Message to You is that rocksteady gem Dandy Livingstone made famous, later popularized by The Specials in the UK.
Tight Modern Spin
Producer and band respect all the originals while putting their own tight, modern spin on them. Every track has a fresh energy that makes these classics feel alive today. The LP is pressed on 180-gram vinyl and comes with a sleeve insert that includes extended information about each song, giving fans a deeper look into the history behind the music.