Various Artists - Ska From The Vaults Of W.I.R.L. Records (Kingston Sounds)

Founded in the 1950s by the later Jamaica Labour Party politician Edward Seaga, W.I.R.L. Records (West Indies Records Limited) was one of the first authentic Jamaican record labels. Even though artists like Lord Kitchener, Mighty Sparrow, Jackie Opel and Byron Lee And The Dragonaires (it was, in fact, that same Byron Lee who bought the W.I.R.L. label from Seaga in 1962 and renamed it Dynamic Sounds) all recorded for W.I.R.L. records, the track list of 'Ska From The Vaults Of W.I.R.L. Records' limits itself to work of the legendary Skatalites and solo tracks from different members of the same band. Most of you will probably already own some of the tracks on this compilation ('Confucius', 'Ska-Ra-Van', 'Ringo Rides'...), but this foundation ska still remains essential listening!