listen to the Specials, you would like them, they were on caroline records. i think:)
peace to all

Well, the Slackers and Hepcat are definitely worth paying for if you can't find it online. But anyway, if you're still considering ska, I would focus on the Skatalites and The Specials.

I Voted For Kodos

and Streetlight Manifesto.

Just about everything that's been mentioned is good. Especialy the Specials. Also try:

• The Aquabats

I'd just like to say that the Specials were DEFINITELY on TwoTone Records, in fact it was Jerry Dammers' own label.

Also for vintage TwoTone bands check out The Beat, The Selecter and Madness, also Bad Manners, although I don't think they were on TwoTone.

Also top ska-punk-hiphoppers King Prawn were quality, check out their albums "Fried in London", "Surrender To The Blender" and "Got The Thirst".

Finally you must check out original Jamaican ska like Prince Buster, Toots and the Maytals and the Skatalites.

P.S. Reel Big Fish really aint ska.

a few ska bands i like are


The Planet Smashers
catch 22
streetlight manifesto
catch it kebabs
mustard plug
leek and the bouncing uptones
the specials
Random Hand
Harijan
Adequate seven
The pietasters
The aquabats(but they aren't ska anymore)
Sonic Boom 6 (in parts)
Sublime
The skunks
The bluebeats
The allstonians
The mighty bosstones
Madness
Suburban legends
The filaments(in parts)
The assorted jellybeans

Ahhh... Something I feel qualified in to comment with some confidence.
The Specials - All 2Tone Records releases.
The Beat - Started out on 2Tone with "Tears of a Clown", then I think following releases were on Go Feet Records.
The Selecter - I think released a couple on 2Tone before continuing on Chrysalis.
Bad Manners- I don't think ever released anything on 2Tone, and can't remember what their label was.
Madness - Released "The Prince" , a tribute song to Prince Buster on 2Tone before continuing a succesful relationship with Stiff Records. I think Madness may have had some "SKA" record in the UK charts by achieving something like 15 consecutive top ten hits in a row. The only number one though was House of Fun. I think The Specials got two top spots with "too much too Young" & "Ghost Town" respectively.
The Bodysnatchers (mentioned in earlier post by Soundgardener) had some success with "Lets do Rock Steady" & "Easy Life", both on 2Tone.
The Bodysnatchers split up and became The Belle Stars on Stiff Records I think.
In relation to the thread starter these are Ska bands I would recommend although I appreciate these were all inspired by the originators of Blue Beat (think it was called that).

Try The Hippos, especialy their album Heads are Gonna Roll.

try urself some Capdown, Sonic Boom six, one man race,howards alias, misled youth all amazing ska bands .The Specials were on 2 tone but did u know it was Elvis Costello who produced the album "Specials"

definately the Slackers and if you can find it Dave Hillyard and the Rocksteady Seven