Ska Fever vol.3 EP - Demo Copies

DEMO COPIES - ONLY 4 (OF 5) AVAILABLE!

Ska Fever vol.3 EP - Various Artists

A1. All Shook Up - Junior Dell & The D-Lites
A2. All Shook Up pt.2 - Prince Alphonso & The Fever
B1. A Certain Boy - Donnoya Drake
B2. Bananaquit Special - Prince Alphonso & The Fever
Catalogue number: OGR919D

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With the third instalment of its Ska Fever series, Original Gravity Records once again pays tribute to the music that transformed Jamaica at the dawn of the 1960s. Long before ska became a global phenomenon, the island's musicians were reinterpreting the American rhythm & blues and rock 'n' roll records arriving from New Orleans, Memphis and beyond, reshaping them into a vibrant new sound all of their own. Ska Fever Vol. 3 celebrates that spirit of reinvention, pairing two classic American songs with a pair of instrumentals that showcase both the dancefloor energy and deeper musical roots of early Jamaican music.

The EP opens with Junior Dell & The D-Lites' infectious interpretation of "All Shook Up." Originally immortalised by Elvis Presley in 1957, the rock 'n' roll classic is transformed into an authentic ska stomper, complete with offbeat guitar, driving rhythm section and an exuberant horn arrangement. Junior Dell's effortless vocal brings fresh life to the song while remaining true to the joyful spirit that made it a worldwide hit.

Following on the A-side is "All Shook Up Pt. 2," an instrumental version by Prince Alphonso & The Fever. Without the vocal, the spotlight falls squarely on the band's superb musicianship, allowing the horns to take centre stage over a relentless Jamaican groove that recalls the great instrumental sides of the original ska era.

Side B continues the transatlantic conversation with Donnoya Drake's lively take on Ernie K-Doe's much-loved New Orleans R&B favourite "A Certain Girl." Reimagined as "A Certain Boy," the gender-flipped lyric feels completely natural in its new setting, while Donnoya's confident vocal and the band's crisp, swinging arrangement demonstrate just how comfortably these American songs found a second home in Jamaica's early recording studios.

The collection concludes with "Bananaquit Special," an original instrumental from Prince Alphonso & The Fever, written by producer Neil Anderson. Inspired by the rural sounds of Jamaican mento, the piece features an expressive flute melody that echoes the distinctive call of the Caribbean bananaquit. Relaxed, melodic and unmistakably Caribbean, it offers a gentle reminder that before ska conquered the dancehalls, Jamaica's rich folk traditions had already laid many of its musical foundations.

Produced by Neil Anderson and mastered by David Doll, Ska Fever Vol. 3 brings together musicians recorded across England, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, the Netherlands and Germany. The result is another international collaboration united by a shared love of vintage Jamaican music and an unwavering commitment to authenticity.

Whether spinning in a sound system session, filling a dancefloor or finding a place in the record box of collectors worldwide, Ska Fever Vol. 3 captures the infectious optimism, craftsmanship and timeless appeal of the music that started it all.