Show 129
Under a blood red ska
Get Smart - the Melbourne Ska Orchestra doing the theme from the old Don Adams TV show, from an album they put out in 2013. The Melbourne Ska Orchestra has been around since 2003, led by Nicky Bomba. On any given gig the orchestra can include from 18 to 36 players.
Two Steps Back - Strange Tenants, from a 1983 EP, Take One Step. The band started in Melbourne in 1981 and has been called the godfathers of Australian ska.
Night People - the Agents, they had an EP in 1980 titled Suburbs Of The Heart but this version was off a compilation album, Burning It Up: Australian Reggae 1979 to 1986, so it's probably not ska. It was put out by Austudy Records, an Australian government initiative. It included eight songs originally issued on seven-inch vinyl and was supposed to "represent some of the earliest examples of reggae sounds in Australian recorded music".
From the Downunder Rock Club, their 2024 Australian Summer Collection
In My Mind's Eye - Green Hand Band. From Redfern, a Sydney suburb, they've been going since 2014.
Good To Go - Charlie Bedford, from 2020, his album titled Good To Go.
Fire Island - Circle the Sun, from Melbourne.
Gone Insane - the Starktones, from Brisbane, Queensland.
Our answer to the Triple J Hottest 100 Australian songs. Late, but...
Say That You're Mine - the Easybeats, a 1965 single; it was the B side, the A side was For My Woman.
Undecided - the Master's Apprentices with a 1966 single from their debut album titled The Master's Apprentices.
The Loved One - the Loved Ones, from 1967, a single from their album Magic Box.
Eagle Rock - Daddy Cool, a big hit single in 1971 and also on their album Daddy Who?
Crying Sun - Radio Birdman, from their 1981 album Living Eyes.
Igloo - the Screaming Tribesmen doing their 1983 single.
I Want You Back - the Hoodoo Gurus from 1984, a single from their debut album Stoneage Romeos.
Live It Up - Mental As Anything from their 1985 album Fundamental.
Intro thanks to Slim Dusty (G'day g'day, Slim), and Roulette by Dom Mariani and the Majestic Kelp, Underwater Casino, 2003.
Exit and extra: Pacific Heights - Baby Langston from their acclaimed 1998 album.