Finally stinking hot. Humid and above 30. Maritime Boy sweats in central Canada. Good thing the unhappy niece is here. Good thing I have new ska albums to soothe the baby's wailing. Or cover it up. Wee skanking thing.

Ska is the music from the planet of beautiful women. It came out of R+B heard drifting down from the USA across the Gulf of Mexico to Jamaica in the late 1950's. I picked up The Rough Guide to Ska and Trojan Ska Box Set, Vol. Two in Burlington. Both are compilation of Jamaican 45's from the early 60's. I also picked up the Mighty Mighty Boss Tones Pay Attention.

In high school the second wave of ska was the thing - the Specials, Madness, the Selector, the Beat. These bands were the kids of immigrants to Coventry and their pals meeting punk rock. We bought what records we could in Truro and wore the little badges and pins with the 2 Tone man dancing on them. The Boss Tones are part of the third wave of ska in the US from the mid- to late-90's.

Whither ska? It is still the best dancing music even as you get into the old and wrinkly years. I suppose I will pick up any compilations I find from time to time. We are due a fourth wave in the next few years.