CD-Charts Position 1
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The Very Best Of The Jam

by: The Jam

Release Date June 18, 1999
Whatever people tell me about the ramones: i always say that these guys defined punk music. Still today The Jam is a classic band that will always have a place in my album collection. This CD however is overdoing everything. Punk rock albums are usually very short and having to listen to 20 songs that do all sound extremely simmilar can get tedious. More than this I believe that punk bands very designed for live performances: they had a great attitude to live acts which made them amazing to listen to. The CD takes the heart out of this genre and for that i mark it down. Also there are a few songs could have done without.
81/100

CD-Charts Position 2
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Greatest Hits

by: Selecter

Release Date May 13, 1996
Like all cut price compilations they are most telling for their omissions rather than what they include. This one has only one glaring omission debut side `The Selecter' the instrumental on the b-side of The Specials 45 `Gangsters' which created the initial excitement to start the band in the first place. Also absent is the classic version of the cover of `Train to Skaville' which with its 12" dub version was definitely a high point of the bands career.

However gripes aside it manages to include the non album singles `On My Radio' and my personal favourite `The Whisper' along with the best eight cuts from the debut LP `Too Much Pressure'. The remaining six songs are drawn from the bands disappointing second LP `Celebrate the Bullet' ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
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You Just Can't Beat It: the Best of the Beat

by: Beat

Release Date February 04, 2008
They made 3 albums, 'I Just Can't Stop It', 'Wha'ppen' and 'Special Beat Service' and if you're an 'The (English) Beat' fan (like i am for years) this compilation does'nt ad anything to what you already own. I'm 56 and still bouncin' 'round!! (Ranking Fullstop)

CD-Charts Position 4
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The Best of the Beat

by: Beat

Release Date November 20, 2000
Definitely a mix of influences with this band but two tone all the same. There songs when you listen just ooze quality, you also realise what good music came from these bands. The early 80's was I believe a fickle time for music as good as the music was, fads & fashions did not last long and it's a shame this band like a lot of others did not go on for longer.

CD-Charts Position 5
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The Specials

by: Specials

Release Date March 25, 2002
This is my favourite of the 2 Specials albums. 'More Specials' is quirkier, but this is equally fun and more up-tempo. I love to leap around to this record at every oportunity, (much to the annoyance of my neighbours). I could wiffle on about all of the profound lyrics and such and Terry Hall's deadpan style, but once you buy this record then you will find out for yourself. Suffice to say that this record is well worth getting for your collection. If you like that 2 tone sound, then it really doesn't get any better than this. And at this price it is a steal!!!!

CD-Charts Position 6
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Best of Ska

by: Various Artists

Release Date October 22, 2001
This is a top ska collection, it contains plenty of classics including a few from the godfathers of SKA music, The Specials. Defenite stand out tracks are Rat Race, Rudy, a message to you and Ghosttown.
Its cheap and you get over 50 tracks to chose from, there has to be some you like in that lot!

CD-Charts Position 7
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The Platinum Collection

by: Beat

Release Date December 05, 2005
Just wanted to say that ,with reference to Shauns' review above ; 'Hit It' was released on the U.S. only c.d. version of 'What Is Beat?'
Yes I know this makes me look like the saddest trainspotter on the block ,but - hey,I love this band ! (the U.S. cd also has some choice rarities and live stuff which isn't on anything else,so it's worth tracking down).
As for this latest compilation ; you're much better off getting all three original albums because there really isn't a bad track on any of them.
And ,if you can find it ,the 2cd version of the 'B.P.M.' compilation as it has loads of the original 12" mixes on ,and they rock !

CD-Charts Position 8
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More Specials

by: Specials

Release Date March 25, 2002
With 1980's adventurous More Specials the Coventry band overcame the 'difficult second album syndrome', a fate which has befallen many an artist over the years. They did this by broadening their musical palette; where their classic debut (effectively) embraces the ska and reggae of Prince Buster, The Skatalites and Toots and The Maytals, this album sees them venturing into a wider variety of genres, including northern soul (`Sock It To `Em J.B.'), spaghetti westerns soundtracks (`Stereotypes') and easy listening (`Enjoy Yourself (It's Later Than You Think)'). That is not to say they jettisoned all that made The Specials so exciting and different: lead singer Terry Hall still delivers his vocals with a flat, deadpan delivery and the lyrics and subject matter ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
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Divine Madness

by: Madness

Release Date June 05, 2000
This edition is a combined version of the Greatest Hits packages that were available a few years back. Divine Madness was originally released almost 15 years ago but a few years ago it was updated with re-mastered sound and two extra tracks, Love Struck and Johnny the Horse from their come-back album in 1999.

A Madness collection really could hardly be any more complete. All the hits are here and sounding remarkably fresh, being more than 20 years old. The sound of the CD is much better than the original version of Divine Madness.

Only the most die hard Madness fans need any more than this collection, with the possible exception of their brilliant (but commercial flop) Mad Not Mad. This is classic Madness in one perfect package.

CD-Charts Position 10
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Too Much Two Tone: Ska Classics

by: Various Artists

Release Date September 17, 2001
`Too Much Two Tone' is a supermarket compilation and yet where other supermarket compilations miss whole swathes of essential tracks this one ticks all the boxes with the all important Special number ones `Too Much Too Young' and `Ghost Town' (the extended 12" dub, no less) as well as a sprinkling of the rarities such as Rico's `Sea Cruise' and the later bands such as The Higsons and The Friday club which are generally air brushed out of the labels history to make for a monochrome Ska label which is readily identified.

That's not to say the Ska is underplayed, as well as the four Specials track, the Madness 45 `The Prince' is here, two Bodysnatchers tracks (neither of which are available on CD elsewhere) and three singles released on Two Tone by The Selector ... Read More: