The History Of Blue Beat - The Birth Of Ska BB26 - BB50 : The A Sides

Released in 2012 by the Not Now Music label, this compilation serves as a curated retrospective of the foundational years of the Blue Beat record label. Blue Beat was originally established in the United Kingdom in 1960 by Emil Shalit, primarily as an outlet for licensing Jamaican recordings for the growing Caribbean immigrant community in Britain. The label became a cultural catalyst, introducing the burgeoning sound of ska to a wider audience and helping to define the early musical identity of the British skinhead and mod subcultures.

The compilation focuses on the transition from the late 1950s rhythm and blues styles into the distinct, upbeat rhythm of ska, which originated in Jamaica as a fusion of mento, calypso, and American jazz and R&B. By documenting the A-sides from catalog numbers BB26 through BB50, the collection preserves tracks from seminal figures like Prince Buster, Laurel Aitken, and The Blues Busters. As a modern reissue, the set is designed for archival preservation, offering a clean, accessible look at the raw energy of these pioneering sessions that laid the groundwork for reggae and rocksteady.