I Don't Like Reggae, I Love It: The History of "Watching The Detectives" by Elvis Costello

I Don't Like Reggae, I Love It: The History of "Watching The Detectives" by Elvis Costello

Author: Marc Wasserman April 2, 2021 Duration: 18:15
As reggae and punk rock were colliding and coming together in the UK in the 70s, The Clash’s version of Junior Murvin’s "Police and Thieves" would create a cultural domino effect that would result in several iconic songs including Bob Marley’s “Punky Reggae Party” which gave the new social phenomenon a name. It was also to serve as a direct influence on a young up and coming singer-songwriter named Declan MacManus. He would later change his name to Elvis Costello and write the fir...

Marc Wasserman has been living and breathing American ska since helping to found Bigger Thomas, New Jersey's first ska band, back in 1988. That front-row perspective to the scene's growth, combined with his work as an author of books like *Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History*, fuels this deeply personal Ska Boom-An American Ska & Reggae Podcast. Think of it as the audio companion to those written histories, but with the volume cranked up and the stories told in real voices. Each episode is built on conversations-sometimes with musicians you know, sometimes with the crucial behind-the-scenes figures you don't-that trace the unique and often overlooked American journey of these genres. You'll hear firsthand accounts that span from the early underground clubs to the mainstream explosions, discussions on the music's cultural impact, and analysis of the sounds that defined generations. It's a mix of history, commentary, and interview, all filtered through the experience of someone who wasn't just watching from the crowd but was actively helping to build the stage. The result is a podcast that feels less like a lecture and more like a series of late-night talks with the people who made the scene happen, preserving the energy and anecdotes that might otherwise be lost.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Ska Boom - An American Ska & Reggae Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Ska Boom Stories - Babylon Warriors: Reggae In Hollywood [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:30
Welcome to Ska Boom! Stories, which is the audio companion to my new book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available through DiWulf Publishing. Click here to order: http://www.diwulf.com/booksOften com…
Ska Boom Stories - The Offs: American Ska Punk Pioneers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:26
Welcome to Ska Boom! Stories, which is the audio companion to my new book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available through DiWulf Publishing. Click here to order: http://www.diwulf.com/booksThe Speci…
Ska Boom Stories - The Terrorists [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:06
Welcome to Ska Boom! Stories, which is the audio companion to my new book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available through DiWulf Publishing. Click here to order: http://www.diwulf.com/booksIf I coul…
Ska Boom Stories-The Acid Ska Phenomenon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:04
Welcome to Ska Boom! Stories, which is the audio companion to my new book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available through DiWulf Publishing. Click here to order: http://www.diwulf.com/booksIn this e…
Ska Boom Stories - The Boilers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:24
Welcome to Ska Boom! Stories, which is the audio companion to my new book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available for sale through DiWulf Publishing. Click here to order: http://www.diwulf.com/books…
Ska Boom Stories - The Story of the very first American Reggae Band [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:35
Welcome to Ska Boom! Stories, which is the audio companion to my new book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available for pre-sale through DiWulf Publishing. The first 500 pre-orders get a rare 80 minut…
Ska Boom Stories - The New York Citizens [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:05
Welcome to Ska Boom! Stories, which is the audio companion to my new book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available for sale through DiWulf Publishing. Click here to order: http://www.diwulf.com/books…
Ska Boom Stories - Mephiskapheles Introduce America To Satanic Ska [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:23
Welcome to Ska Boom! Stories, which is the audio companion to my new book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available for pre-sale through DiWulf Publishing. The first 500 pre-orders get a rare 80 minut…
Ska Boom Stories - Heavy Manners Bring Ska To Chicago [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:02
Welcome to Ska Boom! Stories, which is the audio companion to my new book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available for pre-sale through DiWulf Publishing. The first 500 pre-orders get a rare 80 minut…