Al Capone

Recorded in Kingston, Jamaica, as a Prince Buster All Stars session featuring Val Bennett and Dennis Campbell on tenor saxophones, Raymond Harper and Baba Brooks on trumpets, Junior Nelson on trombone, Ernest Ranglin and Jah Jerry Haynes on guitar, Gladstone Anderson on piano, and Drumbago on drums. First released in 1964 on Blue Beat, the track became one of Prince Buster’s signature ska recordings. It later reached No. 18 on the UK Singles Chart in 1967 and stayed there for 13 weeks, helping define the rude boy image in Britain. The song remained a touchstone for later ska and pop revivalists: The Specials drew on it for “Gangsters,” Madness used it as the inspiration for “One Step Beyond,” and Boney M. based “Baby Do You Wanna Bump” on it. Its reach has kept it central to the international ska canon.