TOP CATS - Mr Donkey Paradise

Here is another review of what I consider a classic LP that everyone should have in their collection.
TOP CATS were a group eight talented musicians, who released their first, and as far as I know only album in 1999, the exceptional, self produced “MR DONKEY PARADISE” on the Jamdown label. Natty the lead singer (no not the new so called reggae-pop sensation) can apparently now be found DJ'ing down at Gaz's Rockin' Blues, every Thursday night in Soho and also singing for Ska Cubano. I for one though feel it is about time for the return of Top Cats!
The album is a collection of nine excellent 60s feeling full on pure Jamaican Ska tunes, with plenty of horns and cool sounding double bass. The album kicks off with the ska swing of “Calling Your Name” and continues at a fair old pace through the skanktastic “Tear the Place Down” and the stomping “Lay Down the Law”, before finally bringing things down to a simmer with the instrumental "Blue Lagoon". This is just a brief rest bite however, before the heat is turned full on again with another mainly instrumental tune “The Chalice of Fu Manchu”, and the humours "Dr Cash", before everything comes to what feels like a premature end with the storming "Let Them Go".
This is without a doubt one of, if not the best trad Ska album's of recent times, and I dare anyone to listen to it without wanting to dance. So tear the place down and let go!

Track List

01 Calling Your Name

02 Done You Wrong

03 Tear Place Down

04 Caught in the Fire

05 Law Down The Law

06 Blue Lagoon

07 The Chalice Of Fu Manchu

08 Dr Cash

09 Let Them Go