Moon Ska Records was one of the most influential ska record labels of the 1980s and 1990s. Ska (pron. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For the band, see 1990s (band). ...

The label operated from 1983 until 2000 and during those 17 years, only released ska and ska-influenced bands. Originally named Moon Records, as a tribute to Sun Records, the label changed its name to Moon Ska Records because another label owned the copyright to the Moon Records name. Moon Ska NYC (or just Moon Ska) was started by Robert "Bucket" Hingley, founding member of The Toasters. Based in New York City, Hingley started the label as a means to distribute albums by The Toasters. The label became an American source for many British ska import albums. See also: 1983 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 1983 Record labels established in 1983 // Michael Jacksons Thriller, the most successful album not only of 1983, but of all time, was released in 1982 and began its epic domination of the music charts the following year, 1983. ... See also: 2000 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 2000 Record labels established in 2000 2000s in music. ... Label of the fourth Sun Records Sun Records has been the name for four 20th century record labels. ... Lead singer/guitar player for the ska band the Toasters. ... The Toasters are a ska band from New York formed in 1983 by Robert Bucket Hingley. ...

The peak

The label rose to prominence in the early 1990s by releasing albums by many of the ska genre's biggest acts, such as The Toasters, The Slackers, Hepcat, The Scofflaws, Mephiskapheles and The Pietasters — as well as many up and coming bands such as Spring Heeled Jack and Mustard Plug. The label promoted non-Moon Ska bands through various compilation albums, featuring bands like The Allstonians, Gals Panic, Less Than Jake, and the earliest recordings by No Doubt. In 1997, the label branched out to form Ska Satellite Records, in order to produce albums from smaller acts at a lower budget. Moon Ska also produced patches and T-shirts that were sold at ska concerts around the world. The Toasters are a ska band from New York formed in 1983 by Robert Bucket Hingley. ... The Slackers are one of the more well-known bands emerging from the New York City ska scene, having been formed in Brooklyn in 1991. ... Hepcat is a third-wave ska band formed in southern California in 1989. ... The Scofflaws are a New York-based third wave ska band that debuted in the early 90s. ... Mephiskapheles is a third wave ska band based in New York. ... The Pietasters are an eight-piece ska/punk rock band hailing from Washington, D.C., with additional members from Maryland and Virginia. ... This article is about the American ska band Spring Heeled Jack USA. For the British electronica group, see Spring Heel Jack. ... Mustard Plug is a third-wave ska band from Grand Rapids, Michigan. ... The Allstonians are a third-wave reggae/ska music group formed in Allston, Massachusetts in 1992. ... // History Gals Panic was an Austin, Texas ska-punk band, formed in 1992. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... No Doubt is a third wave ska band from Anaheim, California, United States. ... Ska Satellite was started by Moon Ska Records as a way to produce smaller acts on a lower budget. ... T-Shirt A T-shirt (or tee shirt) is a shirt with short or long sleeves, a round neck, put on over the head, without pockets. ...

In the mid-1990s, the label operated its own store in East Village, Manhattan. The store was a way to buy albums directly from the source, at cheaper prices than those at chain stores. It became a hangout for both ska band members and fans from around the world. Looking south from 6th Street down Second Avenue, one of the main thoroughfares through the East Village. ...

The end and aftermath

Amidst the end of the ska boom of the mid-1990s, sales began to drop and many records were returned to the small label. Certain distribution companies were filing bankruptcy while owing Moon Ska thousands of dollars in unpaid invoices, for albums that were already sent to stores. Those same record stores refused to keep the album prices in the suggested $10 range, and instead marked them up to between $17 and $19. All of these factors led to the end of the Moon Ska store, and eventually, the label itself.

The label is survived by Moon Ska World (formerly Moon Ska Europe) which is a licensed affiliate, and is not owned by Hingley. The label, based in the United Kingdom, continues to release albums from acts such as Less Than Jake, Big D and the Kids Table, The Selecter and The Toasters. Unlike its American sister label, Moon Ska World has released albums from outside of the ska genre. With the recent name change, it has announced that it will shift its focus to ska and old reggae roots. Moon Ska World, formerly known as Moon Ska Europe, is the European sister label of the defunct Moon Ska NYC record label and is based out of the United Kingdom. ... Moon Ska Europe is the European offshoot of the Moon Ska NYC record label which has recently went under. ... An affiliate is a commercial entity with a relationship with a peer or a larger entity. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Big D and the Kids Table is a third wave ska band formed in October 1995 in Allston, Massachusetts on the Fork In Hand Records label. ... The Selecter were a ska revival band from Coventry, England, formed in the late 1970s and who became one of the essential bands of the British ska movement. ... The Toasters are a ska band from New York formed in 1983 by Robert Bucket Hingley. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ...

In 2003, three years after the demise of Moon Ska Records, Hingley started his second ska label, named Megalith Records.

Bands released on Moon Ska Records

• The Adjusters
• Laurel Aitken
• The Allstonians
• The Articles
• The Bluebeats
• Lloyd Brevett
• The Busters
• Bad Manners
• Critical Mass
• Dr. Ring Ding & the Senior Allstars
• Easy Big Fella
• Edna's Goldfish
• The Fiascos
• Hepcat
• Inspecter 7
• Let's Go Bowling
• Los Hooligans
• Magadog
• Tommy McCook and Friends
• Mento Buru
• Mephiskapheles
• Mobtown
• Mr. Review
• Mustard Plug
• Chris Murray
• New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble
• One Groovy Coconut
• Otis Reem
• The Pietasters
• The Porkers
• Regatta 69
• Rude Bones
• Ruder Than You
• The Scofflaws
• The Skalars
• Skanic
• Skavoovie And the Epitones
• Skinnerbox
• The Skoidats
• Skunks
• The Slackers
• The Strangeways
• Spring Heeled Jack U.S.A.
• Solabeat Alliance
• The Toasters
• The Trojans

Laurel Aitken (April 22, 1927–July 17, 2005) became famous as one of the originators of Jamaican ska music in the late 1950s. ... The Allstonians are a third-wave reggae/ska music group formed in Allston, Massachusetts in 1992. ... The Busters are a German ska band, established as a side project in 1987, but who subsequently became one of the best-known German ska bands. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Critical Mass is a ska band, formed in 1992 from the San Francisco Bay area. ... A 1990s ska band from Long Island, Ednas Goldfish enjoyed nationwide popularity. ... Hepcat is a third-wave ska band formed in southern California in 1989. ... Lets Go Bowling is a Third Wave Ska band hailing from the Greater San Joaquin Valley. ... When you first hear the name “Los Hooligans,” you might think, “Oh, another Latin band. ... Active in the 1990s, Magadog was one of the first Ska bands coming from the Florida Ska Scene. ... Tommy McCook (27 March 1927, Havana, Cuba-4 May 1998) was a Jamaican saxophonist. ... Mephiskapheles is a third wave ska band based in New York. ... Nickname: Motto: The Greatest City in America,[4] Get in on it. ... Mustard Plug is a third-wave ska band from Grand Rapids, Michigan. ... Chris Murray Chris Murray is a Canadian-born singer-songwriter and guitarist working primarily in the genre of ska. ... The Pietasters are an eight-piece ska/punk rock band hailing from Washington, D.C., with additional members from Maryland and Virginia. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Ruder Than You is an American ska band that was founded in 1989 at Penn State University and, in 1991, the group relocated to Philadelphia. ... The Scofflaws are a New York-based third wave ska band that debuted in the early 90s. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... Skinnerbox is a third wave ska band formed in New York City in the early 1990s by King Django. ... The Skoidats are a melange of Ska, Oi!, Jazz, and Punk rock with a contemporary sound rooted in the old school Ska tradition of Baba Brooks, the Ethiopians and the Skatalites. ... Genera Mephitis Spilogale Conepatus The skunks or Mephitidae are a family of medium-sized mammals, typically black-and-white-furred, belonging to the order Carnivora. ... The Slackers are one of the more well-known bands emerging from the New York City ska scene, having been formed in Brooklyn in 1991. ... Spring Heeled Jack U.S.A. was a third wave ska band based out of New Haven, Connecticut. ... // (Solabeat Alliance were formerly known as Spankboy) Formed late in 1998, Solabeat Alliances sound was a reflection of their travels to the sunshine lands, combined with a thirst for rock. ... The Toasters are a ska band from New York formed in 1983 by Robert Bucket Hingley. ... Cover of the score of La prise de Troi, the first two acts of Les Troyens. ...

See also

• List of record labels