With a sound that resonates with the energy of rock and punk, the Caribbean “riddims” of reggae, ska, and dancehall as well as the rhythmic appeal of classic soul, “The Skeletones” deliver a fusion of sound that is as diverse as their Southern California roots… Yet as easily accessible as a groove. With distinction, they have performed on 3 continents for over 20 years. Formed in 1986 by Paul “Prince Skeletone” Hampton, they have honed their craft by playing alongside rock icons like No Doubt, Sublime, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Fishbone, Incubus, The Skatalites, Bad Religion, 311 and countless others.
the Skeletones
These Boots Were Made For Stomping
Back in 1994, The Skeletones stepped into the legendary A&M Studios and laid down a track that’s been hiding in the vaults—until now. These Boots Are Made for Stomping is not your average cover. Originally sung by Nancy Sinatra as These Boots Are Made for Walking in the ’60s, it got a ska reboot in 1969 by the legendary Symarip, who gave it that stomping twist. We carried the torch 25 years later, putting our own Skeletones spin on it.
This session featured a powerhouse lineup: Jason Schultz on drums, Jonas Cabrera vocals and trumpet, Kip Wirtzfeld with vocals and sax, Mark Cummings bass, Alex Tasch guitar, Garth Schultz trombone, and Paul Hampton keys and vocals.
It was all captured live, raw, and analog—tracked on a Studer 24-track, 2-inch AMPEX tape, then bounced to cassette. What you’re hearing is a pure second-generation recording: unmastered, complete with tape hiss, cassette wobble, and those tiny imperfections that make it real. No Pro Tools trickery. No post-production polish. Just pure, sweaty, stomping ska energy with an absolutely thunderous bass.
It’s a time capsule from when music was played, not programmed. And now—you finally get to hear it.
Toxic Sunset
In 1999, deep in the heart of Orange County’s ska scene, The Skeletones stepped into the studio with Transmission Records and unleashed Toxic Sunset. The track was cut using the holy grail of analog gear—Neve preamps, an SSL board, and a Studer 2” tape machine—capturing every horn blast and bass groove in fat, glowing warmth.
Originally part of an 18-song lineup on our fourth full-length album The 2K Soulution, this song lived only briefly in the shadows. When the record was re-released with a leaner 10-track list, Toxic Sunset was one of the unlucky eight to be shelved indefinitely.
But ska doesn’t stay buried forever. After years locked away, this rare track finally surfaces. Raw, analog, and full of Skeletones soul—it’s a lost piece of our history we’re stoked to share.
Crank it loud, feel the tape hiss, and ride into that toxic sunset with us.
Euphoric State
From the A&M ’94 sessions comes Euphoric State—a song that started as our go-to jam and soundcheck anthem. This take? Just a warm-up before the real session… but it turned into pure Skeletones energy.
Cut straight to 2" tape on the best gear A&M had—Neve preamps, SSL board, Studer machine. No Pro Tools. No edits. No safety net. Just us, live, loose, and letting it rip. Solos flying, mistakes and all.
That looseness? That’s the magic. It’s human. It’s raw. It’s why we love what we do.
Enjoy the chaos of Euphoric State.
Written by Paul Hampton back in his R.C.C. jazz band days alongside drummer Jason Schultz, Welcome to Winter is a time capsule from the Skeletones’ 1994 A&M sessions—a moment of pure artistry that almost never saw daylight.
The band, forever chasing perfection, shelved it at the time. But perfection’s overrated—this one’s got soul.
Recorded live on 100% analog gear at the legendary A&M Studios, this recovered cassette master brings it all—the warmth, the hiss, the wobble, and that unmistakable fat analog tone. What you’re hearing is raw, human, and real.
So kick back and soak in Wirtzfeld’s sultry sax, Tasch’s rock-steady skank, Cummings’ thunderous bass, and the band’s unfiltered magic—straight from the tape, flaws and all.
A lost gem finally seeing daylight. Enjoy it. Share it. Feel it.
Welcome To Winter
Jump, Skank, Swing Thing
The One That Almost Got Away 🎶
This song was recorded during The Skeletones’ Transmission Records – 2K Solution sessions and was one of the 19 original tracks… but somehow, this one got cut from the final release.
Maybe it wasn’t time. Maybe it was fate. Either way, we’re grateful it’s finally here.
Recorded the old-school way — 2-inch analog tape, no shortcuts, just sweat, groove, and pure musicianship.
Featuring:
🥁 Jason Schultz – drums
🎸 Mark Cummings – bass
🎹 Paul Hampton – keys
🎸 Alex Tasch – guitar
🎺 Bob Alvarado – trombone
🎺 John Alvarado – trumpet & flugelhorn
🎷 Kip Wirtzfeld – sax & vocals
🎤 Jonas Cabrera – vocals
“Jump, Skank, Swing Thing” captures everything The Skeletones are — horns that sing, rhythm that hits, and the joyful chaos that brings us all together.
We’re thankful to finally share it with you.
So crank it up, dance, jump, skank, swing, and share it, baby.
Knock On Wood
The Lost Skeletones Cut In 1993, Almo Irving Music commissioned The Skeletones to put their ska spin on Eddie Floyd’s classic Knock On Wood. Alongside tracks like Mr. Pitiful (featured on Ska Parade: Step On It), this one never made it out—until now.
Recorded the old-school way: live to 24-track, 2" analog tape, mixed to DAT, then dubbed to cassette—the very cassette you’re hearing today. The source was rough, but after some serious restoration, EQ, and mastering, the groove lives again.
Pure horns, rhythm, and soul—restored from a worn-out tape and brought back to life for the first time in 30 years.We hope you feel the magic. Share it, stomp to it, and keep the spirit of ska alive.
RAZOR BACK
The song caught sparks fast, blasting across LA airwaves on the world-famous KROQ, where alternative rock royalty lived and breathed.
Fans felt it. DJs spun it. And in classic Skeletones fashion… the band wasn’t satisfied. They knew Razor Back had more bite in it.
So they marched back into the studio— old-school style—and re-recorded the entire thing 100% analog, dialing in every punch, every gritty vocal line until the track hit like a freight train. That beefed-up version landed on Transmission Records’ original 19-track release of 2K Soulution… before the album was later condensed and Razor Back was (tragically) cut from the re-release. But the song refused to fade— it stayed alive in the hearts, playlists, and live shows that defined The Skeletones’ rise.
And here’s the curveball: “Razor Back” ain’t about a wild hog. It’s a breakup battle cry. A love gone sideways. A man packing his life into boxes. A final demand echoing through the doorway:
Why This Version Matters:
This mix hits harder. It skanks faster. It grooves deeper. It’s everything the original hinted at— but cranked, sharpened, and set loose.
Razor Back became and still remains one of The Skeletones’ most beloved, requested, and iconic tracks.
So crank it. Share it. Blast it out the car window. Let the world feel that break-up fury and ska-punk adrenaline.
