Given the fractious relations between the Slackers and the Moon Ska label, it might rankle the band to be told that Better Late Than Never was their best album. But as of early 2000, that's still the case. Opening with a ska arrangement of Nat Adderley's hard-bop composition "Work Song" and ending with a cameo from the ageless ska queen Doreen Schaeffer (actually, there's one more instrumental after her gently powerful rendition of "Our Day Will Come," but she should have been the closing act), this album proves once and for all that New York City ska is the best. Keyboardist Vic Ruggiero and sax man Dave Hillyard both write great songs, with the slight edge going to Ruggiero, whose "Sarah, I'm always thinking of you/ I'm so sorry I can't make you my wife, this life" trumps Hillyard's "I see the bucket full/ I want my food!" The rest of the band is responsible for the best old-school ska and rock-steady grooves this side of the Stubborn All-Stars. "Sooner or Later" is one of the most compellingly singable ska songs written in the last 20 years, and "You Don't Know I" rolls and bounces like a barrel of skanking monkeys. Victor Rice's production is just bass-heavy enough without sacrificing clarity or definition. Essential. ~ Rick Anderson, All Music Guide
Jeff Baker (Trombone), Albert Caiati (Engineer), David Hillyard (Sax (Tenor)), Tobias Fields (Conga), Eddie "Headdie" Ocampo (Art Direction), Victor Rice (Producer), Victor Rice (Mixing), Victor Ruggiero (Keyboards), Victor Ruggiero (Vocals), Victor Ruggiero (Liner Notes), Victor Ruggiero (Mixing Assistant), Victor Ruggiero (Assistant Producer), The Slackers (Main Performer), Christian Lantry (Photography), Marq Lyn (Vocals), Cris Qualiana (?), Cris Qualiana (Concept), T.J. Scanlon (Guitar), Luis Zuluaga (Drums), Eric Singer (Sax (Alto))
Better Late Than Never is the debut full-length album by the ska/reggae band The Slackers, originally released in 1996 (see 1996 in music) on Moon Ska Records. It was later remastered and re-released with three additional tracks from the original recording sessions on March 19, 2002 (see 2002 in music) on Special Potato Records.
The album was a notable debut for the band, paving the way for their eventual signing to Hell-Cat Records. It was also a significant departure from the Two Tone and garage rock influences of the band's early days, instead opting for a sound akin to the traditional ska acts of 1960s Jamaica. The album was produced by noted ska/reggae producer Victor Rice, who later collaborated with members of the band on projects by the Stubborn All-Stars and the Version City Rockers.
Two of the songs on the album, "Work Song" and "Our Day Will Come" were both recorded by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass on the 1966 album S.R.O., though neither of the songs were written by Alpert.
Artwork
The first of the "Wix series" of covers. Cris the Wix is shown checking the time on her watch.
CD tracks
"Work Song" – 5:11
"Runaway" – 3:44
"Pedophilia" – 4:19
"Sooner Or Later" – 3:48
"Two Face" – 4:29
"Cuban Cigar" – 3:33
"You Don't Know I" – 5:00
"Tonight" – 3:28
"Sarah" – 3:33
"Treat Me Good" – 4:23
"Prophet" – 3:24
"Our Day Will Come" (featuring Doreen Schaefer) – 3:55
