Whether it was their first, last or just one of hundreds of records in their thirty-year career, Better Late Than Never is an album that has long been associated with the founding of one of New York’s most enduring ska and rocksteady institutions. First released on the revered Moon Ska label in 1996, it has since seen multiple reissues – on both sides of the Atlantic, and on various formats – but the 2026 version from Pirates Press Records promises to be the most comprehensive, featuring the whole original set of sixteen songs, mastered with the care befitting them, and presented in a beautiful colored double vinyl. The 30th anniversary edition also coincides with the band’s recent performance in Haarlem on 18th of October 2026, which I had the pleasure of attending on the night before writing this review. As the band demonstrated their signature blend of relaxed, confident ska-rocksteady in the concert, the reissue of their debut feels especially fitting.
Right from the crackling opening, Better Late Than Never makes it clear what it is all about. Better Late Than Never is an album that slows things down to a more comfortable pace than many of its contemporaries, and with good reason. As the band’s website notes, The Slackers – “a band with songwriting powerhouses David Hillyard and Vic Ruggiero and members in both Skinnerbox NYC and Stubborn All-Stars” – were quick to jump on the ska revival that was gathering pace across the Atlantic in the mid-1990s. They were busy with their other projects, but Moon Ska label owners decided to release this set of tunes – written by the core Slackers members – under the band’s name. Perhaps due to this rushed creation premise, Better Late Than Never has more of a traditional 1960s Jamaican flavour than some of the more progressive third-wave releases of the era.
Ruggiero’s rough yet melodic voice anchors the track, recalling another Jamaican pioneer, Laurel Aitken. The Slackers’ horns section – consisting of tenor and alto saxophones, trombone, and trumpet – manages to sound authentic to the first wave while still being fresh and lively. Congas provide a gentle rhythmic pulse to the mix, blending in with the driving but precise drums. Everything combines into a well-balanced whole with no superfluous elements, as befits a short ska arrangement.
The highlights include the suave vocal harmony-driven number Sooner or Later, the authentic Jamaican feel of Our Day Will Come, which features legendary Studio One vocalist Doreen Shaffer, the driving rhythm of Runaway, and the insistent, almost hypnotic Tonight – allegedly written in an airport. Other notable tracks include the energetic Work Song, Cuban Cigar, and Prophet, as well as the closing Cawl Me Crazy. While not the band’s strongest hour (some would argue that Hellcat-released follow-up records were far more accomplished), Better Late Than Never represents an impressive debut effort.
Better Late Than Never 30th-anniversary reissue serves as a fitting reminder of The Slackers’ contribution to the ska and rocksteady scenes. It includes all the songs from the original release, and the quality of production is befitting the band’s stature.
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