To many the defining sound of the eighties was digital technology. Every genre had technological influence such as rock, Acid House, Hip-Hop or synth Pop. The decade began with Rock and Pop occupying the top spots with the impact of Punk and New Wave through to Disco, then the American influence of Hip hop which bought the likes of sampling, cultural experiences and social comment which bought the new vocal of 'Rap' into the mainstream and changed the face of music forever.
One of the early sounds of the 80s was the Ska revival, which was a purely British thing that revolved around the 2 tone record label based primarily in Coventry between 1979 and 1981. It is fact that one record help ignite this revival. The music was based on a upbeat rhythm heavily indebted to the likes of The Skatalites and The Pioneers from Jamaica.
The record in question was Gangsters by the Special AKA although an upbeat tempo The singer Terry Hall managed to bring a downbeat deadpan delivery of the song which was to become the trademark for the Specials. The groups key song writer Jerry Dammers changed the name from Special AKA to the Specials and the movement took off. The 2 Tone label with its iconic black and white logo (Based on a old album cover of Pete Tosh) and its important message of racial integration. Most 2 tone label acts were of mixed race and was proud of its heritage too. Many of the acts released old ska tunes or tributes to those who started the movement. The Specials covered Dandy Livinstones A message to you Rudy, Madness a tribute to Prince Buster aptly named The Prince and The Beat covered Smokey Robinson Tears of a Clown.
By 1981 most of the acts had moved on to bigger labels as part of the contract the group only had to release one single before moving on and The Specials split into 2 with Terry Hall, Lynval Golding and Neville Staples forming the Fun Boy 3. The 2 Tone label disappeared after a run of 10 hit singles and thus having a major impact on music and culture in Britain. The label eventually succumbed and the defining song it ended with was the socially critical impression of Britain in the midst of a recession with Ghost Town.
The main acts on the Label were The Specials, The Beat, The Selector, The Body snatchers and Madness. Bad Manners were considered part of the movement but never released anything on the label (although they did feature on a live album called Dance Craze released by 2 Tone). The Bands were either from the Midlands or London. The Specials and Selector from Coventry and The Beat from Birmingham represented the Midlands and Madness, Bad Manners and The Body snatchers from London.
The music was helped by cultural groups such as Rudies, Skinheads and Mods as they helped broaden the appeal with discos primarily playing 2 Tone and the old Jamaican ska.
The top 2 Tone singles in no particular order. Click on the artist to see the video. Enjoy!
Special AKA - Gangsters
Special AKA - Too Much Too Young
The Specials - Do Nothing
The Specials - Ghost Town
The Specials - Rat Race
Madness - The Prince
Madness - Madness
The Beat - Tears of a Clown
The Selector - On My Radio
The Body Snatchers - Lets do rocksteady
Recommended purchasing of 2 Tone Finest releases
The Specials - The Specials
The Specials - More Specials
Various - Dance Craze
The Selector - Too Much Pressure
Various - Two Much Two tone
No comments:
Post a Comment