Musical Melting Pot
July 30, 2011 10:59 AM Subscribe
2 Tone was both a British music genre and a record label where black met white; fired by the great Thatcher divide.
The Two Tone story I; II; III; IV; V;
More Music inside: -
The Specials - Gangsters - A Message to You Rudy - Too Much too Young
The Selecter - Too much pressure - On My Radio
Madness - The Prince - One Step Beyond
The Bodysnatchers - Easy Life
In 1984 The Special AKA released Free Nelson Mandela
The Two Tone story I; II; III; IV; V;
More Music inside: -
The Specials - Gangsters - A Message to You Rudy - Too Much too Young
The Selecter - Too much pressure - On My Radio
Madness - The Prince - One Step Beyond
The Bodysnatchers - Easy Life
In 1984 The Special AKA released Free Nelson Mandela
* skanks *
posted by everichon at 11:17 AM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by everichon at 11:17 AM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
The record store I worked at in high school (Good Vibrations - a formerly independent chain well into the process of being devoured by Trans World (Record Town, Sam Goody, et al)) had a copy of the This Are Two Tone cassette hidden on top of the emergency exit sign. We put it there because we were supposedly only allowed to play music in the store that had been part of the 'playlist', OR had been returned or damaged. We hid that Two Tone tape so that we always had a nuclear option of excellent, high-energy music that we all loved that we could put on if it was a shitty night. We played that tape until it really was damaged, and then special ordered a new copy.
posted by dirtdirt at 11:26 AM on July 30, 2011 [5 favorites]
posted by dirtdirt at 11:26 AM on July 30, 2011 [5 favorites]
Every band needs a member in a suit and fedora whose job it is to do that fist-pump-twist-skank move.
posted by cmoj at 11:27 AM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by cmoj at 11:27 AM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
This is too good for me to think of a clever comment, so I will just put on a pork pie hat and watch with delight. Thanks!!
posted by scody at 11:39 AM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by scody at 11:39 AM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'm more partial to the relatively complex post-Two-Tone, if you will, like later Madness and Klark Kent and Joe Jackson and stuff like that.
But straight ska has its place, too.
posted by Sys Rq at 11:40 AM on July 30, 2011
But straight ska has its place, too.
posted by Sys Rq at 11:40 AM on July 30, 2011
Botched that earlier post.
COLGATE PUMP
BAGGY TROUSERS
posted by sourwookie at 11:45 AM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
COLGATE PUMP
BAGGY TROUSERS
posted by sourwookie at 11:45 AM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
How timely for me. My toddler and I were skanking to The Specials' singles collection this morning. We were halfway through "Free Nelson Mandela" when the vet called to tell us that our cat has diabetes. No shit. So when someone asks me "where were you when you found out that your cat is the black Wilford Brimley?" I'll have an answer.
posted by Mayor Curley at 12:20 PM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Mayor Curley at 12:20 PM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
Can't resist -- given the context in the post, this is the video I should have linked above.
It's been a long time, you know?
posted by vers at 12:25 PM on July 30, 2011
It's been a long time, you know?
posted by vers at 12:25 PM on July 30, 2011
And none of this would have happened without previous waves: The Israelites, for example.
posted by stonepharisee at 12:43 PM on July 30, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by stonepharisee at 12:43 PM on July 30, 2011 [2 favorites]
BBC story on the political context of The Specials' Ghost Town. Classic video.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 12:50 PM on July 30, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 12:50 PM on July 30, 2011 [4 favorites]
The (English) Beat - Mirror In The Bathroom
I painted my sneakers black-and white checkerboard.
(And was always intrigued by the relation between the 2 Tone guy and the I.R.S. guy.)
posted by progosk at 12:55 PM on July 30, 2011
I painted my sneakers black-and white checkerboard.
(And was always intrigued by the relation between the 2 Tone guy and the I.R.S. guy.)
posted by progosk at 12:55 PM on July 30, 2011
If you want to go "previous" Long Shot Kick the Bucket.
Pauline Black has recently published an autobiography Black by Design.
The energy was amazing.
And on preview thanks for putting up Ghost Town.
posted by adamvasco at 12:59 PM on July 30, 2011
Pauline Black has recently published an autobiography Black by Design.
The energy was amazing.
And on preview thanks for putting up Ghost Town.
posted by adamvasco at 12:59 PM on July 30, 2011
Love it.
The Beat - not the fucking English Beat - THE BEAT. Tears Of A Clown
And on the darker side...
The Specials And Rhoda Dakar - The Boiler
posted by Decani at 1:07 PM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
The Beat - not the fucking English Beat - THE BEAT. Tears Of A Clown
And on the darker side...
The Specials And Rhoda Dakar - The Boiler
posted by Decani at 1:07 PM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
The start of my musical youth. I grew up in the countryside near Coventry and the whole 2-Tone movement had a massive influence on this little kid on the brink of his teenage years.
A friend of mine went to school with Jerry Dammers. Apparently his front teeth were lost when he came off his bike when he was a kid.
Oh, & my Dad fixed the Selecter's kit back when he fixed those kind of things.
posted by i_cola at 1:10 PM on July 30, 2011 [2 favorites]
A friend of mine went to school with Jerry Dammers. Apparently his front teeth were lost when he came off his bike when he was a kid.
Oh, & my Dad fixed the Selecter's kit back when he fixed those kind of things.
posted by i_cola at 1:10 PM on July 30, 2011 [2 favorites]
When Friday mornings find me dragging, I reach for the Two Tone playlist on my iTunes. Never fails to get me going again.
posted by tommasz at 1:12 PM on July 30, 2011
posted by tommasz at 1:12 PM on July 30, 2011
And you can't talk about The Beat without mentioning Ranking Full Stop.
posted by tommasz at 1:15 PM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by tommasz at 1:15 PM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
Fantastic post, fantastic additions in the comments everybody.
posted by penduluum at 1:18 PM on July 30, 2011
posted by penduluum at 1:18 PM on July 30, 2011
It was truly the Dawning of a New Era.
*skanks with everichon*
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 1:19 PM on July 30, 2011 [3 favorites]
*skanks with everichon*
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 1:19 PM on July 30, 2011 [3 favorites]
By the way: The Beat are back and touring and as good as they ever were, and even have some new material. DO NOT MISS a chance to catch them.
Specials reunion gigs on the other hand? Phoned it in, completely. Pass.
posted by genghis at 1:19 PM on July 30, 2011
Specials reunion gigs on the other hand? Phoned it in, completely. Pass.
posted by genghis at 1:19 PM on July 30, 2011
Anyone know Summer Holiday by Cliff Richard?
You hum it, and I'll smash your face in.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 1:25 PM on July 30, 2011 [3 favorites]
You hum it, and I'll smash your face in.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 1:25 PM on July 30, 2011 [3 favorites]
The Beat are back and touring and as good as they ever were
Actually two versions of the band are touring, the US one with Dave Wakeling, the UK one with Ranking Roger and drummer Everett Morton.
more The Beat favourites:
Hands Off She's Mine
Twist&Crawl
posted by progosk at 1:25 PM on July 30, 2011
Actually two versions of the band are touring, the US one with Dave Wakeling, the UK one with Ranking Roger and drummer Everett Morton.
more The Beat favourites:
Hands Off She's Mine
Twist&Crawl
posted by progosk at 1:25 PM on July 30, 2011
(So the guy has a name & history: Walt Jabsco, inspired by Peter Tosh, designed together with bassist Horace Panter. I love it when MeFi leads to [re-]discovery; thanks, adamvasco!)
posted by progosk at 2:18 PM on July 30, 2011
posted by progosk at 2:18 PM on July 30, 2011
They's callin' me a bloodclaat MONKEY MAN.
Backside!
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 2:19 PM on July 30, 2011
Backside!
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 2:19 PM on July 30, 2011
We did, Decani, or at least I did. But hey, there's still Pato & Roger A Go Talk.
posted by vers at 2:19 PM on July 30, 2011
posted by vers at 2:19 PM on July 30, 2011
If you were old enough to rememer all the old Trojan originals, the Two Tone stuff always seemed a bit lame by comparison.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 2:38 PM on July 30, 2011
posted by PeterMcDermott at 2:38 PM on July 30, 2011
Favorite Selecter song: "Washed Up And Left For Dead"...
This is me in a nutshell, 1981: "He can't dance, but he can certainly cause trouble."
Indeed.
Thanks for this post!
posted by Ron Thanagar at 2:56 PM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
This is me in a nutshell, 1981: "He can't dance, but he can certainly cause trouble."
Indeed.
Thanks for this post!
posted by Ron Thanagar at 2:56 PM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
Interesting to see where Dammers is now...
(For completists, there's a little-seen, nasally-narrated american Specials documentary in seven parts in the YouTube relateds.)
posted by progosk at 3:42 PM on July 30, 2011
(For completists, there's a little-seen, nasally-narrated american Specials documentary in seven parts in the YouTube relateds.)
posted by progosk at 3:42 PM on July 30, 2011
So awesome. When I first discovered 2 Tone, I turned my brother on to it. He liked the music so much he got the 2 Tone label guy tattooed on his arm. I am so going to send him these links!
posted by trip and a half at 4:12 PM on July 30, 2011
posted by trip and a half at 4:12 PM on July 30, 2011
Oh man that first album from The Selecter is amazing - much as I love the Specials et al, Too Much Pressure has always been my fave 2nd wave ska. A couple gems:
The insanely catchy downer "Time Hard"
The guitars in "Missing Words." That is all.
Their fantastic cover of "Carry Go Bring Come"
The goofy stoner ska of My Collie (Not A Dog)
The hilarious cover of the James Bond theme
One of the great records of the punk/post-punk era, for sure. Thanks for the post, adamvasco.
posted by mediareport at 4:18 PM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
The insanely catchy downer "Time Hard"
The guitars in "Missing Words." That is all.
Their fantastic cover of "Carry Go Bring Come"
The goofy stoner ska of My Collie (Not A Dog)
The hilarious cover of the James Bond theme
One of the great records of the punk/post-punk era, for sure. Thanks for the post, adamvasco.
posted by mediareport at 4:18 PM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
I first fell in love with ska in high school in the mid-90's, with third wave. I love that there's such an amazing history to the music, and while I still love my ska-punk, finding out about two-tone and then Jamaican ska really kind of blew my mind. Thanks for the post.
posted by Ghidorah at 6:09 PM on July 30, 2011
posted by Ghidorah at 6:09 PM on July 30, 2011
One day in high school I heard "Ghost Town" on the radio (this was about 10 years after the song was released). I went to a local record store and of course The Specials were not anything that was going to be found in suburban Connecticut in 1990. But on a hunch I browsed through the the compilation section and found This Are Two Tone.
Seriously, changed my life.
posted by Rarebit Fiend at 8:05 PM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
Seriously, changed my life.
posted by Rarebit Fiend at 8:05 PM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
"The Boiler" terrified me.
Ok, it still does.
posted by Rarebit Fiend at 8:09 PM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
Ok, it still does.
posted by Rarebit Fiend at 8:09 PM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
Oh man, where did my houndstooth miniskirt go?
The original One Step Beyond by Prince Buster.
Previously: The mega-Madness post.
posted by maudlin at 8:30 PM on July 30, 2011
The original One Step Beyond by Prince Buster.
Previously: The mega-Madness post.
posted by maudlin at 8:30 PM on July 30, 2011
GUNS!!! of Navarone!
Skatalites version.
Was lucky to see both in some kind of reunion tour.
Roood Bouy!!
posted by hot_monster at 9:17 PM on July 30, 2011
Skatalites version.
Was lucky to see both in some kind of reunion tour.
Roood Bouy!!
posted by hot_monster at 9:17 PM on July 30, 2011
Interesting timing since Bim Skala Bim is currently on a mini tour. you can catch them tonight at the Beachcomber on Cape Cod.
posted by Gungho at 1:26 AM on July 31, 2011
posted by Gungho at 1:26 AM on July 31, 2011
Timely for me too. I've decided to rid myself of my vinyl. Included in this collection are the Specials albums in both Canadian and German print, plus every single that was issued by 2tone except the elusive and at high collection times super expensive Elvis Costello one. (once saw it on sale for 80 USD)
I expect to fetch about 5 dollars for the lot. *sigh*
I'm not giving up my collection of Walt Jabsco pins though. You can pry them from cold dead still skanking hands.
posted by dabitch at 2:29 AM on July 31, 2011
I expect to fetch about 5 dollars for the lot. *sigh*
I'm not giving up my collection of Walt Jabsco pins though. You can pry them from cold dead still skanking hands.
posted by dabitch at 2:29 AM on July 31, 2011
If you were old enough to rememer all the old Trojan originals, the Two Tone stuff always seemed a bit lame by comparison .
posted by PeterMcDermott at 10:38 PM on July 30
Sometimes. But sometimes I think the Two Tone covers improved the originals, or at least added something unique and new to them. And the original Two Tone stuff was the main deal anyway. The covers were sort of incidental homage. "Ghost Town" and so on stand proud and magnificent on their own.
posted by Decani at 3:37 AM on July 31, 2011
posted by PeterMcDermott at 10:38 PM on July 30
Sometimes. But sometimes I think the Two Tone covers improved the originals, or at least added something unique and new to them. And the original Two Tone stuff was the main deal anyway. The covers were sort of incidental homage. "Ghost Town" and so on stand proud and magnificent on their own.
posted by Decani at 3:37 AM on July 31, 2011
following on from Decani; I think the difference here is the era and the politicalization of 2 Tone.
As I put in the FPP this was all happening during Thatcher's Great Divide, and Britain's inner cities were burning, Bristol, Brixton, Toxteth and Handsworth. Blair Peach was killed and the far right was in the ascendency. In the documentary Suggs mentions the "Seig Heiling" going on in audience.
Rock against Racism was formed in 1976 after then music god Eric Clapton praised Enoch Powell and Bowie espoused Fascism.
Dave Thompson's Wheels Out of Gear covers this era pretty well.
posted by adamvasco at 5:14 AM on July 31, 2011
As I put in the FPP this was all happening during Thatcher's Great Divide, and Britain's inner cities were burning, Bristol, Brixton, Toxteth and Handsworth. Blair Peach was killed and the far right was in the ascendency. In the documentary Suggs mentions the "Seig Heiling" going on in audience.
Rock against Racism was formed in 1976 after then music god Eric Clapton praised Enoch Powell and Bowie espoused Fascism.
Dave Thompson's Wheels Out of Gear covers this era pretty well.
posted by adamvasco at 5:14 AM on July 31, 2011
Specials reunion gigs on the other hand? Phoned it in, completely.
Saw ém last year in Melbourne, they were awesome.
posted by wilful at 5:43 AM on July 31, 2011
Saw ém last year in Melbourne, they were awesome.
posted by wilful at 5:43 AM on July 31, 2011
Dammers' musical progression led him to Sun Ra; Spatial AKA is actually a pretty funny moniker. That clip on his site is a medley including his reworked version of Ghost Town, now Ghost Planet - the costumes are worth a watch, but there's a better only-audio recording here.
I wasn't aware of how central he was to the whole 2 Tone project, he's quite a character; with hindsight, I see how the others might have had trouble with his forward thinking (one ex-Special mentions in the FPP-linked documentary how Dammers had got into "muzak"...).
posted by progosk at 6:14 AM on July 31, 2011
I wasn't aware of how central he was to the whole 2 Tone project, he's quite a character; with hindsight, I see how the others might have had trouble with his forward thinking (one ex-Special mentions in the FPP-linked documentary how Dammers had got into "muzak"...).
posted by progosk at 6:14 AM on July 31, 2011
To tail-light the post, how fitting is this crepuscular "You're Wondering Now", live (from last year I believe) with... Amy Winehouse? (Always found its final acapella sparseness chillingly existential.)
You're wondering now, what to do, now you know this is the end
You're wondering how, you will pay, for the way you did me in
Curtain has fallen, now you're on your own
I won't return, forever you will wait
You're wondering now, what to do, now you know this is the end...
posted by progosk at 6:31 AM on July 31, 2011
You're wondering now, what to do, now you know this is the end
You're wondering how, you will pay, for the way you did me in
Curtain has fallen, now you're on your own
I won't return, forever you will wait
You're wondering now, what to do, now you know this is the end...
posted by progosk at 6:31 AM on July 31, 2011
Got a chance to watch all of these last night. Great stuff. It's really quite amazing to me how distinctly Two-Tone still resonates and spawns new bands 30 + years later. It's fairly narrowly defined musically and stylistically yet every major city has kids who still imitate it.
One thing that's cool about it, the fierce loyalty and community within the scene. Start a mod ska band and you have an instant fan base. When I was a fifteen year old band nerd at an all boys catholic school in suburban California, I had drawn a Madness logo inside the cover of the history book I'd been issued. The following year, a guy in the class below me with a funny haircut and fucking cool looking shoes asked me if I was the guy who'd defaced the history book he'd been issued. Maybe we could hang out this weekend and check out a show?
Within a week, we started a band (this was third wave, California in the 80s) and my life was changed. Within a year, I went from virgin band geek to playing shows for 100s of people in the big city at the center of a scene that was defined by it's tolerance, style, and commitment to silliness. God, so many stories. I remember once we announced we were going to show up at a Winchell's Donut House and play a guerilla show and dozens of scooters showed up in the parking lot.
Reflecting on the documentary, I think it provides some insight into why this movement still resonates in places so different from Coventry in the 70s. We were just kids who didn't want trouble, we grew up with far more open minds than many of the people we saw around us, and we wanted something different. Two tone provided structure for this. Community, identity. I suppose it's no different than any other pop subculture out there, but for many of us, hippies seemed a bit too docile and withdrawn from the world and punk seemed too angry, too serious. Two tone is about enjoying the important things, respecting each other, and taking a stand when the assholes start to ruin the party. I've come a long way from being the guy who tried to hand his cassette up to the stage at Fishbone and Untouchables shows, but the message of those years really has shaped who I am today.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 9:16 AM on July 31, 2011 [7 favorites]
One thing that's cool about it, the fierce loyalty and community within the scene. Start a mod ska band and you have an instant fan base. When I was a fifteen year old band nerd at an all boys catholic school in suburban California, I had drawn a Madness logo inside the cover of the history book I'd been issued. The following year, a guy in the class below me with a funny haircut and fucking cool looking shoes asked me if I was the guy who'd defaced the history book he'd been issued. Maybe we could hang out this weekend and check out a show?
Within a week, we started a band (this was third wave, California in the 80s) and my life was changed. Within a year, I went from virgin band geek to playing shows for 100s of people in the big city at the center of a scene that was defined by it's tolerance, style, and commitment to silliness. God, so many stories. I remember once we announced we were going to show up at a Winchell's Donut House and play a guerilla show and dozens of scooters showed up in the parking lot.
Reflecting on the documentary, I think it provides some insight into why this movement still resonates in places so different from Coventry in the 70s. We were just kids who didn't want trouble, we grew up with far more open minds than many of the people we saw around us, and we wanted something different. Two tone provided structure for this. Community, identity. I suppose it's no different than any other pop subculture out there, but for many of us, hippies seemed a bit too docile and withdrawn from the world and punk seemed too angry, too serious. Two tone is about enjoying the important things, respecting each other, and taking a stand when the assholes start to ruin the party. I've come a long way from being the guy who tried to hand his cassette up to the stage at Fishbone and Untouchables shows, but the message of those years really has shaped who I am today.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 9:16 AM on July 31, 2011 [7 favorites]
That was brilliant.
Ska was one of the biggest influences of my life when I was in high school (DC, mid-90's). Even though second wave ska was ancient history by then, the scene was absolutely huge for me. Five or six shows a month. I took up trumpet so I could start a band. My best friend got a giant Walt Jabsco tattooed across his back. (I've asked him since. No regrets.) I dreamed of going up to NYC so I could go to the fabled Moon Records store, but was never able to make it happen.
Self-identifying as a rude boy was so important to me, I wore a suit every day in college. You might think I'd have twinges of embarrassment about that fact, but I don't. It was one of the most core aspects of who I was, and like Slarty Bartfast, did much to shape who I am now.
The "Part Two" of the video (link III above) resonated especially well with me, as the Specials' tendency to bring fans up on stage for their closing numbers was kept alive and well by DC bands, most notably the Pietasters. And the best shows my band ever played were in spaces as tight as the Hope & Anchor. So much energy, packed in. Such amazing memories.
Thanks for these links.
posted by Alt F4 at 12:07 PM on July 31, 2011 [2 favorites]
Ska was one of the biggest influences of my life when I was in high school (DC, mid-90's). Even though second wave ska was ancient history by then, the scene was absolutely huge for me. Five or six shows a month. I took up trumpet so I could start a band. My best friend got a giant Walt Jabsco tattooed across his back. (I've asked him since. No regrets.) I dreamed of going up to NYC so I could go to the fabled Moon Records store, but was never able to make it happen.
Self-identifying as a rude boy was so important to me, I wore a suit every day in college. You might think I'd have twinges of embarrassment about that fact, but I don't. It was one of the most core aspects of who I was, and like Slarty Bartfast, did much to shape who I am now.
The "Part Two" of the video (link III above) resonated especially well with me, as the Specials' tendency to bring fans up on stage for their closing numbers was kept alive and well by DC bands, most notably the Pietasters. And the best shows my band ever played were in spaces as tight as the Hope & Anchor. So much energy, packed in. Such amazing memories.
Thanks for these links.
posted by Alt F4 at 12:07 PM on July 31, 2011 [2 favorites]
Pick it up, Pick it up, Pick it up!
posted by stenseng at 10:33 AM on August 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by stenseng at 10:33 AM on August 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
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Also, tangentially, Babylon is on TV tonight.
posted by marienbad at 11:13 AM on July 30, 2011