Hey You Rude Boy! It's the Two Tone and related thread (release by release).

I'd love the Rock Goes To College programme released. I do have it on DVD from a BBC Four broadcast a few years back, but a Specials at the BBC DVD compiling this, their Top Of The Pops, Whistle Test and Something Else appearances as well as any other clips they have and the Arena 1979 2 Tone documentary would be sublime. It would sell well too. 2 Tone collectors are many and loyal and some of this footage is very rare in decent quality. The Arena programme is unavailable complete even on YouTube.

 

So here we are, just shy of two months, I can finally close a tab on my browser which listed all the releases in chronological order, with chart placings, videos, covers, etc. I went two years longer than I initially expected to, but it was just so much fun that I had to continue. I first had the idea for this thread 10 years ago, it was something that was always in the back of my mind. A search of Two Tone threads on here gives up few results and there is one from around 10 years ago with some of the same magazine scans that I put in this one, there was even talk of a release by release thread in one of them.
I am very much a visual person, which is half of why I love 2 Tone, the labels, the covers, the logos, the videos, so compiling all the visual stuff was a lot of fun.
This topic brought back lots of memories for me, and I hope for you all too.

There really is only one way to sign off.....................

 

Hey, so I'm a huge Beat fan, been enjoying the new album, Here We Go Love! and whatnot, but something has been bugging me. The so called "dub style" version of "What's Your Best Thing" that I've heard sounds just about the exact same as the "regular" version. And just to make sure it's not a mistake I've listened to the track on both the Bonus Beat set that came with their complete albums set and also on the UK 2 CD/1 DVD version of Special Beat Service, along with a recording of it on YouTube. Yet they all sound the same, and not dubby in any way. Not even really any echo.

What am I missing?

 

It's been great. Thanks for creating this thread. I contributed less than I thought I would when it started, but that's because other people posting here said it all. I've enjoyed reading it all a lot.

 

I love the genre but it was never as big in the US as it was in the UK. I picked up this nice collection of singles years ago. The Two Tone Compilation: A Checkered Past - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic

 

One last single I’d add that I think you missed (it’s a long thread so maybe I flew right past it) is the 1985 Ethiopian charity single “Starvation” on Madness’ Zarjazz label. It features an all star cast of 2 Tone alums and others covering The Pioneers reggae track “Starvation”. It has Mark and Woody from Madness, Jerry and Lynval from The Specials, Roger and Dave from The Beat/General Public, all three Pioneers, Ali Campbell from UB40. It’s a good track and backed by a Afrobeat song featuring a all star cast of Afrobeat stars.

 

Good call!

 

So I forgot to list a few random releases which are worth picking up if you can find them.
First We will start with the Specials, or Coventry Automatics, with a set of pre-embryonic Specials tracks, Rock And Roll Nightmare is an early version of Pearl's Cafe with different lyrics, which is pretty interesting and there are a few tracks which didn't make the transition to black and white. This was actually rereleased this year in a card sleeve, not sure of the legitimacy of the new release, so I won't post a link to it.

 

Next up is The Specials BBC Sessions. These are mainly from the classic era, although there is one session from the later Special AKA.


Nothing really that you haven't heard but done in a "live in the studio" setting which gives it that more ragged feel. Well worth a listen.

 

The Selecter's Sessions were with a few different DJs, John Peel, Kid Jensen and Mike Read.

 

Next up is also from the BBC and is an "In Concert" that The Specials did with The Selecter.

 

In 1992 2 Tone actually released a Specials Concert, The Specials Live At The Moonlight Club. This has been rereleased a few times since I believe.


This was actually rereleased a few years ago on vinyl as well.

 

This thread got me digging out all these! BTW singles sounds better, especially 12" gotta get more of them!

 

Huge thanks Colocally for hosting this thread and reminding me of so much great music !!!

 

For those who have had their appetites whetted for some Bad Manners.
Bad Manners / The Albums 1980 – 1985 | superdeluxeedition

CD ONE:
SKA ‘N’ B
1. NE-NE NA-NA NA-NA NU-NU
2. HERE COMES THE MAJOR
3. FATTIE FATTIE
4. KING SKA-FA
5. MONSTER MASH
6. CALDONIA (WHAT MAKES YOUR BIG HEAD HARD)
7. MAGNIFICENT SEVEN
8. WOOLY BULLY
9. LIP UP FATTY
10. SPECIAL BREW
11. INNER LONDON VIOLENCE
12. SCRUFFY WAS A HUFFY CHUFFY TUG BOAT

BONUS TRACKS
13. HOLIDAYS
14. NIGHT BUS TO DALSTON (INSTRUMENTAL VERSION)
15. LIP UP FATTY (12” EXTENDED VERSION)
16. SPECIAL BREW (7” VERSION)
17. IVOR THE ENGINE

CD TWO:
LOONEE TUNES!
1. ECHO FOUR-TWO
2. JUST A FEELING
3. EL PUSSYCAT
4. DORIS
5. SPY I
6. TEQUILA
7. LORRAINE
8. ECHO GONE WRONG
9. SUICIDE
10. THE UNDER SEA ADVENTURES OF IVOR THE ENGINE
11. BACK IN ’60
12. JUST PRETENDIN’

BONUS TRACKS
13. LORRAINE (12” EXTENDED VERSION)
14. HERE COMES THE MAJOR (NEW IMPROVED VERSION)

CD THREE:
GOSH IT’S
1. WALKING IN THE SUNSHINE
2. DANSETTA
3. CAN CAN
4. WEEPING AND A WAILING
5. CASABLANCA (RAGS AND RICHES)
6. DON’T BE ANGRY
7. BEN E. WRIGGLE
8. RUNAWAY
9. NEVER WILL CHANGE
10. ONLY FUNKIN’
11. END OF THE WORLD
12. GHERKIN

BONUS TRACKS
13. ARMCHAIR DISCO
14. WALKING IN THE SUNSHINE (12” EXTENDED VERSION)
15. NIGHT BUS TO DALSTON (VOCAL VERSION)
16. BUONA SERA
17. THE NEW ONE
18. NO RESPECT
19. YAKETY YAK
20. ELIZABETHAN REGGAE

CD FOUR:
FORGING AHEAD
1. SALAD BAR
2. TONIGHT IS YOUR NIGHT
3. SAMSON AND DELILAH (BIBLICAL VERSION)
4. EXODUS
5. GOT NO BRAINS
6. ROSE OF ITALY
7. MY GIRL LOLLIPOP (MY BOY LOLLIPOP) (EXTENDED LICK MIX)
8. FALLING OUT OF LOVE
9. SEVENTH HEAVEN
10. EDUCATING MARMALADE
11. WHAT’S UP CRAZY PUP
12. YOUR

BONUS TRACKS
13. PSYCHEDELIC ERIC
14. FLASHPOINT
15. BEN E. WRIGGLE (REMIX)
16. MY GIRL LOLLIPOP (MY BOY LOLLIPOP) (7” VERSION)
17. SAMSON AND DELILAH (7” VERSION)
18. GOOD HONEST MAN
19. YOUR (INSTRUMENTAL VERSION)
20. THAT’LL DO NICELY
21. MONSTER LOVE (DUB)
22. THAT’LL DO NICELY (12” EXPRESS VERSION)

CD FIVE:
MENTAL NOTES
1. WHAT THE PAPERS SAY
2. BLUE SUMMER
3. BODY TALK
4. TOSSIN’ IN MY SLEEP
5. TIE ME UP
6. BANG THE DRUM ALL DAY
7. DESTINATION UNKNOWN
8. MOUNTAIN OF LOVE
9. WORK
10. SATURDAY NIGHT

BONUS TRACKS
11. MY GIRL LOLLIPOP (MY BOY LOLLIPOP) (EXTENDED LICK USA RE-MIX)
12. MY GIRL LOLLIPOP (MY BOY LOLLIPOP) (EXTENDED INSTRUMENTAL USA RE-MIX)
13. THAT’LL DO NICELY (USA 7” RE-MIX)
14. MY GIRL LOLLIPOP (MY BOY LOLLIPOP) (USA 7” RE-MIX)
15. BLUE SUMMER (RE-MIX)
16. MR. JORDAN (LOUIE LOUIE)
17. BLUE SUMMER (DUB)
18. WHAT THE PAPERS SAY (12” MIX)
19. BANG THE DRUM ALL DAY (EXTENDED RE-MIX)
20. BANG THE DRUM ALL DAY (DUB VERSION)

 

What we need is for the Selecter albums to be rereleased, as they are woefully under represented.

 

The Captain Mod reissue of “Too Much Pressure” is still in print, but their release of “Celebrate The Bullet” is not. I do think that Chrysalis have released both digitally (without all the bonus tracks that were tacked onto the reissues).

 

Apologies for disrupting the flow of this thread, but I'm wondering if discussions of sound quality are appropriate here? I read the first 10 pages and did a search but didn't really find the answer I was looking for unless I missed it. Can anyone comment on the best sounding digital versions (I assume on CD) of the Specials ... specifically their first album plus a compilation that includes key tracks such as Gangsters, Ghost Town, etc.? For their first album, I believe a CD came out in 1989, 2002, and 2015 (each louder than the previous version from my understanding). Is the original from 1989 the best sounding? What about Singles vs. Stereo-Typical vs. Best of Specials (or any others)? Thanks.

 

New Specials album!!!!

The Specials announce new album Encore – get pre-sale access to their upcoming UK tour with hmv | hmv.com

 

In addition to Terry Hall, the new album features a line-up that includes two other original members, bassist Horace Panter and guitarist Lynval Golding.

I got that album "Todays Specials" that they made 20 years ago. It wasn't great. It was... mmmm.. mostly poor. It didn't have Terry or Jerry but I believe it had everyone else.

The Classic Specials line-up was a perfect combination. That last album didn't have it. Somehow, I can imagine this one being better, but will it be good?

 

Today's Specials was weak, but I really liked Guilty Til Proved Innocent.

 

This SHM-CD sounds better than both my US and UK original pressed but I still prefer the original vinyl