2 TONE RECORDS
2 Tone Records was an English record label that mostly released ska and reggae-influenced music with a punk rock and pop music overtone.
Jerry Dammers of the ska revival band The Specials started the record label in 1979. It spawned the 2 Tone music and cultural movement, which was popular among skinheads, rudies and some mod revivalists. The label stopped operating when The Specials split in 1985. 2 Tone Records signed The Selecter, Madness and The Beat, but they all left within two years. 2 Tone Records acts signed a contract that allowed them to leave the label after releasing just one single, which was unusual in the record industry. Madness and The Beat both took advantage of this clause; the former to sign to Stiff Records, and the latter to start their own label, Go Feet Records.
Although 2 Tone Records was closely identified with the ska revival, efforts were made to broaden the label's musical output, releasing recordings by artists such as singer-songwriter Elvis Costello and the funk-punk band The Higsons. Two bands that almost made it onto the label were UB40 and Dexys Midnight Runners.
Jerry Dammers, with the assistance of Horace Panter, created artwork that was to become central to 2 Tone Records. The Walt Jabsco logo portrays a man in a black suit, white shirt, black tie, pork pie hat, white socks and black loafers. The fictional character was based on a photograph of Peter Tosh, a former member of The Wailers
THE COMPACT 2 TONE STORY
This 4 CD box set collects the A-side and B-side of every single released on the label. Both sides of the Dutch Concrete Jungle single plus both tracks from the free single which accompanied initial copies of More Specials are also included. The Bodysnatchers live version of 007 is the only unreleased track in the set, however it did previously appear in the film Dance Craze but failed to make it on to the films soundtrack album.
Jerry Dammers was less than impressed with its release and had this to say about it: 'It's real train spotters stuff with every B-side from every free single and I wasn't even consulted about it. In some ways that (The Compact 2 Tone Story) is the worst.' (Uncut Magazine interview 1998).
Each of the CDs comes in its own mini 2 Tone sleeve and an A5 version of George Marshalls book The Two Tone Story is also included.
Two Tone was the UK's most exciting new musical movement at the start of the 80s. Groups like Madness, The Selecter, The (English) Beat and The Special AKA, all on the Two Tone label, revived the Jamaican ska beat and created a new urgent sound that took youth culture by storm.
Disc 1
01. The Special A.K.A. - Gangsters
02. The Selecter - The Selecter
03. Madness - The Prince
04. The Selecter - On My Radio
05. The Specials featuring Rico - A Message To You Rudy
06. The Beat - Tears Of A Clown
07. Elvis Costello & The Attractions - I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down
08. The Specials - Too Much Too Young
09. The Selecter - Three Minute Hero
10. The Bodysnatchers - People Do Rock Steady
11. The Selecter - Missing Words
12. The Specials - Rat Race
13. The Bodysnatchers - Easy Life
14. The Specials - Stereotype
15. The Swinging Cats - Mantovani
Disc 2
01. Rico - Sea Cruise
02. The Specials Featuring Rico With The Ice Rink String Sounds - Do Nothing
03. The Specials - Ghost Town
04. Rhoda With The Special A.K.A. - The Boiler
05. Rico & The Special A.K.A. - Jungle Music
06. The Appolinaires - The Feeling's Gone (Dance Mix)- The Feeling's Back
07. The Higsons - Tear The Whole Thing Down
08. The Appolinaires - Envy The Love
09. The Special A.K.A. - War Crimes (The Crime Remains The Same)
10. The Higsons - Run Me Down
11. The Special A.K.A. - Racist Friend
12. The Special A.K.A. - Nelson Mandela
13. The Special A.K.A. - What I Like Most About You Is Your Girlfriend
14. The Friday Club - Window Shopping
15. J.B.'s Allstars - The Alphabet Army
Disc 3
01. Madness - Madness
02. The Selecter - Too Much Pressure
03. The Specials Featuring Rico - Nite Klub
04. The Beat - Ranking Full Stop
05. Elvis Costello + The Attractions - Girls Talk
06. The Specials - Guns Of Navarone
07. The Specials - Longshot Kick The Bucket- Liquidator- Skinhead Moonstomp
08. The Selecter - James Bond
09. The Bodysnatchers - Ruder Than You
10. The Selecter - Carry Go Bring Home (Live)
11. The Specials - Rude Boys Outa Jail
12. The Bodysnatchers - Too Experienced
13. The Specials - International Jet Set
14. The Swinging Cats - Away
15. Rico - Carolina
16. The Specials - Maggie's Farm
17. The Specials - Why
18. The Specials - Friday Night, Saturday Morning
Disc 4
01. Rhoda With The Special A.K.A. - Theme From The Boiler
02. Rico And The Special A.K.A. - Rasta Call You
03. Rico And The Special A.K.A. - Easter Island
04. The Appolinaires - The Feeling's Gone
05. The Appolinaires - The Bongo Medley (Extremely Long Version)
06. The Higsons - Ylang Ylang
07. The Appolinaires - Give It Up
08. The Special A.K.A. - Version
09. The Higsons - Put The Punk Back Into Funk
10. The Special A.K.A. - Bright Lights
11. The Special A.K.A. - Rascist Friend (Instrumental)
12. The Special A.K.A. - Bright Lights (Instrumental)
13. The Special A.K.A. - Break Down The Door
14. The Special A.K.A. - Can't Get A Break
15. The Friday Club - Window Shopping (Instrumental)
16. J.B.'s Allstars - Al Arm
17. Roddy Radiation & The Specials - Braggin' And Tryin' Not To Lie
18. Neville Staples AKA Judge Roughneck - Rude Boys Oura Jail (Version)
19. The Special A.K.A. - Racquel
20. The Bodysnatchers - 007
Label: 2 Tone / Chrysalis
Date: 1993
Catalogue: 8277232
Compression Level: 5
Covers Included (400dpi)
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