2-Tone

2 Tone Records was an English record label that led the ska reviva in the early to mid 1980s, as would be expected much of their output was ska & reggae-influenced, with a smattering of punk rock and pop. It was founded by Jerry Dammers of the Specials and backed by Chrysalis Records.

In its time, 2 Tone Records signed the Selecter, Madness and The Beat - all leading ska revival acts. Two of these three left within two years as part of the ethos at 2 Tone was that 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.

Other acts to appear on the label were Elvis Costello & the Attractions, J.B. Allstars, Bad Manners and The Bodysnatchers.

The uniqueness of the label was best highlighted on their first release - a Double A side featuring the Specials. 'Gangstas' on one side and the Selecter's self titled 'The Selecter' on the other.

Madness released a the single 'The Prince' on 2 Tone and then moved on, Elvis Costello released 'I can't Stand up for Falling Down' on the label as a one off.

The Bodysnatcher's 'Lets Do Rock Steady'

...and the mighty Specials - 'My Racist Friend'

Dexy's Midnight Runners

Dexys Midnight Runners were an English pop band with soul influences from Birmingham, who achieved major commercial success in the early to mid-1980s. They are best known in the UK for their songs " Come On Eileen " and " Geno ", both of which peaked at No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart, as well as six other top-20 singles. The original Dexys Midnight Runners were founded in 1978 in Birmingham, England by Kevin Rowland (vocals, guitar) and Kevin "Al" Archer (vocals, guitar). Both had been in the short-lived punk band the Killjoys. Rowland had previously written a Northern soul-style song that the two of them sang, " Tell Me When My Light Turns Green ", which became the first Dexys "song". The band's members were "Big" Jim Paterson (trombone), Geoff "JB" Blythe (saxophone, previously of Geno Washington's Ram Jam Band), Steve "Babyface" Spooner (alto saxophone), Pete Saunders (keyboard), Pete Williams (ba...

Malcolm McLaren

Malcolm McLaren was an English visual artist, performer, musician, clothes designer and boutique owner, most remembered for his management of the Sex Pistols. McLaren attended a number of British art colleges and adopted the stance of the social rebel in the style of French revolutionaries. He realised that a new protest style was needed for the 1970s, and largely initiated the punk movement, for which he supplied fashions from the Chelsea boutique SEX, which he operated with girlfriend Vivienne Westwood. After a period advising the New York Dolls in the U.S., McLaren managed the Sex Pistols, the issue of a controversial record, " God Save the Queen ", poking fun at the Queen's Jubilee in 1977, was typical of McLaren's shock tactics, and he gained public notoriety by being arrested after a promotional boat trip with the band outside the Houses of Parliament. McLaren performed with acclaim as a solo artist, initially focusing on hip hop and world music and later div...

The Smiths

The Smiths were an English rock band formed in Manchester in the early 1980s, they consisted of vocalist Morrissey, guitarist Johnny Marr, bassist Andy Rourke plus drummer Mike Joyce. They are one of my all time favourite bands, although after their split in 1987 Morrissey's solo career has been marred by some dodgey political stances... The band released a self-titled album in 1984 and later that year had success with a couple of singles - " Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now " and " William, It Was Really Nothing " Early in 1985 the band released their second album, ' Meat Is Murder ', this was followed in 1986 with, ' The Queen Is Dead '. The album was released in June 1986, shortly after the single " Bigmouth Strikes Again ", " There Is a Light That Never Goes Out " and " The Boy with the Thorn in His Side ". Rourke was fired from the band in early 1986 due to his use of heroin. He allegedly received notice of h...

The Lightning Seeds

The Lightning Seeds are an English rock band that formed in Liverpool in 1989, with Ian Broudie (vocals, guitar, producer), formerly of the bands Big in Japan and Original Mirrors. Originally a studio-based solo project for Broudie, the Lightning Seeds expanded into a touring band following their successful album " Jollification ", released in 1994. The group experienced commercial success throughout the 1990s and are well known for their single " Three Lions ", a collaboration with David Baddiel and Frank Skinner which reached No. 1, three times in the UK in 1996, 1998 and 2018. In 1989, Broudie began recording alone under the name Lightning Seeds. The name derives from a misheard lyric from Prince's 1985 hit single " Raspberry Beret ", in which Prince sings the line "thunder drowns out what the lightning sees". Broudie performed all vocals and instruments on the band's first album, 1989's " Cloudcuckooland ", which he also...

The Easybeats

This track by Australian band The Easybeats is another favourite of mine, I first became aware of the track when I heard a version done by David Bowie but then found out he'd covered it and I stumbled upon this version. I love this video as well, not much else to say

Muzical Mystery Tour

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