Hall of Fame: 5
The first wave of ska music began in Jamaica in the late 1950’s. Ska was a precursor to rock steady and reggae, and rose from a combination of Caribbean mento, calypso, American jazz and rhythm and blues. In the early 1960’s, ska was the dominant music of Jamaica, and became popular amongst British mods.
The second wave of ska in the 1970’s (known as English 2 Tone ska) became popular with skinheads. Riding high on the wave of music, The Specials were loved then and loved now.
The Specials were formed in 1977 in Coventry. Praised for their danceable ska and “rude boy” style of dressing (pork pie hats, suits and loafers) , the band were also committed to abolishing racism- a positive image of black and white musicians playing together. The group were formed of songwriter/keyboardist Jerry Dammers, singer Terry Hall, guitarist/vocalist Lynval Golding and drummer Silverton Hutchinson.
The Specials first single was released in 1979, on the record label formed by Dammers “2 Tone Records”. “Gangsters” was a re-working of the Prince Buster tune “Al Capone”. This was a top ten hit for The Specials and cemented their place amongst fans of ska. A politically aware and forward thinking band, it is of no great surprise that The Specials became so popular so quickly.
Their 1980 song “Too Much Too Young” was a UK number 1, when the band still performed under the moniker “The Special AKA”. The song caused controversy at its initial release for references to teenage pregnancy and promotion of contraception. I am very proud to say I own a highly battered record single of this, given to me by my Mother in Law. It is a remnant from her days as a Manchester skin. I know some pretty cool people.
In 1981, The Specials “Ghost Town” also scored them another UK number 1 hit. A highly evocative song, themed around the unemployment and malaise affecting so many towns in England.
The bands first LP “Specials” was successful and produced by singer Elvis Costello. The lead song “A Message to you, Rudy” (a cover of “Rudy, a Message to you” by Dandy Livingstone) was highly successful in the UK and the album featured re-workings or covers of many songs by Prince Buster and Toots & The Maytals, both groups from the late 1960’s. The bands second album, “More Specials” was unfortunately not commercially successful. The band took a break in early 1981, released “Ghost Town” as a non-LP single and then Staple, Golding and Hall left the band to form “Fun Boy Three”.
I am delighted to say that The Specials are now reformed and touring again (sadly minus Dammers, who is stated as not wishing to join.) They band offer a great note of thanks to Lily Allen for this, who performed “Gangsters” on stage with The Specials at Glastonbury 2007. This was the first time Golding and Hall had performed together in 24 years. The Specials will also perform at Hyde Park at the Olympics 2012, alongside Blur and New Order. Doesn’t it just make you proud to be British to hear things like that!
It is amazing to see how much involvement The Specials have had in fantastic music. Their back-up vocalists include Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders, and Jane Wielden of The Go-Go’s. I love The Specials, and I have a weird fascination with skinheads- the fashion, the attitude and the music. My personal favourite Specials song is “Blank Expression”, and I can nod along to it wearing a pork-pie hat, pretending I’m cool. I do love ska, and the bands that rose from the ashes of some wildly talented ska bands- Terry Hall formed Fun Boy Three and then had a successful solo career, and the fabulous Ranking Roger of The Beat went on to form General Public (little note here, their smash hit single “Tenderness” is my favourite song of all time.) The Selecter performed a 30 year anniversary show to high praise. There really is nothing like that to prove how great music stands the test of time.
I think we all need to sit back, watch “This is England” and have a little dance to some ska. Don’t shave your head unless you’re sure you want to!
