2 Tone Records was an
EnglishEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the North Sea to the east, with the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
record labelIn the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
that mostly released
skaSka is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
and
reggaeReggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s.While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady. Reggae is based...
-influenced music with a
punk rockPunk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed the perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
and
pop musicPop music is a music genre that developed from the mid-1950s as a softer alternative to rock 'n' roll and later to rock music. It has a focus on commercial recording, often orientated towards a youth market, usually through the medium of relatively short and simple love songs...
overtone.
Jerry DammersJerry Dammers is a founder and keyboard player of the Coventry, England based ska revival band The Specials, The Special A.K.A. and The Spatial AKA Orchestra....
of the ska revival band
The SpecialsThe Specials are an English 2 Tone ska revival band formed in 1977 in Coventry, England. Their music combined a "danceable ska and rocksteady beat with punk's energy and attitude", and had a "more focused and informed political and social stance" than other ska groups...
started the record label in
1979See also:Musical groups established in 1979Record labels established in 1979* 1979 in music -Events:*Stevie Wonder uses digital audio recording technology in recording his album Journey through the Secret Life of Plants....
. It spawned the
2 Tone2 Tone is a music genre created in England in the late 1970s by fusing elements of ska, punk rock, rocksteady, reggae and pop...
music and cultural movement, which was popular among
skinheadA skinhead is a member of a subculture that originated among working class youths in the United Kingdom in the 1960s, and then spread to other parts of the world. Named for their close-cropped or shaven heads, the first skinheads were greatly influenced by West Indian rude boys and British mods,...
s,
rudiesRude boy, rudeboy, rudie, rudi or rudy were common terms for juvenile delinquents and criminals in 1960s Jamaica, and have since been used in other contexts...
and some
mod revivalThe mod revival was a music genre and subculture that started in the United Kingdom in 1978 and later spread to other countries . The Mod revival's mainstream popularity was relatively short, although its influence has lasted for decades...
ists. The label stopped operating in 1986. 2 Tone Records signed
The SelecterThe Selecter were a 2 Tone ska revival band from Coventry, England, formed in mid 1979.Like many other bands in the ska revival movement, The Selecter featured a racially mixed line-up. Their lyrics featured themes connected to politics and marijuana, set to strong melodies and a danceable beat...
,
MadnessMadness are a British pop/ska band from Camden Town, London, that formed in 1976. In 2009, the band have continued to perform with their most recognised lineup of seven members, although their lineup has varied slightly over the years. They were one of the most prominent bands of the late-1970s 2...
and
The BeatThe Beat are a 2 Tone ska revival band founded in England in 1978. Their songs fuse ska, pop, soul, reggae, and punk rock, and their lyrics deal with themes of love, unity, and sociopolitical topics....
, but they all left within two years.
2 Tone Records was an
EnglishEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the North Sea to the east, with the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
record labelIn the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
that mostly released
skaSka is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
and
reggaeReggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s.While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady. Reggae is based...
-influenced music with a
punk rockPunk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed the perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
and
pop musicPop music is a music genre that developed from the mid-1950s as a softer alternative to rock 'n' roll and later to rock music. It has a focus on commercial recording, often orientated towards a youth market, usually through the medium of relatively short and simple love songs...
overtone.
History
Jerry DammersJerry Dammers is a founder and keyboard player of the Coventry, England based ska revival band The Specials, The Special A.K.A. and The Spatial AKA Orchestra....
of the ska revival band
The SpecialsThe Specials are an English 2 Tone ska revival band formed in 1977 in Coventry, England. Their music combined a "danceable ska and rocksteady beat with punk's energy and attitude", and had a "more focused and informed political and social stance" than other ska groups...
started the record label in
1979See also:Musical groups established in 1979Record labels established in 1979* 1979 in music -Events:*Stevie Wonder uses digital audio recording technology in recording his album Journey through the Secret Life of Plants....
. It spawned the
2 Tone2 Tone is a music genre created in England in the late 1970s by fusing elements of ska, punk rock, rocksteady, reggae and pop...
music and cultural movement, which was popular among
skinheadA skinhead is a member of a subculture that originated among working class youths in the United Kingdom in the 1960s, and then spread to other parts of the world. Named for their close-cropped or shaven heads, the first skinheads were greatly influenced by West Indian rude boys and British mods,...
s,
rudiesRude boy, rudeboy, rudie, rudi or rudy were common terms for juvenile delinquents and criminals in 1960s Jamaica, and have since been used in other contexts...
and some
mod revivalThe mod revival was a music genre and subculture that started in the United Kingdom in 1978 and later spread to other countries . The Mod revival's mainstream popularity was relatively short, although its influence has lasted for decades...
ists. The label stopped operating in 1986. 2 Tone Records signed
The SelecterThe Selecter were a 2 Tone ska revival band from Coventry, England, formed in mid 1979.Like many other bands in the ska revival movement, The Selecter featured a racially mixed line-up. Their lyrics featured themes connected to politics and marijuana, set to strong melodies and a danceable beat...
,
MadnessMadness are a British pop/ska band from Camden Town, London, that formed in 1976. In 2009, the band have continued to perform with their most recognised lineup of seven members, although their lineup has varied slightly over the years. They were one of the most prominent bands of the late-1970s 2...
and
The BeatThe Beat are a 2 Tone ska revival band founded in England in 1978. Their songs fuse ska, pop, soul, reggae, and punk rock, and their lyrics deal with themes of love, unity, and sociopolitical topics....
, 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 RecordsStiff Records is a record label created in London in 1976 by entrepreneurs Dave Robinson and Andrew Jakeman , and active until 1985. It was reactivated in 2007....
, and the latter to start their own label,
Go Feet RecordsGo Feet Records was an English record label founded, by and predominantly used to release recordings by, the ska revival band The Beat . The band had some chart success in the United Kingdom in the 1980s. The label also released a few recordigngs by other band...
.
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-songwriterA singer–songwriter is a musician who writes, composes and sings their own material including lyrics and melodies. They often provide the sole accompaniment to an entire composition or song, typically using a guitar or piano...
Elvis CostelloElvis Costello is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s, and later became associated with the punk rock and New Wave musical genres...
and the
funkFunk is an American music genre that originated in the late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, soul jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
-punk band
The HigsonsThe Higsons were an English funk-punk band popular in the United Kingdom in the 1980s.-History:Founded in 1980 at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, The Higsons' first recording was on the Norwich - A Fine City compilation album. The band signed to the 2 Tone Records label, along with bands...
. Two bands that almost made it onto the label were
UB40UB40 are a British reggae fusion band formed in 1978 in Birmingham, UK. The band has placed more than 50 singles on the UK charts, and has also achieved considerable international success...
and
Dexys Midnight RunnersDexys Midnight Runners are a British pop group with soul influences, who achieved their major success in the early to mid-1980s. They are best known for their songs "Come on Eileen" and "Geno".-Searching for the Young Soul Rebels:...
.
Jerry Dammers, with the assistance of
Horace PanterHorace Panter also known as Sir Horace Gentleman, is the bassist for the Coventry 2 Tone, ska revival band The Specials....
, 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 hatA pork pie hat or porkpie hat is a type of hat made of felt or, less commonly, straw. It is somewhat similar to a Trilby or a fedora, but with a flat top. The crown is short and has an indentation all the way around, instead of the pinch crown typically seen on Fedoras and homburgs. The pork pie...
, white socks and black
loafersSlip-ons, are low, lace-less shoes. The style most commonly seen, known as a loafer in American culture, has a moccasin construction. First appearing in the mid-1930s from Norway, they began as casual shoes, but have increased in popularity to point of being worn in America with city lounge suits,...
. The fictional character was based on a photograph of
Peter ToshPeter Tosh, born Winston Hubert McIntosh was a reggae musician who was a core member of The Wailers who then went on to have a successful solo career as well as being a trailblazer for the Rastafari movement....
, a former member of
The WailersThe Wailers were a ska, rocksteady, and reggae group formed in Kingston, Jamaica in 1963, consisting of Bob Marley, Junior Braithwaite, Beverley Kelso, Bunny Wailer, Peter Tosh, and Cherry Smith....
.
2 Tone Records artists
- The Apollinaires
- Bad Manners
Bad Manners are an English 2 Tone ska band. They quickly became the novelty favourites of the UK pop scene through their bald outsized frontman's on-stage antics, earning early exposure through their Top of The Pops exploits and an appearance in the live film documentary, Dance...
- The Beat
The Beat are a 2 Tone ska revival band founded in England in 1978. Their songs fuse ska, pop, soul, reggae, and punk rock, and their lyrics deal with themes of love, unity, and sociopolitical topics....
(aka The English Beat in the U.S.The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
)
- The Bodysnatchers
The Bodysnatchers were a seven-piece all-female band involved in the British ska revival of the early 1980s.-Career:Formed in London by Nicky Summers in 1979, they released two ska/rocksteady singles on the 2 Tone record label. The Bodysnatchers' first concert was at the Windsor Castle pub in...
- Elvis Costello & The Attractions (for one unreleased single (CHS TT7) only)
- The Friday Club
- The Higsons
The Higsons were an English funk-punk band popular in the United Kingdom in the 1980s.-History:Founded in 1980 at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, The Higsons' first recording was on the Norwich - A Fine City compilation album. The band signed to the 2 Tone Records label, along with bands...
- JB's Allstars
- Madness
Madness are a British pop/ska band from Camden Town, London, that formed in 1976. In 2009, the band have continued to perform with their most recognised lineup of seven members, although their lineup has varied slightly over the years. They were one of the most prominent bands of the late-1970s 2...
- Rhoda Dakar
Rhoda Dakar is a British singer and musician, best known as the lead singer of The Bodysnatchers, who were signed to the 2 Tone record label.-Career:...
- Rico Rodriguez
This article is about the musician. For the martial artist Ricco Rodriguez see Ricco Rodriguez. For the fictional character named Rico Rodriguez see the Just Cause video game...
- The Selecter
The Selecter were a 2 Tone ska revival band from Coventry, England, formed in mid 1979.Like many other bands in the ska revival movement, The Selecter featured a racially mixed line-up. Their lyrics featured themes connected to politics and marijuana, set to strong melodies and a danceable beat...
- The Special AKA
- The Specials
The Specials are an English 2 Tone ska revival band formed in 1977 in Coventry, England. Their music combined a "danceable ska and rocksteady beat with punk's energy and attitude", and had a "more focused and informed political and social stance" than other ska groups...
- The Swinging Cats
Albums
- The Specials - Specials
Specials is the debut album by British ska revival band The Specials.Released in 1979 on Jerry Dammers' 2Tone label, the album is seen by some as the defining moment in the UK ska scene...
- The Selecter
The Selecter were a 2 Tone ska revival band from Coventry, England, formed in mid 1979.Like many other bands in the ska revival movement, The Selecter featured a racially mixed line-up. Their lyrics featured themes connected to politics and marijuana, set to strong melodies and a danceable beat...
- Too Much PressureToo Much Pressure was the first album by British ska band The Selecter. It was released in 1980 on 2 Tone records. The album charted at # 5 in the UK.The title track "Too Much Pressure" was featured in the film The Abyss.-Side one:...
- The Specials - More Specials
More Specials is an October 1980 album from the ska band The Specials. The album was the band's second, after their self-titled debut, and expanded the group's 2 tone sound to include lounge music and other influences. It includes collaborations with The Go-Go's, Rhoda Dakar from The...
- Various artists - Dance Craze
- Rico Rodriguez
This article is about the musician. For the martial artist Ricco Rodriguez see Ricco Rodriguez. For the fictional character named Rico Rodriguez see the Just Cause video game...
- That Man Is Forward
- Rico Rodriguez - Jama Rico
- Various artists - This Are Two Tone
- The Special AKA - In the Studio
In the Studio is the third album from the ska band The Specials, released in 1984 - long after the break-up of the original Specials - and only just managed to get into the U.K...
- Various artists - The 2 Tone Story
Singles
- TT1 / TT2 The Special AKA - Gangsters / The Selecter - The Selecter 7" (Split single with The Selector)
- CHS TT3 Madness
Madness are a British pop/ska band from Camden Town, London, that formed in 1976. In 2009, the band have continued to perform with their most recognised lineup of seven members, although their lineup has varied slightly over the years. They were one of the most prominent bands of the late-1970s 2...
- The Prince"The Prince" is a song by British ska/pop band Madness. It was written by Lee Thompson, and was the band's first single. On August 10, 1979, the single was released through 2 Tone Records and peaked at number 16 in the UK singles chart, spending a total of 11 weeks in the charts."The Prince" is a...
/ Madness 7"
- CHS TT4 The Selecter
The Selecter were a 2 Tone ska revival band from Coventry, England, formed in mid 1979.Like many other bands in the ska revival movement, The Selecter featured a racially mixed line-up. Their lyrics featured themes connected to politics and marijuana, set to strong melodies and a danceable beat...
- On My Radio / Too Much Pressure 7"
- CHS TT5 The Specials
The Specials are an English 2 Tone ska revival band formed in 1977 in Coventry, England. Their music combined a "danceable ska and rocksteady beat with punk's energy and attitude", and had a "more focused and informed political and social stance" than other ska groups...
- A Message To You Rudy / Nite Klub 7" (Ft Rico)
- CHS TT6 The Beat
The Beat are a 2 Tone ska revival band founded in England in 1978. Their songs fuse ska, pop, soul, reggae, and punk rock, and their lyrics deal with themes of love, unity, and sociopolitical topics....
- Tears Of A Clown / Ranking Full Stop 7"
- CHS TT7 The Special AKA - Too Much Too Young, Guns Of Navarone / Longshot Kick The Bucket, Liquidator, Skinhead Moonstomp 7" (All tracks recorded live)
- CHS TT7 Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s, and later became associated with the punk rock and New Wave musical genres...
& The Attractions - I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down / Girl's Talk 7" (Unreleased - given away at gigs)
- CHS TT8 The Selecter - Three Minute Hero / James Bond 7"
- CHS TT9 The Bodysnatchers
The Bodysnatchers were a seven-piece all-female band involved in the British ska revival of the early 1980s.-Career:Formed in London by Nicky Summers in 1979, they released two ska/rocksteady singles on the 2 Tone record label. The Bodysnatchers' first concert was at the Windsor Castle pub in...
- Let's Do Rock Steady / Ruder Than You 7"
- CHS TT10 The Selecter - Missing Words / Carry Go Bring Come 7"
- CHS TT11 The Specials - Rat Race / Rude Bouys Outta Jail 7"
- CHS TT12 The Bodysnatchers - Easy Life / Too Experienced 7"
- CHS TT13 The Specials - Stereotype / International Jet Set 7"
- CHS TT14 The Swinging Cats - Mantovani / Away 7"
- CHS TT15 Rico Rodriguez
This article is about the musician. For the martial artist Ricco Rodriguez see Ricco Rodriguez. For the fictional character named Rico Rodriguez see the Just Cause video game...
- Sea Cruise / Carolina 7"
- CHS TT16 The Specials - Do Nothing / Maggie's Farm 7"
- CHS TT17 The Specials - "Ghost Town
"Ghost Town" is the title of a 1981 song by the British ska band, The Specials. The song is currently ranked as the 90th greatest song of all time, as well as the best song of 1981, by Acclaimed Music.- History :...
" / Why? / Friday Night, Saturday Morning 7"
- CHS TT12 17 The Specials - "Ghost Town
"Ghost Town" is the title of a 1981 song by the British ska band, The Specials. The song is currently ranked as the 90th greatest song of all time, as well as the best song of 1981, by Acclaimed Music.- History :...
" (Extended) / Why? (Extended) / Friday Night, Saturday Morning 12"
- CHS TT18 Rhoda & The Special AKA - The Boiler / Theme From The Boiler 7"
- CHS TT19 Rico Rodriguez & The Special AKA - Jungle Music / Rasta Call You 7"
- CHS TT12 19 Rico Rodriguez & The Special AKA - Jungle Music / Rasta Call You / Easter Island 12"
- CHS TT20 The Apollinaires - The Feeling's Gone / The Feeling's Back 7"
- CHS TT12 20 The Apollinaires - The Feeling's Gone (Dance Mix) / The Feeling's Back / The Bongo Medley (Extremely Long Version) 12"
- CHS TT21 The Higsons
The Higsons were an English funk-punk band popular in the United Kingdom in the 1980s.-History:Founded in 1980 at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, The Higsons' first recording was on the Norwich - A Fine City compilation album. The band signed to the 2 Tone Records label, along with bands...
- Tear The Whole Thing Down / Y Lang, Y Lang 7"
- CHS TTS1 The Apollinaires - Envy The Love / Give It Up / Tear The Whole Thing Down / Y Lang, Y Lang 12" (White label promo only, split with Higsons)
- CHS TT22 The Apollinaires - Envy The Love / Give It Up 7"
- CHS TT12 22 The Apollinaires - Envy The Love / Give It Up 12"
- CHS TT23 The Special AKA - War Crimes / Version 7"
- CHS TT10 23 The Special AKA - War Crimes / Version 10"
- CHS TT24 The Higsons - Run Me Down (Long Version) / Put The Punk Back Into Funk Pts 1 & 2 7"
- CHS TT12 24 The Higsons - Run Me Down / Put The Punk Back Into Funk Pts 1 & 2 12"
- CHS TT25 The Special AKA - Racist Friend / Bright Lights 7"
- CHS TT12 25 The Special AKA - Racist Friend / Bright Lights / Racist Friend (Instrumental) / Bright Lights (Instrumental) 12"
- CHS TT25 The Special AKA - Racist Friend / Bright Lights 7" (Picture Disc)
- CHS TT26 The Special AKA - Nelson Mandela / Break Down The Door! 7"
- CHS TT12 26 The Special AKA - Nelson Mandela / Break Down The Door! 12"
- CHS TT27 The Special AKA - What I Like Most About You Is Your Girlfriend / Can't Get A Break 7"
- CHS TT12 27 The Special AKA - What I Like Most About You Is Your Girlfriend (Extended Version) / Can't Get A Break 12" (Early copies have free poster)
- CHS TT 272 The Special AKA - What I Like Most About You Is Your Girlfriend / Can't Get A Break / War Crimes / Version 7" (Twin 7" pack with "War Crimes" single)
- CHS TP 27 The Special AKA - What I Like Most About You Is Your Girlfriend / Can't Get A Break 7" (Picture disc)
- CHS TT28 The Friday Club - Window Shopping / Window Shopping (Instrumental) 7"
- CHS TT12 28 The Friday Club - Window Shopping / Window Shopping (Instrumental) 12"
- CHS TT29 JB's Allstars - The Alphabet Army / Al. Arm 7"
- CHS TT12 29 JB's Allstars - The Alphabet Army / String Mix / Radio Version / Al. Arm 12"
- Tone FNMX1 The Special AKA - Free Nelson Mandela (70th Birthday Remake) / Free Nelson Mandela 12"
- TTP1 V/A - The 2 Tone Story promo EP 7" (4 track EP, Specials, Selector, Madness, promo for The 2 Tone Story LP)
- CHS TT30 The Specials - Ghost Town / Ghost Town Dub '91 7"
- CHS TT12 30 The Specials - Ghost Town / Why? / Ghost Town Dub '91 / Version 12"
- CHS TT31 Various artists - The 2 Tone EP 7" (Special AKA, Madness, Selecter, Beat)
External links