Dick Cuthell
Encyclopedia
Dick Cuthell is a British
musician and record producer. He plays flugelhorn
, cornet
, and trumpet
, amongst a range of other brass instruments, including tenor horn and valve trombone. Cuthell is best known for his work with The Specials
and Rico Rodriguez
. He also collaborated with bands such as Madness
, Eurythmics
, Fun Boy Three
, XTC
, and The Pogues
. In addition to a range of horns, Cuthell also plays bass, keyboards and percussion and is a composer and arranger.
in the 1970s as an engineer and later in-house producer. His work at Island Studios in both Jamaica
and London brought him into contact with reggae and ska musicians, and these became a constant theme in the music he played and produced. He acted as assistant engineer on Bob Marley
's Exodus
album, on which he also played horns, and also met Rico Rodriguez
, with whom he would later work in The Specials. He was also one of several engineers that worked on the dub
album of Burning Spear
's Marcus Garvey
album, Garvey's Ghost
.
on their debut album, and staying with the band into their later incarnation as the Special A.K.A., playing on the hit single "Free Nelson Mandela
", and the album In the Studio
. He co-wrote two of the band's songs, "Bright Lights" and "Racist Friend", released together as a single in 1983, reaching #60 in the UK.
When the Specials split up, Cuthell went on to record with the spin-off group Fun Boy Three
.
' 1983 #1 album Touch, and also toured as part of the band. He played horns on The Pogues
' 1985 album Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash
.
His productions include the Boothill Foot Tappers
1985 album Ain't That Far from Boothill.
He also recorded with Madness, and Linton Kwesi Johnson.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
musician and record producer. He plays flugelhorn
Flugelhorn
The flugelhorn is a brass instrument resembling a trumpet but with a wider, conical bore. Some consider it to be a member of the saxhorn family developed by Adolphe Sax ; however, other historians assert that it derives from the valve bugle designed by Michael Saurle , Munich 1832 , thus...
, cornet
Cornet
The cornet is a brass instrument very similar to the trumpet, distinguished by its conical bore, compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B. It is not related to the renaissance and early baroque cornett or cornetto.-History:The cornet was...
, and trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
, amongst a range of other brass instruments, including tenor horn and valve trombone. Cuthell is best known for his work with The Specials
The Specials
The Specials are an English 2 Tone ska revival band formed in 1977 in Coventry, England. Their music combines 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...
and Rico Rodriguez
Rico Rodriguez
Rico Rodriguez MBE , also known as Reco or El Reco, is a ska and reggae trombonist. He has recorded with many producers, including Karl Pitterson, Prince Buster, and Lloyd 'Matador' Daley...
. He also collaborated with bands such as Madness
Madness (band)
In 1979, the band recorded the Lee Thompson composition "The Prince". The song, like the band's name, paid homage to their idol, Prince Buster. The song was released through 2 Tone Records, the label of The Specials founder Jerry Dammers. The song was a surprise hit, peaking in the UK music charts...
, Eurythmics
Eurythmics
Eurythmics were a British pop rock duo, formed in 1980, currently disbanded, but known to reunite from time to time. Consisting of members Annie Lennox and David A...
, Fun Boy Three
Fun Boy Three
Fun Boy Three were a short-lived but successful English New Wave Pop band which ran from 1981 to 1983 and was formed by singers Terry Hall, Neville Staple and Lynval Golding after they left The Specials.-History:...
, XTC
XTC
XTC were a New Wave band from Swindon, England, active between 1976 and 2005. The band enjoyed some chart success, including the UK and Canadian hits "Making Plans for Nigel" and "Senses Working Overtime" , but are perhaps even better known for their long-standing critical success.- Early years:...
, and The Pogues
The Pogues
The Pogues are a Celtic punk band, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before...
. In addition to a range of horns, Cuthell also plays bass, keyboards and percussion and is a composer and arranger.
Island Records
After playing in several bands including the Washington Soul Band in the 1960s, Cuthell worked for Island RecordsIsland Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
in the 1970s as an engineer and later in-house producer. His work at Island Studios in both Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
and London brought him into contact with reggae and ska musicians, and these became a constant theme in the music he played and produced. He acted as assistant engineer on Bob Marley
Bob Marley
Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley, OM was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the ska, rocksteady and reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers...
's Exodus
Exodus (album)
Exodus is the ninth studio album by Jamaican reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers, released on June 3, 1977 on Island. Much of Exodus was recorded in London, while Marley recuperated from an assassination attempt. The success of the album propelled Marley to international stardom...
album, on which he also played horns, and also met Rico Rodriguez
Rico Rodriguez
Rico Rodriguez MBE , also known as Reco or El Reco, is a ska and reggae trombonist. He has recorded with many producers, including Karl Pitterson, Prince Buster, and Lloyd 'Matador' Daley...
, with whom he would later work in The Specials. He was also one of several engineers that worked on the dub
Dub music
Dub is a genre of music which grew out of reggae music in the 1960s, and is commonly considered a subgenre, though it has developed to extend beyond the scope of reggae...
album of Burning Spear
Burning Spear
Winston Rodney, OD , also known as Burning Spear, is a Jamaican roots reggae singer and musician. Burning Spear is known for his Rastafari movement messages.-History:...
's Marcus Garvey
Marcus Garvey (album)
Marcus Garvey is the third album by the reggae singer Burning Spear, released in 1975 on Island Records, ILPS 9377. The album is named after the Jamaican National Hero Marcus Garvey...
album, Garvey's Ghost
Garvey's Ghost
Garvey's Ghost is the fourth album by the reggae singer Burning Spear, released in 1976 on Island Records, ILPS 9382. Each track is a dub version of its correspondent song on the group's third album, Marcus Garvey.-Content:...
.
The Specials
Cuthell became, along with Rico Rodriguez, the horn section for The Specials, playing cornetCornet
The cornet is a brass instrument very similar to the trumpet, distinguished by its conical bore, compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B. It is not related to the renaissance and early baroque cornett or cornetto.-History:The cornet was...
on their debut album, and staying with the band into their later incarnation as the Special A.K.A., playing on the hit single "Free Nelson Mandela
Free Nelson Mandela
"Nelson Mandela" is a song written by Jerry Dammers and performed by his Coventry-based band The Special A.K.A. - with lead vocal by Stan Campbell - released on the single Nelson Mandela / Break Down The Door in 1984 as a protest against the imprisonment of Nelson Mandela...
", and the album In the Studio
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 UK Top 35....
. He co-wrote two of the band's songs, "Bright Lights" and "Racist Friend", released together as a single in 1983, reaching #60 in the UK.
When the Specials split up, Cuthell went on to record with the spin-off group Fun Boy Three
Fun Boy Three
Fun Boy Three were a short-lived but successful English New Wave Pop band which ran from 1981 to 1983 and was formed by singers Terry Hall, Neville Staple and Lynval Golding after they left The Specials.-History:...
.
Later production and session work
Throughout the 1980s, Cuthell continued both production and session work. He contributed trumpet, flugelhorn and cornet to the EurythmicsEurythmics
Eurythmics were a British pop rock duo, formed in 1980, currently disbanded, but known to reunite from time to time. Consisting of members Annie Lennox and David A...
' 1983 #1 album Touch, and also toured as part of the band. He played horns on The Pogues
The Pogues
The Pogues are a Celtic punk band, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before...
' 1985 album Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash
Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash
Rum Sodomy & the Lash is the second studio album by the London-based folk punk band The Pogues, released in 1985.The title is taken from a quotation, often attributed to Winston Churchill: "Don't talk to me about naval tradition...
.
His productions include the Boothill Foot Tappers
Boothill Foot Tappers
The Boothill Foot Tappers were a British folk/skiffle/bluegrass band, that was formed in the early 1980s and associated with the folk music revival in the UK...
1985 album Ain't That Far from Boothill.
He also recorded with Madness, and Linton Kwesi Johnson.