The Dead 60's - "The 21st Century Specials"

The first time I heard "You're Not The Law" by The Dead 60's, I thought I was listening to an outtake from The Specials first album. Though the group's name could be seen as a statement about wanting to blaze new ground from the music of the 60s, the band certainly wrote songs and adopted a sound on their first album that sought to keep the sound of 70's Coventry, Birmingham and London very much alive. In addition to making an impression with their sound, the band's look drove attention and they were asked to design a limited edition Harrington jacket for Fred Perry. For a good introduction to the band take a listen to a radio interview they did with UK station XFM in late 2004.

Much to my dismay, the band broke up towards the end of last year a few months after releasing their second album titled "Time To Take Sides" which some likened in sound to Madness having eaten The Stone Roses. Along with the Original Boys and all the bands on the Do The Dog label, The Dead 60's helped to re-start a resurgence of ska and ska-influenced music in the UK.

For a quick taste of the band here are the official videos for singles "You're Not The Law" and "Ghostfaced Killer"




Their self-titled début album was a bouncy, shouty mix of reggae beats, ska and dub, well timed for the mini ska revival that came with the summer of 2005. Proudly wearing the label bestowed by the NME as ‘the 21st century Specials’, the band spent two years touring the US and supported Kasabian, The Stereophonics, Morrissey and Garbage.


Here is a download of their first self-titled LP: The Dead 60's - The Dead 60's The dowload password is cerumen


When you’re done with the straight studio album you’ll want to try the hard to find "Space Invader Dub" version that was distributed free in a limited-edition release in the UK (and as an expensive import in the U.S.). Yes, the dub version, which is done in proper, late-’70s, flying faders, Mad Professor-style. I was always impressed that the band followed in the footsteps of their UK ska/reggae forefathers like The Clash and UB40 and released a dubbed out version of their songs. I give them a lot of credit that they had the confidence in their songs to strip them down to the bone and remix them.



Here is a download for the dub version of the LP that was produced and remixed by Central Nervous System: The Dead 60's - Space Invader Dub The download password is cerumen

The Specials Appear Live On Stage!!

Yes. Its' true. The Specials actually all appeared live on stage together for the first time since 1981. No it wasn't a show. It was their induction into the Mojo Magazine Hall of Fame. The awards ceremony was held in mid-June in London and as you can see from the picture above and the video below all of the members (minus Neville who was apparently stuck on a train) were on hand to accept the award. Jerry rambles for most of the speech, Lynval is straight and to the point and Terry (ever the Man United fan) taunts Chelsea fans still smarting from their Champion's League Final loss in Moscow with a cutting quip.

Here is the video:


Finally, as we are still on the reunion watch, here is the most recent video update from Lynval who recorded it right before heading to London for the Mojo award ceremony.



Finally, to honor The Specials, Mojo distributed a CD with the cover issue honoring them. Here is the CD cover and the track listing and the download:

Skinhead Moonstomp - Symarip

It Mek - Desmond Dekker & The Aces

Monkey Man - Toots & The Maytals

A Message To You Rudy - Dandy Livingstone & Rico

Concrete Jungle - Bob Marley & The Wailers

Gangsters - Neville Staple

Babylon’s Burning - The Ruts

I Spy (For The FBI) - The Untouchables

Hiawatha - The Belle Stars

Sea Cruise - Rico

Baby Come Back - The Equators

Skinhead - Laurel Aitken & The Loafers

Skin Lake - Judge Dread

Play My Record - Arthur Kay & The Originals

Dambusters March - JJ All Stars

Mojo-The Dawning Of A New Era

(You need to use the password matt-o-rach when downloading)

In the meantime, let's all continue to keep our collective fingers crossed...

Amy Winehouse - The Ska EP

Its no secret that Amy Winehouse has a thing for ska. She has covered The Specials live (most recently at the Glastonbury Festival last weekend where she urged them to re-form live from the stage) and has had members of the band join her on stage. Now her 2-Tone love is coming completely out of the closet. In a recent issue of Rolling Stone magazine she mentioned that her next album may include a good dose of ska.

Here she is performing "Messgae To You Rudi" and "You're Wondering Now" live from the Glastonbury Festival on June 29, 2008:

Now comes a limited edition, European fan club only 4-song 12" EP that includes her singing very faithful 2-Tone ska and reggae versions of The Specials' "Monkey Man", "Hey Little Rich Girl", "You're Wondering Now" and a ska/reggae take on Sam Cooke's "Cupid". You have to love the mock 2-Tone sleeve that they designed for the release as well. I think I see that on a t-shirt down the line somewhere.

Here is a download of the EP. Enjoy!

Amy Winehouse - The Ska EP

Steel Pulse: Reggae formed in the crucible of UK punk

I distinctly remember the first time I heard (or rather saw Steel Pulse). My college had a free movie night every Friday in the student center. This was before the advent of personal computers and long before VCR's were affordable enough for students to have their own in their dorm rooms. The Student Council was showing "Urgh A Music War." The movie was an amazing compilation of the best of British punk and new music and let me see bands that MTV would never show. There is a point in the film when Steel Pulse appear and kick right into "Ku Klux Klan" that crystalized my love of reggae. Its a theatrical performance punctuated by the appearance of one of the band members in a white Klan hood and gown that sent shivers down my spine. Coming out before The Specials released "Ghost Town," the song was meaningful to me and my friends as we attempted to make sense of the increasing racial polarization around us and Klan and Nazi Party marches that were in the news in places like Boston, North Carolina and Skokie, Illinois. As a budding musician, this song demonstrated the power of combining a political conscience with story telling that could entertain and educate. Its something I still believe and miss in most of current music today.

This is a clip of Steel Pulse playing "Ku Klux Klan" live at the Rainbow Theatre London, England September 18th, 1980 that was featured in "Urgh A Music War"



Steel Pulse originally formed at Handsworth Wood Boys School, in Birmingham, England and comprised of David Hinds (lead vocals, guitar), Basil Gabbidon (lead guitar, vocals) and Ronald McQueen (bass). Surprisingly, they were initially refused live dates in Caribbean venues in the UK because of their Rastafarian beliefs. Aligning themselves closely with the Rock Against Racism organization and featuring in its first music festival in the spring of 1978, they chose to tour with sympathetic elements of the punk movement, including the Stranglers, XTC and others. Hinds was quoted as saying, "Punks had a way of enjoying themselves - throw hordes at you, beer, spit at you, that kind of thing." In fact Jim Kerr of Simple Minds was just quoted in the Birmingham Mail a few days ago thanking Steel Pulse for giving them their first opening gig in Glasgow in early 1978.

Their first release for Island was the Ku Klux Klan 45, a considered tilt at the evils of racism, and one often accompanied by a visual parody of the sect on stage. By this time their ranks had swelled to include Selwyn 'Bumbo' Brown (keyboards), Steve 'Grizzly' Nisbett (drums), Alphonso Martin (vocals, percussion) and Mykaell Riley (vocals). Handsworth Revolution was an accomplished long playing debut and one of the major landmarks in the evolution of British reggae.

There is a great feature on Pete King who was Steel Pulse's first manager on Andy Brouwer's web site dedicated to all things Steel Pulse that offers a real insiders view of the early days of the band and its success in the UK and around the world.

Here is a download of their Handsworth Revolution album:

Steel Pulse - Handsworth Revolution

Punky Reggae Party - Punk and Reggae Influence Each Other

Though its obvious that 2-Tone took much of its inspiration from Jamaican music and culture, it was a two way street of respect and influence as Jamaican artists of the late 70's were inspired by Punk and Ska energy and its counterculture anti-establishment stance.

You don't need to look any further than Bob Marley and his reggae anthem "Punky Reggae Party" to see the link between UK ska and punk bands and JA reggae artists. The lyrics to the song name check leading UK punk bands and pick up Johnny Rotten's rant against corporate rock and roll.

"I'm goin to a party and i hope you are hearty
So please dont be naughty for its a punky reggae party
New wave, new phrase The Wailers will be there
The Damned, the Jam, the Clash, Maytals will be there Dr. Feelgood too
No boring old farts, no boring old farts, no boring old farts will be there!"

Here is a video for the song:



There is a fantastic story in The Guardian from last year that describes what happened when Punk and Reggae went head to head in the UK in 1977. The article by Dave Simpson includes this anecdote that sets the tone for the coming together of punk and reggae:

It's late autumn 1977, and the Stranglers are headlining a show in the Midlands. The support comes from the roots reggae band Steel Pulse. They know what to expect from a punk crowd: gobbing, cans being thrown. Steel Pulse are barely into their first number when a huge wad of phlegm shoots from the audience and lands on the hand of bassist Ron "Stepper" McQueen. The band's nickname for McQueen was "Psycho" and they fully expected him to live up to his name. "We all stared at Ronnie and we stopped playing," remembers Steel Pulse's singer, Mykaell Riley. "So there's this silence onstage, then eventually 4,000 punks went silent." McQueen didn't react, however. Instead, Stranglers bassist, Jean-Jacques Burnel, stepped out of the wings, waded into the crowd, identified the culprit, and knocked him out cold. Then he turned to face the crowd. "He just went, 'You fucking wankers. You love reggae,'" laughs Riley.

The inspiration and connection that punk and 2-Tone bands took from reggae can be heard on the Trojan Records CD compilation "Punky Reggae Party - New Wave Jamaica 1975-1980" which includes an introductory essay by Jean-Jacques Burnel of the Stranglers. The 2 disc CD charts the musical explosion of reggae and dub in the latter half of the seventies that served as inspirations for the punk and British ska bands forming around the same time. The comp features well-known pieces such as Dennis Brown's "Money In My Pocket" and Bob Marley's "Natural Mystic" (in an early Lee Perry-produced version) to cult favourites such as those by Junior Delgado, Prince Far I, Linval Thompson and Prince Jammy. Trinity's highly influential Three Piece Suit And Thing, using the rhythm from Alton Ellis' classic Still In Love With You, is followed by the big hit Uptown Top Ranking which utilizes the same rhythm, in its superior original Joe Gibbs production. Most if not all of the tracks were single A-sides, with half-a-dozen appearing in extended 12" mixes, such as The Congos magnificent Neckodemus, another Lee Perry production, in a different mix from that on their indispensable Heart Of The Congos album.

Here is the song tracking for this 2 CD album:

CD1
01. Lizzard - Milk And Honey
02. Lee "Scratch" Perry - White Belly Rat
03. John Holt - Up Park Camp
04. Gregory Isaacs - Mr. Cop
05. Bob Marley - Natural Mystic
06. The Heptones - Cool Rasta
07. Junior Delgado - Sons Of Slaves
08. Michael Rose - Key Of Keys
09. Glen Washington - Rockers (Nuh Crackers)
10. Prince Far I - (Under) Heavy Manners
11. The Silvertones - African Dub
12. Trinity - Three Piece Suit And Thing
13. Althea - Uptown Top Ranking
14. Gregory Isaacs - Hand Cuff (Hey Mr. Babylon)
15. Jimmy Riley - Tell The Youths In The Truth
16. The Mighty Diamonds - Danger In Your Eyes
17. Lee "Scratch" Perry - City Too Hot
18. Linval Thompson - I Love Marijuana
19. Gregory Isaacs' All Stars - Slum (In Dub)

CD2
01. Dennis Brown - Man Next Door
02. Jah Woosh - Marcus Say
03. Sugar Minott - The People Got To Know
04. Mikey Dread - Barber Saloon
05. Junior Murvin - Cross Over
06. Bim Sherman - Lightning And Thunder
07. Ken Boothe - You're No Good
08. The Morwells - Kingston 12 Tuffie
09. Michael Rose - Born Free
10. Trinity - Pope Paul Dead And Gone
11. Vin Gordon - Liquid Horns
12. The Viceroys - My Mission Is Impossible
13. Ashanti Waugh - Babylon Wrong
14. The Congos - Neckodeemus
15. Junior Delgado - The Raiders
16. Barrington Levy - Rob And Gone
17. Prince Jammy - Throne Of Blood
18. Barry Brown - Mr. C.I.D.
19. Dennis Brown - Money In My Pocket (12" Mix)

You can download the CD's here:

Punky Reggae Party: New Wave Jamaica 1975-1980 CD 1
Punky Reggae Party: New Wave Jamaica 1975-1980 CD 2

New Madness Album - The Liberty of Norton Folgate

If you hadn't heard the news, Madness are primed to release their first new studio album titled "The Liberty of Norton Folgate" in nearly 10 years. Rumor has it the album may be coming out any time between July and September. The band showcased much of the new album live at London's Hackney Empire late last week with shows 6/24, 6/25 and 6/26. Apparently you can buy USB Wristbands with the live sets from each night here.

So what's up with the name of the album you ask? A tribute to an area of London that became a byword for creativity and cultural diversity, you can walk across the Liberty of Norton Folgate in a few minutes. For centuries, Norton Folgate, just north of the City, was a Liberty - free from the rules that governed most of London. Here lived actors, musicians, artists, writers, thinkers, louts, low-lifes and libertines - outsiders and troublemakers all. Now, in danger of vanishing beneath corporate steel, glass and concrete, the area's last old Victorian power station, an important historic survival saved from dereliction is threatened with demolition. The Light stands in the way of a planned 50-story skyscraper, part of a 650,000sq ft development of offices and shops. A petition to save it has been signed by more than 5,000 people. Across the road, even more high-rise office buildings are planned. Another is just being completed.

An accidental discovery of documents in an archive earlier this year led to the realization that the old independence of Norton Folgate, which gave Madness the inspiration to celebrate it in song, might just survive. Campaigners fighting the spread of skyscrapers at Norton Folgate are now investigating its legal status and history, and hope soon to reconvene the Liberty's ancient government to repel the skyscraper threat. But the battle for Norton Folgate isn't only against one development plan; it is for the protection of the best of familiar old London - shabby perhaps, but soulful - and against the corporate blanding of Britain's cities and towns. Madness wrote the songs on their new album long before they found out about the anti-skyscraper battle there - and campaigners didn't know the band had named their new release after the area.

Now about the music. Here is a live video of the band's performance of the title track from the Hackney Empire show on 6/26/08



The Hackney shows featured jugglers, ukelele playing chimney sweeps, pearly Kings and Queens, and had a full orchestra. Split into 3 acts, Madness performed the major part of forthcoming album 'The Liberty Of Norton Folgate', topped off with a 40 minute classic singles set including 'Baggy Trousers', 'Embarrassment', 'My Girl' and 'House Of Fun'. The band performed new tracks 'Bingo', recent single 'NW5' and 'Sugar and Spice' during the second part of the show. Suggs described his duet on 'Out On The Town' with guest vocalist Rhoda Dakar of Bodysnatchers, Special AKA, as "A dysfunctional Sonny and Cher."Lastly Madness played the 10 minute title track, 'The Liberty Of Norton Folgate' a stunning opus, classic Rise And Fall era Madness.

Madness played:

Overture

We Are London

Idiot Child

Bingo

NW5

On The Town

Overture II

MKII

Sugar And Spice

Dust Devil

Clerkenwell Polka

Forever Young

------------

The Liberty Of Norton Folgate

------------

One Step Beyond

Embarrassment

The Prince

House Of Fun

Baggy Trousers

Madness

Our House

It Must Be Love

My Girl

Night Boat To Cairo

Here is the Overture and "We Are London"

Here is "Idiot Child"


Finally, here is "Clerkenwell Polka"


For the latest news on the release of the 'The Liberty of Norton Folgate' Box set and digital downloads visit the most recent post here.

UB40 vs Ali Campbell: A bitter war of words rages on

According to a number of media reports coming out of the UK including stories in today's NME and Mirror Newspaper, UB40 claim that 'Ali Campbell tried to shaft us.' If you have been following the ongoing saga, long-time singer Ali left the band earlier this year. He says it was because of poor management. They say he wanted to pursue a solo career.

Apparently Ali has recently announced his intention to continue touring the band's songs - much to the annoyance of the other members of UB40. Robin Campbell, Ali's brother and ex-bandmate, told the newspaper, "Ali is calling his tour 'The Best of UB40 - 1980-2008'. That disgusts me, the people who made the songs are here in this room." He went on to add, "It's like a divorce... we are currently fighting for custody of the songs." Drummer Jimmy Brown commented that the situation had become "just a bit Spinal Tap... Ali tried to shaft us". Ali Campbell has himself released a statement, claiming that UB40's actions "seem to be a very sad and desperate attempt to discredit me and manipulate the fans". In the meantime, Campbell's brother Duncan has taken on singing duties with the band.

Its all gone a bit pear shaped unfortunately, but I have the perfect remedy for fans of the UB's looking for a reminder of happier times. Here is a video of the BBC broadcast of UB40 from the "Sight And Sound In Concert" live at the Regal Theatre in Hitchin on January 18, 1983. This is the band right before they released "Labour Of Love" so the set is heavy on earlier material that they don't play much any more. Sit back, relax and enjoy the good old days....

Here is the set list:

1. Tyler

2. Present Arms

3. Love Is All Is Alright

4. Don't Do The Crime

5. Dubmobile

6. I've Got Mine

7. Folitician

8. One In Ten

9. Roots and Culture (with Mickey Dread)

Here is the download in three parts:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

(The password is: ylow.blogspot.com)