Songs 2-Tone Taught Us

1. THE CATS-"Swan Lake" UK BAF BAF1 1968/ US Bell 809 1969
This reggae flavored version of Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake" was introduced to many of us via Madness' cover of their debut LP "One Step Beyond". Based around a classical piano piece it's rocked up with a reggae back beat it was the debut single for The Cats, a six piece act from London and reached #48 in the U.K. charts.

https://youtu.be/9HPPwHZ6sRo

2. PRINCE BUSTER-"Madness" UK Blue Beat BB 170 1963
So many 2-Tone/'79 ska bands covered tunes from Prince Buster's 60's catalog so it was difficult to pick just a few. "Madness" spurned a band of the same name who also covered this track AND paid tribute to the great man himself ("The Prince"). "Madness" was Prince Buster's ninth single for the famous Blue Beat label and what a single. Backed by a slow ska/boogie shuffle beneath Buster's socio-political message it's topped off by a brilliant horn solo.

https://youtu.be/EZC6Ot1MLP0

Scan c/o 45cat.com

3. ANDY & JOEY-"You're Wondering Now" UK R&B JB 162 1964
Vocalists Reuben Anderson and Joanne Dennis aka Andy & Joey cut a handful of less than impressive singles for four different British labels in the mid Sixties. "You're Wondering Now" was their second U.K. single issued on the famous ska label R&B (named so for it's owners Rita and Benny). Most of us learned it from the cover version on the Specials untitled debut LP. The original is a mid tempo ska shuffle duet with a harmonica solo!

https://youtu.be/KwBCu4-6UuA

4. THE FOUR GEES-"Rough Rider" UK President PT 160 1967
Often mistakenly attributed to Prince Buster (who took it upon himself to give himself songwriting credits for it) "Rough Rider" was actually composed by The Equal's Eddie Grant, Derv Gordon and Lincoln Gordon who released the first version of it as The Four Gees. The Beat later covered it, no doubt via Prince Buster's version as it is his name in the songwriting credits of their version. The original is far more poppy and less rocksteady but still swings in no small part thanks to Derv Gordon's vocals.

https://youtu.be/zVhMfioDIp8

5. DANDY-"Rudy A Message To You" UK Ska Beat JB 273 1967
Vocalist Dandy Livingstone cut a slew of 45's in the U.K. for Dice, Blue Beat, Giant, Carnival but it would be on Ska Beat that he would release this legendary stormer (re-titled by The Specials "A Message To You Rudy" on their debut LP). Released in 1967 during the brief craze of songs about "rude boys" (street wise, disaffected young Jamaican youth) "Rudy A Message to You" does not glorify the rude boy culture but is rather a cautionary tale about the pitfalls of wayward ways. It's melody and lyrics/vocals are nothing short of iconic. Incidentally the masterful trombone solo is from Rico Rodriguez, who also contributed his wares on the Specials version as well.

https://youtu.be/7BwNgQ51hSI

6. EDDIE LOVETTE-"Too Experienced" UK London HLJ 10311 1970/US Steady S 124 1969
The Bodysnatcher's covered this one. It was originally cut first in 1968 on Studio One (SO 2063) in the U.K. by Bob Andy as "Experience" and covered the following year by Eddie Lovette (curiously issued in the US in '69 and the U.K. in '70). To my ears it's the Eddie Lovette version with it's more bouncy upbeat feel that sounds closer to The Bodysnatchers cover. Any thoughts, anyone?

https://youtu.be/yabwMC7b1-s

7. THE PIONEERS-"Jackpot" UK Amalgamated AMG 821 1968
The Beat covered this 1968 track on their debut LP "I Just Can't Stop It". Originally cut by the rocksteady trio The Pioneers, "Jackpot" starts out with a trumpet blaring "Reveille" and the catchy chorus of "hip hip hooray". It's brilliant rocksteady rhythm is 100% infectious.

https://youtu.be/EL3_vr46qoc

8. THE CHARMS-"Carry, Go, Bring, Come" UK Island WI-164 1964
The Charms (in actuality Justin Hinds/Hines) was covered by The Selecter on their debut LP "Too Much Pressure". The original is an amazing horn driven ska shuffle that epitomizes 60's ska at it's best with call and response vocals and a lovely chugging beat accented by some brilliant brass playing.

https://youtu.be/tq2X5tjQiBw

9. DANDY-"Let's Do Rocksteady" UK Giant GN 7 1967
Dandy cut this number that was covered by The Bodysnatchers as the flip of his "We Are Still Rude" single on the Giant label shortly after his opus "Rudy A Message To You" single. The Bodysnatchers version is bouncy and carefree while Dandy's original is a perfect encapsulation of the birth of rocksteady while still retaining elements of the now passe ska.

 https://youtu.be/_Z61pUvFE0A

10. THE MAYTALS-"Monkey Man" UK Trojan TR 7711 1970
Among the many gems on The Specials debut LP was this 1970 Trojan reggae classic by The Maytals. Utilizing the band's famous vocal harmony techniques and it's catchy chorus backed by a bouncy skanking beat, "Monkey Man" is nothing short of brilliant.

https://youtu.be/94fG4A_jQuM

10 Skinhead Cash-In's

"Skinheads", no terms has ever struck fear and bewilderment into the hearts and minds of the public in Britain in the late 60's and early 70's.  Yet in 1969 skinheads were a viable commercial market commodity in the U.K., so much so that records were being cut in the U.K. and Jamaica to capitalize on the craze.  Some are viewed with derision by purists as being "exploitative" in nature (witness the horror, and understandably so, of Jonathan King's cash in "Johnny Reggae" by The Piglets see below). Anyway here are ten tracks issued during the skinhead craze in the U.K. in 1969-1971. Interestingly despite the view among some hardcore purists about these records most of them are extremely collectible and thus ultra expensive.

1. SYMARIP-"Skinhead Moonstomp" Treasure Isle TI 7050 1969
Symarip (who had previously recorded for Columbia Blue Beat as The Bees AND The Pyramids on President, among other monikers) took Derrick Morgan's "Moon Hop" and nicked the vocal intro from Sam & Dave's "I Thank You" to create the greatest skinhead cash-in of all time characterized by it's infectious/raucous "yay yay yay yah yah yeah yeah" chorus on top of a funky rocksteady groove while lead singer Roy Ellis ad libs. One of the first and best of the genre.

https://youtu.be/xHDBn7TL4JM

2. DESMOND RILEY-"Skinhead A Message To You" Downtown DT 450 1969
Starting with a pun on Prince Buster's "don't call me scarface" line from "Al Capone" ("don't call me skinhead, my name is John, John the Baptist"), ""Skinhead A Message To You" is a public service announcement aimed at decreasing aggro  ("wear your boots but don't kick nobody") above a fairly simple repetitive rocksteady riff that's reliant entirely on the cheeky delivery of the vocalist and a title paying tribute to Dandy's (Livingstone) legendary "Rudy A Message To You" from two years prior (Ska Beat JB 273) .

https://youtu.be/co6zLdH7Mgc

Scan c/o 45cat.com

3. JOE THE BOSS-"Skinhead Revolt" Joe JRS 9 1970
"Skinhead Revolt" is a funky little rocksteady instrumental (not unlike the Mohawks) with a groovy trombone bit (Rico?) and organ behind a reggae groove occasionally punctuated by shouts of "skinhead revolt" from someone in the band. Released on the flip of "Tony B's Theme" on the short lived Joe label. I know f*ck all about this record! Another mega rare one!

https://youtu.be/v9fvzU3wgns

4. PETER WYNGARDE-"The Hippie And the Skinhead" LP track "Peter Wyngarde" RCA SF 8087 1970
From actor Peter Wyngarde's bizarre and rare 1971 RCA album this track begins with Peter reading a letter to a newspaper from two skinheads girls clarifying their appearance and philosophy. It then degenerates into an odd ball country musical backing track with Wyngarde going on in full on camp thespian style about a skinhead who going "queer bashing" who meets a gay gentleman outside public gents whom he starts beating up to discover is actually a woman disguised as a man and they fall in love...WTF?!  It of course takes on an even more strange route when Wyngarde was arrested (decades before George Michael) in 1975 for "gross indecency" and "opportuning" in the public gents.

https://youtu.be/xoBVuxuBdIQ

New York Times July 19, 1969

5. THE HOT ROD ALL STARS-"Skinhead Speaks His Mind" U.K. HR 104 1970
Another funky rocksteady/rude boy reggae instrumental with shouts punctuating it with a echo ladden vocal effect like that used on the famous "Double Barrel" by Dave & Ansil Collins (Techniques TE 901 August 1970) with the "vocalist" (I use that term loosely) occasionally crooning "skinhead" to the tune of "Amen". Another high dollar value 45.

https://youtu.be/C_lOaaAenwY

Image c/o 45cat.com

6. THE CHARMERS-"Skinhead Train" Explosion EX 2045 1971
Starting out with a Syramip style intro "okay skinheads, get up and get set, grab you bag you kit and get fit" above a funky little groove with some sharp horns and hysterical ad-libs by the vocalist ("they say ride on, we're riding on to see Momma Popcorn.." and "this is the skinhead train. If you ain't a skinhead then get off somewhere and have a cough. You got to be a skinhead or else man it's like you're dead" this track is not without it's charm thanks to it's infectious groove which makes its completely danceable.

https://youtu.be/tWvSe4mrnQg

7. CLAUDETTE-"Skinheads A Bash Them" Grape GR-3020 1970
Heads up to my pal John Burns who hipped me to the fact that this number uses the extremely racist term "Paki" multiple times ("skinheads say Paki them can't reggae...") in this otherwise groovy (in a purely musical sense) little number that confuses me now that I listened to the lyrics more closely. I've known this song for the past twenty years and until Mr. Burns schooled me on the lyrics. Is it a call to cease and desist racist bashing or...? You take or opinions, please.  The musical backing is basically the same groove laid down by Laurel Aitken on his "Pussy Price" from the same year (Nu Beat NB 046). Which came first? So many questions....

https://youtu.be/vJEBwBk01Ds

8. THE PIGLETS-"Johnny Reggae" Bell BLL 1180 1971
There is no better (or possibly worse depending on which way you look at it) example of skinhead exploitation than Jonathan King's "Johnny Reggae". With it's annoying tarty harpie "vocals" (King said it was session vocalist Barbara Kay) going on about Johnny Reggae above an awful cod reggae backing that's more Mud or Edison Lighthouse than The Hot Rod Allstars or The Maytals it's a classic example of exploitation at it's most contrived.  It rose to # in the U.K. in October 1971 no doubt sending shivers up the spines of every crop top in Britain.

https://youtu.be/nLaa77cP8-U

9. THE HOT ROD ALLSTARS-"Skinheads Don't Fear" Torpedo TOR 5 1970
Another mega rare/in demand one, this jaunty early 70's rocksteady instrumental on the Torpedo label (home to all five of this band's singles, all of which will set you back an easy $100+ a piece if you can find them) is fairly pedestrian if it wasn't for some slightly off key Farfisa organ adding a bit of sweetener to the otherwise nondescript groove. The band (presumably an collection of studio musicians) also cut the curiously named "Skinhead Moondust" on the flip of their "Moonhop In London" 45 ( Torpedo TOR 10).

https://youtu.be/KjK24S58eB8

10. THE MOHAWKS-"Skin Head Shuffle" Pama PM 798 1970
As we have mentioned before elsewhere here I'm sure, The Mohawks were long touted by uninformed skinheads everywhere for ages as either a A.) band of skinheads or B.) a Jamaican band.  Now we all know they were a British music library session band grouped around K.P.M. main organist Alan Hawkshaw and that most of their skinhead associations came because their singles were released on the primarily reggae label Pama. They were mostly funky Hammond led soul instrumentals with infrequent forays into reggae, at first anyway.  Eventually they cut a few sides with a reggae-fied beat like this rare offering from 1970.

https://youtu.be/4Y6cUOx1G9g

ADDENDUM:
Reader John South reached out to us and wrote:
"Just thought I'd point out that the group backing most of the Reggae singles you listed are a UK band named 'The Cimarons', 4 out of the 10 records listed are them, they are actually the 'Hot Rod All Stars' and to a lesser degree 'Joe's All Stars'(the Rudies also did some for the Joe label). The Cimarons backed Laurel Aitken on all his Pama Nu-beat sides."