Enjoy yourself!

[left hand corner]

Last night on Channel 4 was a Two Tone documentary. Did anyone else catch this programme?

It featured some great scenes of The Specials on tour and some nice 'now and then' interviews. Shame it didn't include more input from Jerry and Terry.

Also got me thinking. Here I am with rare funk pressed in low numbers by some obscure band that only cut one or two JB inspired singles  but I don't have a copy of 'Ghost Town'  

[sermad]

Yeah I watched it. Thought it was decent if a bit random in places.

The specials obviously got some love and some $$$ recently because I heard blank expression about 5million times on a car ad recently.

Ad music has been getting pretty random of late...heard pictures of matchstick men the other night! bizarrro!

[LDJB]

'More Specials' is one of the best LPs - ever!

Went to a couple of the Two Tone tours - Jerry Dammers jumping off his Organ in a Tartan Suit............ahhhh..........great days.

[djr]

Quote[/b] (left hand corner @ Nov. 30 2004,11:27)]Also got me thinking. Here I am with rare funk pressed in low numbers by some obscure band that only cut one or two JB inspired singles  but I don't have a copy of 'Ghost Town'  

Ghost Town - great tune. One of the best tracks from the 2Tone era. I might have to pull that one out now that I have the song in my head......

[Mumbles]

Yeah, a good little doc. 25 years ago since they began - oof!
What's up with Jerry Dammers? I don't think I've ever seen an interview with him. Mind you judging by the clips they showed last night we haven't missed many insights.

It was a bit worrying what Rankin' Roger said about the need for reforming the Beat though. Maybe RAR should make a comeback.  

[Sie Vulture]

... as you all probably know, these are the first records I ever bought... "Ghost Town" still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up when the open organ chords start up... !

Yeah, I saw the documentary too ( I'm glad someone else spotted the use of "blank expression" on an advert recently! talk about a 'jump off the sofa' moment!   ) and I agree with Serms - it was rather random in parts.

The Rankin' Roger bit about "needing to reform The Beat" was a little worrying in terms of the rasicm aspect, but I also recall watching a "reform the band" program on VH-1 recently whilst in the US (I can't remember the title of the show - "one night stand" or something like that perhaps...) where after watching A Flock of Seagulls reform to perform a one-off gig (&#33 they announced "next week we attempt to reform The English Beat!" - so perhaps there was also an element of $$$ involved tooo eh Roger !    

There was one single I expected to be mentioned on the documentary as it was banned from radio - "The Boiler" by Rhoda Dakar and the Special AKA.. I thought that might get a mention, even in just a sensational 'it got banned' way...

but, still a good hours late night telly !    I always crack a smile when ever I see Jerry Dammers smile, that toothless, 70's footballer style grin of his !

Wasn't JD doing some DJ'ing slots at this years festivals? I'm sure someone told me he was playing loads of tip-top old JA Ska records in a tent....  

[ladyboygrimsby]

Did you see my collection of 2-Tone 7-inches? They filmed them for this doc.... (I managed to miss it.)

To be honest, they had some bad luck with it, because originally they all agreed to be interviewed for it and then the idea of the band reforming was mooted and they all withdraw because they were paranoid about upsetting Jerry (so I heard).

[Rich Hero]

I enjoyed the doc, although I felt that Mark Lamarr's narration was a bit glib, especially in dealing with the origins of the skins, but they also made some nice connections that I'd never really thought about.

I believe Jerry Dammers DJ's a fair bit these days - Manzo and I caught him at the Bongo Rooms a few years back and he plays at Blow Up! occasionally. And Terry Hall sat next to me on the night bus a while back. He didn't recognise me though.  

[Blighty]

Quote[/b] (left hand corner @ Nov. 30 2004,11:27)]Also got me thinking. Here I am with rare funk pressed in low numbers by some obscure band that only cut one or two JB inspired singles  but I don't have a copy of 'Ghost Town'  

Funnily enough I think I have every Specials single there is bar 'Ghost Town'. No idea why. One of the best UK number one records ever. Hopefully this documentary will turn up on a BitTorrent site somewhere. Anyone know any torrent sites that specialise in UK TV?

*wanders off to google*

[LDJB]

Quote[/b] ]Funnily enough I think I have every Specials single there is bar 'Ghost Town'.

The 12" is worth tracking down for the extra spooky extended intro. Also really like the B sides to 'Ghost Town' especially 'Friday Night, Saturday Morning' as it perfectly sums up that desperate, bleak 'going out' ritual that you seem to drift into and in particular going out on Friday nights in the mid 80's in Derby

I've been humming 'The Selecter' (b side of 'Gangsters) since reading this thread - one of the greatest Bs known to man.

[Sie Vulture]

Quote[/b] (LDJB @ Nov. 30 2004,13:02)]I've been humming 'The Selecter' (b side of 'Gangsters) since reading this thread - one of the greatest Bs known to man.

... or perhaps "James Bond", by The Selecter, on the flip of "3 Minute Hero" (I think..) .. I really dig that tune !

[son of stan]

Quote[/b] (Rich Hero @ Nov. 30 2004,12:07)]I believe Jerry Dammers DJ's a fair bit these days - Manzo and I caught him at the Bongo Rooms a few years back and he plays at Blow Up! occasionally. p

Think he has been for many years now. I seem to remember him doing a bit with the late Paul Guntrip back in the 80s.

I used to live over the road from Mr Dammers in Brixton. Never had the opportunity to get talking though.

[sermad]

Blighty - www.uknova.com

[Blighty]

Huzzah!! Cheers sermad.

[Blighty]

It's not there yet but that John Peel documentary is. I finally get to see it. Double huzzah!!