RIP Terry Hall

[Equaliser]

Hello,

Okay, it's a cover but this is my go-to version of Pressure Drop. I have played this often in class before I start lecture. Is Terry on it?

No he is not. This is from a half-hearted reunion album with Lynval, Neville and I think Roddy. The conventional wisdom is that this album (Today's Specials) really sucks.

Yeah the album is not very good but I've always liked this version of Pressure Drop, too. The highlight of the album for sure.

It's kind of their Cut The Crap album! It is one of the 'better' tracks.

[WestwayKid]

I really got into 2 Tone about 3-4 years ago and the dearly missed Wally took the time to get me up to speed with recommendations and questions answered. It's hard to not think of him when hearing the news of Terry Hall's passing.

[Dr. Medulla]

I really got into 2 Tone about 3-4 years ago and the dearly missed Wally took the time to get me up to speed with recommendations and questions answered. It's hard to not think of him when hearing the news of Terry Hall's passing.

Yeah, I immediately thought of Wally and that 2T collection he was seeking to complete.

[WestwayKid]

When my kids were younger, they watched a lot of the Wiggles, and this was always one of their favorites. It led, of course, to me playing the Specials for them and while they did not become fans (yet), I'm glad it's something they've been exposed to.

Lol, nice! I will have to show this to my son. He has just started watching the Wiggles and Monkey Man was actually the first song he ever sang when he was like 11 months old. The aye aye aye part anyway.

The Wiggles were one of the few kids shows I didn't mind watching. They came across as 4 dudes who really loved music, which resulted in some cool, catchy songs.

[laxman]

I really got into 2 Tone about 3-4 years ago and the dearly missed Wally took the time to get me up to speed with recommendations and questions answered. It's hard to not think of him when hearing the news of Terry Hall's passing.

Yeah, I immediately thought of Wally and that 2T collection he was seeking to complete.

Same here, Marky and I were talking about 101W earlier today.

[Dr. Medulla]

I really got into 2 Tone about 3-4 years ago and the dearly missed Wally took the time to get me up to speed with recommendations and questions answered. It's hard to not think of him when hearing the news of Terry Hall's passing.

Yeah, I immediately thought of Wally and that 2T collection he was seeking to complete.

Same here, Marky and I were talking about 101W earlier today.

It's kinda funny now that any mention of those core 2T bands immediately makes me think of that Limey Kiwi. Wally may as well have been a member of the Special, Madness, or The Beat!

[Heston]

Pancreatic cancer according to Horace Panter on FB. So sad. Rest easy Terry.

[Dr. Medulla]

Pancreatic cancer according to Horace Panter on FB. So sad. Rest easy Terry.

In a way, I'm relieved (but, you know, not really). I knew he had psychological problems and had attempted suicide in the past, so that was my initial fear.

[BR16ADE_R055E]

RIP Terry.







“You’re Wondering Now” ...

[Chairman Ralph]

Great clips -- great quality! And, of course, you can't beat those songs, though I think they were still finding ways to stay relevant. I loved their reworking of Prince Buster's Ten Commandments -- that was truly an inspired stroke! So was their last album, Protest Songs: 1924-2012.

Here are some of my recollections, for whoever wants to read them:
https://ramennoodlenation.blogspot.com/ ... cials.html

Suffice to say, the universe we call rock 'n' roll would have been a lot grayer without 2-Tone, and the sounds that followed in its wake.

On a different note, what do folks here think of More Specials? I pulled it out in preparation for my essay above, and I still feel now what I did back then -- once you get past the songs that nod to their signature original groove (Do Nothing, Enjoy Yourself, Man At C&A), it's tough going, for me, anyway.

I can't get behind the musical mission statement that Jerry Dammers was pushing at the time (his stated ambition to fuse Muzak, lounge, and who knows what else), but I'm curious to hear what others think about that.

[Heston]

Great clips -- great quality! And, of course, you can't beat those songs, though I think they were still finding ways to stay relevant. I loved their reworking of Prince Buster's Ten Commandments -- that was truly an inspired stroke! So was their last album, Protest Songs: 1924-2012.

Here are some of my recollections, for whoever wants to read them:
https://ramennoodlenation.blogspot.com/ ... cials.html

Suffice to say, the universe we call rock 'n' roll would have been a lot grayer without 2-Tone, and the sounds that followed in its wake.

On a different note, what do folks here think of More Specials? I pulled it out in preparation for my essay above, and I still feel now what I did back then -- once you get past the songs that nod to their signature original groove (Do Nothing, Enjoy Yourself, Man At C&A), it's tough going, for me, anyway.

I can't get behind the musical mission statement that Jerry Dammers was pushing at the time (his stated ambition to fuse Muzak, lounge, and who knows what else), but I'm curious to hear what others think about that.

I liked Hey, Little Rich Girl and Sock It To 'Em JB but I can see where you're coming from. I just think they probably needed a new angle so they didn't seem like they were treading water.

[white man]

RIP Terry.







“You’re Wondering Now” ...

Is that Steve Craddock on guitar?

[msza2]

Great clips -- great quality! And, of course, you can't beat those songs, though I think they were still finding ways to stay relevant. I loved their reworking of Prince Buster's Ten Commandments -- that was truly an inspired stroke! So was their last album, Protest Songs: 1924-2012.

Here are some of my recollections, for whoever wants to read them:
https://ramennoodlenation.blogspot.com/ ... cials.html

Suffice to say, the universe we call rock 'n' roll would have been a lot grayer without 2-Tone, and the sounds that followed in its wake.

On a different note, what do folks here think of More Specials? I pulled it out in preparation for my essay above, and I still feel now what I did back then -- once you get past the songs that nod to their signature original groove (Do Nothing, Enjoy Yourself, Man At C&A), it's tough going, for me, anyway.

I can't get behind the musical mission statement that Jerry Dammers was pushing at the time (his stated ambition to fuse Muzak, lounge, and who knows what else), but I'm curious to hear what others think about that.

I really like what they were going for on More Specials. I think the album suffers a bit from its sequencing, though, with "classic sound" on the A side and the experimental sound on the B side. I would have preferred the material to be more integrated.

There's obvious connective tissue between London Calling and The Specials' debut with the ska revival/reggae thing of 1979, but something less noted (afaik) is the Latin music element that similarly connects Sandinista and More Specials.

You could make a mix of the Latin-tinged/easy listening S! material (Washington Bullets, If Music Could Talk, Corner Soul, Let's Go Crazy, Street Parade) and More Specials material (all of the second side, basically) that would fit together like a glove.

I haven't explored all of the major Ska Revival bands' second albums, but I have a hunch that some of that Latin-fever would be found on those as well. I think it'd be an interesting subject to do a deep dive on.

[Silent Majority]

While you can never beat the debut for energy and immediacy, I find More Specials increasingly intriguing over the years with a lot of depth. Stereotypes in particular is a song which rewards a lot of repeat listens and becomes addictive.

[Flex]

While you can never beat the debut for energy and immediacy, I find More Specials increasingly intriguing over the years with a lot of depth. Stereotypes in particular is a song which rewards a lot of repeat listens and becomes addictive.

Stereotypes might be my fave Specials song, so I'll cosign this.