Happy Halloween - Ghost Town Covers

Happy Halloween. Today's post is to honor The Specials song "Ghost Town" and the way it captured and crystalized a moment in time and history. The song has a timeless quality. It never sounds dated and its lyrics have never been more pertinent. Ghost Town was The Specials last hurrah and they went out on top with a #1 hit on the UK pop charts. The song was released in response to the UK's then conservative government's failed economic policies that resulted in massive layoffs and unemloyment. Sound familiar?

There was an amazing article published in The Guardian in 2002 that provides a behind the scenes look at the genesis of the song and its recording. You can read it here.

Here is the classic Ghost Town video:

The covers are an eclectic mix including:

-The Dead 60's -my pick for the band that could have carried the mantle of The Specials into the 21st Century (had they not broken up)
-The Prodigy and their funky hip hop/dance take on the track
-An indie rock take on the track by the band Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly
-Finally, a very eerie and spooky live version of the song featuring Terry Hall and Tricky

The Dead 60's - Ghost Town
The Prodigy - Ghost Town

Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly - Ghost Town (Live)
Terry Hall With Tricky - Ghost Town (Live)

The Beat - The John Peel Sessions

John Peel. His name alone conveys musical gravitas. Peel probably made more of a contribution to British music (and its effect on the rest of the world) in the last 50 years than anyone else. As a DJ on UK's Radio 1, he spoke to succeeding waves of kids and was responsible for breaking new bands such as Radiohead, The Undertones, The Clash, The Smiths, Pulp, T-Rex, New Order and many, many more. And after a lifetime of listening to more music than most of us could ever hope to do, Peel rated The Beat as one of his favorite bands of all time.

He first crossed paths with the band at a University gig in Birmingham where he was booked as a DJ. Supporting him was a local, unknown Birmingham band called The Beat. Peel was so blown away by the band that he swapped his £800 check with the band for their £80 check and invited them to come record a live radio session for his show. He then promoted them on his show regularly and helped to make them big in the UK and Europe. Peel's affection for the band was obvious as he invited them to record three sessions for his show.

Each session is a microcosm of the band during the three distinct phases they went through. The first session from November 1979, features songs from the first LP "I Just Can't Stop It" and is notable for the fact that it does not include Saxa, so "Tears Of A Clown", "Ranking Full Stop" and "Mirror In The Bathroom" sound closer to the way they did when the band first started performing. Ranking Roger's toasting is more prominent and punk edge more apparent. David Steele's bass lines still astound for their creativity.

The second session from September 1980 demonstrates an amazing maturity and complexity in the songwriting from the session less than one year earlier. Both the non-album tracks "Too Nice To Talk To" and "Psychedelic Rockers" are real soundscapes that incorporate every influence the band could fit into one song (pop, reggae, calypso, Afro-beat). Saxa's playing on these two tracks is also some of the best I have heard. I was also struck by how much better the album tracks from the "Whappen" LP sounded, particularly "Monkey Murders".

The final session from March 1982, previewed songs from the "Special Beat Service" LP that was released later that year. The distinction between the pop and reggae numbers is clearer though the version of "Save It For Later" is sublime and "dirty" sounding, and is so much better than the recorded version we are all familar with. The reggae numbers are among the best by the band that I have heard.

As a huge fan of The Beat, its a real treat to listen to these sessions. Each one has something slightly different or unique about it that is distinct from the recorded versions you are used to hearing. First, there is a freshness that comes from the live recorded nature of the songs. Next, you can hear subtleties that you have never noticed before. A new guitar lick here or varied melody from Saxa on an extended solo. It puts their talent and songwriting on another level.

Tracklist:

01 tears of a clown [5 nov. 1979]
02 ranking full stop [5 nov. 1979]
03 click click [5 nov. 1979]
04 mirror in the bathroom [5 nov. 1979]
05 big shot [5 nov. 1979]
06 too nice to talk to [22 sept. 1980]
07 new psychedelic rockers [22 sept. 1980]
08 monkey murders (nine mexicans) [22 sept. 1980]
09 walk away (nine mexicans) [22 sept. 1980]
10 spar with me [29 mar. 1982]
11 she's going [29 mar. 1982]
12 save it for later [29 mar. 1982]
13 pato and roger a-go talk [29 mar. 1982]
14 sole salvation [29 mar. 1982]

The Beat - The Peel Sessions

The Members & Rico Rodriguez Record Prophetic "Offshore Banking Business"

The Members were one of the wittiest and most imaginative bands to emerge from the 1977 punk explosion. Having formed in the sleepy suburbs of Bagshot and Camberley, they were too suburban and too far away geographically from the London scene to take their place alongside such pioneers as The Clash and the Sex Pistols. However like their London brethren in The Clash, Stiff Little Fingers and The Ruts, The Members were one of the first British punk-era bands to fully incorporate reggae into their music. And while the late Seventies contained plenty of shining examples of the punky-reggae party - The Clash covering Junior Murvin's Police And Thieves, The Special AKA launching 2-Tone - The Members were one of the prime movers in the era's cross-cultural mix of reggae and punk.

Much of the reggae influence in the band was due to guitarist Jean-Marie 'JC' Carroll who had been a banker in training when he joined the band. He later penned "Offshore Banking Business" which reached #34 on the UK charts in 1979 and seems incredibly prophetic nearly 30 years later as global financial institutions melt down and go bankrupt. The NME wrote of the band in 1978: “Of the many rock bands co-opting reggae into their act, few do so with as much love and style as the The Members.” JC told the NME, “My rhythm guitar playing is definitely reggae-based. It's not the same as blasting an audience with full-on rock riffs. It gets them moving in a different way. But, having said that, we're trying to play reggae in our own style. We're not singing about Jah Love. We're singing about living in Britain.” With their style built around JC's riffs and frontman Nicky Tesco's reflections on suburbia, The Members were the era's great satirists. They sang not about the 'big issues', but about a series of characters and everyday frustrations that anyone could relate to.

Though fully rooted in punk and rock, The Members abandoned rock completely and gave full vent to their love of reggae on "Offshore Banking Business", a non-album single, featured a loping riff, reggae brass and even a Jamaican-style talk-over section - 'a lesson in home economics' entitled Pennies In The Pound - from Nicky Tesco. The band added a horn section comprised of Rico Rodriguez on trombone and Dick Cuthell on trumpet who were on loan from The Specials to add a full-on reggae feel. Lyrically, the song was also one of the first recorded cases of rock 'n' roll insider trading, with JC using the knowledge garnered working in a bank to fuel a scornful condemnation of global financial corruption.

As JC said: 'We play English rock with a touch of reggae - and we do it so that people can enjoy themselves'.

Below is a video of the 12" mix of "Offshore Banking Business" featuring Rico Rodriguez on Trombone and Dick Cuthell on Trumpet:

Here is a download of the original single of "Offshore Banking Business" b/w "Solitary Confinement":

The Members - Offshore Banking Business 7"

BBC Arena Documentary From 1980: "Rudies Come Back Or The Rise And Rise Of 2-Tone"

Old and new fans of 2-Tone have spoken longingly of BBC Arena television documentary titled "Rudies Come Back Or The Rise And Rise Of 2-Tone" that aired during the height of 2 Tone. Arena is a British television documentary series, made and broadcast by the BBC. It has run since the October 1, 1975, and over five hundred episodes have been made.

The Arena program is an engaging and humorous profile of The Specials hosted by noted music journalist Adrian Thrills. It was filmed in 1979 and originally aired on the BBC on March 3rd, 1980. It may have been repeated a few times since, but it remains a holy grail of documentary footage of the The Specials and Coventry that captures them and 2-Tone at their peak. One of the highlights for me was seeing Neville in full judges robes on stage during "Stupid Marriage".

Until recently the 35 minute documentary had been very hard to find, but 3 excerpts of the program are now available for viewing on VBOX7, a Russian language version of YouTube. Enjoy!

The Specials on BBC Arena

Neville Staple In Dispute With Promoter Cancels UK Tour

As fans await word on when the reunited version of The Specials (minus Jerry Dammers) will perform again, there was excitement about a UK tour this December featuring Neville Staple's band along with Roddy Radiation's Skabilly Rebels and then Pauline Black of The Selecter. The hope was that these shows would satisfy demand for more shows by The Specials while they work out their next move. However a recent statement by Neville Staple on his MySpace page seems to suggest that this tour will not happen. It appears he had a falling out with the promoter who continued to advertise shows despite Neville informing him that he had pulled out.

You have to hand it to members of The Specials. They know how to keep fans engaged in their ongoing dramas and business disagreements.

Here is the statement which you can also read at Neville's My Space page

A PERSONAL STATEMENT FROM NEVILLE STAPLE

In reply to recent postings on the Specials website forum and and other websites regarding a U.K tour in December 2008, and for the avoidance of any doubt, I would like to confirm to everyone THIS TOUR IS NOT HAPPENING.

The tour promoter was Informed at the end of September that due to personal differences, I was unable to work with him and would not be doing the PROPOSED tour with my band.

He clearly has not listened, as he has for some reason, continued to advertise the tour now with Pauline Black instead of The Skabilly Rebels?

This is not the case, and I am not prepared to endorse these advertised shows as they have never been agreed by me personally.

I WILL NOT BE APPEARING WITH MY BAND AT ANY OF THE VENUES ON DATES ADVERTISED SO PLEASE DO NOT BUY TICKETS!!.

Refunds for tickets already bought are the responsibility of the ticket agencies once the promoter confirms to them that the shows will not take place.

The Promoter should not still be promoting or advertising these shows.

For correct details of my shows please refer to my Myspace www.myspace.com/nevillestaplefromthespecials and Skabilly Rebels shows www.myspace.com/skabillyrebels1

Thank you for your continued support.

Neville

While you are visiting Neville's page take a listen to two new songs he has posted "What Can I Do" and "Entrapment" which are quite good.

The Beat Live on Rockpalast - July 23, 1980

I wrote about The Beat covering Laurel Aitken's song "Pussy Price" early in their career. A slightly re-worked version of the song (minus the naughty song content) became "Ranking Full Stop". The only known recorded version of their take on Aitken's song is from the band's appearance on Rockpalast which is a German music television show that broadcasts live on German television station Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR).

Here is video from the Rockpalast broadcast of the songs "Big Shot", "Can't Get Used To Losing You" and "Hands Off She's Mine".

Below is a download of the audio from the show including the Aitken cover.

Here is the tracklist:

Pussy Price (Laurel Aitken cover that became Ranking Full Stop)

Two Swords
Tears Of A Clown
Big Shot
Rough Rider
Best Friend
Can't Get Used To Losing You
Hands Off....She's Mine
Twist & Crawl
Noise In This World
Whine & Grine/Stand Down Margaret
Ranking Full Stop
Mirror In The Bathroom
Click Click
Jackpot

The Beat - Live On Rockpalast July 23, 1980

English Beat Rarities - Version of "Which Side Of The Bed" Featuring Ranking Roger Chat

Fans of The Beat are always on the lookout for anything remotely new that they can add to the somewhat finite universe of recorded material that is available from the band. With only three albums and very few non-album tracks, its been, slim pickings for anything new. I recently discovered a track I had never heard before (and I'm an obsessive fan).

Back in 1981 the band released their eighth single, "Hit It". It was backed by "Which Side Of The Bed?". Neither track appeared on an album. This alone has made the single a popular collectors item. Indeed, I am not aware that the band ever performed the b-side of the single live, which is a shame as its an overlooked classic and a slice of vintage Wakeling reggae-pop. The single only reached the #70 spot on the U.K. singles chart (this was a portent of things to come for the band in the UK as they began to focus their attention on breaking in the U.S.).

Imagine my shock and surprise at hearing a completely alternative, dub remix version of "Which Side Of The Bed" re-titled "Cool Entertainer" that features Ranking Roger toasting joyously over the track. If you have any information about this track let me know. Otherwise enjoy the song which is part of the download below which also includes the 12" dub remix of "Pato & Roger Ago Talk".

Here is story from the NME in 1981 that sheds a bit more light on "Hit It" and "Cool Entertainer"

UPDATE: After doing a bit more digging I learned that "Cool Entertainer" is the b-side of the Go Feet Records release of the single "Ago Talk". Mystery solved. Regardless its not a track I had heard and I imagine many other fans of The Beat might have missed it.

Here is a live performance of the a-side "Hit It" from the Oxford Road Show in 1981:



Here is a video of the hard to find b-side "Which Side Of The Bed"



Below is a tracklist and download of a mix including hard to find b-sides by The Beat and all their permutations including General Public, Ranking Roger, Fine Young Cannibals and 2 Men a Drum Machine and a Trumpet. Enjoy.

Tracklist:
Pato & Roger Ago Talk (Tappy Lappy Dub Remix) - The Beat
Cool Entertainer (Dub Remix of "Which Side Of The Bed) - The Beat
Dishwasher (Longer) - General Public
Ever Fallen In Love (dub) - Fine Young Cannibals
Good Times and Bad (extended version) - 2 Men a Drum Machine and a Trumpet
Limited Balance (longer) - General Public
Make It Funky (extended version) - 2 Men a Drum Machine and a Trumpet
On My Conscience - Ranking Roger
So Excited (Alternative Mix) - Ranking Roger
Tired Of Getting Pushed Around (extended version) - 2 Men a Drum Machine and a Trumpet
Too Much Or Nothing (dance mix) - General Public

General Beat - Rarities & Remixes