Capital Letters - Late 70's UK Reggae and Ska from Greensleeves

Capital Letters were one of the main players in the distinctive homegrown British roots reggae scene that emerged in the late 70's and were the first group to be signed to the Greensleeves label. Along with groups like Matumbi, Aswad, Black Roots and Steel Pulse, Capital Letters managed to break down many of the prejudices that reggae music could only be made in Jamaica, when authentic roots music was emerging from all corners of the UK, in this case Wolverhampton in the West Midlands, a stone's throw from where Steel Pulse's Handsworth Revolution was taking place.

Their single "Smoking My Ganja" blew the woofers out of UK soundsystems throughout '78, and propelled them into the studio to record a full-length. The resulting LP, Headline News, was one of the critically acclaimed reggae records of 1979 with its finely balanced blend of African, Jamaican, and English influences and songs that covered topics ranging from religion to marijuana legalization to the bloody reign of Idi Amin. Jerry Dammers of The Specials has been quoted as saying that hearing "Smoking My Ganja" convinced him that the Specials mix of punk and reggae would work.

Their original album "Headline News", also contains the full length 12" mixes of `UK Skanking', `Smoking My Ganja' and `Natty Walk'. The band also released the highly sought-after `Bread and Water' 7" EP, a ska-flavored quartet of tracks, which was released in 1980 - a nod to the 2-Tone scene that was taking place in the UK at the time. Capital Letters were big favorites of John Peel and recorded a session which was broadcast in January 1980. Peel championed Capital Letters and for a time played a track from `Headline News" on every show over a period in 1979. As a result, `Smoking My Ganja', `Run Run Run' and `President Amin', were hits in France, Spain and Holland.

Word is that the band has reformed and plans to tour. They will play at the Birmingham Arts Fest Saturday September 13 on the Arcadian Stage.

Here is a video of their biggest hit "Smoke My Ganja"

Here is the track list and download of "Headline News":

1 fire
2 do we really need a government
3 president amin
4 rumours
5 smoking my ganja
6 unemployed
7 rejoice
8 buzz rock
9 run run run
10 out of afrika
11 uk skanking (12 mix)
12 natty walk (12 mix)
13 smoking my ganja (12 mix)

Capital Letters - Headline News

Here is the track list and download of the ska EP "Bread & Water

01 - Bread And Water
02 - Do We Really Need a Government
03 - Cheap School Meals
04 - Run Man Run

Capital Letters - Bread & Water

Too Much Too Young - The Story of 2 Tone: BBC 2 Radio

A quick post for this weekend. Tonight (Saturday August 9th) on the Music Club program on BBC 2, Paul Sexton traces the history of 2 Tone records and the band at its center -- The Specials. This radio piece features new interviews from The Specials, Madness, The Beat and The Selecter. Sexton speaks to Pete Waterman, Don Letts and Garry Bushell to follow the highs and lows of the label and its bands. No matter where you happen to be in the world, you can listen to the story on the BBC 2 web site here.

Los De Abajo - 2-Tone ska meets Traditional Mexican Sounds

There is a book that was published in 1987 called Cut & Mix (I'll post more on this at a later date). In it, author Dick Hebdige charts the trans-Atlantic/cross-cultural Caribbean/UK exchange that sparked the 2-Tone ska revival. If Hebdige were to update his book to cover the last 20+ years of ska around the world, he’d be obliged to add at least one chapter on ska in the Latin world and Mexico in particular, and Los de Abajo (LDA) would be at the center of that chapter.

Like the best of the 2 Tone bands, most importantly The Specials, Mexico City’s LDA are artists with deep convictions who embed lyrics with political power inside the most disarmingly danceable tunes which combine ska, hip-hop and Mexican folk music. As one of the leaders of the Latin ska movement, their latest album "LDA v. The Lunatics" is a must listen. The "lunatics" in question are both the forces they rage against, and the collaborators who rage with them – most notably, ex-Specials/Fun Boy Three member Neville Staples.

LDA are The Underdogs (Spanish for ‘Those from Below’), whose fiery Mexican protest songs and superb musicianship have won them a huge world following during the past few years. The eight-person band, who formed in 1992 and take their name from a classic novel about the Mexican Revolution, fervently believe that change comes from below and are open supporters of the Zapatista movement in Mexico. "Los De Abajo V The Lunatics" is the third official album from the band and, as with their two previous efforts, the lyrics not only condemn their country’s corrupt officials but also call on honest politicians to tackle poverty and give free expression to everyone.

LDA have long regarded Madness and the Specials as key influences, and the band provides not only an excellent cover version in Spanish of 'The Lunatics (Have Taken Over The Asylum') by Fun Boy Three, but also an English language bonus track featuring Neville Staples. As many know, the song is about the idiots in government leading society astray, and this sits quite comfortably with LDA’s own message regarding Mexico. There are no bad tracks on this album and even if you are a bit unsure at first, give it a few listens. Highlights are Track 1 ‘Resistencia’ (a wistful effort featuring words by Zapatista Insurgent Commander Esther); Track 2 ‘Los Lunaticos’ – the Spanish version of Fun Boy Three’s hit which I think may edge the original, and Track 6 ‘De Marcha’ – a rocking ska tune.

The band was on a tour of the UK in July. The Independent reviewed LDA's live show which you can read about here.

Here is the download:

Los De Abajo - Los De Abajo v. The Lunatics

Dance Craze - Joe Massot Documentary Captures 2-Tone At Its Peak

I may have assumed incorrectly that most fans of 2-Tone either own a copy of Dance Craze or had a chance to see the movie when it was released in 1981. I was lucky enough to see it at college in the late 1980's. As a result I have not bothered to post about it or share a download. However I stand corrected as I've noticed comments from several visitors lamenting the fact that they have never seen the documentary or have trouble finding a copy.

As quick background, Dance Craze is a 1981 American documentary film about 2 Tone. The film was directed by Joe Massot, who originally wanted to do a film only about the band Madness, who he met during their first US tour. Massot later changed his plans to include the whole 2 Tone movement. The film, shot in 1980, followed Madness, The Specials, The Selecter, The Bodysnatchers, The Beat and Bad Manners on tour throughout the United Kingdom. A soundtrack album of the same name was released the same year (and reached #5 in the UK album charts), featuring fifteen of the songs that were featured in the film. The performances were shot entirely on location in Aylesbury, Bradford, Hemel Hempstead, London, Cherry Hill, NJ (The Beat were on tour in the U.S.), Leicester, Liverpool, Portsmouth and Sunderland. Dance Craze appears to be utterly lost to the annals of time. When 2-Tone was purchased by Chrysalis, a lot of people weren’t happy with the quality of the film, and the original film stock appears to have been “lost” in the transfer of property. While many of the artists here still active in one form or another, there has been no indication by anyone involved that there is any chance of this ever being re-released. Like Urgh!, this one will likely remain a memory forever.

If you are new to 2-Tone ska and want to know where it all came from, or if you are a veteran and you just want to re-live these exciting moments, check out the film. Your 2-Tone bona fides compel you to watch! The venerable New York Times reveiwed the file when it was released to theatres here. You can read Janet Maslin's review here.

For those of you looking for a quick hit here is a performances from the film:

English Beat - Mirror In The Bathroom from Dance Craze

Here are bands and songs as performed in order in the film:

Nite Klub – The Specials
The Prince – Madness

Ne-Ne-Na-Na-Na-Na-Nu-Nu – Bad Manners

007 (Shanty Town) – The Bodysnatchers

Three Minute Hero – The Selecter

Ranking Full Stop – The Beat

Big Shot – The Beat

Concrete Jungle – The Specials

Swan Lake – Madness

Razor Blade Alley – Madness

Missing Words – The Selecter

Let's Do the Rock Steady – The Bodysnatchers

Lip Up Fatty – Bad Manners

Madness – Madness

Too Much Too Young – The Specials

On My Radio – The Selecter

Easy Life – The Bodysnatchers

Rough Rider – The Beat

Man at C&A – The Specials

Inner London Violence – Bad Manners

Night Boat to Cairo – Madness

Twist and Crawl – The Beat

Wooly Bully – Bad Manners

Too Much Pressure – The Selecter

Mirror in the Bathroom – The Beat

One Step Beyond – Madness

Nite Klub – The Specials

Here is the download of the film in 8 parts:

Dance Craze - Part 1

Dance Craze - Part 2

Dance Craze - Part 3

Dance Craze - Part 4

Dance Craze - Part 5

Dance Craze - Part 6

Dance Craze - Part 7

Dance Craze - Part 8

Mark Foggo - The Hardest Working Man In Ska

Chances are that if you live in Holland or anywhere on the European Continent, you are very familiar with Mr Mark Foggo and his band The Skasters. Here in the U.S. his contribution to ska music over the last 25 years has gone overlooked and unnoticed, but I would like to change that. In fact his second LP "State Of Mind" from 1984 has been on constant rotation on my iPod. Above all Foggo is a ska missionary and I admire his tenacity and his never ending quest of playing and supporting ska music where ever he goes.

Mark Foggo is a dynamic performer and his music is best described as modern, bizarre, non-influenced, up tempo ska. Born in Liverpool, England, Foggo began his musical career at the age of fourteen but moved south to London a few years later to seek his fame and fortune as a guitar player. He played around the London pub circuit with a number of different bands, playing mostly rhythm and blues or punk music. He was signed as a solo artist to Polydor and recorded his first album "Speeding My Life Away". The album was a hit and got worldwide radio airplay. Following the release of his first LP, he recorded "State Of Mind" in 1984. This was to be his last album as a solo artist. Following its release he embarked on putting together a backing band (The Skasters), so that in his words, "People would know what kind of music we played."

The next album Mark Foggo released was "Ska Pig" in 1989. The album was a huge hit with ska fans in Europe and today the album is considered to be a classic in the genre. After "Ska Pig" Mark Foggo released many more cd's and singles and through numerous television and radio appearances he has built up a big following on the European club circuit. Over the years the band has played over a thousand gigs making him the hardest working man in ska.


Here is a video of an interview and performance of Mark Foggo's Skasters:




Here is an online interview Mark did with a French ska magazine called I Believe In Myself in 2006 that should provide a bit more insight about him for those who remain unfamiliar with him:


How did you start playing together?
Began in 1979 under the name of Mark Foggo and the Secret Meeting, Only one member remains from the early days and that is Paul Berding (Sax). In 1987 We released "Ska Pig" and changed the name to Mark Foggo's Skasters, so it was clearer to people what kind of music we played. There have been a lot of changes to the band since then and the present line up can be found on our website.


In which other bands have you played / still play? Can you talk about it?
I have another band (The Babyshakers) which is a 4 piece rock and roll / Ska style. We have released one cd (Shake the Baby) and next month will release a new 4 track mini cd (Living on Alcohol).


What are your lyrics about?
I write lyrics about anything that comes to mind. "Car On A Train" is about a disaster in the Channel Tunnel, which came to me one time while travelling through there. "Lovely Day For A Hanging" is complete nonsense, but it's amazing what some people can read into it. I think I was drunk when I wrote it. I get all sorts of opinions about what it might mean. "The Religious Song" is just demonstrating how bored i get with religion.



How long have you been playing together now? How many albums have you released? What is your best/worst remember? Do you think that the ska scene has changed a lot? If you think so, could you explain it?
We have released about 10 albums / cds and I am working on a new one now which I hope to release before the end of the year. Again the complete list of releases is on the website. My favourite cd was Haircut, I think because it has my favourite songs on and it was a lot of fun to record. I recorded it not with all the Skasters but just with the keyboard player who is Dominique Dubois. He is a Frenchman from Paris now living in Amsterdam and we have been good friends for many years. My worst album was Weapons and Guitars, hopefully now unavailable. I was given money by EMI records to record an album, but it could not be Ska. I recorded a shit rock album and went on holiday with the rest of the money. Afterwards it was straight back to ska.



How would you define your style?
I believe we have a style of our own, maybe a bit based on the 2 tone era. I don't have any particular favourite bands or influences, I prefer to do things the way I feel them at the time and that's why the style changes from cd to cd.



Do you think that we are in front of a ska / reggae revival today? Or do you believe that ska has never died?
Ska music never dies! There are new bands and styles around all the time. I'm not a huge fan of cover bands, I like ska musicians to create something of their own rather than try to copy something that can not be improved on. If you wanna hear real Jamaican ska, go and see The Skatalites. Originality is what will keep ska music alive. Ska punk is not for me personally but if some like it, that can't be bad.


If ska has never died, the audience has changed, today its very diversified. What do you think about it?
There are many different styles of people who come to our gigs, hippies, heavy metal, pyschobillies. I don't care who comes as long as they get into what they hear. Ska is not a clothes fashion, it's a musical style and the more people who appreciate it the better. There are many more young ska people at our gigs in Holland and Germany these days and that's good. Ska , the next generation.



How do you do to be so energetic on stage? A magic potion maybe?
I'm very active on stage because ska music excites me so much I get mad! I use no drugs, it's all natural energy. After the show I like a couple of large Jack Daniels and a cigarette to wind down.



Mark Foggo's Skasters are currently on tour in the EU. If you live in Holland or Germany be sure to try and catch him. You can check out his tour dates here.





Here is a track list of Mark Foggo's "State of Mind" album from 1984. It happens to be a new favorite of mine.

A State of Mind
You Know Who
Miss Understanding
Hold on to your Hat
Cest La Vie
You Never Asked
The Choice
The Innocence Of Youth
I Do
Seems Like Years
Very Busy

Mark Foggo - State Of Mind

UB40 Live @ Keele University 1980

Here is a quick post for the many UB40 fans who have been visiting lately. I find that I'm drawn more and more to their early material and this bootleg (known as H20) from 1980 captures them playing all of the songs from their first LP "Signing Off" along with the non-album tracks "Madam Medusa" and "Strange Fruit".

This live show was part of a BBC College concert tour that was recorded live at Keele University in 1980 and broadcast in the UK the week of November 28, 1982.

Set List:

My way of thinking

Strange fruit

The earth dies screaming

Burden of shame

I think it's going to rain today

Tyler

Food for thought

Madam medusa

Wildcat

Signing off

UB40 - Live 1980 Keele University

Password = amrao

Exclusive: Interview with Josh Harris of The Untouchables

The Untouchables (The UT's) were the first U.S. ska band and Josh Harris, who joined the band after their founding in LA in the early 80's was an important creative force in the success the band enjoyed prior to and after their signing to Stiff Records. Harris who came to the band after stints in both The Fabulous Titans and The Shakers, who were both likely the first U.S. reggae bands, wrote one of The UT's most memorable songs "What's Gone Wrong". The band have always been an inspiration to many of us who came of age as fans of ska in the late 70's and early 80's. I was lucky enough to see the band open for UB40 in 1984 and they had a style and sound that influenced me to start my own band a few years later. After learning that many of the guys in The UT's started their band without knowing their instruments I was moved to pick up the bass and learn how to play it.

I asked Josh if he would answer a few questions about those heady days of playing in the band and he graciously agreed and provides an inside look into what it was like to be part of such a seminal U.S. ska band.

Can you tell me about your introduction to music and ska music in particular?

At the age of five, I began taking classical piano lessons. I continued to train for 10 years before deciding that pop music was my true love. In 1974, I joined what may have been America's First Reggae Band. We were called The Fabulous Titans and hailed out of Berkeley,Ca. The Harder They Come had recently been released and left a lasting impact. The Titans later transformed into Warner Bros recording artists, The Shakers. But in 1976, I decided to move to Southern California. Once there, I enrolled at Cal State-Los Angeles and began pursuing a career as a recording engineer. After completing studies, I accepted a position at a studio in North Hollywood, called Dreamship Studios. There I worked with artists like: Ray Mansarek (The Doors), Los Lobos and the punk band X... I planned on eventually becoming a record producer/session player.

You joined The UTs a few years after the band had started. How did you meet them and who invited you to join the band?
A friend named Roger Harris (no relation) was hired to produce a single for The Untouchables. After completing the "A" side "The General" , the band began preparing the "B" side, an instrumental called "Tropical Bird". Roger suggested to the band that they allow me to add a bubbling organ part. Since the band had no keyboard player, they accepted Roger's suggestion. They liked my contribution and later asked me to join the group. I then became a member of what may have been America's first Ska Band.

Here is video of the song "Tropical Bird" that Josh played organ on:



What was your first live show like and what was the California ska scene of the early and mid-80's like?
My first show with The Untouchables was on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood, at a popular nightclub called The Roxy. I was totally honored to be asked to perform with The U.T.'s.. Although they hadn't been picked up by a major label, they were already quite well established in Los Angeles . The local mod scene was already happening when I met the U.T.'s. It was in pockets around the rest of California, but it's popularity was growing quickly.

Can you share any unusual stories about touring with the band

Well, without a doubt, the strangest gig we ever played was in Rancho Santa Fe, about two hours east of LA. We performed in a bullfight arena, which was legal (and fairly unusual) in California.The stage was erected in the center of the bullring and our dressing room was a mobile home that had been parked next to the bullpen. Needless to say, we worried about a stampede, but fortunately the giant steers liked our music. It was in that mobile dressing room, looking out at the herd of hoofs, that I came up with the idea for The U.T.'s to perform a ska version of the Herb Alpert 60's spaghetti western hit, "The Lonely Bull". Our exuberant version of the song became a mosh pit favorite.

Here is video of the song "Lonely Bull"



Tell me about recording "Live and Let Dance"

"Live & Let Dance" was an EP that the band recorded in 1983. El Dorado Studios in Hollywood had been built in the early '50's by the R&B great, Johnny Otis. All of the songs on Live and Let Dance were eventually re-recorded onto Wild Child, but this EP gave us our first major recognition. Live & Let Dance was released on our own Twist label and distributed through Enigma Records. After releasing the LP, we then shot video for Free Yourself.. This won the 1984 Billboard Magazine's Best Indy Video of the Year.

Here is the video for "Free Yourself" featuring Josh Harris on keys/organ



The U.T.'s were the first US band to sign to Stiff Records in the UK. How did the label treat you? Any interesting stories about having a hit song in the UK?Dave (Robo) Robinson was the President of Stiff Records (Madness, Desmond Dekker, Elvis Costello). He saw the "Free Yourself" video and flew from London to Los Angeles to sign us. We were all greatly surprised and honored at his arrival. Robo asked where we wanted to record our next album and we all wanted to go to the U.K. Robo agreed and flew the band (sans horns) to England. Back in LA, local radio station KROQ was very much behind the band's adventure. For our first UK tour, we broadcast regular live radio feeds from London to Los Angeles. Clyde would report the progress of the band over the air to fans back home.Our first UK show was at Dingwall's in North London..This nightclub was created out of an old barge located on Lock 17, Chelsea. It was very cool... There was a lot of media in attendance and we were very excited about performing for everyone. Things went very well. After receiving a ton of endorsing press, "Free Yourself" shot to number #17 in the U.K. charts.

Tell me about recording the "Wild Child" LP

We began touring the UK and eventually landed in Holland. Soundpush Studios was located near Blaricum, about an hour east of Amsterdam. The studio was state of the art, I had never seen a better equipted facilty. Producer Stewart Levine (Hugh Masakela, Simply Red) was chosen to handle the production. The album was recorded in about 4 weeks. After finishing the LP, Robo presented the band with a song that he liked for us. It was "I Spy for the FBI". He obtained the services of Jerry Dammers (The Specials) to produce this song. I was fortunate enough to work closely with Jerry in the post production at Air Studio in Old London. I provided harmonies, musical arrangements and keyboard overdubs.

Here is the video for "I Spy For The FBI" featuring Josh on organ

Tell me what it was like to be in the movie "Repo Man"

Charley Sheen and Emilio Estevez were friends of The Untouchables. Emilio's first feature film was Repo Man. He asked the band to appear in the film. In our first scene, the UT's are riding our scooters in formation. We are returning from rehearsal to Chuckie's mom's house. We almost got sideswiped by the Chevy Malibu at the beginning of the shot. I'm riding my barely operational Lambretta LI150. In our next scene, we return to the house to find Emilio there with Chuckie's Mom. Jerry sits down next to Emilio on the couch. He starts smiling at him, in a very tense moment in the film. Our last scene has us laying the boot to poor old Emilio next to the car that he's come to take. The film initially premiered at the Director's Guild, in Hollywood. The film was so weird, that I was convinced it was going to be a turkey. After it's theatrical release, it kind of went nowhere. The movie began receiving acclaim when the NY Times critic Vincent Canby wrote this review . The movie then became incredibly popular and finally became a classic.

You wrote and sang "What's Gone Wrong" which was one of the band's most popular songs. Tell me about the process of writing and recording the song.
I created the melody during a soundcheck, before a U.T gig at the famed Cookoo's Nest, in Santa Ana. I was just doodling around and came up with the groove. The next day, I went over to Dreamship Studios and started laying the basic tracks. Soon, Clyde came by to add guitar and we were performing it within a week.. Stiff Records shot a video for the song, but I've only seen it once. One of my fondest memory of alltime, is waking one morning to the radio/alarm playing What's Gone Wrong.

Here is a video for "What's Gone Wrong" without Josh

Why did you leave the band?

There were a lot of issues that went into my decision to leave the band. Getting signed to a foreign label meant a major departure from my then-current life.Though the band was becoming famous, it wasn't really what I wanted. I hated to tour & travel and that's all that we were doing. I was 5 years older than the other guys. I'd met my future wife Carol in 1984. I was getting ready to settle down.

Are you still in touch with any of your band mates?
The Untouchables performed in San Francisco last year and asked me to join them onstage at The Great American Music Hall. A 10 piece dance troupe, "The Devilettes" joined us on stage in silver and gold go-go shimy-shimy outfits for "Free Yourself". That was really fun.

What are you doing these days?

Carol has been my wife now for 22 years. .I have a small recording studio at our home in Marin County. I continue to write and post my songs on my page at myspace. com. Carol and I are part-owners of an organic cafe and bakery in nearby Larkspur called "The Rustic Bakery". I also love to swim, hike, walk and ride my mountain bike. Thank you Marco for spending your time with me. I hope that you and your readers enjoy whatever insight I could provide.