Writing on the wall says that 2 Tone is having a bit of a revival happening with most of the major groups that made up the 2 Tone movement are now reformed in one way or another.  Madness has just put out a new record and a live DVD, with another new album already in the works; Bad Manners technically never broke up; The English Beat visits St. Louis on the reg.  There’s even multiple versions of 2 of 2 Tones biggest groups-  Neol Davies and Pauline Black each have their own version of A Selecter reunion touring the UK, and the newly reformed members of The Specials have their own competition from Jerry Dammers’ anti-reunion spectacle, The Spatial AKA Orchestra.  Plus, for the past few years now, everyone from new hip-hop groups to pop divas in the UK have been paying a nod to the 2 Tone sound via samples, mashups, covers and overall meta reference.

So this was the jumping off point for last night’s episode, The Legacy of 2 Tone.  If you missed the show, you can catch the archived stream of the whole sh-bang over at KDHX.org

King Hammond “The Loop” from The King And I on N.1. Records New

The Valkyrians “Rankin’ Fullstop” from High And Mighty on Pork Pie

The English Beat “Big Shot” from I Just Can’t Stop It on Go Feet

The Selecter “Return of The Selecter” from Promo on Self New – [Here's this brand new tune in a live vid fashion]

The Selecter “Missing words” from Unplugged For The Rude Boy Generation on Mapps Cafe Records/Ka – [Check out this great interview with Pauline]

Loafers “Too Late Rudy” from The Collection on Cleopatra

Skankin’ Pickle “Special Brew” from Green Album on Dill/Asian Man

Arthur Kay & the Originals “Americans” from Live in Berlin on Step-1 – [Arthur Kay's been making ska for a lot longer that I realized!  Check out his story in his own words.]

The Amnesiacs “Top Yourself” from Forget To Remember on Go Wise Recordings New

Desorden Publico “Pueblo Fantasma (Ghost Town)” from Spare Shells- Modern Interpretations of Songs Performed by the Specials on Sound

Kid British “Sunny Days” from It Was This Or Football on Mercury UK New

Floyd Lloyd & The Potato 5 “Sally Brown” from Floyd Lloyd & The Potato 5 Meet Laurel Aitken on Grover Records

Ruder Than You “The Bodysnatchers” from The 2 Tone Collection – A Checkered Past on Chrysalis – [Rude Girls Wanted]

The New Town Kings “Fire In The Hole” from Sound Of The New Town on Do The Dog

Walt Jabsco “The Liquidizer (single version)” from Walt At The Controls Featuring Andy Keys Clark on Walt Jabsco Recordings

Pama International “Question The Answer” from Pama Outernational on Rockers Revolt New

Judge Dread “Rudy (A Message To You)” from The Legendary Judge Dread Vol. 1 (King Of Rudeness) on Recall Records UK

Amy Winehouse “Hey, Little Rich Girl” from The Ska E.P. on 2 Soul Records

SWAGGA “Rude Boys” from SWAGGA Promo on self New

Mark Foggo “Bang Me Head” from Mad on V2 New

Cartoon Violence “Vauxhall Nova” from Whatever Happened To The Likely Lad? on Do The Dog

Ted Leo & The Pharmacists “I’m Looking Through You (The Beatles)” from The Ted Leo & The Pharmacists Covers Archive on Unreleased – [You can find this and tons else Ted Leo covers here.]

Smoke Like A Fish “Bankrobber” from Here’s One We Made Earlier on Do The Dog

Clash, The “The Guns Of Brixton (Live) [13 Jun 81, NYC]” from From Here To Eternity Live on Epic

The Dead 60′s “Black Sessions – 08 riot radio” from Black Sessions – Live on France Inter

Rancid “Old Friend” from …And Out Come The Wolves on Epitaph

Madness “3 Dust Devil” from The Liberty Of Norton Folgate on Lucky Seven Records New

King Hammond “Mr Easy Talk” from The King And I on N.1. Records New

The Swinging Cats “Manitovi” from The 2 Tone Collection – A Checkered Past on Chrysalis

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