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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Allergies and a one-off Riddle’s shift, ruined my voice for last-night’s show- and I had such high hopes for it.  I tried to stay off the mic as much as possible and to let the music speak for itself.  Easier said than done.  You can hear all my gravel and cracks in between sets of new Sic & Mad- lots of Two Tone and early-80′s Ska- and a whole heaping spoon-full of new stuff- by clicking here and streaming the episode.

Matt Wixson – The Ska’s The Limit Theme – NA – NA

——– – ——– – ——– – ——–

Sic & Mad – Police Man (Kick Me In The Head) – Songs For The Revolution – Stubborn* [Sic & Mad Interview at Pressure Drop]

The Silencers – Policeman – Give Em The Boot – HellCat – [The only song The Silencers would ever release]

Rancid – Candy – Life Won’t Wait Demos – Unreleased – [The only demo session The Silencers would ever not release]

Bad Manners – This Is Ska (live) – Trojan Ska Revival Box – Trojan

——– – ——– – ——– – ——–

Special Beat – Rankin Full Stop (live) – The Best of Ska Live – Emporio

The Terrorists – I Want Justice – Forces: 1977-82 – ROIR – [Read about this NY band that did Punky Ska years before 2 Tone]

The Coventry Automatics – Dawning Of A New Era – Trojan Ska Revival Box – Trojan

JJ Sparks and The City Gents – You Didn’t Love Me – Brixton Bluebeat – Gladestone Oliphant – [Has a great bio of JJ Sparks]

——– – ——– – ——– – ——–

Elvis Costello – I Can’t Stand Up For Falling Down – I Can’t Stand Up For Falling Down LP – Riviera

Madness – Bed And Breakfast Man – Complete Madness – Union Square Music – [video for Bed and Breakfast Man]

The Bodysnatchers – Ruder Than You – The Two Tone Collection – Two Tone/Chrysalis

The Specials – Concrete Jungle (Live) – Peel Sessions – BBC

——– – ——– – ——– – ——–

The Hoovers – I Got You Babe – Skin and Blisters – Unknown – [the secret history of America's Two Tone-esque ska group, The Hoovers - plus free downloads]

The Villains – Urban Skins – Life of Crime – Skinhead Reggae – [the secret history of Canada's answer to the Two Tone movement]

The English Beat – Twist & Crawl – I Just Can’t Stop It – Go Feet

The Selector – Train To Skaville – The Best of Ska Live – Emporio

——– – ——– – ——– – ——–

Let’s Go Bowling – More Than A Person – The Ska Parade Vol 2 – A to Y+

Fun Boy Three – The More That I See – Live – White

Amazulu – Too Good To Be Forgotten – Amazulu – Spectrum – [crazy 80's video for Too Good To Be Forgotten]

The Deltones – Make Me Smile – Nana Choc Choc in Paris – Unicorn Records – [learn more about this post-Bodysnatchers- all-girl- late 80's ska group]

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Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros – Rudy Can’t Fail (Live) – Give Em The Boot DVD – HellCat

Matumbi – Bluebeat and Ska – Music In The Air – Harvest

Chris Murray Combo – Time Is The Master – Why So Rude – Unstrictly Roots

Westbound Train – Why You Cry – Come and Get It – HellCat

——– – ——– – ——– – ——–

Easy Star All-Stars feat. Kristy Rock – She’s Leaving Home – Easy Star’s Lonely Hearts Dub Band – Easy Star*

The Aggrolites – The Sufferer – Aggrolites IV – HellCat – [get two free pre-release tracks from HellCat]

Prague Ska Conspiracty – Raise The Hell – Lies For Everyone – Unsigned

——– – ——– – ——– – ——–

Desorden Publico – Crack – Estrellas Del Caos – Megalith

Rude City Riot – 25 Years – Rude City Riot EP – Skaspot Records

Pressure Cooker – You’re The One – What She Wants – Jump Up

Desorden Publico feat. Vic Ruggiero – Monkey Ska – Estrellas Del Caos – Megalith – [the video for Monkey Ska]

Crazy Baldhead feat. Vic Ruggiero – California – Crazy Baldhead Has A Posse – Self

Key:  Artist – Title – Album -   +=Request *=New
[Notes]

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