Dr No was set in Jamaica, so why not record a joyful ska version of the the famous Bond theme?
For those too young for punk and too bewildered by post-punk, in 1979 2-Tone was just the ticket. It also provided a handy route into ska, a genre of music I'd never heard of, and which bore scant relation to the po-faced roots reggae it had evolved into over the preceding decade. Songs recorded in the early-to-mid-60s by Prince Buster and the Skatalites were being covered by the Specials, Madness and the Selecter. It's hard to imagine, given the array of ska compilations available today, but if you wanted to hear more of the music that inspired the 2-Tone bands, back in 1979 it was a struggle.
Then the British reggae imprint Trojan released Intensified! Original Ska 1962-1966. Even now I get a frisson of excitement just looking at the cover.
For those too young for punk and too bewildered by post-punk, in 1979 2-Tone was just the ticket. It also provided a handy route into ska, a genre of music I'd never heard of, and which bore scant relation to the po-faced roots reggae it had evolved into over the preceding decade. Songs recorded in the early-to-mid-60s by Prince Buster and the Skatalites were being covered by the Specials, Madness and the Selecter. It's hard to imagine, given the array of ska compilations available today, but if you wanted to hear more of the music that inspired the 2-Tone bands, back in 1979 it was a struggle.
Then the British reggae imprint Trojan released Intensified! Original Ska 1962-1966. Even now I get a frisson of excitement just looking at the cover.
- 12/2/2011
- by Jon Dennis
- The Guardian - Film News
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