This week's radio program starts off with a tribute to Terry Hall, lead singer from the Specials. We’ll take a look at some of the bands Terry was in before and after the Specials as well as some rare recordings of the Specials. That will be at the top of the show. The rest of the show will continue with our year in review look at 2022. Stephe reviews cassettes, Chris drills down into Canadian cassettes, Rob and Andre round out their year with their favourite releases. Download the show here.
A message to you .... TerryThe most iconic face for Britain’s ska revival - he had that dour look. Terry Hall was in a punk group called Squad. They formed in 1977 and recorded two singles. This is the A side to that first single “Red Alert”.
SQUAD - Red Alert (Squad)
Jerry Dammers talked him into joining the Coventry Automatics. He would replace singer Tim Strickland. The Coventry Automatics would become the Specials. The Coventry Automatics were a little slower and more on the reggae side so although there are a lot of songs on here that would become songs for the Specials, the Coventry Automatics were an early stage of the band's development. Here is an example of a song from the first LP.
THE COVENTRY AUTOMATICS - Concrete Jungle (Receiver)
THE SPECIALS - Long Shot Kick The Bucket - Liquidator - Skinhead Moonstomp (The Skinhead Symphony In Three Movements)
A medley of ska classics recorded at the BBC on October 22nd, 1979 referred to as the skinhead symphony in three movements.
THE SPECIALS would go on to release three albums and a ton of top 10 singles. So many hits. And after “Ghost Town” Hall left the Specials with Lynval Golding and Neville Staple to form FUN BOY THREE. FUN BOY THREE were described as a deadpan and oddly experimental new wave group and they worked with an all girl group named Bananarama that would have greater success. With this project the band would hit No. 7 with its cover of “Our Lips Are Sealed,” a 1981 hit for the Go-Go’s that Mr. Hall wrote with that band’s Jane Wiedlin, whom he briefly dated. Here's a track from the first LP that features early Banarama
FUN BOY THREE - It Ain't What You Do (Chrysalis)
THE COLOURFIELD - Colourfield (Chrysalis)
THE COLOURFIELD were formed in 1984 and were based on Manchester. They had that jangly pop 60’s sound that the SMITHS were already popularizing. This is where I lost track of Terry Hall but he would go on to play in many bands and even re-join the Specials in 2008 performing with them right up until 2018.
We’re going to go out with a song I got to see performed in a farmer’s field in Oakville thanks to the first Police Picnic and I had no idea what I was watching but I knew I loved it. Here's a clip from Much Music that the folks from UXB press posted.....Scroll through it to see the song "Enjoy Yourself".
THE SPECIALS - Enjoy Yourself (Reprise) (Two-Tone)
Year in review - 2022
Chris - Top 10 demos from the North of Turtle Island; random order
A.T.E.R. - Vidas Perdidas (Self-released)
SMUTHER - Institution (Slow Death)
CROSSHAIRS - Cockroach (Slow Death)
SUSPEX - Suspected (Greymatter)
TRENCHRAID - Inhuman System (Slow Death)
G.R.O.S.S. - The Jank (Sewercide)
VOLTAGE - Wolves of Russia (Slow Death)
CRISIS PARTY - Exist (Dirt Cult)
Top Ten non-Canadian (Rob)
THE ROUTES - Showroom Dummies (Topsy Turvy)
OSEES - Sacrifice (Castle Face)
1876 - We Will Remain (Self-Released)
LONG KNIFE - If You Want Blood (Beach Impediment / Black Water)
THE STREETWALKIN’ CHEETAHS - Come On And Dance (Rum Bar)
WEREWOLF JONES - Half Check (Big Neck)
THE ANOMALYS - Ready to Die (Slovenly)
THE BATTLEBEATS - Rest in Piss (Big Neck)
BAD MOJOS - I’m a Sinner (Self-Released)
THE CHATS - Emperor of the Beach (Bargain Bin)
Top 10 of 2022 (Andre)
COMPASSION - Vile Glow (Convulse)
EN LOVE - Wet Cement (Delayed Gratification)
RABBIT - Halo of Flies (Delayed Gratification)
ZULU - Fakin’ the Funk (You Got Did) (Flatspot)
LAW OF POWER - Born Into War (Flatspot)
ROLL CALL - Reaper Inside Your Mind (Bridge Nine)
CONSEC - Waste of Life (Futile Force)
PRAISE - All In A Dream (Revelation)
Top 10 cassettes (Stephe)
10 CHEAPNESS - Don't Just Bullshit (Stay Punk Music)
09 CRISIS PARTY - Numbers (Dirt Cult)
08 INFLUX - Leech Life (Self-released)
07 INVERTEBRATES - Down Under (Sorry State)
06 FAT JOCK - Line Up Eat Shit (Futile Force)
05 HEADCHEESE - I Can't Listen (Slow Death)
04 PRIME SUSPECT - G.O.M.B. - Panic Disorder (Manic Mantra)
03 PRIMAL BRAIN - Eat the street - (Self-Released)
02 CONSEC – Wheel of Pain (Futile Force)
01 MASSDEAD - Human Bargain Bin (Blown Out Media)
OLD - Jerk Off Parade (Self-Released)
BUTCHER’S LAUGH - Quantified (Slow Death)
BRAIN BAG - Shoot from the Hip (Slow Death)
DECK PISS - Deck Piss (Self-Released)