In 1979 Jerry Dammers from ska band The Specials launched the cult music label 2 Tone Records, with the support of major label Chrysalis. 2 Tone was most famous for releasing ska and reggae-influenced music with a punk rock and pop music overtone, spawned from the 2 Tone music and cultural movement of the 1970s.
Artwork was central to 2 Tone Records and with the assistance of Horace Panter and graphic designer John "Teflon" Sims, Dammers created the Walt Jabsco logo which portrays a man in a black suit, white shirt, black tie, pork pie hat, white socks and black loafers. The fictional character was based on a photograph of Peter Tosh, a former member of The Wailers and came to be the logo that represented the movement, and the music.
The Best of 2 Tone is a new compilation of the best tracks from the label‰۪s history, including The Specials ‰Û÷A Message to You Rudy‰۪, the debut single from Madness ‰Û÷The Prince‰۪ and The Beat‰۪s classic cover of Smokey Robinson‰۪s ‰Û÷Tears of a Clown‰۪
TRACKLIST:
- GangstersåÊ - The Special AKA
- The Selecter - The Selecter
- The Prince - Madness
- On My Radio - The Selecter
- A Message To You Rudy - The Specials
- Tears Of A Clown - The Beat
- Too Much Too Young ‰ÛÒ The Special AKA
- Three Minute Hero - The Selecter
- Ranking Full Stop - The Beat
- Rat Race - The Specials
- People Do Rocksteady - Bodysnatchers
- Missing Words - The Selecter
- Stereotype - The Specials
- Sea Cruise - Rico
- Do Nothing - The Specials
- Ghost Town - The Specials
- Nelson Mandela ‰ÛÒ The Special AKA
- The Boiler ‰ÛÒ Rhoda and The Special AKA