Various – The Best Of 2 Tone

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 features 18 tracks, including the first single from Madness (“The Prince“), the Beat’s classic cover of Smokey Robinson’s “Tears Of A Clown,” and Bodysnatchers’ “Let’s Do Rocksteady,” plus three more songs by the Selector: “On My Radio,” “Three Minute Hero” and “Missing Words.”

2 x Vinyl, LP, Compilation, Limited Edition, Reissue, Clear