Jerry Dammers / Ghost Town (BBC Four) 08/01/2016

From The Story of 1981 (BBC Four) 8th of Jan 2016




http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06v9fdp

The Specials / Special Edition CD Remasters (30/03/2015)

3 x 2CD SPECIAL EDITION REMASTERS OF THE ALBUMS:

“SPECIALS”, “MORE SPECIALS” & “IN THE STUDIO”

WITH ADDITIONAL RARE BONUS MATERIAL, NON-ALBUM SINGLES, EP’S & B-SIDES,
NEW EXTENSIVE SLEEVENOTES,
PREVIOUSLY UNSEEN CHALKIE DAVIES’ PHOTOS AND NEW ALBUM COVERS



CD 1: ORIGINAL ALBUM
1. “Gangsters”
2. “A Message To You, Rudy”
3. “Do The Dog”
4. “It’s Up To You”
5. “Nite Klub”
6. “Doesn’t Make It Alright”
7. “Concrete Jungle”
8. “Too Hot”
9. “Monkey Man”
10. “(Dawning Of A) New Era”
11. “Blank Expression”
12. “Stupid Marriage”
13. “Too Much Too Young”
14. “Little Bitch”
15. “You’re Wondering Now”

CD 2: EXTRA SPECIALS
Too Much Too Young EP (live) by The Special AKA:
1. “Too Much Too Young”
2. “Guns Of Navarone”
3. “Skinhead Symphony”
a) “Long Shot Kick The Bucket”
b) “Liquidator”
c) “Skinhead Moon Stomp”
BBC In Concert At the Paris Theatre (15/12/79) by The Specials:
1. “(Dawning Of A) New Era”
2. “Do The Dog”
3. “Rat Race”
4. “Blank Expression”
5. “Rude Buoys Outa Jail”
6. “Concrete Jungle”
7. “Too Much Too Young”
8. “Guns Of Navarone”
9. Nite Klub”
10. “Gangsters”
11. Medley:
a) “Long Shot Kick The Bucket”
b) “Skinhead Moonstomp”




CD 1: ORIGINAL ALBUM
1. “Enjoy Yourself (It’s Later Than You Think)”
2. “Man At C&A”
3. “Hey, Little Rich Girl”
4. “Do Nothing”
5. “Pearl’s Café”
6. “Sock It To ‘Em J.B.”
7. “Stereotypes/Stereotypes – Pt. 2″
8. “Holiday Fortnight”
9. “I Can’t Stand It”
10. “International Jet Set”
11. “Enjoy Yourself (Reprise)”

CD 2: MORE EXTRA SPECIALS
Singles, b-sides and rarities by The Specials:
1. “Rat Race”
2. “Rude Buoys Outa Jail”
3. “Stereotypes Pts.1 & 2″ (John Peel session)
4. “International Jet Set” (single version)
5. “Rude Boys Outa Jail” (version) (featuring Neville Staples aka Judge Roughneck)
6. “Do Nothing” (single version) (featuring Rico with the Ice Rink String Sounds)
7. “Maggie’s Farm”
8. “Raquel”
9. “Why?” (extended version)
10. “Friday Night, Saturday Morning”
11. “Ghost Town” (full version)
12. “Sea Cruise” (John Peel session) (featuring Rico)
13. “You’re Wondering Now” (Kid Jensen session)



CD1: ORIGINAL ALBUM
1. “Bright Lights”
2. “Lonely Crowd”
3. “What I Like Most About You Is Your Girlfriend”
4. “House Bound”
5. “Night On The Tiles”
6. “Nelson Mandela”
7. “War Crimes”
8. “Racist Friend”
9. “Alcohol”
10. “Break Down The Door”

CD2:
Rarities by The Special AKA:
1. “The Boiler” (Rhoda and The Special AKA )
2. “Can’t Get A Break”
3. “Jungle Music” (Rico and The Special AKA )
BBC Peel Session 12/09/83 by The Special AKA:
4. “Lonely Crowd”
5. “Alcohol”
6. “Bright Lights”
Instrumentals by The Special AKA:
7. “Break Down The Door”
8. “Racist Friend”
9. “War Crimes”
10. “Theme From The Boiler”
11. “Bright Lights”
12. “Nelson Mandela”

Release Date: 30th March 2015

http://louderthanwar.com/the-specials-annoucw-3-x-2cd-special-edition-remasters-of-the-albums/

The Special AKA / In The Studio 180g 12" Vinyl LP (2014 Reissue)

True innovators of the punk era, The Specials began the British ska revival craze, combining the highly danceable ska and rocksteady beat with punk's energy and attitude, and taking on a more focused and informed political and social stance than their predecessors and peers. By October 1981, constant touring and differences over musical direction saw the original band line-up split but they soon regrouped and reformed as The Special AKA and released their third album In the Studio in 1984.

The album was over two years in the making and featured the hit singles "Nelson Mandela" and "Racist Friend." Newly remastered and reissued on heavyweight 180g vinyl.



The Special AKA - In The Studio

Side 1
1. Bright Lights
2. Lonely Crowd
3. Girlfriend
4. House Bound
5. Night On The Tiles
Side 2
1. Nelson Mandela
2. War Crimes
3. Racist Friend
4. Alcohol
5. Break Down The Door

Format: 12" Vinyl LP
Cat Number: CHR TT X5008
Release date: 27/10/2014

http://2-tone.info/2tone.pl?show151&

http://www.piccadillyrecords.com/prod/TheSpecialAKA-InTheStudio-Chrysalis-99904.html

Jerry Dammers / Ivor Novello inspiration award (22/05/14)

Legendary keyboard player picks up one of music industry's most prized awards - and dedicates it to his mum

Legendary Specials songwriter Jerry Dammers has been named a music industry inspiration at a major awards ceremony.

The founding member of the Coventry 2-Tone group picked up the inspiration award at the 59th Ivor Novello Awards in London.

It came three decades after his song, Nelson Mandela, stormed the charts calling for the release of the anti-apartheid campaigner.

Dammers scored a top 10 hit with the track performed by Special AKA.

The song became an anti-apartheid anthem and Mr Mandela, who died in December, was eventually released in 1990.

The annual awards, known as The Ivors, are presented by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors and are highly prized because they are voted for by songwriters and composers.

Dammers was presented with his award by former Clash guitarist Mick Jones, who described him as “the Tsar of Ska”.

Dammers - who no longer performs with the reformed Specials - revealed that he had almost missed the ceremony because his mother is ill, and dedicated his win to her.

Speaking backstage, the Ghost Town songwriter said he thought the idea of protest music was still thriving.

“I don’t think protest music necessarily has to have lyrics even,” he said. “You can have instrumental protest music, you know - jungle, dub-step, all of those are kind of abstract but still protest music like jazz was before.”

The Specials / Sock It To 'Em J.B. & Rat Race (Dub)

We’re pleased to announce The Specials 7” single ‘Sock It To ‘Em, JB/Rat Race’. This limited edition 7″ single will be released on the Two Tone Records label exclusively for Record Store Day on April 19th. It features two previously unreleased dub mixes created at the time of the ‘More Specials’ mixing sessions by John ‘Brad’ Bradbury (Sock It To ‘Em, JB) and Jerry Dammers (Rat Race). The single will be sold via participating independent retailers in the following countries; Australia, Canada, France, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Nordics, Benelux, UK & US



A Side
Sock It To 'Em J.B. (Dub)
(Dunn)
Produced and mixed by: John Bradbury

B Side
Rat Race (Dub)
(R. Radiation)
produced by: Dave Jordan
Mixed by: Jerry Dammers

2 Tone Records

CHS TT 32

P & C Chrysalis Records Ltd.

Released 19/04/2014

http://www.45cat.com/record/tt32

Stan Campbell / Stan Campbell (Edsel) 02/12/13

Stan Campbell first came to prominence as the lead vocalist on the classic "Free Nelson Mandela" single by The Special AKA in 1984, one of the all-time great protest songs.

Having left the band, he was signed to a solo deal by WEA, and recorded this one album in 1987, a mix of originals and cover versions, with a large array of musicians (including members of The Selecter, The Ruts as well as the likes of Guy Chambers and Hugh Masekela), before he disappeared from public view.

In this edition, expanded to include the six non-album singles A- and B-sides, Alan Robinson's lengthy annotation tells the story.



The Original Album

01 Years Go By
02 Crawfish
03 Seven More Days
04 Save the World
05 Dancing Troupe
06 Little More Faith
07 You'll never Know
08 Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
09 Can't Get Enough
10 Strange Fruit

"Bonus Tracks"

11 Crawfish (Extended Version)
12 Till We Meet Again
13 Years Go By (Extended Mix)
14 Inner City Blues
15 Mad Dog Days
16 Knockin' On Heaven's Door

Edsel: EDSA5020

http://www.propermusic.com/product-details/Stan-Campbell-Stan-Campbell-158471

Jerry Dammers / interview (Future FM)

Jerry Dammers – founder of The Specials and 2Tone brings his SPATIAL AKA ORCHESTRA to Norwich on 26th May 2012 for the first time as part of the NNFestival. Future Radio’s Kate Roma caught up with Jerry earlier in the week to find out more :) Date: 24/05/12 Length: 11:37 minutes http://www.futureradio.co.uk/podcast/2012/may/kate-roma-interviews-jerry-dammers

Jerry Dammers and Mick Jones / Chelsea Space 2011

Jerry Dammers and Mick Jones at CHELSEA space in front of Barney Bubbles innovative designs for Armed Forces and Glastonbury Fayre.

http://www.chelseaspace.org/blog/archives/1208

The Specials / Ghost Town E.P.

CHS TT 17

2 Tone Records

1981

The Specials / Stereotype

CHS TT 13

2 Tone Records

1980

The Special A.K.A. Live E.P. / Too Much Too Young

CHS TT 7

2 Tone Records

1980

The Specials + Rico / A Message To You Rudy

CHS TT 5

2 Tone Records

1979

The Special A.K.A. Gangsters VS. The Selecter

TT1 / TT2

2 Tone Records

1979

Jerry Dammers / The Spatial AKA Orchestra 18/11/11

Jerry Dammers / The Spatial AKA Orchestra 'Barbican 18/11/11

It was an absolutely brilliant concert: surprising, stimulating, awe-inspiring, tender, funny, and above all musical: it made me think again about tunes I thought I knew, and introduced me to wonderful songs new to me (in particular Blue Pepper by Duke Ellington, and I'll wait for you by Sun Ra). The band consists of...wait for it....27 musicians (or thereabouts - there were also a number of mannequins positioned in and around the band, some of them apparently playing instruments, which made counting people difficult!): 9 brass and woodwind, 5 strings, 3 guitars, 2 keyboards, 4 drums, percussion and vibes, and 4 singers. The music was eclectic (an overused word I know but absolutely precise in this case), encompassing Captain Beefheart, 'Library Music' (not sure what this is), Ellington, Coltrane, a reworked and even more doom-laden Ghost Town by the original Specials, cheerful ska classics, Edgar Broughton, Johnny Clarke, Dvorak, In the Bleak Midwinter, and especially the music of Sun Ra, pioneer and promoter of black consciousness and interplanetary travel, spiritual mentor and forerunner of George Clinton and Funkadelic. Spatial AKA, like the Sun Ra orchestra, were kitted out in glittery and vaguely Egyptian robes, hairpieces, sunglasses and/or masks, arrived on stage piecemeal from amongst the audience, while making a collective sound like a gathering storm of didgeridoos (one instrument unaccountably absent from the proceedings). They played continuously for three hours, and then for another half an hour out in the lobby as everyone was leaving!

Visually, the movements of the band members and their costumes were augmented by a strange set involving already mentioned mannequins, three of which were painted silver and suspended above the band as if flying, along with what I gradually realised was a small lunar module about to crash to earth. Behind the band was a continuously changing and layered projection of slides, videos, and psychedelic lightshow, the like of which I haven't seen for years: it took me happily back to New Riders of the Purple Sage at Surrey University in about 1972! But this backdrop wasn't just for decoration, it imparted a powerful cultural and political flavour to the music, so that even though there were almost no overt political statements or references during the set, the whole experiene was flavoured with a clear enough set of political messages and affiliations.

There were so many terrific musical and visual moments: Alcyona Mick playing whirlwind piano solos while apparently motionless, a kettle drum solo involving continuous de-tuning and retuning of the drums during the solo, wonderful ensemble arrangements and solos amongst the brass, woodwind and strings sections, complex textures added by percussion and vibes, and poetry and scat singing as well as a joyous impersonation of the late great Captain Beefheart by Edgar Broughton, himself something of a legend in his own lunchtime for those of us of a certain age, singing Frownland from Trout Mask Replica. Johnny Clarke, the great Jamaican reggae singer, came on like a cheerful psychedelic Santa Claus, all in yellow and with locks reaching down to his calves! For me the single best moment was Francine Luce singing Sun Ra's I'll wait for you, in memory of her father. The band's website has a few short clips of music, and there are more on Youtube, but don't let anything stop you from seeing them live if you can.

Why am I writing about the Spatial AKA Orchestra here, in a blog focussed mainly on education? Well, the sheer size of the band got me thinking about the kind of organisation needed to put a concert like this together, and this led on to a perennial topic of thought and conversation with me: the qualities needed by the people who run such enterprises. I'd love to talk to Jerry Dammers about this: his must be an incredibly complex and difficult job. He is thought of as a song-writer and arranger, but he's obviously much more than that. The economics of big bands can't be easy: many, if not all, of the individual members of the Spatial AKA are absolutely at the top of the tree in their various specialisms, and they all need to make a living. I read somewhere that Miles Davis's legendary Birth of the Cool septet only existed long enough to make a single record, and didn't play any gigs, because even with only seven they couldn't earn enough in New York in the late 40s. Ellington and Basie managed it somehow, but for them it may have been easier because popular musical taste demanded large dance bands, at least during some periods; that is hardly the situation in 2011. Captain Beefheart's uncompromising vision led him, allegedly, to shut his band up for a year to practice, hardly feeding them anything, let alone paying them, until they were note-perfect on Trout Mask Replica. The band-leader's job, apart from choosing and arranging songs (for 27 parts!), includes all the organisational issues of publicity and marketing, negotiating and agreeing contracts with concert halls and promoters, travel and accommodation (for 27!), and then, most interestingly of all, the people-management issues within the band itself. There must be so many potential headaches among such a large group of creative people! Is Jerry an Arsene Wenger, an Alex Ferguson, or an ashen-faced Ron Knee? His musical arrangements depend for their success on the skills of all the individuals playing them: suppose some of them aren't so enthusiastic about them? This is analogous to footballers having to play within the tactical system designed by their manager: we know all too well how easily confidence of the manager in the player's capability, or of the player in the manager's system, can be broken down - similar issues must arise in big bands too.

All of this points to the fact that an enterprise like the Spatial AKA Orchestra is no trivial project, and this makes me marvel all the more at last week's gig: it was a triumph not just of musical creation and re-creation, but of leadership and organisation too. Each depends on the other. Thanks to everyone involved!

http://jayoptimistic.blogspot.com/2011/11/creativity-and-leadership-jerry-dammers.html

Jerry Dammers / Free Nelson Mandela Live 2008

Nelson Mandela joined music stars on stage at a concert in London's Hyde Park to celebrate his 90th birthday.



The concert’s finale featured anti-apartheid campaigner and musician Jerry Dammers, who organized the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute. Dammers and Winehouse led the entire line-up of performers and the crowd in singing Dammers’ anthem “Free Nelson Mandela.” Formerly sung in protest against Mandela’s imprisonment, the song took on a celebratory tone and was a fitting end to an historic event.

All proceeds from the concert will go to 46664, the Nelson Mandela Foundation's campaign for global HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention.

"This post is a Tribute to Amy Winehouse who sadly passed away earlier this year"

Amy Winehouse

R.I.P.

http://rapidshare.com/files/164522461/V-Amy_Winehouse___Jerry_Dammers_-_90th_Birthday_Nelson_Mandela_Concert.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/164524771/V-Amy_Winehouse___Jerry_Dammers_-_90th_Birthday_Nelson_Mandela_Concert.part2.rar

Jerry Dammers / Loose Ends BBC Radio 4

The much too young Nikki Bedi will be talking to her very special guest Jerry Dammers about founding 2 Tone Records and ska revival band 'The Specials'. His latest musical venture 'Jerry Dammers Spatial AKA Orchestra' is a mash-up of Sun Ra, Massive Attack, Specials and reggae, all filtered through Dammer's unique musical vision. They're performing at The Barbican as part of London's Jazz Festival on Friday 18th November.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0171yjw#synopsis

Jerry Dammers’ The Spatial AKA Orchestra / The Barbican 2011

Following their highly acclaimed national tour and appearances at Glastonbury and on Later with Jools Holland, Jerry Dammers’ Spatial AKA Orchestra return to play a London date at the Barbican.

The Specials and 2 Tone founder Jerry Dammers’ funk and dub influenced arrangements of his selections from cosmic jazz, reggae, exotica and library music, have formed backdrops for some of the country’s finest jazz improvisers, in his highly acclaimed orchestra.

Orchestra favourites, new selections paying homage to a variety of futurist musical dreamers, adaptations of Dammers’ own songs, and a small amount of original material, are now moving the orchestra beyond its “Sun Ra Tribute band” starting point. Alternative musical styles, not always associated with jazz (from rock to jungle or dubstep) are also somewhere in the mix.

Featuring: Jason Yarde, Denys Baptiste, Larry Stabbins, Nathaniel Facey, Shabaka Hutchings, Terry Edwards (saxes), Finn Peters (flute), Robin Hopcraft (trumpet), Harry Brown (trombone), Anthony Joseph (vocals), Francine Luce (vocals), Alcyona Mick (piano), Roger Beaujolais (vibes), Larry Bartley (double bass), Patrick Illingworth (drums), Crispin “Spry” Robinson (percussion), Steve Gibson (percussion), Ollie Bayley (electric bass), Patrick Hatchett, Guy Clarke (guitars), Jerry Dammers (keyboards).

http://www.barbican.org.uk/music/event-detail.asp?ID=12611

Jerry Dammers / The Spatial AKA Orchestra (BBC 6 Music)

30/10/11

Songwriter/keyboardist Jerry Dammers founded, and designed the logo for, 2 Tone Records, and formed The Specials writing Ghost Town and many of the Specials other hits. Dammers has been a working D.J. for over 15 years and formed the Spatial A.K.A. Orchestra in 2008.

He will be chatting to Cerys ahead of his show Cosmic Engineering: A tribute to Sun Ra and other mystic mavericks. Featuring some of the UK's finest jazz musicians and his 18-piece orchestra he pays tribute to the cosmic jazz of Sun Ra and Alice Coltrane by mingling their sounds with those of dub innovator Coxsone Dodd, Exotica pioneer Martin Denny and many more.

Cerys and Jerry Dammers



http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b016k3dz

Imelda May / Ghost Town "Live" 2007

Imelda May Performs The Specials, Ghost Town At The Glee Club, Birmingham 27/08/07 Backed by The Palookaville! Burlesque Orchestra :)

Imelda May - Ghost Town - Candy Box Burlesque from Carrie Alice on Vimeo.

http://vimeo.com/20152620

Pat Graham / Instrument (Book) Includes Jerry Dammers

Last weekend I photographed a load of Jerry Dammer’s keyboards for my upcoming photo book called Instrument. It was Guy Fawkes fireworks/ halloween weekend. This keyboard summed that up. Special thanks to Ben Norton for assistance and taking some shots as well. And Jerry of course for letting us do this.



By Pat Graham 11/11/09

http://www.patgraham.org/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Instrument-Pat-Graham/dp/0811874745

http://www.roughtrade.com/site/news_detail.lasso?story_id=1546