Search - Various Artists :: 2 Tone Collection: Checkered Past

Complete Track & Artist List

T. S. Hunter | Cedarpines Park, CA, United States | 02/03/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Correct Title: "The 2 Tone Collection: A Checkered Past" 2CD



CD1

1. The Special AKA (The Specials) - "Gangsters" (2:44)

2. The Selecter - "The Selecter" (2:57)

3. Madness - "The Prince" (2:32)

4. The Selecter - "On My Radio" (3:16)

5. The Specials (featuring Rico) - "A Message to You Rudy" (2:51)

6. The Specials (featuring Rico) - "Nite Klub" (3:09)

7. The Beat (The English Beat) - "Tears of a Clown" (2:39)

8. The Beat (The English Beat) - "Ranking Full Stop" (2:47)

9. The Special AKA (The Specials) - "Too Much Too Young" (2:03)

10. The Special AKA (The Specials) - "Guns of Navarone" (2:25)

11. The Selecter - "Three Minute Hero" (3:00)

12. The Bodysnatchers - "Let's Do Rock Steady" (2:54)

13. The Bodysnatchers - "Ruder Than You" (2:50)

14. The Selecter - "Missing Words" (3:20)

15. The Specials - "Rat Race" (3:07)

16. The Specials - "Rude Boys Outa Jail" (2:37)

17. The Bodysnatchers - "Easy Life" (3:12)

18. The Bodysnatchers - "Too Experienced" (2:33)

19. The Specials - "Stereotype" (3:50)

20. The Specials - "International Jet Set" (4:12)

21. The Swinging Cats - "Away" (3:13)

22. The Swinging Cats - "Mantovani" (3:14)

23. Rico - "Sea Cruise" (3:02)

24. The Specials (featuring Rico & the Ice Rink String Sounds) - "Do Nothing" (3:39)

25. The Specials - "Maggie's Farm" (3:31)



CD2

1. The Specials - "Ghost Town" (3:40)

2. The Special AKA (The Specials) with Rhoda - "The Boiler" (5:42)

3. The Special AKA (The Specials) with Rico - "Jungle Music" (4:00)

4. The Apollinaires - "The Feeling's Gone" (3:45)

5. The Higsons - "Tear the Whole Thing Down" (3:22)

6. The Higsons - "Ylang Ylang" (4:55)

7. The Apollinaires - "Envy the Love" (4:03)

8. The Special AKA (The Specials) - "War Crimes (The Crime Remains the Same)" (3:43)

9. The Higsons - "Run Me Down" (3:47)

10. The Special AKA (The Specials) - "Racist Friend" (3:35)

11. The Special AKA (The Specials) - "Bright Lights" (4:10)

12. The Special AKA (The Specials) - "Nelson Mandela" (4:12)

13. The Special AKA (The Specials) - "Break Down the Door" (3:48)

14. The Special AKA (The Specials) - "What I Like Most About You is Your Girlfriend" (4:49)

15. The Friday Club - "Window Shopping" (3:58)

16. J.B.'s Allstars - "The Alphabet Army" (3:09)

17. The Specials - "Raquel" (1:56)

18. The Specials (with Roddy Radiation) - "Braggin' and Trying Not to Lie" (3:21)

19. Neville Staples (Judge Roughneck) - "Rude Boys Outa Jail" (4:04)



This is the best 2nd Wave Ska (UK) compilation out there, period. It contains all the singles from the 2 Tone imprint (except Elvis Costello because of copyright constraints). Chances are, you've heard most of these on the radio at one time or another, back when radio was still ska-friendly (what happened?). Now if they'd just release a 1st Wave (Jamaica) and 3rd Wave (Orange County, California) true to this idea, we would all be in ska heaven. This is absolutely essential, and if you don't have it already, you need to buy it yesterday."

Stop Your Messin' Around

David Bradley | Sterling, VA USA | 08/25/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Like the Ska scene of the late 70s and early 80s this package is dominated by the Specials, and rightfully so. They had bounce, a great horn section and, like their contemporaries the Clash and the Sex Pistols they had brains in their heads. That's a wicked combo.The first disc has the more earthy and rough-hewn records that were popular in nightclubs on both sides of the Atlantic; most of the great stuff from the first couple of Specials LPs, the Beat's excellent cover of Smokey Robinson's "Tears of A Clown"---too bad "Save It For Later" couldn't have been included--and a few tunes from The Selector help make it a classic side.Despite some inspired selections, the second disc is too slick and decidedly less interesting. Again, the tunes from the Specials carry the day--"Ghost Town" may have been the best thing the Specials ever did--but the Apollinaires, Higsons, and the Friday Club sound like filler to me.Overall, though, A CHECKERED PAST gives an accurate and lively insight into what I consider the Golden Age of British Ska. If nothing else, it's a great overview of the Specials under rated career."

A comprehensive primer for the unitiated

T. S. Hunter | 09/12/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Now that ska has infiltrated modern alternative radio in every way shape and form, perhaps it is due time to return to the source. The 2 Tone Collection is a nearly flawless overview of Britain's initial ska craze of the eighties. From the archetypical white boy swagger of Madness ("The Prince" is included, though "One Step Beyond" is unfortunately absent), to the dynamic girl vocal bands like The Selector (wherein we can clearly hear where No Doubt's Gwen Stefani copped her vibrato inflected vocal style). And of course there is the timeless, "A Message To You Rudy" by The Specials. The Apollinaires, The Higsons, JB's Allstars, The Bodysnatchers, and on and on: all of the once vital ska acts are represented here. The recent ska revival (which has now seemingly morphed into the swing revival) owes a lot to these obscure acts of yesterday, who manage to combine elements of reggae, swing, latin, and motown into one rude stew. As The Bodysnatchers proclaim: "Let's Do Rock steady!""