What do you think?
Rate this book
The Two Tone Story
1979. The dawning of a new era. The 2 Tone era. An era that was to see good old black and white dance music walk all over the colourful circus of pretty faces that rock n' roll had become. This is the story of the rise and fall of 2 Tone and British ska. Complete with full discography, THE TWO TONE STORY takes you back to the days when bands like The Specials, Madness and The Beat led the way onto the nation's dancefloors. Prepare to party!
THE TWO TONE STORY was George Marshall's first book. His love of 2 Tone began in 1979 and has now lasted over 30 years.
THE TWO TONE STORY was George Marshall's first book. His love of 2 Tone began in 1979 and has now lasted over 30 years.
Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
20 people are currently reading
118 people want to read
About the author
George Marshall
84 books7 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 12, 2018
I grew up listing to a lot of two tone music, the specials, the beat etc. and this book was a great insight into the 2 tone label. From its humble beginnings in Coventry to the bands that made it onto the label. The book is writing in a very refreshing and open style that made it easy to read. Well worth a read
May 17, 2023
This is a modest cultural and historical account of the rise of the “2 Tone” record label.
2 Tone was borne from the eccentric and ramshackle genius of the music legend Jeffrey Dammers. The label was created alongside the rise of 2 Tone’s first band; The Specials. 2 Tone grew and then endured with the unusual arrangement of Dammers both managing the label (which eventually became owned by the larger Chrysalis label) and being the keyboardist of one of the most lively, and sometimes dysfunctional, bands of the era. The Specials were all about making music to dance to, but doing so with subversive lyrics to reflect on the grim realities of life in the city in late 1970s and early 1980s Britain. To spread their message The Specials, after a few years of growing and learning, decided to adopt the Jamaican music tradition of Ska. This was during a time when music experimentation with Ska and reggae in Britain, and especially the Midlands, was rife. 2 Tone ensured Coventry would become one of the focal points for this legendary period in popular British music.
2 Tone also helped spark off for the careers for many bands including The Selecter and famously Madness. But much like The Specials many of these bands were short-lived, although Madness managed to buck this trend. Unfortunately, 2 Tone suffered from being both an aspirational symbol but also being under the questionable management style of Dammers. The Specials were over in a couple of years after their debut, succeeded by the less successful The Specials AKA.
I read this book as a quick read before myself and my wife visited Coventry to attend a Murder Mystery Night but also explore the city’s 2 Tone history. In that objective this book was successful. But without being too rude (and not in the Rude Boy/Girl tradition), this book comes across as more of a modest fanboy effort than a thorough Music Journalist job. That is both the book’s advantage and it’s greatest weakness. To be completely frank some Music Journalists can be entertaining and informative while others are pretentious and tedious in broadcasting their judgements.
But honestly, there were times when this book could have used a bit more structure and wider context. That said dismissing the effort the author made would not do the book justice. I was in particular impressed with his diligence for cataloguing when either bootleg live recordings or 2 Tone vault material was released. In terms of what was released and when they certainly did their homework.
The legacy of 2 Tone was in output terms modest but culturally for the UK and wider very significant. “Ghost Town” by The Specials is probably one of the most important social-political records of the 20th Century, arguably very relevant for the UK once beset by the economic ills of an unaccountable Tory Government. “Nelson Mandela”, from The Specials AKA, not only got over barriers to get in the UK charts but also got passed the strict censorship of Apartheid South Africa.
In a strange way this book is much like 2 Tone itself. Brief. Oddly arranged and managed. But definitely worth one’s time.
2 Tone was borne from the eccentric and ramshackle genius of the music legend Jeffrey Dammers. The label was created alongside the rise of 2 Tone’s first band; The Specials. 2 Tone grew and then endured with the unusual arrangement of Dammers both managing the label (which eventually became owned by the larger Chrysalis label) and being the keyboardist of one of the most lively, and sometimes dysfunctional, bands of the era. The Specials were all about making music to dance to, but doing so with subversive lyrics to reflect on the grim realities of life in the city in late 1970s and early 1980s Britain. To spread their message The Specials, after a few years of growing and learning, decided to adopt the Jamaican music tradition of Ska. This was during a time when music experimentation with Ska and reggae in Britain, and especially the Midlands, was rife. 2 Tone ensured Coventry would become one of the focal points for this legendary period in popular British music.
2 Tone also helped spark off for the careers for many bands including The Selecter and famously Madness. But much like The Specials many of these bands were short-lived, although Madness managed to buck this trend. Unfortunately, 2 Tone suffered from being both an aspirational symbol but also being under the questionable management style of Dammers. The Specials were over in a couple of years after their debut, succeeded by the less successful The Specials AKA.
I read this book as a quick read before myself and my wife visited Coventry to attend a Murder Mystery Night but also explore the city’s 2 Tone history. In that objective this book was successful. But without being too rude (and not in the Rude Boy/Girl tradition), this book comes across as more of a modest fanboy effort than a thorough Music Journalist job. That is both the book’s advantage and it’s greatest weakness. To be completely frank some Music Journalists can be entertaining and informative while others are pretentious and tedious in broadcasting their judgements.
But honestly, there were times when this book could have used a bit more structure and wider context. That said dismissing the effort the author made would not do the book justice. I was in particular impressed with his diligence for cataloguing when either bootleg live recordings or 2 Tone vault material was released. In terms of what was released and when they certainly did their homework.
The legacy of 2 Tone was in output terms modest but culturally for the UK and wider very significant. “Ghost Town” by The Specials is probably one of the most important social-political records of the 20th Century, arguably very relevant for the UK once beset by the economic ills of an unaccountable Tory Government. “Nelson Mandela”, from The Specials AKA, not only got over barriers to get in the UK charts but also got passed the strict censorship of Apartheid South Africa.
In a strange way this book is much like 2 Tone itself. Brief. Oddly arranged and managed. But definitely worth one’s time.
August 9, 2020
The Two Tone Story by George Marshall
The Two Tone Story by George Marshall not only covers the height of 2Tone in 1979/1980, but the build-up and aftermath too. It is a comprehensive account full of interesting information, that is well written and enjoyable to read. I’d highly recommend this book to anyone who lived through 2 Tone of a youth cult during the 1980s.
I was immediately drawn into this book and transported to my own time of being in love with 2 Tone – the music, the style, the memories.
Marshall has an interesting tone of writing. The chapter titles and references to song lyrics will have you singing along in your head. I now know that “one art level” was more than a random made-up lyric.
It starts with the early musical career of Jerry Dammers and what led him to begin the 2- Tone movement. It came from a fusion of all the youth cults such as punk, ska, reggae, mod, and soul.
There are lots of geeky backstories of how the bands formed and facts from along the way. There are references to the way music was shaped back then – Sounds, Melody Maker, New Musical Express, John Peel, and the chart show Top of the Pops all played a big part.
Several London venues get a mention – The Hope and Anchor, Dublin Castle, Electric Ballroom, The Lyceum, even the Clarendon Ballroom (Klub Foot). All of these venues played a part in my gigging life in later years.
The Two Tone Story covers all the bands associated with the label and the 2-Tone scene, including The Specials, The Selecter, The Beat, Bad Manners, Bodysnatchers, Dexys and UB40, even lesser know bands like The Swinging Cats
A really interesting and informative book. Highly recommended.
Available on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and in paperback.
The Two Tone Story by George Marshall not only covers the height of 2Tone in 1979/1980, but the build-up and aftermath too. It is a comprehensive account full of interesting information, that is well written and enjoyable to read. I’d highly recommend this book to anyone who lived through 2 Tone of a youth cult during the 1980s.
I was immediately drawn into this book and transported to my own time of being in love with 2 Tone – the music, the style, the memories.
Marshall has an interesting tone of writing. The chapter titles and references to song lyrics will have you singing along in your head. I now know that “one art level” was more than a random made-up lyric.
It starts with the early musical career of Jerry Dammers and what led him to begin the 2- Tone movement. It came from a fusion of all the youth cults such as punk, ska, reggae, mod, and soul.
There are lots of geeky backstories of how the bands formed and facts from along the way. There are references to the way music was shaped back then – Sounds, Melody Maker, New Musical Express, John Peel, and the chart show Top of the Pops all played a big part.
Several London venues get a mention – The Hope and Anchor, Dublin Castle, Electric Ballroom, The Lyceum, even the Clarendon Ballroom (Klub Foot). All of these venues played a part in my gigging life in later years.
The Two Tone Story covers all the bands associated with the label and the 2-Tone scene, including The Specials, The Selecter, The Beat, Bad Manners, Bodysnatchers, Dexys and UB40, even lesser know bands like The Swinging Cats
A really interesting and informative book. Highly recommended.
Available on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and in paperback.
February 22, 2021
I have been a ska fan (more specifically 2 Tone) since the age of 14 or 15, so I really can't give this little book an objective review. It has been sitting on my shelves for a while, waiting for the right time, I guess. Information on 2 Tone is finite and I sort of want to spread it out and savor it. Anyway, I fell down the ska rabbit hole again this winter and finally read this comprehensive and peppy book written by an obvious fan. Needless to say I loved it and am probably going to devour the rest of my ska nonfiction stash this year.
March 6, 2018
An excellent source on 2 Tone and The Specials. This book is a permanent fixture when I recommend reading material to anyone curious about the subject. I especially enjoy that this book includes information important for record collectors and a discography.
May 1, 2008
George Marshal’s ‘The Two Tone Story’ is essential reading for anyone interested in the good ship Two Tone and all who sailed on her, not just for the accuracy of the story as told by George but also because it is written with the love and perfect understanding of a true fan rather than a journalist giving us a story. The Two Tone Story is not just the story of the bands but also of the badge covered Harrington and Sta’ Pressed wearing fans of whom both George and I could claim to be amongst.
Reading this book gives me two stories, the story of a record label ran by a maverick set of musicians on co-operative lines (at least at first; cocaine lines may have eventually de-railed it) but also the story of myself and the gang of friends who hung around the Halton youth club in the early eighties.
The Specials, Madness and The Beat definitely left me Ska’d for life and this book celebrates those heavy days in a way no one whom never wore a black and white cheque button badge could ever understand. The good people at Chrysalis were as impressed as me and included the book in ‘The Compact Two Tone Story’ box set when they first made these beautiful 7” discs of plastic first available on CD. This Are Two Tone; This our Two Tone.
Reading this book gives me two stories, the story of a record label ran by a maverick set of musicians on co-operative lines (at least at first; cocaine lines may have eventually de-railed it) but also the story of myself and the gang of friends who hung around the Halton youth club in the early eighties.
The Specials, Madness and The Beat definitely left me Ska’d for life and this book celebrates those heavy days in a way no one whom never wore a black and white cheque button badge could ever understand. The good people at Chrysalis were as impressed as me and included the book in ‘The Compact Two Tone Story’ box set when they first made these beautiful 7” discs of plastic first available on CD. This Are Two Tone; This our Two Tone.
July 31, 2013
it was ok...not really sure what I was expecting. Pretty thin on the ground as far as depth and insight, more a chronology...still doesn't take long to whiz through and one upside, it got me to listen to Nelson Mandela again, top track!
September 1, 2016
If anything this booked ended too soon. I love the Two Tone movement and it lives on today. I feel that the Specials created something really special with this music and inspiring other bands to do so. This is a great, fun read.
September 6, 2012
Good book, well written, does what it says on the tin.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews