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This Are Two Tone was the first Two Tone Records compilation, and features singles by The Specials, Madness, The Selecter, The Beat, The Bodysnatchers, Rhoda Daker and The Swinging Cats.
Jerry Dammers of the ska revival band the Specials started the record label in 1979.Chrysalis had wanted to sign the Specials, but Dammers arranged a label deal, for Chrysalis to fund 15 singles a year and release at least ten of those.[3]
The label spawned the 2 Tone music and cultural movement, which was popular among skinheads, rudies and some mod revivalists. The label stopped operating in 1986, though "2 Tone" is still used as an imprint for back catalogue issues.
The complete UK Discography of the label from 1979 through to 1985, plus the subsequent compilation releases containing 2 Tone catalogue numbers.
Wha'ppen? is the second studio album by British ska band the Beat, released in 1981 via Go-Feet Records. After the critical and commercial success of I Just Can't Stop It (1980), which mixed ska, reggae and punk rock with social lyrics, the band changed direction on Wha'ppen?, taking influence from many other musical styles which were intriguing the band, including African, steel band and dub music, while keeping reggae at its core.
The Beat formed in 1978 and became "one of the earliest and most important ska revivalist groups with their multiracial line-up and alternating lead vocals from toaster Ranking Roger and guitarist Dave Wakeling. They were part of the two-tone music scene in the Midlands that mixed ska, reggae, punk rock and politically and socially conscious lyrics. They briefly signed to 2 Tone Records for their debut single, a cover of "Tears of a Clown," before creating Go-Feet Records
The band formed in Leicester as a six-piece, composed of musicians from various local bands and students from the Leicester School of Art.Four members of the band had previously been in an industrial band named I Y A Volkswagens, which had released one single on Rough Trade Records called "Kill Myself"
In 1982 the band signed to Coventry's 2 Tone Records and changed their name to The Apollinaires, expanding to a ten-piece at the same time with the addition an in-house horn section. They recorded their first single, "The Feeling's Gone" with Jerry Dammers, featuring vocals from Rhoda Dakar of The Bodysnatchers.
Gosh It's ... Bad Manners is the third album by British 2 Tone and ska band Bad Manners from the year 1981 and their most popular and successful album, peaking at number 18 on the UK album chart.
One Step Beyond. .. is the debut studio album by the British ska-pop group Madness, released by Stiff Records. Recorded and mixed in about three weeks, the album peaked at number two and remained on the UK Albums Chart for more than a year.Not strictly Two Tone label but embraces the style so well that everyone thinks it is. This album, along with the Specials' self-titled debut—released on the same day in October 1979—played an important part in popularising 2 tone music in the UK. These albums were also a great influence on other bands of the genre.
Formed in London by Nicky Summers in 1979, in the aftermath of the punk rock scene, The Bodysnatchers released two ska/rocksteady singles on 2 Tone Records. Their first concert was in November 1979 at the Windsor Castle pub in west London, where they supported Shane MacGowan's band The Nips.
After signing to 2 Tone Records, the band released the single "Let's Do Rock Steady" and made an appearance on Top of the Pops in March 1980. They undertook a tour supporting The Selecter in spring 1980, and during that summer toured with The Specials and The Go-Go's. They also released the double A side single "Easy Life"/"Too Experienced" which was produced by Jerry Dammers
They appeared in the documentary film Dance Craze, featuring live performances by various 2 Tone bands. The Bodysnatchers played together for less than two years, with the group disbanding in 1981, not having released an album.
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