Key Reggae bands & artists:

Clement Sir Coxsone Dodd, Duke Reid, Prince Buster

The Skatalites

Toots and the Maylels

The Impressions, Alton Ellis, Marcia Griffiths

King Tubby

Desmond Dekker

Bob Marley

Jimmy Cliff

Madness

Lee scratch Perry

Musical Style

Their music combined a "danceable ska and rocksteady beat with punk's energy and attitude".

The first two albums featured cover versions of original ska songs sunch as Dandy Livingstone's "Rudy, A Message to You", Toots & the Maytals Monkey Man and the song "Gangsters" , featured a sample of squealing tires taken from Prince Buster's (featuring the skatalites) ska hit "Al Capone".

This music also combines features from the punk music that was contemporary to the specials hey day! THINK, what are the key features of punk? (are they similar to Ska and reggae at all?

(too much too young has a really punky guitar break)

Contemporary bands from the time include The Clash & Madness. These three bands really influenced each other and created quiet a scene in the late 1970s and early 1980s

Cultural Aspects

The band wore mod-style "1960s period rude-boy outfits (porkpie hats, tonic and mohair suits, and loafers). Their songs had a "more focused and informed political and social stance" than other ska groups. Eg Ghost Town from 1981 was themed around the unemployment issues of the time (check out the early 80s video on You Tube!). The song Too much too young from 1980 sang about teenage pregnancy and contraception. A later song (1984) celebrated the cause of Nelson Mandela. Founding band member Jerry Dammers eventually dissolved the band in the mid 80s and pursued political activism

Key Features:

Horn Sections

Skanking on the guitar

Political subjects covered in the lyrics

Lots of percussion klines including Bongos and Timbales (Too much too young uses loads of timbales)

Toasting

Long reverberation on the vocals

Mostly used chords I IV & V

Rude boy outfits combined with a Mod image: (dont forget: pork pie hats, loafers, etc)