First single I ever bought. The band was from Coventry, England, but I think the video was shot in London. This song is one of the most culturally important tunes for this country; very much of its time, it was a reaction to the rise of Conservative prime minister Margaret Thatcher [makes a holy sign to ward off evil]. So many businesses went under, and the government started privatising (ie selling off to anyone with money, regardless of their country of origin) all the things that had previously been nationalised (owned by the country). Energy suppliers, transport infrastructure - all now owned by people who were more interested in a profit than a system or product that worked well. A trickle of businesses being lost to outside influences became a flood, and suddenly you had town centres with more boarded-up windows than not, haunted by people who suddenly had no money, no jobs, no future. In case you hadn't guessed by now, yes, I was part of that generation that got screwed over. Indoctrinated by schools that this way the way of the world before throwing us out into it without telling us how to survive it. This is why Thatcher is one of UK politics' greatest bogeymen - although Boris Johnson seems hell-bent on taking her place, along with other right-wing arseholes like Nigel Farage... ...I'm gonna shut up before I pop a vein. Play more ska. reggae, and 2-Tone, please!
I came to the comments to explain it but you put it far better that I could have. I struggle to comment on the Thatcher years (I'm 55 and from South Yorkshire (so, y'know, miners)) without resorting to a mass of expletives.
@@trubblebubble1I'm 55 too from a West Midlands coal town. Coventry was just down the road. I feel like we are watching it happen all over again after 13 years of Tory misrule and an ineffective opposition.
People always forget the horrors of the early seventies: power cuts, sharing bathwater, bodies unburied, strikes crippling industry, IMF intervention, etc. Thatcherism was a reaction to that. It may have been the wrong reaction in hindsight but it's clearly both wrong and futile to simply label it as "evil" - you won't learn any lessons for the future if you don't understand the past.
I only implied - humorously - that Thatcher herself was evil. It may be futile (and well after the fact), but arguments could be made for and against wrong. Also, while I agree that a lot of the 70s was bad, and the unions were basically razing the economy, I just wish there had been a better solution than making a fast quid, and taking the country to the polar opposite of the spectrum.
Its a very political song. Coventry's main industry was engineering and the motor industry. Thatcher's govt. moved the production overseas and drove many, many Coventry workers into unemployment. Such a lovely woman, she'd a heart of stone and the compassion of Stalin.
Context: early 80s Britain; economically devastated; racism at every corner; the UK ska revival was also part of a multi-ethnic reaction TO that racism, to the cynicism that was blighting this beleaguered nation of ours. Darkness and light. Repression and freedom. Masterpiece. And it was a MASSIVE hit. R.I.P. Terry Hall.
Beautiful, scenic Coventry. The song, from what i gather, is a statement about the UK recession at the time under Margaret Thatcher. It was pretty grim in the UK. There were also issues when they were on tour. Fighting between the band and fights in the venues. This was their last ever single and its brilliant.
The video wasn’t actually shot in Coventry, most of the architecture is post-World War 2 after the Luftwaffe flattened the City in 1942; the vid is shot in the former dockland area of East London. The fighting wasn’t just on tour, I went to see them at a gig in Coventry launching the album this was from and a group of white nationalists (National Front) armed with knives stormed the stage and actually inflicted a minor wound on Neville one of the black band members.
This came out in the summer of 1981 at a time of large scale unemployment and rising tensions in inner city communities sparking riots across the UK. There were some amazing social/political songs this year. Check out UB40 - One in ten
Great song.would love you to do more 2tone/ska and reggae. From the specials try Too much to young Message to you rudy Mirror in the bathroom. Selector-on my radio Madness-one step beyond The prince Night boat to Cairo Baggy trousers Althea and donna- uptown top ranking UB40-1 in 10 Food for thought Red red wine (the long version) Fuse odg- dangerous love Million pound girl Azonto
Great analysis for want of a better word m8 - its an amazing tune that represented the experience of many people in working class places in the UK in the 70's / 80's . Nothing has changed, working people are getting shafted here still - apart from the underground music scene, thriving and evolving
Saw them live in London in 2017. They really are special. You nailed it. The tune is about the decline in the quality of life under Margaret Thatcher times. They actually tried to ban dance music, raves and clubs generally. I'm old. I still have this on 12" vinyl from back in the day.
I have the 7" vinyl sleeve of Ghost Town signed by Horace Panter, Neville Staple, Roddy Radiation and founder Jerry Dammers! a timeless classic by the lads from Coventry. R.I.P. Terry Hall R.I.P. John Bradbury C 20 - 01 - 24
I came to Coventry in 1980 and it was in a bad way. A lot of the country was - mainly the old industrial places. Lots of unemployment. Los of poverty. Thatcher really carved the country up for her mates and we are still paying for it now.
Post war manufacturing was closing all factories ver Britain - youth unemployment was very high - there were riots n all the big cities when this was number one. London, Bristol, Birmingham, Liverpool - went on all summer.
My youth UK era growing up with the Sex Pistols, Angelic Upstarts, Madness, The Selector, The Specials, UB40, Bad Manners, The Jam, CRASS, Pablo Gadd, Bob Marley. Ghost Town is my favorite track from this era cause, Conservative Thatcherism was a fucking butcher and the architect of destroying the communities of all the British industries, and the youths suffered hard with no prospects or future. Then the YOUTH REBELLION Took place involving, MUSIC, ART, RIOTS, POLICE being ganged on and beaten up stupid... Ghost Town is the perfect music video that portrayed Thatchers Seditious and disdain for the working class and their representatives (UNIONS.) After this Music classic video from the specials, the government made it mandatory to ware seat belts, not long after this.
It was a take on the country as a whole I believe. The Specials are legends! The whole two tone movement done more for race relations in Britain than any government campaign could of ever done 🙏🙏🏽🙏🏿
Your a wise man noticing there's a bigger messagein the tune,. It is a message of Briton in the 1980's, the closing down of small businesses the closing down of industries across the UK and hardship and suffering of working class people, all thanks to the Conservative part and Margaret thatcher, it was the birth of neoliberalism and the full corperatisation of the UK, working with America This is what is still starving the working class now "it hasn't stopped" Jah bless
Great Ska band of late 70's early 80's. Set to Margaret Thatcher's government in the UK and her infamous breaking of the unions. It was a fun time to be alive, but also a little depressing at times. A bit like now.
their name is for' a police force who could do anything they wanted, the special police group. or spg. they are talking about great britain in the 1980's in deep recession
80s Thacther's Britain, there were riots on the street. High unemployment (I don't think unemployment in the innercities has ever reached that record again) closing down of traditional industries, strikes...not good.
They come from Coventry in England and they are two tone legends RIP TERRY 👌🏻❤️🙏🏻
2Tone. Come on now steve👊🤪
Just play the bleeding video 4fs .
First single I ever bought. The band was from Coventry, England, but I think the video was shot in London. This song is one of the most culturally important tunes for this country; very much of its time, it was a reaction to the rise of Conservative prime minister Margaret Thatcher [makes a holy sign to ward off evil]. So many businesses went under, and the government started privatising (ie selling off to anyone with money, regardless of their country of origin) all the things that had previously been nationalised (owned by the country). Energy suppliers, transport infrastructure - all now owned by people who were more interested in a profit than a system or product that worked well. A trickle of businesses being lost to outside influences became a flood, and suddenly you had town centres with more boarded-up windows than not, haunted by people who suddenly had no money, no jobs, no future.
In case you hadn't guessed by now, yes, I was part of that generation that got screwed over. Indoctrinated by schools that this way the way of the world before throwing us out into it without telling us how to survive it. This is why Thatcher is one of UK politics' greatest bogeymen - although Boris Johnson seems hell-bent on taking her place, along with other right-wing arseholes like Nigel Farage...
...I'm gonna shut up before I pop a vein. Play more ska. reggae, and 2-Tone, please!
Yup, that pretty much sums it up. Countless communities devastated in the name of free-market dogma. Many still haven't recovered.
I came to the comments to explain it but you put it far better that I could have. I struggle to comment on the Thatcher years (I'm 55 and from South Yorkshire (so, y'know, miners)) without resorting to a mass of expletives.
@@trubblebubble1I'm 55 too from a West Midlands coal town. Coventry was just down the road. I feel like we are watching it happen all over again after 13 years of Tory misrule and an ineffective opposition.
People always forget the horrors of the early seventies: power cuts, sharing bathwater, bodies unburied, strikes crippling industry, IMF intervention, etc. Thatcherism was a reaction to that. It may have been the wrong reaction in hindsight but it's clearly both wrong and futile to simply label it as "evil" - you won't learn any lessons for the future if you don't understand the past.
I only implied - humorously - that Thatcher herself was evil. It may be futile (and well after the fact), but arguments could be made for and against wrong. Also, while I agree that a lot of the 70s was bad, and the unions were basically razing the economy, I just wish there had been a better solution than making a fast quid, and taking the country to the polar opposite of the spectrum.
Its a very political song.
Coventry's main industry was engineering and the motor industry.
Thatcher's govt. moved the production overseas and drove many, many Coventry workers into unemployment.
Such a lovely woman, she'd a heart of stone and the compassion of Stalin.
Context: early 80s Britain; economically devastated; racism at every corner; the UK ska revival was also part of a multi-ethnic reaction TO that racism, to the cynicism that was blighting this beleaguered nation of ours.
Darkness and light. Repression and freedom. Masterpiece. And it was a MASSIVE hit.
R.I.P. Terry Hall.
Two Tone music was based on anti racism even the chequered black and white patterns were symbolic
British band, they're so good! I love The Specials ❤
Beautiful, scenic Coventry.
The song, from what i gather, is a statement about the UK recession at the time under Margaret Thatcher. It was pretty grim in the UK. There were also issues when they were on tour. Fighting between the band and fights in the venues. This was their last ever single and its brilliant.
The video wasn’t actually shot in Coventry, most of the architecture is post-World War 2 after the Luftwaffe flattened the City in 1942; the vid is shot in the former dockland area of East London. The fighting wasn’t just on tour, I went to see them at a gig in Coventry launching the album this was from and a group of white nationalists (National Front) armed with knives stormed the stage and actually inflicted a minor wound on Neville one of the black band members.
This came out in the summer of 1981 at a time of large scale unemployment and rising tensions in inner city communities sparking riots across the UK.
There were some amazing social/political songs this year.
Check out UB40 - One in ten
Do Toots and the Maytals 5446 was my number now lol
Its funny watching younger people watching the music we grew up with.
Underrated MASTERS of music!!! 💯😎
Talking about Coventry inbthe uk,i live there and its happening again! 😥
Apparently, they had an absolute ball filming the scenes in the car. It certainly looks like they did!
Great song.would love you to do more 2tone/ska and reggae.
From the specials try
Too much to young
Message to you rudy
Mirror in the bathroom.
Selector-on my radio
Madness-one step beyond
The prince
Night boat to Cairo
Baggy trousers
Althea and donna- uptown top ranking
UB40-1 in 10
Food for thought
Red red wine (the long version)
Fuse odg- dangerous love
Million pound girl
Azonto
SKA Skank, Specials one of our UK great bands from back in the day 😊👍
Thanks for doing my request Skeez. I always try to send you something different
Probably one of the classiest songs ever. Thanks!
Amy winehouse with the specials live is some good stuff
Great analysis for want of a better word m8 - its an amazing tune that represented the experience of many people in working class places in the UK in the 70's / 80's . Nothing has changed, working people are getting shafted here still - apart from the underground music scene, thriving and evolving
♥ this! Now ya gotta do Madness Our House
Saw them live in London in 2017. They really are special.
You nailed it. The tune is about the decline in the quality of life under Margaret Thatcher times. They actually tried to ban dance music, raves and clubs generally.
I'm old. I still have this on 12" vinyl from back in the day.
I have the 7" vinyl sleeve of Ghost Town signed by Horace Panter, Neville Staple, Roddy Radiation and founder Jerry Dammers! a timeless classic by the lads from Coventry.
R.I.P. Terry Hall
R.I.P. John Bradbury
C 20 - 01 - 24
Your time travelling now 😁
This came out in response to the Southhall Riots I believe.
'The Animals' song 'The House of the Rising Sun' a Band from the sixties from where i come from Newcastle Upon Tyne,North East of England
If you like The Specials, you'll love Madness. They are so much ska fun! One Step Beyond is an energy boost.
Madness is another level! I’ll need to take my adderall to dance to them 😂😂
This was a huge Number one here in the UK. Part of the Two Tone movement from Coventry
Fuckin Aye my man doing a specials reaction lol
I came to Coventry in 1980 and it was in a bad way. A lot of the country was - mainly the old industrial places. Lots of unemployment. Los of poverty. Thatcher really carved the country up for her mates and we are still paying for it now.
Post war manufacturing was closing all factories ver Britain - youth unemployment was very high - there were riots n all the big cities when this was number one. London, Bristol, Birmingham, Liverpool - went on all summer.
A bonus to living under a Global recession is the music born of the time. 2-Tone was one.
My youth UK era growing up with the Sex Pistols, Angelic Upstarts, Madness, The Selector, The Specials, UB40, Bad Manners, The Jam, CRASS, Pablo Gadd, Bob Marley. Ghost Town is my favorite track from this era cause, Conservative Thatcherism was a fucking butcher and the architect of destroying the communities of all the British industries, and the youths suffered hard with no prospects or future. Then the YOUTH REBELLION Took place involving, MUSIC, ART, RIOTS, POLICE being ganged on and beaten up stupid... Ghost Town is the perfect music video that portrayed Thatchers Seditious and disdain for the working class and their representatives (UNIONS.) After this Music classic video from the specials, the government made it mandatory to ware seat belts, not long after this.
Long live SKA and 2 Tone...
It was a take on the country as a whole I believe. The Specials are legends!
The whole two tone movement done more for race relations in Britain than any government campaign could of ever done 🙏🙏🏽🙏🏿
Your a wise man noticing there's a bigger messagein the tune,. It is a message of Briton in the 1980's, the closing down of small businesses the closing down of industries across the UK and hardship and suffering of working class people, all thanks to the Conservative part and Margaret thatcher, it was the birth of neoliberalism and the full corperatisation of the UK, working with America
This is what is still starving the working class now "it hasn't stopped"
Jah bless
There from Coventry England class band
Great Ska band of late 70's early 80's. Set to Margaret Thatcher's government in the UK and her infamous breaking of the unions. It was a fun time to be alive, but also a little depressing at times. A bit like now.
Filmed in London
You got it 👏
Coventry is the England version of Detroit lol
Check out bad manners, English beat and madness
after this you should listen to Stand Down Margaret by The Beat
their name is for' a police force who could do anything they wanted, the special police group. or spg. they are talking about great britain in the 1980's in deep recession
RIP Terry Hall
80s Thacther's Britain, there were riots on the street. High unemployment (I don't think unemployment in the innercities has ever reached that record again) closing down of traditional industries, strikes...not good.
englands finest .... rip terry hall
How about a reaction to Brighton Memories by Boston ska band the Allstonians.
Ska Sceez!
I lived through this period in the UK in my late teens. UK changed under the wicked and evil Margaret Thatcher. This song sums it up.
💵💵💵
this was britain in the 70s no jobs for the youth , football violence and strikes
If you like this and horns are your thing. Look up some 60s ska.
Detroit... perhaps.
Just a few comments and bothing was said after the song, no conclusion. Why is everybreaction video like that?