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RIP Terry Hall (The Specials, etc.)
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12-20-2022, 10:32 AM
Was sorry to hear this. Apparently he had been ill, but no cause of death given. He was an interesting character because he couldn't play any instrument, yet co-wrote many songs, and kept changing his musical direction as a member of The Specials, then Fun Boy Three, The Colourfield, Vegas (with Dave Stewart) and then as a solo artist. He had a slightly odd and instantly recognizeable singing voice.
the hands that guide me are invisible
12-20-2022, 10:40 AM
The only song I can think of from the Specials is Ghost Town.
As a matter of fact, my anger does keep me warm
That's their best. "Working for the Rat Race" was another, and that video got a fair amount of airtime. You might remember Fun Boy Three from "Really Saying Something" (with Bananarama) or "The Lunatics Have Taken over the Asylum."
the hands that guide me are invisible
12-21-2022, 01:02 AM
I saw the Specials at the Mountain Winery a few years ago. They came on with Ghost Town. It builds for a bit before the vocals start. Terry came out on queue and no one could hear him. His mic was cutting out. The sound guys finally got him another mic mid-song, and that one was cutting out too. He threw it on the ground and walked off the stage.
It was a HUGE failure on the part of the sound persons. When they finally fixed the mic, he came back out and finished the show, but it really made the band look bad and sucked all the energy out of the set. --tg
12-21-2022, 07:00 AM
Message to You Rudy is actually a cover of an old Dandy Livingstone song. The original wasn't a hit.
The Specials' other big hit was "Gangsters."
the hands that guide me are invisible
I'll just say I heard "Message to Rudy" about a million times in Ireland. Reached #10 on the UK charts
As a matter of fact, my anger does keep me warm
12-21-2022, 09:38 AM
Strangely I don't have much of an opinion about his passing. I remember those tunes that charted but I never saw him play live. I respect 2 tone & ska and often think I should listen to more of it. I do love that sound.
Shadow boxing the apocalypse
12-21-2022, 09:52 AM
I never saw them live. When they opened for the Who, TG and I were camping in the desert. Christina saw them at Stanford in 1980. Back then I liked the English Beat and Madness more than the Specials. These days I prefer the 60s ska. DM, if you have Pandora, there's a pretty good classic ska station.
the hands that guide me are invisible
12-21-2022, 10:05 AM
Personally, at the time, I found him "whiny" a la Robert Smith, and I didn't like Fun Boy Three. I think I warmed up to him much later, but didn't know him by name, just "that singer from the Specials". And then the Mtn Winery episode made him more of a memorable figure for me.
--tg |
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