Too Much Too Young: The 2 Tone Records Story

Rude Boys, Racism and the Soundtrack of a Generation

Author: Daniel Rachel

Too Much Too Young: The 2 Tone Records Story

The definitive story of 2 Tone Records

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Summary

The definitive story of 2 Tone Records

Description

A SUNDAY TIMES MUSIC BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023

#2 UNCUT BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023

A RESIDENT BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023

In 1979, 2 Tone exploded into the national consciousness as records by The Specials, The Selecter, Madness, The Beat, and The Bodysnatchers burst onto the charts and a youth movement was born. 2 Tone was black and white: a multi-racial force of British and Caribbean island musicians singing about social issues, racism, class and gender struggles. It spoke of injustices in society and took fight against right wing extremism.

The music of 2 Tone was exuberant: white youth learning to dance to the infectious rhythm of ska and reggae; and crossed with a punk attitude to create an original hybrid. The idea of 2 Tone was born in Coventry, masterminded by a middle-class art student raised in the church. Jerry Dammers had a vision of an English Motown. Borrowing 700, the label's first record featured 'Gangsters' by The Specials' backed by an instrumental track by the, as yet, unformed, Selecter. Within two months the single was at number six in the national charts. Dammers signed Madness, The Beat and The Bodysnatchers as a glut of successive hits propelled 2 Tone onto Top of the Pops and into the hearts and minds of a generation. However, soon infighting amongst the bands and the pressures of running a label caused 2 Tone to bow to an inevitable weight of expectation and recrimination.

Still under the auspices of Jerry Dammers, 2 Tone entered in a new phase. Perhaps not as commercially successful as its 1979-1981 incarnation the label nevertheless continued to thrive for a further four years releasing a string of fresh signings and a stunning end-piece finale in '(Free) Nelson Mandela'.

Told in three parts, Too Much Too Young is the definitive story of a label that for a brief, bright burning moment, shaped British culture.

Critic Reviews

A SUNDAY TIMES MUSIC BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023
#2 UNCUT BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023
A RESIDENT BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023
'A brilliantly vivid account of one of British pop culture's most inspiring movements - surely the definitive telling of the 2-Tone story' John Harris
'An incredible and detailed account of a massive watershed moment in British culture. Rachel's book captures the daily struggles and contradictions within both the groups and the audience during harsh political times and ultimately delivers a message of positivity and the power of the music to affect social and political change' Gurinder Chadha, OBE
'We lived in Britain, a country that had hugely benefited from immigration, but curiously had an innate antipathy to the ideas of multiculturalism and diversity. Daniel Rachel has managed to capture the essence of that contradiction in those Margaret Thatcher governed years, with this comprehensive, cautionary but nonetheless celebratory saga of the 2 Tone label.' Pauline Black, OBE
'Daniel Rachel has managed to talk to all the significant players and the story he tells is one that shines a light on the challenges of mixing pop with politics. This feels like the definitive story of 2 Tone. Masterful.' Billy Bragg
'A great book about a time when record labels meant something and a brief period of hope when it seemed as if music might actually be able to change the world. This is a book about a few exceptionally talented people who came together and created something extraordinary.' Charlie Higson
In Daniel Rachel, the great untold story of the post-punk era finally gets the storyteller it deserves. Too Much Too Young is every bit as thrilling, and just as achingly evocative as the music it was written to celebrate... a scintillating read Pete Paphides
Daniel Rachel has bagged the whirlwind of 2 Tone with joy, honesty and compassion to create the definitive account of one of Britain's finest youth movements Suggs
A brilliant book and a fitting account of one of British culture's most epochal moments. Nothing is left out of this definitive book The Wire
Essential read for anyone who ever moonstomped in tonic suit, DMs and stingy-brimmed trilby MOJO
An exceptional portrait of the UK at a crucial time Irish Times
Brilliant, insightful book Record Collector

About the Author

Solihull-born Daniel Rachel is a regular contributor on BBC Radio 5 Live and lives in north London with his partner and three children. He is the author of Isle of Noises (a Guardian and NME Book of the Year), Walls Come Tumbling Down (winner of the Penderyn Music Book prize), When Ziggy Played the Marquee by Terry O'Neill (editor), Don't Look Back in Anger and co-writer of Ranking Roger's autobiography I Just Can't Stop It: My Life in The Beat.