Too Much Too Young: The 2 Tone Records Story: Rude Boys, Racism and the Soundtrack of a Generation

Daniel Rachel

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Music, Music recording & reproduction, History: specific events & topics, Music industry

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White Rabbit
- Paperback Jul 30, 2024 | 9781399607506 | RRP $26.99 Pre-Order
- Trade Paperback Jan 30, 2024 | 9781399607490 | RRP $36.99 Buy Now
- Hardback Jan 23, 2024 | 9781399607483 | RRP $59.99 Buy Now
- Audiobook Oct 19, 2023 | 9781399607520 | RRP $44.99 Buy Now
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Imprint

White Rabbit
- Paperback Jul 30, 2024 | 9781399607506 | RRP $26.99 Pre-Order
- Trade Paperback Jan 30, 2024 | 9781399607490 | RRP $36.99 Buy Now
- Hardback Jan 23, 2024 | 9781399607483 | RRP $59.99 Buy Now
- Audiobook Oct 19, 2023 | 9781399607520 | RRP $44.99 Buy Now
Play Sample
0:00
Imprint

White Rabbit
- Paperback Jul 30, 2024 | 9781399607506 | RRP $26.99 Pre-Order
- Trade Paperback Jan 30, 2024 | 9781399607490 | RRP $36.99 Buy Now
- Hardback Jan 23, 2024 | 9781399607483 | RRP $59.99 Buy Now
- Audiobook Oct 19, 2023 | 9781399607520 | RRP $44.99 Buy Now
Play Sample
0:00
Imprint

White Rabbit
- Paperback Jul 30, 2024 | 9781399607506 | RRP $26.99 Pre-Order
- Trade Paperback Jan 30, 2024 | 9781399607490 | RRP $36.99 Buy Now
- Hardback Jan 23, 2024 | 9781399607483 | RRP $59.99 Buy Now
- Audiobook Oct 19, 2023 | 9781399607520 | RRP $44.99 Buy Now
Play Sample
0:00

The definitive story of 2 Tone Records

#2 UNCUT 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.

Praise for Too Much Too Young: The 2 Tone Records Story: Rude Boys, Racism and the Soundtrack of a Generation

A great book - Charlie Higson
'A comprehensive, cautionary but nonetheless celebratory saga of the 2 Tone label.' - Pauline Black, OBE
'This feels like the definitive story of 2 Tone. Masterful.' - Billy Bragg
'A brilliantly vivid account of one of British pop culture's most inspiring movements' - John Harris
An incredible and detailed account of a massive watershed moment in British culture - Gurinder Chadha, OBE

Daniel Rachel

Daniel Rachel is a musician turned award-winning author. His previous books include NME and Guardian Book of the Year Isle of Noises, Evening Standard Book of the Year Don't Look Back in Anger, and Walls Come Tumbling Down, which was described as 'triumphant' by the Guardian and 'superlative...brilliant' by Q magazine, and was awarded the prestigious Penderyn Music Book Prize in 2017.