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2 Tone: The Sound of Coventry

The story of how 2 Tone, a record label from Coventry, went on to have a global impact. The brainchild of Jerry Dammers saw dance music with a message dominate the charts from 1979.

Using music, archive and new interviews, this is the story of 2 Tone – a unique musical phenomenon that exploded out of Coventry in the summer of 1979. 2 Tone not only dominated the charts and got the nation dancing to a ska beat, it played a vital part in the movement against racism in Britain and beyond. Including a rare interview with Jerry Dammers, the architect of 2 Tone, and contributions from other key players, the film explores the music style and ethos of the genre and charts the remarkable story of how this independent ‘do it yourself’ record label from Coventry went on to have a global impact and a unique place in popular music.

58 minutes

Last on

Fri 29 Mar 202423:55

Music Played

  • The Specials

    Enjoy Yourself (live)

  • The Specials

    Gangsters

  • The Selecter

    The Selecter

  • The Specials

    It's Up To You

  • Prince Buster

    Al Capone

  • The Specials

    (Dawning of a) New Era

  • The Beat / The English Beat (Usa), The Beat

    The Tears of A Clown

  • Madness

    One Step Beyond

  • The Specials

    A Message To You, Rudy (feat. Rico Rodriguez)

  • The Selecter

    James Bond

  • The Specials

    Longshot Kick De Bucket

  • John Leyton

    Johnny Remember Me

  • The Selecter

    Three Minute Hero

  • The Specials

    International Jet Set

  • The Specials

    Ghost Town

  • The Specials

    Free Nelson Mandela

  • The Specials

    Monkey Man

Credits

RoleContributor
Interviewed GuestJerry Dammers
Interviewed GuestNeville Staple
Interviewed GuestPauline Black
Interviewed GuestNeol Davies
DirectorNicola Silk
Executive ProducerColette Foster
Production ManagerSophie Cole
Executive ProducerDiana Hare
EditorAnt Smith
Production CompanyFull Fat TV

Broadcasts

  • Thu 30 Sep 202120:00
  • Sat 21 May 202222:45
  • Thu 23 Jun 202202:15
  • Fri 29 Mar 202423:55

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