612:, intercut with views of streets and buildings filmed from the moving vehicle, and ends with a shot of the band standing on the banks of the River Thames at low tide. The video's locations include driving through the Rotherhithe Tunnel and around semi-derelict areas of the East End as well as in Lothbury and Throgmorton Street in the financial district of the City of London in the early hours of daylight on Sunday morning, where the streets were deserted as it was the weekend. The shots of the band in the car were achieved by attaching a camera to the
510:"People weren't cooperating. 'Ghost Town' wasn't a free-for-all jam session. Every little bit was worked out and composed, all the different parts, I'd been working on it for at least a year, trying out every conceivable chord ... I can remember walking out of a rehearsal in total despair because Neville would not try the ideas. You know the brass bit is kind of jazzy, it has a dischord? I remember Lynval rushing into the control room while they were doing it going, 'No, no, no, it sounds wrong! Wrong! Wrong!'"
379:: "You travelled from town to town and what was happening was terrible. In Liverpool, all the shops were shuttered up, everything was closing down ... We could actually see it by touring around. You could see that frustration and anger in the audience. In Glasgow, there were these little old ladies on the streets selling all their household goods, their cups and saucers. It was unbelievable. It was clear that something was very, very wrong."
482:, the singles review show on BBC Radio 1. Fascinated by the record's sound, Dammers telephoned the song's co-writer and producer John Collins a few days later, although as Dammers first phone call was in the middle of the night, Collins initially took it to be a joke. Following conversations with Dammers, Collins travelled from his home in London to meet the Specials at their rehearsal studio and agreed to produce their new single.
399:. Jo-Ann Greene of Allmusic notes the lyric "only brush on the causes for this apocalyptic vision — the closed down clubs, the numerous fights on the dancefloor, the spiraling unemployment, the anger building to explosive levels. But so embedded were these in the British psyche, that Dammers needed only a minimum of words to paint his picture." The club referred to in the song was the Locarno (run by the
429:
552:'d guitar – on another. They're the backbone of a reggae song. Then there was brass on another track, lead vocals on another, backing vocals on another, and various little bits and pieces dropped in ...'Ghost Town' is basically a mono record with stereo reverb and echo that I added in the mix ... The same applied to the brass: John put one mic in the middle of the room, placed
514:
42:
501:. The studio, which consisted of a recording space in the cellar and a control room in the living room, was too small to accommodate all the members of the band, so rather than their normal recording method of playing all together, Collins recorded each band member playing one at a time and built up the songs track by track.
560:
in diagonal corners, and when we listened in the control room it sounded great. Recording simply in mono really helped the instruments balance themselves." However, there was a tense moment towards the end of recording when
Dammers decided at the last minute that he wanted to add a flute to the song,
595:
The single had two B-sides, each written by a different member of the
Specials. "Why?" is a plea for racial tolerance and was written by guitarist Lynval Golding in response to a violent racist attack he had suffered in July 1980 outside the Moonlight Club in West Hampstead in London, which had left
547:
throughout the song. Using just eight tracks limited
Collins' recording possibilities, but as a reggae producer he decided to use the common reggae method of recording everything in mono: "As we were recording eight-track, I did go with a track plan. I wanted the drums in mono on one track, the bass
386:
The overall sense I wanted to convey was impending doom. There were weird, diminished chords: certain members of the band resented the song and wanted the simple chords they were used to playing on the first album. It's hard to explain how powerful it sounded. We had almost been written off and then
581:
Collins took a recording of the separate tracks back to his home in
Tottenham in north London where he spent three weeks mixing the song. During this period Hall, Staple, Golding and Dammers all turned up at the house at various times to add further vocals. Since the song had no proper beginning or
509:
kicked a hole in the studio door, angering Rivers. Panter said "Everybody was stood in different parts of this huge room with their equipment, no one talking. Jerry stormed out a couple of times virtually in tears and I went after him, 'Calm down, calm down'. It was hell to be around." Dammers said
352:
were occurring in
British cities. Internal tensions within the band were also coming to a head when the single was being recorded, resulting in the song being the last single recorded by the original seven members of the group before splitting up. However, the song was hailed by the contemporary UK
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flute by actually dropping in. Originally, the lead part was done on Jerry's guide organ before the flute was dropped in on the brass track. Well, I had to put a piece of tissue under my chin because sweat was dripping off my face due to it being so scary – one mistake and that would have been it!
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and we recorded him in the hallway with a microphone at the top of the stairs to get the natural reverb from the stairwell. However, overdubbing the flute nearly killed me because it was not on a free track. Dick
Cuthell and Rico Rodriguez had already gone back to London, and I had to record that
504:
The three songs for the single were recorded over ten days in April 1981 in two separate sessions at
Woodbine Street: seven days from 3 to 9 April and then a further three days from 15 to 17 April. Tensions were high during the recording of the single, with little communication between the band
648:
The summer of 1981 saw riots in over 35 locations around the UK. In response to the linking of the song to these events, singer Terry Hall said, "When we recorded 'Ghost Town', we were talking about 's riots in
Bristol and Brixton. The fact that it became popular when it did was just a weird
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over a sound effect, which he had used previously on "Lift Off", the B-side of "At the Club". To achieve the effect he wanted, Collins utilised a kit-built
Transcendent 2000 synthesiser to create a "ghost" sound, which he used to fade in and out at the beginning and end of the track.
616:
using a rubber sucker: Panter recalled that at one point the camera fell off (briefly seen in the finished video at 1:18) and scratched the car's paintwork, to the displeasure of the car's owner. The original Ghost Town car can be seen (and sat in) at the
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music press as a major piece of popular social commentary, and all three of the major UK music magazines of the time awarded "Ghost Town" the accolade of "Single of the Year" for 1981. It was the 12th-best-selling single in the UK in 1981.
578:, Staple, Golding and Dammers sang a full backing vocal track throughout the song, which Collins used to his advantage as the lyric "this town is coming like a ghost town" had become like a "hypnotic chant" by the end of the song.
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and with no free tracks available
Collins was forced to record the flute directly onto the track containing the previously recorded brass section, with the possibility that any error would have rendered the entire track unusable:
375:" keyboard sounds on the album, several of the gigs descended into audience violence. As they travelled, the band witnessed sights that reflected the depressed mood of a country gripped by recession. In 2002, Dammers told
276:
1642:
645:, the UK's top three weekly music magazines at the time. AllMusic's retrospective review of the original single argued that the song was the band's "crowning achievement".
633:). Although initial reviews of the single in the UK music press were lukewarm, by the end of the year the song had won over the critics to be named "Single of the Year" in
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274:
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album in late 1980 had been a fraught experience: already tired from a long touring schedule and with several band members at odds with keyboardist and band leader
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him hospitalised with broken ribs. "Friday Night, Saturday Morning" was written by lead singer Terry Hall and describes a mundane night out in Coventry.
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The song experienced a thematic resurgence on music streaming platforms in 2020, after lockdown orders were placed following the COVID-19 pandemic.
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coincidence." The song created resentment in Coventry where residents angrily rejected the characterisation of the city as a town in decline.
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was affixed to the house where the former Woodbine Street recording studio was located. The plaque mentions "Ghost Town" was recorded there.
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who was familiar with the place, the band chose the small 8-track studio in the house owned by John Rivers in Woodbine Street in
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493:, Dammers had decided that he wanted to return a more basic set-up, and after a recommendation from bass player
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321:, released on 12 June 1981. The song spent three weeks at number one and 11 weeks in total in the top 40 of the
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in 70 (mostly) seminal songs" at number 19, for "Lacing ska and reggae with the amphetamine edge of new wave".
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Contemporaneous reviews identified the song's impact as an "instant musical editorial" on recent events (the
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could mimic the drum sound. He also suggested the two-handed shuffle rhythm played by Dammers on the
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In an interview in 2011, Dammers explained how witnessing this event inspired his composition:
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track, so he brought a copy of a Sly and Robbie-produced single "What a Feeling" by
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1908:"Specials, The / Special Productions - Ghost Town Revisited (Vinyl) at Discogs"
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As it had not been decided where exactly the backing vocals would be used,
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released a cover version of the song on their 2023 Halloween-themed album
608:, consists of bass player Panter driving the band around London in a 1961
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ending during recording at Woodbine Street, Collins recreated the idea of
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After becoming overwhelmed with the multitude of choices available in the
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song "At the Club" by actor and singer Victor Romero Evans played on
415:. The building that housed the club is now Coventry Central Library.
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in mono on another and the rhythm – that shuffle organ and Lynval's
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1961:
1439:"Ghost Town - The Specials | Listen, Appearances, Song Review"
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1950:
1599:. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. p. 99.
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1580:
Petridis, Alexis (January 2002). "Please Look After This Band".
513:
2083:
475:
1936:. St Ives, New South Wales, Australia: Australian Chart Book.
1754:"The Specials' 'Ghost Town' Finds New Life Amid U.K. Lockdown"
1292:
Montgomery, Hugh; Bignell, Paul; Higgins, Mike (3 July 2011).
1239:"17 rock-reggae crossovers that work... and three that don't"
1028:"Ghost Dub '91 (Version)" (credited to 'Special Productions')
348:, the song is remembered for being a hit at the same time as
1509:. Cambridge, England: SOS Publications Ltd. pp. 176–81.
1399:. London, England: Spotlight Publications. 19 December 1981.
2079:
An interview about the song with John Collins, the producer
2001:
1363:. London, England: IPC Media. 19 December 1981. p. 29.
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1984:
1967:
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2018:
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The guy who played the flute was a member of the band
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Producer John Collins wanted the song to sound like a
1584:. No. 98. London, England: EMAP. pp. 72–82.
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1285:
1283:
1281:
1886:"2 Tone Records - Ghost Town (revisited) - CHS TT30"
2074:
A page about the single on a 2 Tone Records fansite
1294:"Ghost Town: The song that defined an era turns 30"
1012:"Ghost Dub '91" (credited to 'Special Productions')
939:"Ghost Dub '91" (credited to 'Special Productions')
704:In 2022, it was included in the list "The story of
2035:
1816:"Duran Duran Announces New Album, 'Danse Macabre'"
1321:
1319:
1317:
1315:
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2560:
1411:"The Official Top 50 best-selling songs of 1981"
1381:. London, England. 19 December 1981. p. 30.
712:praised the song and its "brooding evocation of
403:and later renamed Tiffanys), a regular haunt of
2547:The Very Best of The Specials and Fun Boy Three
1975:The Irish Charts – Search Results – Ghost Town"
1643:"Ghost Town/Why?/Friday Night Saturday Morning"
1312:
1075:– guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Why?"
2099:
1751:
1427:", BBC, 17 June 2011. Retrieved 14 March 2015
528:Collins wanted the song to sound more like a
449:. Consider transferring direct quotations to
2533:The Best of The Specials & Fun Boy Three
1922:
1667:
1645:. "Billboard". 8 August 1981. Archived from
1547:
1545:
1503:"The Specials 'Ghost Town' – Classic Tracks"
272:
1878:
1864:"2 Tone Records - Ghost Town - CHS TT12 17"
1856:
1559:. London, England: Pan Books. p. 268.
1425:The Specials: How Ghost Town defined an era
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1069:– keyboards, Hammond organ, backing vocals
40:
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1436:
1842:"2 Tone Records - Ghost Town - CHS TT17"
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1594:
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1390:
1388:
1325:
1300:. London, England: Independent Print Ltd
512:
505:members, and at one point, a frustrated
2378:Too Much Too Young: The Gold Collection
1900:
1595:Augustyn, Heather (22 September 2010).
1513:
474:In March 1981, Jerry Dammers heard the
14:
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652:In the 1990s the song was featured in
2399:Stereo-Typical: A's, B's and Rarities
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685:, and the 2022 Netflix animated film
440:too many or overly lengthy quotations
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1733:(Podcast). United Kingdom: Channel 4
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489:studio used during the recording of
422:
2574:UK singles chart number-one singles
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391:The song's sparse lyric alludes to
24:
1529:"Ghost Town: The Producer's Story"
1367:
1122:
665:The song was featured in the 2000
387:"Ghost Town" came out of the blue.
371:over his decision to incorporate "
25:
2630:
2054:
1694:Palmer, Robert (12 August 1981).
1501:Buskin, Richard (November 2011).
1349:
119:Woodbine Street Recording Studios
2113:
2042:"Official Singles Chart Top 100"
1773:. 8 December 2021. BBC Midlands.
1413:. Official Charts. 5 March 2021.
873:"Friday Night, Saturday Morning"
800:"Friday Night, Saturday Morning"
732:
539:, to the studio so that drummer
427:
79:"Friday Night, Saturday Morning"
1934:Australian Chart Book 1970–1992
1808:
1784:Beaumont, Mark (7 March 2022).
1777:
1760:
1752:Paul Williams (29 April 2020).
1745:
1687:
1661:
1635:
1622:
1613:
1588:
1573:
1456:
1430:
841:"Ghost Town (Extended Version)"
737:
395:, unemployment and violence in
2589:Songs written by Jerry Dammers
1403:
1263:
1230:
1140:Australia (Kent Music Report)
961:
904:
822:
817:12" vinyl – 2 Tone CHS TT1217
749:
599:
105:3–9 April and 15–17 April 1981
13:
1:
1790:in 70 (mostly) Seminal Songs"
1471:. London, England. p. 11
1224:
1081:– lead vocals, backing vocals
956:12" vinyl – Tone CHS TT12 30
604:The music video, directed by
356:
2293:Guilty 'til Proved Innocent!
1465:"Barton's Britain: Coventry"
1463:Barton, Laura (5 May 2009).
1247:. Future plc. Archived from
1237:Bryant, Tom (25 June 2014).
1142:
1043:
418:
7:
1888:. 2-tone.info. 20 June 1991
1844:. 2-tone.info. 20 June 1981
1730:Father Ted DVD Commentaries
1619:Panter (2008). pp. 274–275.
1331:"Ska for the madding crowd"
1274:. 13 June 1981. p. 24.
744:7" vinyl – 2 Tone CHS TT17
313:" is a song by the British
10:
2635:
2026:The Specials – Ghost Town"
2009:The Specials – Ghost Town"
1992:The Specials – Ghost Town"
1958:The Specials – Ghost Town"
590:
18:Ghost Town (Specials song)
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899:7" vinyl – Tone CHS TT30
857:"Why? (Extended Version)"
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361:The tour for the group's
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2420:The Best of The Specials
2339:Blue Plate Specials Live
2066:19 November 2016 at the
1469:The Guardian G2 Magazine
447:summarize the quotations
2321:Protest Songs 1924–2012
2046:Official Charts Company
1395:"Singles of the Year".
1377:"Records of the Year".
1359:"Singles of the Year".
716:’s wasteland Britain".
174:6:02 (extended version)
2594:2 Tone Records singles
2364:The Singles Collection
572:
525:
389:
280:
90:12 June 1981
2463:A Message to You Rudy
1792:. NME. Archived from
619:Coventry Music Museum
563:
516:
384:
279:
2385:Best of the Specials
2371:Dawning of a New Era
2180:Silverton Hutchinson
1597:Ska: An Oral History
1251:on 17 September 2021
1112:Paul Heskett – flute
1098:Additional personnel
891:Ghost Town Revisited
699:commemorative plaque
697:In December 2021, a
499:Royal Leamington Spa
127:John Collins' home,
123:Royal Leamington Spa
2609:Songs about poverty
2505:Free Nelson Mandela
2151:Nikolaj Torp Larsen
1979:Irish Singles Chart
1767:"8 December 2021".
1423:Kelly, Jon (2011) "
957:
900:
818:
745:
401:Mecca Leisure Group
334:deindustrialisation
46:UK single cover of
2614:Songs about cities
2584:The Specials songs
2438:Too Much Too Young
2356:Compilation albums
1700:The New York Times
1668:Waynick, Michael.
955:
898:
816:
743:
719:British pop group
688:Wendell & Wild
631:1981 England riots
526:
328:Evoking themes of
281:
220:singles chronology
2604:Reggae rock songs
2556:
2555:
2225:Anthony Wymshurst
1943:978-0-646-11917-5
1649:on 9 October 2012
1630:Los Angeles Times
1606:978-0-7864-6040-3
1566:978-0-330-44073-8
1337:. London, England
1222:
1221:
1186:Recorded Music NZ
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951:
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811:
682:Shaun of the Dead
472:
471:
307:
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277:
257:
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27:The Specials song
16:(Redirected from
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2307:Conquering Ruler
2286:Today's Specials
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1822:. 30 August 2023
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1632:, 15 August 1981
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1329:(8 March 2002).
1327:Petridis, Alexis
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323:UK Singles Chart
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2346:Ghost Town Live
2326:
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2249:Aitch Bembridge
2187:Roddy Radiation
2164:Pablo Mandleson
2117:
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2068:Wayback Machine
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1799:
1797:
1796:on 7 March 2022
1782:
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1734:
1725:Mathews, Arthur
1721:Linehan, Graham
1718:
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1670:"Ghost Town EP"
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1550:
1543:
1533:
1531:
1527:Collins, John.
1525:
1514:
1499:
1484:
1474:
1472:
1461:
1457:
1447:
1445:
1437:Jo-Ann Greene.
1435:
1431:
1422:
1418:
1409:
1408:
1404:
1394:
1393:
1386:
1376:
1375:
1368:
1358:
1357:
1350:
1340:
1338:
1324:
1313:
1303:
1301:
1298:The Independent
1290:
1279:
1270:"New Singles".
1269:
1268:
1264:
1254:
1252:
1235:
1231:
1227:
1134:
1125:
1123:Chart positions
1061:Roddy Radiation
1046:
1041:
952:
895:
886:
813:
740:
735:
627:
610:Vauxhall Cresta
602:
593:
468:
462:
459:
453:or excerpts to
444:
432:
428:
421:
359:
299:
285:
282:
273:
252:
243:
234:
205:
191:
173:
169:
165:
164:
156:
133:
93:
91:
82:
66:
50:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
2632:
2622:
2621:
2616:
2611:
2606:
2601:
2596:
2591:
2586:
2581:
2576:
2571:
2554:
2553:
2551:
2550:
2543:
2536:
2529:
2527:2 Tone Records
2524:
2518:
2516:
2512:
2511:
2509:
2508:
2501:
2494:
2487:
2480:
2473:
2466:
2459:
2451:
2449:
2445:
2444:
2442:
2441:
2433:
2431:
2430:Extended plays
2427:
2426:
2424:
2423:
2416:
2409:
2402:
2395:
2388:
2381:
2374:
2367:
2359:
2357:
2353:
2352:
2350:
2349:
2342:
2334:
2332:
2328:
2327:
2325:
2324:
2317:
2310:
2303:
2296:
2289:
2282:
2275:
2268:
2260:
2258:
2254:
2253:
2251:
2250:
2247:
2244:
2241:
2238:
2235:
2232:
2229:
2226:
2223:
2220:
2217:
2214:
2209:
2207:Rico Rodriguez
2204:
2199:
2194:
2192:Neville Staple
2189:
2184:
2183:Tim Strickland
2181:
2178:
2173:
2167:
2166:
2161:
2154:
2147:
2142:
2137:
2130:
2127:Lynval Golding
2122:
2119:
2118:
2111:
2110:
2103:
2096:
2088:
2082:
2081:
2076:
2071:
2056:
2055:External links
2053:
2051:
2050:
2034:
2017:
2013:Top 40 Singles
2000:
1996:Single Top 100
1983:
1966:
1949:
1942:
1921:
1899:
1877:
1855:
1833:
1807:
1786:"The Story of
1776:
1770:Midlands Today
1759:
1744:
1712:
1696:"The Pop Life"
1686:
1660:
1634:
1621:
1612:
1605:
1587:
1572:
1565:
1557:Ska'd for Life
1553:Panter, Horace
1541:
1512:
1507:Sound on Sound
1482:
1455:
1429:
1416:
1402:
1384:
1366:
1348:
1311:
1277:
1262:
1228:
1226:
1223:
1220:
1219:
1216:
1205:
1204:
1201:
1193:
1192:
1189:
1181:
1180:
1177:
1174:Single Top 100
1169:
1168:
1165:
1157:
1156:
1153:
1145:
1144:
1141:
1137:
1136:
1131:
1124:
1121:
1120:
1119:
1116:Rico Rodriguez
1113:
1110:
1100:
1099:
1095:
1094:
1091:Neville Staple
1088:
1082:
1076:
1073:Lynval Golding
1070:
1064:
1058:
1051:
1050:
1045:
1042:
1038:
1037:
1034:
1029:
1026:
1022:
1021:
1018:
1013:
1010:
1006:
1005:
1002:
997:
994:
990:
989:
986:
981:
978:
974:
973:
970:
967:
964:
953:
949:
948:
945:
940:
937:
933:
932:
929:
924:
921:
917:
916:
913:
910:
907:
896:
894:
889:1991 release (
887:
883:
882:
879:
874:
871:
867:
866:
863:
858:
855:
851:
850:
847:
842:
839:
835:
834:
831:
828:
825:
814:
810:
809:
806:
801:
798:
794:
793:
790:
785:
782:
778:
777:
774:
769:
766:
762:
761:
758:
755:
752:
741:
739:
736:
734:
731:
656:of the sitcom
626:
623:
606:Barney Bubbles
601:
598:
592:
589:
537:Gregory Isaacs
530:Sly and Robbie
519:Sly and Robbie
470:
469:
435:
433:
426:
420:
417:
409:Lynval Golding
405:Neville Staple
358:
355:
305:
304:
301:
300:
298:
297:
292:
286:
283:
271:
268:
267:
263:
262:
259:
258:
255:
254:
245:
236:
222:
221:
214:
213:
210:
202:
201:
196:
188:
187:
182:
176:
175:
162:
158:
157:
155:
154:
149:
143:
141:
135:
134:
132:
131:
125:
115:
113:
107:
106:
103:
99:
98:
88:
84:
83:
81:
80:
77:
73:
71:
63:
62:
52:
51:
45:
37:
36:
26:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
2631:
2620:
2617:
2615:
2612:
2610:
2607:
2605:
2602:
2600:
2597:
2595:
2592:
2590:
2587:
2585:
2582:
2580:
2579:Protest songs
2577:
2575:
2572:
2570:
2567:
2566:
2564:
2549:
2548:
2544:
2542:
2541:
2537:
2535:
2534:
2530:
2528:
2525:
2523:
2520:
2519:
2517:
2513:
2506:
2502:
2499:
2495:
2492:
2488:
2485:
2481:
2478:
2474:
2471:
2467:
2464:
2460:
2457:
2453:
2452:
2450:
2446:
2440:
2439:
2435:
2434:
2432:
2428:
2422:
2421:
2417:
2415:
2414:
2413:Greatest Hits
2410:
2408:
2407:
2403:
2401:
2400:
2396:
2394:
2393:
2389:
2387:
2386:
2382:
2380:
2379:
2375:
2373:
2372:
2368:
2366:
2365:
2361:
2360:
2358:
2354:
2348:
2347:
2343:
2341:
2340:
2336:
2335:
2333:
2329:
2323:
2322:
2318:
2316:
2315:
2311:
2309:
2308:
2304:
2302:
2301:
2300:Skinhead Girl
2297:
2295:
2294:
2290:
2288:
2287:
2283:
2281:
2280:
2279:In the Studio
2276:
2274:
2273:
2272:More Specials
2269:
2267:
2266:
2262:
2261:
2259:
2257:Studio albums
2255:
2248:
2245:
2242:
2239:
2236:
2233:
2230:
2228:Stan Campbell
2227:
2224:
2221:
2219:Satch Dickson
2218:
2215:
2213:
2210:
2208:
2205:
2203:
2200:
2198:
2197:John Bradbury
2195:
2193:
2190:
2188:
2185:
2182:
2179:
2177:
2176:Jerry Dammers
2174:
2172:
2169:
2168:
2165:
2162:
2160:
2159:
2158:Steve Cradock
2155:
2153:
2152:
2148:
2146:
2145:Drew Stansall
2143:
2141:
2138:
2136:
2135:
2134:Horace Panter
2131:
2129:
2128:
2124:
2123:
2120:
2116:
2109:
2104:
2102:
2097:
2095:
2090:
2089:
2086:
2080:
2077:
2075:
2072:
2070:to Ghost Town
2069:
2065:
2062:
2059:
2058:
2047:
2043:
2038:
2031:
2027:
2021:
2014:
2010:
2004:
1997:
1993:
1987:
1980:
1976:
1970:
1963:
1959:
1953:
1945:
1939:
1935:
1931:
1925:
1910:. discogs.com
1909:
1903:
1887:
1881:
1866:. 2-tone.info
1865:
1859:
1843:
1837:
1821:
1817:
1811:
1795:
1791:
1789:
1780:
1772:
1771:
1763:
1755:
1748:
1732:
1731:
1726:
1722:
1716:
1701:
1697:
1690:
1675:
1671:
1664:
1648:
1644:
1638:
1631:
1625:
1616:
1608:
1602:
1598:
1591:
1583:
1576:
1568:
1562:
1558:
1554:
1548:
1546:
1530:
1523:
1521:
1519:
1517:
1508:
1504:
1497:
1495:
1493:
1491:
1489:
1487:
1470:
1466:
1459:
1444:
1440:
1433:
1426:
1420:
1412:
1406:
1398:
1391:
1389:
1380:
1373:
1371:
1362:
1355:
1353:
1336:
1332:
1328:
1322:
1320:
1318:
1316:
1299:
1295:
1288:
1286:
1284:
1282:
1273:
1266:
1250:
1246:
1245:
1240:
1233:
1229:
1217:
1214:
1210:
1207:
1206:
1202:
1199:
1195:
1194:
1190:
1187:
1184:New Zealand (
1183:
1182:
1178:
1175:
1172:Netherlands (
1171:
1170:
1166:
1163:
1159:
1158:
1154:
1151:
1147:
1146:
1139:
1138:
1132:
1130:Chart (1981)
1129:
1128:
1117:
1114:
1111:
1109:
1105:
1102:
1101:
1097:
1096:
1092:
1089:
1086:
1085:Horace Panter
1083:
1080:
1077:
1074:
1071:
1068:
1067:Jerry Dammers
1065:
1062:
1059:
1056:
1055:John Bradbury
1053:
1052:
1048:
1047:
1035:
1033:
1030:
1027:
1023:
1019:
1017:
1014:
1011:
1007:
1003:
1001:
998:
995:
991:
987:
985:
982:
979:
975:
959:
946:
944:
941:
938:
934:
930:
928:
925:
922:
918:
902:
892:
880:
878:
875:
872:
868:
864:
862:
859:
856:
852:
848:
846:
843:
840:
836:
820:
807:
805:
802:
799:
795:
791:
789:
786:
783:
779:
775:
773:
770:
767:
763:
747:
733:Track listing
730:
728:
727:
726:Danse Macabre
722:
717:
715:
711:
710:Mark Beaumont
707:
702:
700:
695:
692:
690:
689:
684:
683:
678:
674:
673:
668:
663:
661:
660:
655:
650:
646:
644:
640:
636:
632:
622:
620:
615:
611:
607:
597:
588:
585:
579:
577:
571:
568:
562:
559:
555:
551:
546:
545:Hammond organ
542:
541:John Bradbury
538:
534:
531:
523:
520:
515:
511:
508:
502:
500:
496:
495:Horace Panter
492:
491:More Specials
488:
483:
481:
477:
466:
463:November 2023
456:
452:
448:
442:
441:
436:This section
434:
425:
424:
416:
414:
410:
406:
402:
398:
394:
388:
383:
380:
378:
374:
370:
369:Jerry Dammers
366:
365:
364:More Specials
354:
351:
347:
343:
339:
335:
331:
326:
324:
320:
316:
312:
302:
296:
293:
291:
288:
287:
269:
264:
260:
250:
246:
241:
237:
232:
228:
227:
223:
219:
215:
211:
208:
203:
200:
199:Jerry Dammers
197:
194:
193:Songwriter(s)
189:
186:
183:
181:
177:
163:
159:
153:
150:
148:
145:
144:
142:
140:
136:
130:
126:
124:
120:
117:
116:
114:
112:
108:
104:
100:
89:
85:
78:
75:
74:
72:
69:
64:
61:
57:
53:
49:
43:
38:
33:
30:
19:
2569:1981 singles
2545:
2538:
2531:
2490:
2436:
2418:
2411:
2404:
2397:
2392:BBC Sessions
2390:
2383:
2376:
2369:
2362:
2344:
2337:
2319:
2312:
2305:
2298:
2291:
2284:
2277:
2270:
2265:The Specials
2263:
2237:Gary McManus
2231:Edgio Newton
2216:John Shipley
2202:Dick Cuthell
2163:
2156:
2149:
2144:
2139:
2132:
2125:
2115:The Specials
2037:
2020:
2003:
1994:(in Dutch).
1986:
1969:
1960:(in Dutch).
1952:
1933:
1924:
1912:. Retrieved
1902:
1890:. Retrieved
1880:
1868:. Retrieved
1858:
1846:. Retrieved
1836:
1824:. Retrieved
1819:
1810:
1798:. Retrieved
1794:the original
1787:
1779:
1769:
1762:
1756:. Billboard.
1747:
1735:. Retrieved
1729:
1715:
1703:. Retrieved
1699:
1689:
1677:. Retrieved
1673:
1663:
1651:. Retrieved
1647:the original
1637:
1629:
1628:"Pop Beat",
1624:
1615:
1596:
1590:
1581:
1575:
1556:
1532:. Retrieved
1506:
1473:. Retrieved
1468:
1458:
1446:. Retrieved
1442:
1432:
1419:
1405:
1396:
1378:
1361:Melody Maker
1360:
1339:. Retrieved
1335:The Guardian
1334:
1302:. Retrieved
1297:
1271:
1265:
1255:23 September
1253:. Retrieved
1249:the original
1244:Classic Rock
1242:
1232:
1104:Dick Cuthell
1049:The Specials
980:"Ghost Town"
923:"Ghost Town"
890:
768:"Ghost Town"
738:1981 release
724:
718:
705:
703:
696:
693:
686:
680:
677:Edgar Wright
670:
664:
657:
651:
647:
642:
638:
635:Melody Maker
634:
628:
603:
594:
580:
573:
564:
533:roots reggae
527:
522:roots reggae
503:
490:
484:
479:
473:
460:
445:Please help
437:
397:inner cities
390:
385:
381:
377:The Guardian
376:
362:
360:
346:inner cities
338:unemployment
327:
319:the Specials
310:
308:
284:"Ghost Town"
266:Audio sample
239:
218:The Specials
212:John Collins
60:The Specials
47:
35:"Ghost Town"
29:
2619:Urban decay
2540:Dance Craze
2522:Discography
2331:Live albums
2234:Nick Parker
2212:Rhoda Dakar
1962:Ultratop 50
1930:Kent, David
1737:30 December
1705:5 September
1475:5 September
1341:5 September
1304:5 September
1150:Ultratop 50
721:Duran Duran
675:, the 2004
667:Guy Ritchie
600:Music video
507:Roddy Byers
393:urban decay
330:urban decay
207:Producer(s)
147:Reggae rock
2599:1981 songs
2563:Categories
2498:The Boiler
2491:Ghost Town
2484:Do Nothing
2477:Stereotype
2246:Mark Adams
2243:Adam Birch
2171:Terry Hall
1534:29 October
1272:Music Week
1225:References
1209:UK Singles
1152:Flanders)
1118:– trombone
1108:flugelhorn
1079:Terry Hall
659:Father Ted
654:an episode
576:Terry Hall
480:Roundtable
455:Wikisource
357:Background
311:Ghost Town
249:The Boiler
240:Ghost Town
231:Do Nothing
94:1981-06-12
48:Ghost Town
2456:Gangsters
2140:Tim Smart
1914:10 August
1826:30 August
1679:14 August
1653:14 August
1160:Ireland (
1148:Belgium (
1135:position
1044:Personnel
969:Writer(s)
912:Writer(s)
830:Writer(s)
757:Writer(s)
584:fading in
451:Wikiquote
438:contains
419:Recording
129:Tottenham
2470:Rat Race
2240:Jon Read
2064:Archived
2030:VG-lista
1932:(1993).
1892:29 March
1870:29 March
1848:29 March
1674:Allmusic
1555:(2008).
1448:29 March
1443:AllMusic
1198:VG-lista
1196:Norway (
1093:– vocals
1063:– guitar
714:Thatcher
487:24-track
342:violence
315:two-tone
152:two-tone
102:Recorded
87:Released
2515:Related
2448:Singles
2406:Archive
1800:7 March
1057:– drums
1032:Dammers
1016:Dammers
1000:Golding
984:Dammers
943:Dammers
927:Dammers
861:Golding
845:Dammers
788:Golding
772:Dammers
591:B-sides
253:(1982)
244:(1981)
235:(1980)
92: (
2314:Encore
2061:Lyrics
1940:
1603:
1563:
1397:Sounds
1087:– bass
996:"Why?"
972:Length
915:Length
833:Length
784:"Why?"
760:Length
672:Snatch
643:Sounds
625:Impact
614:bonnet
476:reggae
413:B-side
185:2 Tone
161:Length
111:Studio
76:"Why?"
68:B-side
56:Single
2222:Groco
966:Title
909:Title
827:Title
754:Title
679:film
669:film
524:track
373:muzak
350:riots
317:band
180:Label
139:Genre
1964:.
1938:ISBN
1916:2014
1894:2014
1872:2014
1850:2014
1828:2023
1820:Spin
1802:2022
1739:2013
1707:2013
1681:2011
1655:2011
1601:ISBN
1582:Mojo
1561:ISBN
1536:2013
1477:2013
1450:2014
1343:2013
1306:2013
1257:2021
1162:IRMA
1133:Peak
1036:4:25
1020:6:34
1004:3:55
988:6:02
947:4:19
931:3:40
881:3:32
877:Hall
865:3:55
849:6:02
808:3:32
804:Hall
792:2:59
776:3:40
641:and
567:King
558:Rico
556:and
554:Dick
407:and
340:and
295:help
290:file
2048:.
2032:.
2015:.
1998:.
1981:.
1788:NME
1379:NME
1213:OCC
1191:20
1179:12
1155:15
1143:68
962:No.
905:No.
823:No.
750:No.
706:NME
639:NME
344:in
58:by
2565::
2044:.
2028:.
2011:.
1977:.
1818:.
1727:.
1723:;
1698:.
1672:.
1544:^
1515:^
1505:.
1485:^
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