According to the September 2009 issue of Mojo (UK), Madness is going to be re-issuing expanded versions of all of their albums, from their 1979 debut through 1999's Wonderful. One Step Beyond...will be released in October 2009 with a second disc of b-sides, demos, live tracks, and foreign language versions, and the remainder of their catalogue in this enhanced format will find its way into stores and on-line through the middle of 2010. + + + +
In related 2 Tone-era band news, the reunited Specials (minus Jerry Dammers) are planning to release a live album and DVD of their recent reunion shows in the UK.
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Lastly, Mojo has a review of Neville Staple's autobiography, Original Rude Boy--which calls it a "fascinating but harrowing tale of an uneasy life."
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The latest single from Madness' The Liberty of Norton Folgate (following "Dust Devil")...
You should get the Neville book. I think you'll find some cool details in there, like talks about The Toasters, Moon Ska Records, US rise of ska popularity, and yes, even Megalith Records! You may even see a photo of yours truly posing with Neville at Ska Summit 2003, and an interesting list of thank you and credits in the back of the book! Woot!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jer! I'll pick up the book! Always happy to see The Toasters/Moon/Megalith/US ska scene get some well-deserved props in print.
ReplyDeleteFrom the Mojo review, it seems that Neville had a really crappy childhood and was headed toward a life of crime when he hooked up with The Specials ("ska saved my life!")--but then let the stardom go to his head a bit...
I'm sure that you remember that Moon distributed Neville's CD EP back in the mid-to-late 90s. It's in my archives, but I'm not sure I ever listened to it, sadly.
i hope those madness reissues are gonna be available here in America so that i dont have to spend 25 bucks a piece on import copies...
ReplyDeleteWord...but I wouldn't hold my breath...who is going to release them here? Start saving those nickels, dimes, and pennies!
ReplyDeletei think Jeremy should release them on Megalith! haha
ReplyDeleteI live in London and caught one of The Specials gigs last year - it was one of the best gigs I've ever seen. They've still got more energy on stage than most bands that are new to the scene. Awesome.
ReplyDeleteYou lucky dog! I'm desperately hoping that they decide to come over and do a few dates. They would go over really big...
ReplyDeleteThanks.