Jerry Dammers of the ska revival bandthe Specials started the record label in 1979.[1][2] Chrysalis had wanted to sign the Specials, but Dammers arranged a label deal, for Chrysalis to fund 15 singles a year and release at least ten of those.[3]
The label spawned the2 Tone music and cultural movement, which was popular amongskinheads,rudies and somemod revivalists. The label stopped operating in 1986, though "2 Tone" is still used as an imprint for back catalogue issues. 2 Tone Records signedthe Selecter,Madness andThe Beat, but they all left within two years. 2 Tone Records acts signed a contract that allowed them to leave the label after releasing just one single, which was unusual in the record industry. Madness and The Beat both took advantage of this clause; the former to sign toStiff Records, and the latter to start their own label,Go Feet Records.
Although 2 Tone Records was closely identified with the ska revival, efforts were made to broaden the label's musical output, releasing recordings by artists such as singer-songwriterElvis Costello and thefunk-punk bandthe Higsons.
Dammers, with the assistance ofHorace Panter and graphic designers John "Teflon" Sims and David Storey, created artwork that was to become central to 2 Tone Records. The logo portrays a man in a black suit, white shirt, black tie,pork pie hat, white socks and blackloafers. Named "Walt Jabsco", the fictional character was based on a photograph ofPeter Tosh, a former member ofthe Wailers.[4] Walt got his name from an old American bowling shirt that Dammers owned.[5] He influenced the design of anemoji (originally meant to depict a suited man doing thepogo):U+1F574🕴MAN IN BUSINESS SUIT LEVITATING.[6]
CHS TT18 Rhoda & The Special AKA — "The Boiler" / "Theme from the Boiler" 7"
CHS TT19 Rico Rodriguez & The Special AKA — "Jungle Music" / "Rasta Call You" 7"
CHS TT12 19 Rico Rodriguez & The Special AKA — "Jungle Music" / "Rasta Call You" / "Easter Island" 12"
CHS TT20The Apollinaires — "The Feeling's Gone" / "The Feeling's Back" 7"
CHS TT12 20 The Apollinaires — "The Feeling's Gone" (Dance Mix) / "The Feeling's Back" / "The Bongo Medley" (Extremely Long Version) 12"
CHS TT21The Higsons — "Tear the Whole Thing Down" / "Y Lang, Y Lang" 7"
CHS TTS1 The Apollinaires — "Envy the Love" / "Give It Up" / "Tear the Whole Thing Down" / "Y Lang, Y Lang" 12" (White label promo only, split with Higsons)
CHS TT22 The Apollinaires — "Envy the Love" / "Give It Up" 7"
CHS TT12 22 The Apollinaires — "Envy The Love" / "Give It Up" 12"
CHS TT23 The Special AKA — "War Crimes" / "War Crimes" (Version) 7"
CHS TT10 23 The Special AKA — "War Crimes" / "War Crimes" (Version) 10"
CHS TT24 The Higsons — "Run Me Down" (Long Version) / "Put the Punk Back Into Funk Pts 1 & 2" 7"
CHS TT12 24 The Higsons — "Run Me Down" / "Put the Punk Back Into Funk Pts 1 & 2" 12"
CHS TT25 The Special AKA — "Racist Friend" / "Bright Lights" 7"
CHS TT25 The Special AKA — "Racist Friend" / "Bright Lights" 7" (Picture Disc)
CHS TT26 The Special AKA — "Nelson Mandela" / "Break Down the Door!" 7"
CHS TT12 26 The Special AKA — "Nelson Mandela" / "Break Down the Door!" 12"
CHS TT27 The Special AKA — "What I Like Most About You Is Your Girlfriend" / "Can't Get a Break" 7"
CHS TT12 27 The Special AKA — "What I Like Most About You Is Your Girlfriend" (Extended Version) / "Can't Get a Break" 12" (Early copies had free poster)
CHS TT 272 The Special AKA — "What I Like Most About You Is Your Girlfriend" / "Can't Get a Break" / "War Crimes" / "War Crimes" (Version) 7" (Twin 7" pack with "War Crimes" single)
CHS TP 27 The Special AKA — "What I Like Most About You Is Your Girlfriend" / "Can't Get a Break" 7" (Picture disc)
CHS TT28 The Friday Club — "Window Shopping" / "Window Shopping" (Instrumental) 7"
CHS TT12 28 The Friday Club — "Window Shopping" / "Window Shopping" (Instrumental) 12"
