| "Do Nothing" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single bythe Specials featuringRico with the Ice Rink String Sounds | ||||
| from the albumMore Specials | ||||
| A-side | "Maggie's Farm" | |||
| Released | 5 December 1980 (1980-12-05)[1] | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:41 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriters | ||||
| Producer | Dave Jordan | |||
| The Specials singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Do Nothing" is a song byska/2-tone bandThe Specials, released in December 1980 by2 Tone Records as the second single fromMore Specials. The single peaked at number 4 on theUK Singles Chart.[3]
For the single release of "Do Nothing", the album version of the song was remixed, withJerry Dammers adding a string synthesiser, credited as the 'Ice Rink String Sounds'. It was released as adouble A-side single with a cover version ofBob Dylan's "Maggie's Farm", with reference to then-Prime MinisterMargaret Thatcher.[4]
It was the first Specials single in the UK to diverge from the 2 Tone look and have a picture sleeve, with the cover being the band "gathered in a gaudy fun pub clad in polyester leisurewear, an image carrying the pungent subtext that modern life was rubbish".[5] The band's appearance onTop of the Pops with this song also saw a depart from the suits andmod/rude-boy look, with the band wearing Christmas jumpers. Also onTop of the Pops wereThe Beat, promoting "Too Nice to Talk To" andHorace Panter andDavid Steele decided to swap roles and mime each other's band's songs.[6]
Reviewing the song forRecord Mirror, Mike Gardner wrote: "A new, improved version of Lynval Golding's song of social frustration is given a lusher treatment with washes of Jerry Dammers' 'Ice Rink String Sounds' and a heavier rhythm base which does nothing to diminish a quality piece of work."[7] Reviewing forSmash Hits, Ronnie Gurr wrote: "GreatReginald Dixon organ sound from Jerry Dammers and more exemplary trombone etchings from Rico. A truly excellent single. Flip over and find a horrendous cocktail lounge calypso cover of Dylan's "Maggie's Farm". Excusable only if it's a political statement."[8]
| Chart (1981) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Ireland (IRMA)[9] | 13 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[3] | 4 |