Continuing his long-running and highly respected series for Ace, spanning year by year since the germination of his 1966 volume for both Ace and Faber Books, Jon Savage serves us up another of his spectacular insights into popular culture, this time for the years 1983 to 1985. Born out of the ashes of post-punk, there were plenty of experimental singles during the early part of this period: Siouxsie’s ‘Swimming Horses’, Shriekback’s ‘Lined Up’, Soft Cell’s ‘Heat’, Echo & The Bunnymen’s ‘Gods Will Be Gods’, and the Smiths’ ‘Girl Afraid’ – a perfect kitchen sink scenario. Pete Shelley and Scritti Politti went the electronic route to great effect, while the Special AKA delivered the perfect riposte to ‘Hard Times’ (all those ripped jeans) and having fun on the dole with the under-appreciated ‘Bright Lights’.

A classic example of a second album delivering more of the same, at least on the surface, Absolutely does benefit from the kinetic energy of being recorded quickly in the aftermath of Madness’ immediate success with One Step Beyond. Absolutely does motor ahead on breakneck ska rhythms, but it never quite feels as raw as its predecessor, and that hint of gloss serves the three big hit singles very well: the schoolyard nostalgia of “Baggy Trousers” has a bit of a sepia-toned lilt with this extra dose or production, the terrific “Embarrassment” slides by so smoothly it’s possible to not realize what an expertly crafted piece of pop it is, and “The Return of the Los Palmas 7” has a nice element of swinging ‘60s lounge cinema.

Graham McPherson, known by the stage name Suggs, is an English singer-songwriter, musician, radio personality and actor. In a music career spanning more than 30 years, Suggs came to prominence in the late 1970s as the lead singer of the ska band Madness, which released fifteen singles that entered the Top 10 charts in the United Kingdom during the 1970s, 1980s and the 1990s, including "My Girl", "Baggy Trousers", "Embarrassment", "It Must Be Love", "House of Fun", "Driving in My Car", "Our House", "Wings of a Dove" and "Lovestruck". Suggs began his solo career in 1995, while still a member of Madness. Since then, he has released two studio albums, and two compilation albums. His solo hits include "I'm Only Sleeping", "Camden Town", "Cecilia" and "Blue Day".

54 track 3CD clamshell box focusing on the period of time between 1975-1982 when reggae influenced and inspired punk in the UK. Featuring key tracks by The Clash, Burning Spear, Generation X, Culture, Public Image Ltd, Steel Pulse, The Specials, Dennis Brown, Ruts, Madness, Black Uhuru and many more. Plus a selection of obscure gems from the likes of 4th Street Orchestra, African Stone, Basement 5, Electric Guitars, Sir Horatio, Talisman, The Pop Group and Black Symbol.

Jamaican roots reggae master, and frequent collaborator with British trip hop group Massive Attack, teams up with former PiL bassist Jah Wobble for a brand new set of studio recordings! Andy's voice is one of the most distinguished and inimitable in reggae and thoroughly shines on such classics as Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" The Beatles' "Come Together," and America's "A Horse With No Name" PLUS new versions of Andy's own classics "Skylarking" and "Natty Dread A Weh She Want" and more! Wobble's production blends reggae with modern dub and world music for one of the richest reggae albums likely to be released this year!

54 track 3CD clamshell box focusing on the period of time between 1975-1982 when reggae influenced and inspired punk in the UK. Featuring key tracks by The Clash, Burning Spear, Generation X, Culture, Public Image Ltd, Steel Pulse, The Specials, Dennis Brown, Ruts, Madness, Black Uhuru and many more. Plus a selection of obscure gems from the likes of 4th Street Orchestra, African Stone, Basement 5, Electric Guitars, Sir Horatio, Talisman, The Pop Group and Black Symbol.

93 track five disc clam shell box rounding up pretty much all of Bad Manners’ releases between 1980-85. Disc 1 is debut LP “Ska N B” which spent three months in the UK charts in 1980, peaking at No.34. Includes the hit singles ‘Ne-Ne Na-Na Na-Na Nu-Nu’ (No.28), ‘Lip Up Fatty’ (No.15) and ‘Special Brew’ (No.3). The second disc is the “Loonee Tunes” album which hit No.36 in the National Chart in 1980. This one contains the hit singles ‘Lorraine’ (No.21) and ‘Just A Feeling’ (No.13). 1981’s “Gosh It’s” album is what you’ll find on Disc 3. It reached No.18 in the UK charts helped by the inclusion of the hit singles ‘Can Can’ (No.3) and ‘Walking In The Sunshine’ (No.10). We’ve also added as a bonus the No.34 charting ‘Buona Sera’ single plus two tracks from the “Party Party” sound-track that are appearing on CD in the UK for the first time.

This 3 CD, 69 track compilation provides the most comprehensive release to date to cover the UK Ska Revival 1979-1989. From the ‘Big 5’ of The Specials, Madness, The Beat, Selecter and Bad Manners, through to ‘one off’ highly collectable rarities from the likes of The RB’s, The Thrillers and The Gangsters and loads in between. Hit singles from the likes of The Lambrettas (‘Poison Ivy’) and The Piranhas (‘Tom Hark’), ‘comeback’ recordings from original Ska pioneers Laurel Aitken, Rico and Desmond Dekker, ‘novelty’ 45’s from the likes of The Burtons, The Charlie Parkas and Max Headroom and ‘New Ska’ sounds from late 80’s outfits such as The Deltones , The Hotknives and Maroon Town – this release has it all.

No Doubt’s 2010 installment in Universal’s ongoing Icon series is a retitled reissue of the excellent 2003 compilation The Singles 1992-2003. Spanning 15 tracks, the disc is sequenced like a concert, favoring forward momentum over chronological history, and that's a point in its favor since it shines a spotlight on individual songs, not eras. More than anything, this highlights No Doubt's consistency as a singles band, since the defining breakthrough single, "Just a Girl," is as exciting as both the band's pre-fame "Trapped in a Box" and the sexy neo-electro grind of "Hella Good." It also shows that even if lead singer Gwen Stefani grew increasingly assured and sexier over the years (compare the seductive "Underneath It All" to the breathy, naïve "Don't Speak") and even if she was always rightly the focal point, the band itself is a muscular, versatile, tuneful outfit, rooted in ska revivals like "Spiderwebs" but equally convincing when turning out spiky pop like the glorious "New," the hard-rocking "Sunday Morning" and "Ex-Girlfriend," the sighing ballad "Simple Kind of Life," or the rubbery, reggae-inflected "Hey Baby".

This new Deluxe Edition of Too Much Pressure has been expanded to a 3 CD set. CD1 includes newly remastered edition of the original album, CD2 collects all the non-album singles, B-sides, a John Peel session and previously unreleased rarities. CD3 is a newly mixed concert recorded at Tiffany’s in Coventry on the Two Tone Tour in November 1979, with some bonus tracks recorded in 1980 on the album tour. The Selecter were one of the key bands of the ska revival in the late 70’s and one of the few racially and sexually integrated bands on the scene. Vocalist Pauline Black wrote about sexism, racism, and social issues. Their debut release was the AA side of The Specials single ‘Gangsters’ in the summer of 1979, which only consisted of Neol Davies and John Bradbury (of The Specials) before quickly forming a full band by the end of the year. Releasing their follow up single ‘On My Radio’ which reached No. 6 in the UK charts. Their debut album Too Much Pressure was released in February 1980 and reached No. 5 in the UK charts. The album also included two further hit singles ‘Three Minute Hero’ and ‘Missing Words’.The CD has been newly remastered and by Alchemy in London. The package is 3CDs in gatefold card wallets, a 20-page booklet in a clamshell box.

2012 five CD box set from the British Ska/New Wave band. The Complete Beat contains the band's three studio albums (1980's I Just Can't Stop It, '81's Wha'ppen and Special Beat Service from 1982), each featuring bonus tracks. The set also includes a bonus two CD set made up of a disc of extended remixes plus a disc of Peel and BBC Radio sessions. Contemporaries of the Specials, Bad Manners and Madness, The English Beat (AKA the Beat outside of the U.S.) were part of the Ska revival scene that swept the UK in the late '70s. By the time they released the album Special Beat Service, they had matured into an MTV-ready Pop/New Wave band before splitting shortly thereafter. This box set contains all the hits, every album track, non album a and B-sides, unreleased live performances and much more.

Includes 25 previously unreleased recordings. All tracks unavailable on other Doctor Bird collections. Features numerous major ska hits. The first of a trio of newly compiled collections highlighting the very best of Duke Reid’s legendary Treasure Isle recordings from the early-to-mid-60s. The 2CD set focuses on the final years of the ska era, with the first of the discs on the set bringing together many of the producer’s best-known recordings from 1965, with all of the material making its debut on the Doctor Bird label. In contrast, the second CD comprises rare recordings from the Treasure Isle vaults, with 20 of the tracks previously unreleased. As either a stand-alone collection or a companion volume to the existing or soon-to-be issued Doctor Bird compilations showcasing the very best of Duke Reid’s legendary Treasure Isle label, ‘Ska La-Rama’ is an essential acquisition for anyone wanting to own the very best in original Jamaican ska sounds.

The Liberty of Norton Folgate is the ninth studio album from Madness and widely considered to be their magnum opus. Originally released in May 2009, and taking nearly three years to make, the record was the first with the full band since 1999's Wonderful and was developed as a concept album about the band's home town. The ten minute long title track tells the history of a part of East London (Norton Folgate, near Spitalfields) which, for a period, remained free from the Crown's ruling and was therefore referred to as a 'liberty', where normal rules of city life did not apply. The album finds the band in full creative flow, with song after song (including the tracks that didn't make it onto the standard CD or LP release) showcasing the maturity and depth of their songwriting prowess. Includes the singles 'NW5', 'Dust Devil' 'Forever Young' and 'Sugar and Spice'. This extended 2CD version contains nine bonus tracks, including two cover tracks ('Bittersweet' and 'The Roadette Song').

The NOW 12” 80s series is back with the latest addition – NOW 12” 80s: 1982 – Part 2 – to be released on April 12th.
1982 was a year of rapid change, both culturally and on the charts, and with too many essential 12”’s to all be included on one volume, Part 2 features a further 49 extended, full-length, or remixed versions across four CDs from some of the most innovative and popular artists of the era. This was the year when 12" singles became an essential part of a singles’ release, creating a unique experience for fans across all genres from Disco, through New Wave, New Romantic, and to the fresh synth-driven Pop of 1982.

The governing principle behind 'Theatre Of the Absurd Presents C'est La Vie', is: 'let Madness be Madness'. The result is an album of typically timeless brilliance that also reflects the wonky years of its creation. On release the album soared triumphantly to claim Madness's first ever UK No.1 studio album. Now they return with an Enhanced Edition of the album which features 5 brand new songs from the original album sessions and 7 unreleased live tracks recorded on 2023’s C’est La Vie tour including the band’s cover of The Specials classic ‘Friday Night Saturday Morning’.