New Book, "Too Much Too Young: The 2 Tone Records Story," Out June 4
In the late 70s and early 80s, the ska revival in Great Britain known as 2 Tone influenced not only the music and fashion of the time, but also politics and race relations, The movement was popularized by the label 2 Tone Records which nearly every major ska band recorded for. The remarkable story of 2 Tone is told in the book Too Much Too Young: The 2 Tone Records Story – Rude Boys, Racism and the Soundtrack of a Generation by British music journalist Daniel Rachel.
“As a child, 2 Tone defined the way I saw the world. I was seduced by the off-beat rhythms, the cool-looking clothes, and most importantly the social and political lyrics. 2 Tone taught me about Black and white unity, it gave a voice to the pointlessness of street violence, and it provided an understanding and awareness of the horror of rape and apartheid. That you could dance, look good, and be educated by a record was incredible. This music and these bands have printed an indelible mark on my life. To write the story of 2 Tone is one of profound personal pride. But more so, to honor one of the greatest periods in modern popular culture. 2 Tone at its heart was a movement of great songwriters, musicians, and songs: We danced and sang, and the music played in a de boomtown!”
- said Daniel Rachel
Too Much Too Young: The 2 Tone Records Story has received praise from the very artists who innovated the 2 Tone sound. Among Rachel’s fans is Madness lead vocalist Suggs.
“Daniel Rachel has bagged the whirlwind of 2 Tone with joy, honesty and compassion to create the definitive account of one of Britain's finest youth movements.”
- said Suggs
2 Tone Records was the brainchild of Jerry Dammers. An art student from Coventry, Dammers had a vision to create an English Motown. After borrowing £700, Dammers produced a record with his band The Specials. The record featured the song,”Gangsters” which reached #6 on the UK charts within two months of its release. From that initial success, Dammers signed bands such as Madness, The Beat and The Bodysnatchers to his label.
The ska revival in Great Britain promoted racial unity and many bands in the genre were made up of British and Caribbean youth working together to bring Jamaican ska and reggae to new audiences with an influence from the contemporary punk scene.
Pauline Black, co-vocalist of The Selector wrote the book’s introduction. She gives credit to Daniel Rachel for accurately chronicling the social changes in British society that 2 Tone arose from.
“We lived in Britain, a country that had hugely benefited from immigration, but curiously had an innate antipathy to the ideas of multiculturalism and diversity. Daniel Rachel has managed to capture the essence of that contradiction in those Margaret Thatcher governed years, with this comprehensive, cautionary but nonetheless celebratory saga of the 2 Tone label.”
- said Pauline Black
2 Tone inspired a political rebellion among the working class in Great Britain. One of 2 Tone Records most politically charged releases was The Special AKA’s protest song “(Free) Nelson Mandela” which took a bold stance against apartheid.
Singer/songwriter and activist Billy Bragg complimented Rachel’s superb reporting on the political and artistic influence 2 Tone had.
“Daniel Rachel has managed to talk to all the significant players and the story he tells is one that shines a light on the challenges of mixing pop with politics. This feels like the definitive story of 2 Tone. Masterful,”
- said Billy Bragg
Too Much Too Young: The 2 Tone Records Story was critically acclaimed when first published in Great Britain. Publications such as the Sunday Times, Uncut, Louder Than War and Blitzed named Too Much Too Young: The 2 Tone Records Story in their annual Book of the Year honors. The Penderyn Music Book Prize was also awarded to Too Much Too Young: The 2 Tone Records Story.
Too Much Too Young: The 2 Tone Records Story will be published in the United States by Akashic Books and will hit bookstores on June 4, 2024. To promote the book Daniel Rachel will make personal appearances across the country.
TOO MUCH TOO YOUNG EVENTS
FEATURING DANIEL RACHEL
Friday, August 23 | 7:00 pm
West Hollywood, CA – Book Soup (8818 Sunset Blvd.)
Daniel Rachel presents Too Much Too Young in conversation with Lynval Golding of the Specials and Sarah-Jane Owen of the Bodysnatchers; moderated by Junor Francis
Sunday, August 25 | 7:30 pm
San Francisco, CA – The Make Out Room (3225 22nd St. & Mission)
Daniel Rachel presents Too Much Too Young in conversation with Peter Maravelis
Tuesday, August 27 | 7:00 pm
Las Vegas, NV – The Writer’s Block (519 S. 6th St. Ste. 100)
Wednesday, August 28 | 7:00 pm
Tempe, AZ – Changing Hands Bookstore (6428 S. McClintock Dr.)
Friday, August 30 | 6:00 pm
Denver, CO – Tattered Cover (2526 E. Colfax Ave.)
Sunday, September 8 | 4:00 pm
Cleveland Heights, OH – Mac’s Backs Books (1820 Coventry Rd.)
Monday, September 9 | Time TBD
Saugerties, NY – Upstate Films / Orpheum Theatre (198 Main St.)
Wednesday, September 11 | 7:00 pm
Jersey City, NJ – WORD Bookstore (29 McWilliams Pl.)
Thursday, September 12 | Time TBD
NEW YORK, NY – Rough Trade NYC (30 Rockefeller Plaza)
Saturday, September 14 | 3:00 pm
Washington, DC – Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library (901 G St., NW)
Sunday, September 15 | Time TBD
Fort Monroe, VA – Supernova Ska Festival (316 Fenwick Rd.)
ABOUT DANIEL RACHEL :
Daniel Rachel is a former musician-turned-award-winning and bestselling author whose previous works include Isle of Noises: Conversations with Great British Songwriters (a Guardian and NME Book of the Year), Walls Come Tumbling Down: The Music & Politics of Rock Against Racism, 2 Tone and Red Wedge (winner of the Penderyn Music Book Prize), Don’t Look Back in Anger: the Rise & Fall of Cool Britannia (An Evening Standard and Metro Book of the Year), The Lost Album of The Beatles: What If The Beatles Hadn’t Split Up? (Guardian Book of the Day and #1 Amazon Bestseller), One For The Road: The Life & Lyrics of Simon Fowler & Ocean Colour Scene, Oasis: Knebworth: Two Nights That Will Live Forever (with Jill Furmanovsky, a Sunday Times Bestseller), and co-writer of Ranking Roger’s autobiography, I Just Can’t Stop It: My Life in The Beat (a Vive Le Rock Book of the Year). In 2021, Daniel was a guest curator of the “2 Tone Lives & Legacies” exhibition as part of Coventry Cultural City 2021 and curated the anniversary edition of The Selecter’s debut album, Too Much Pressure.
