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“A Message to You Rudy” – The Specials
(Words/music: Lee “Scratch” Perry and Lee Thompson, available on The Specials, 2 Tone / Chrysalis 1979)

More than bands in other genres, ska bands look backward to their heroes for their inspiration.  The Specials did this as much as anyone else and in the process became ambassadors to both the second wave ska movement and to the history of ska in general.  Without the Specials pointing backwards to their roots, generations of music fans might begin and end their knowledge of reggae with Bob Marley.  So it’s appropriate that the Specials debut album contained a number of old reggae songs, including a faithful interpretation of this Dandy Livingstone track.  While Livingstone’s track cautioned the Jamaican rude boys against their violent behavior, The Specials sent their “message” to the new wave of ska in England.  Just as the new wave of ska repurposed “rude boy” to mean fans of the music (granted, some still took the violence as part of it), the Specials took Livingstone’s warning and repurposed it as a rallying cry to their growing two-tone movement. 

Personally, “A Message to You Rudy” takes on an entirely out-of-context meaning.  Tonight I’m going to celebrate my friend Matt’s birthday at Rudy’s, one of our favorite bars.  In addition to affordable beer (and amazing Belgian frites), Rudy’s has been a place to get together with friends, listen to an insanely eclectic jukebox, and kick back from the day-to-day grind.  Even though I knew most of the songs that I associate with Rudy’s long before I could drink beer, many vivid memories attached to these songs occurred at Rudy’s.  So tonight, while lifting a pint to Matt, I’ll see if I can slip a dollar into the jukebox and play the Specials in honor of a friend, a band, and a bar that I hold so dearly.

More on The Specials: Allmusic | Amazon MP3 | Emusic | Last.fm