I am devastated. The unexpected losses have seemed to come thick and fast this year and all have affected me in different ways, but this has really floored me. Terry Hall has been a massive influence and inspiration since I'd first started taking a real interest in music, the sounds, the words and the people behind them.
I couldn't immediately find the words but social media has been ablaze with tributes, all sharing their deep love of Terry, whether they'd met him or not, whether they'd come on board with The Specials or joined further down the line with Fun Boy Three, The Colourfield, Gorillaz or the 21st reincarnation of The Specials. I woke up this morning to find a notification at 2:33am from JC, who has posted a beautiful tribute over at The Vinyl Villain.
in February 2021, I had the privilege of having an Imaginary Compilation Album posted on TVV, focusing on a broad sweep of Terry's career, including some deep cuts and more obscure collaborations. The following day, JC posted a second Terry Hall ICA, containing ten absolutely blinding songs from his career. In the current ICA World Cup, Terry Hall nearly made it to the Quarter Finals, even more of a testament given that the tracks in each stage were from my 'collaborations' ICA rather than JC's 'all killer, no filler' compilation.
So, it seems only fitting that I return to and recreate both ICAs as a Dubhed selection for today's tribute. In keeping with the ICA tradition of presenting the selection as vinyl friendly sides, the songs are presented as four sides, five songs apiece.
I've flipped the order, leading off with JC's ICA, then mine. In my mind, I'm imagining JC's sides as being the 'Best Of' album and my selection providing the limited edition bonus album. Completely accidentally, the combined ICA would also sit very comfortably as a 20-track CD.
As a consequence, the selection starts and ends with Fun Boy Three, their debut single and the closing song on second and final album, Waiting. As an eleven year old, this is really where it all started for me. The cassettes of both albums are long worn out but the memory remains.
You were and will always be a legend, Terry. Thank you.
Side One
1) The Lunatics Have Taken Over The Asylum (Album Version): Fun Boy Three (1982)
2) Thinking Of You (Album Version): The Colourfield (1985)
3) Music To Watch Girls By (Cover of Andy Williams): Terry Hall (1997)
4) Fishbones And Scaredy Cats: Terry, Blair & Anouchka (1990)
5) Our Lips Are Sealed (Singles Version): Fun Boy Three (1983)
Side Two
1) Gangsters (Single Version): The Special AKA (1979)
2) Do Nothing: The Specials ft. Rico & The Ice Rink String Sounds (1980)
3) The Alibi (The Station's Full Of Pipes) (12" Version): Fun Boy Three (1982)
4) Too Much Too Young (Album Version): The Specials (1979)
5) A Room Full Of Nothing: Terry Hall (1997)
Side Three
1) All Kinds Of Everything (Cover of Dana): Terry Hall & Sinéad O'Connor (1998)
2) Forever J (Pulp Mix By Jarvis Cocker & Steve Mackie): Terry Hall (1994)
3) Cruel Circus: The Colourfield (1985)
4) If You Kill My Cat I'll Kill Your Dog: Vegas (1992)
5) Friday Night, Saturday Morning (Single Version): The Specials (1981)
Side Four
1) Bubbles: Nearly God ft. Terry Hall (1996)
2) Rapture (Radio Edit) (Cover of Blondie): Dub Pistols ft. Terry Hall (2007)
3) Ten Eleven: Terry Hall & Mushtaq ft. Damon Albarn (2003)
4) Time To Blow: Leila ft. Terry Hall (2008)
5) Well Fancy That!: Fun Boy Three (1983)
A lovely tribute Khayem.Your track selections show what a talent he was.Taken far to soon.
ReplyDeleteThanks, CC. A big tip of the hat to JC for his outstanding ICA, also. As you say, the selection shows whether as a 'lead' or a 'guest', any song featuring Terry Hall was a showcase for his incredible talent.
DeleteAwful news, such a loss.
ReplyDeleteI was sat on train last night, travelling from Gloucester, listening to this selection again and just crying. Fortunately, a largely empty carriage for most of the journey.
DeleteLovely tributes by both JC and yourself today. Both recognise all the post - specials stuff and whilst The Specials were amazing a lot of tributes have leant heavily on Terry's career 1979-82 when the past 40 years should also be remembered as fondly. BTW when I went to see The Specials in 2009 I remember making a promise not to see them again as nothing would be better - atmosphere, set list, Terry's voice..
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mike. I was aware of The Specials and the ska revival. The primary school playground was full of Harringtons turned inside out (except for me, I wasn't allowed to have one). However, Fun Boy Three was 'my' band: I loved Terry, Neville and Lynval and was gutted when they parted after the second album. But you're spot on, Terry's further work throughout the 80s, 90s and into the 21st century has been nothing short of brilliant. I really wish I'd seen The Specials in 2009.
DeleteA lovely tribute. Such a sad and shocking loss, far too young.
ReplyDeleteThanks, C. The surge of tributes to Terry conveyed both the shock at his passing but also how much his values and commentary resonated with people. And that he was very much loved by anyone that got to see, meet or know him. My thoughts are with his family.
DeleteGreat selection of his work there! From tearing up nightclub floors in N.Yorks to early Specials to bopping around to Fun Boy 3 in Cyprus a few years later - his work with Mushtaq & Dub Pistoles (was listening to 'Rapture' just last week) & the 'comeback' LP with some strong songs on it. Sad news indeed. Thanks for the tribute
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I thought Terry might make it at least to the Quarter Finals of the ICA World Cup, but it was a heartwarming reminder of how much love there is for his contribution to music. As you'll have guessed from my ICA, I love Terry's collaborations with other artists - the album with Mushtaq is a prime example.
DeleteI think it's really shocked a lot of us how floored we've been by the news of Terry's death. Fans of all ages have been hit equally hard. Says a lot about the man and his body of work. A fine tribute from you and a fine selection of songs.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Alyson. What struck when the ICAs were originally posted and again on the multiple plays they've had in the last 24 hours, is how well the songs sit together given the broad span of time and genres. I still can't believe he's gone.
DeleteReally wonderful tribute to an Artist I have so much love and respect for. I consider his first solo effort Home to be one of my favorite albums of the 90s. First Attack Of Love is a modern classic - but then so is Sense - His or the Lightning Seeds' versions and Ballad OF A Landlord from 97s Laugh. Both Poems and Bubbles from the Nearly God album with Tricky and Martina Topley-Bird show how just a little Terry went a very long way.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Echorich, and lovely to hear from you. You posted some very kind comments when the ICAs first appeared and I'm glad they still hold up, a year on, a testament to Terry's talent really. Back then, I had to admit to the glaring omission of Lightning Seeds' version of Sense on my collaborations ICA. I agree 100% with your comments on First Attack Of Love and Ballad Of A Landlord. Terry's solo albums were criminally overlooked by the world at large. Tricky is another consummate collaborator, but he really struck gold with Nearly God.
DeleteA truly wonderful post.....and thank you for allowing me to be part of it.
ReplyDeleteThe Guardian yesterday did a "Terry Hall: his 10 greatest recordings with the Specials and beyond". It's not too bad, but I reckon our ICAs were better!!!
Oh, and if you go to the comments section, you'll see that I snared myself a 'Guardian Pick' under my nom de plume of 'Simply Thrilled'.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/dec/20/terry-hall-specials-fun-boy-three
Thanks as ever, JC. Without TVV there wouldn't have been a Terry Hall ICA (twice!). Thanks for the link to The Guardian's piece - nice comment/selection there.
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