2 Tone Records was a UK record label which released ska and reggae influenced music with a punk overtone. It was started in 1979 by Jerry Dammers, of the UK ska band The Specials. When The Specials split in 1985, the label stopped operating. It spawned the 2 Tone music and cultural movement, which was popular among skinheads and rudies.

2 Tone signed The Selecter, Madness and The Beat, but they all left within two years. 2 Tone acts signed a contract which allowed them to leave the label after releasing just one single, which was unusual in the record industry. Madness and The Beat both took advantage of this clause, the former to sign to Stiff Records, and the latter to start their own label, Go-Feet.

Complete list of 2 Tone acts

• The Apollinaires
• Bad Manners
• The Beat (aka The English Beat in the U.S.)
• The Bodysnatchers
• Elvis Costello & The Attractions (for one unreleased single (CHS TT7) only)
• The Friday Club
• The Higsons
• JB's Allstars
• Madness
• Rhoda
• Rico Rodriguez
• The Selecter
• The Special AKA
• The Specials
• The Swinging Cats

External link

• 2 Tone history site

British record labels | Defunct record labels | 1979 establishments

2 Tone Records | 2Tone Records