COVENTRY Music Museum curator Pete Chambers BEM writes for the Observer.
When A Light Goes Out – The Specials Family
It was wonderful to hear from my old friend Lynval Golding last week who gave me a first listen to a song he has long been working on that looks to be the swan song of The Specials camp in the shape of the new song ‘When A Light Goes Out’.
The song is, of course, dedicated to band mates Terry Hall and John Bradbury.
What’s more emotive is the fact the song’s music was something Terry had also worked on before his passing and new lyrics were now added.
It features Specials’ members and the musicians that played with the band for a number of years on the ‘Encore’ and ‘Protest Songs’ albums. The track also features Lynval Golding’s last performance on guitar.
An emotional Lynval told me just what this song meant to him and insisted its first play should be in Coventry – Terry’s birthplace – so it got its first play on BBC CWR as part of Trish Adudu’s show broadcast last week on March 19 on what would have been Terry’s birthday.
Terry’s last words ‘Love, Love, Love’ are prominent in the song of course, but it’s a powerful track that fittingly goes back to the original ska sound of the band, with Lynval’s vocals coming through loud and proud, complete with a masterclass of swirling organ and punchy trombone.
I do hope this superb tribute makes it into the national charts – it really deserves everyone to hear it.
Also check out The Roger Rivas dub mix of the song, it’s a beautiful explosion of ska-dub brilliance. Love, Love, Love.
Danny Ansell – Fireworks
You know I have been a huge fan of Danny Ansell for a long time.
I adore his voice his songs and his on-point musicianship – I loved it when he got a band together and his musical tapestry that a band provided took him to another level.
However I always wondered what he would sound like if he indulged a little – you know, power chords and distorted guitars and some high level compression?
I never actually thought I would hear that side of The Danny Ansell band, but with this new track here it is in all its powerhouse glory!
Danny said of the song: “Fireworks is song I’ve had for years as a solo artist but never realised its potential until it was performed by the full band.
“We began to perform it live together last year,
“Myself, bass player Patrick Beard and drummer Steven Shelley loved playing it live and it just took off from there.
“The band worked and gigged relentlessly over the last few years and, after hearing these tracks recorded professionally, it seems the hard work has definitely paid off.”
The song is masterfully produced by Eddie Thomas of Marquis Drive at Woodworm studios in Banbury, Oxfordshire.
Fireworks is released next month, along with an accompanying video, a second track ‘Hurry Up and Wait’ will be released this summer – both will be available to stream and download.
