Madness or The Specials.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

[sundog]

1. Of no real opinion SLB -- still listening to Hunky Dory on a loop...

for four days now -- it's all your fault :evilgrin:

[Screaming Lord Byron]

3. Kewl! I take it you dig?

[sundog]

5. fuck yeah-- Eight Line Poem & Song for Bob Dylan

yeah, it gets better with every listen -- I'm hooked :)

[Screaming Lord Byron]

7. Great. It's one of my personal favourites.

[CanuckAmok]

2. Whew...tough choice.

I think Madness were better tunesmiths, but the Specials burned short and brilliantly.

Madness did come up with a seriously good library of ska-pop anthems, but it's hard to compare to the eponymous Specials album.

Still I voted Specials, because I think they had more cred'.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

6. Madness were part of a classic English pop tradition

that goes back to Ray Davies. The Specials were a phenomenon. Ghost Town is the greatest protest single ever, and the second Specials album 'More Specials' is at least 15 years ahead of it's time.
But Madness' singles were peerless.

[NightTrain]

4. This town...is looking like a ghost town.

No jobs to be found in this country!
This place...is looking like a ghost town.
People getting angry.

Guess who I voted for? :hi:

[Screaming Lord Byron]

8. Like I say upthread, that is one of the most astonishing protest songs.

Ever.
And it was #1 in the UK for four weeks. Fantastic.

[CanuckAmok]

13. My first exposure to The Specials:

A 60 Minutes piece on poverty and inner London violence in Thatcher's Britain.

They showed a clip of the "Ghost Town" video, to illustrate the hopelessness reflected in pop culture. What I remember the most was that 6o Minutes opted to subtitle the brogue. Too difficult to interpret for American audiences, I guess... :shrug:

[Screaming Lord Byron]

14. Ha! I never understood the need of programs to subtitle like that.

I mean, I understand a Jersey accent, or Quebec, how hard can Brummie be?

[miss_kitty]

9. i like them both

i think i saw the specials-i know i saw madness...oh i can't vote because i can decide.....

[CrownPrinceBandar]

10. I can't choose!...........................

Madness has been a longtime fav, but the Specials remind me of my only visit to the UK - very good time. I won't play favorites.

[Fenris]

11. Specials

God Bless Two-Tone!

[tigereye]

voted for The Specials

but, if you guys are still awake, rush over here http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x1570924

to defend the Ramones! Thanks.

[tigereye]

12. voted for The Specials

but, if you guys are still awake, rush over here http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x1570924

to defend the Ramones! Thanks.

oops itchy trigger finger

[RogueTrooper]

15. The Specials

Screaming Lord...

Shouldn't The ( English ) Beat be included in your poll?

Voted for The Specials...

Gangster, Too much to young, A Message to you Rudy and, of course, Ghost Town.

Honourble mention should go to Fun Boy Three for their song The Lunatics Have Taken Over The Asylum...

i see a clinic full of cynics
who want to twist the peoples' wrist
they're watching every move we make
we're all included on the list

the lunatics have taken over the asylum
the lunatics have taken over the asylum

no nuclear the cowboy told us
and who am i to disagree
'cos when the madman flips the switch
the nuclear will go for me

the lunatics have taken over the asylum
the lunatics have taken over the asylum

i've seen the faces of starvation
but i just can not see the points
'cos there's so much food here today
that no one wants to take away

the lunatics have taken over the asylum
the lunatics have taken over the asylum

the lunatics have taken over the asylum - take away my right to choose
the lunatics have taken over the asylum - take away my point of view
the lunatics have taken over the asylum
the lunatics have taken over the asylum - take away my dignity, take these things away from me
the lunatics have taken over the asylum
the lunatics have taken over the asylum - take away my family, take awaythe right to speak
the lunatics have taken over the asylum take away my point of view, takeaway my right to choose

[Screaming Lord Byron]

16. Maybe, but I think The Specials and Madness were the top two.