BOOT TUNES 1
Welcome to Boot Tunes the first of 10 pages dedicated to 30 years of Skinhead music. Non of the records to be included in this section (or those to follow) are in order of preference or release. Sorry about the bad image scans...
'SKINS 'N' PUNKS (Vol 1)' - LAST ROUGH CAUSE/SOCIETYS REJECTS (OI! Records 1986)
Released in 1986 on OI! records 'SKINS 'N' PUNKS (Volume 1)' features Last Rough Cause and Societys Rejects. This record highlights the diversity within OI! music. On the one hand you have LRC - very melodic and smooth with touches of reggae. On the other you have Societys Rejects - raw and fast. True to the spirit of all staunch OI! these are two great bands having their say and saying it loud. All those people out there who have this idea that OI! is somehow none political should go back and check out records like this. Check out tracks like LRC's 'Get them Back' or Societys Rejects 'United we stand' and 'Politician'. Both bands vent their anger at the system and shout out their class pride. For me this is OI! at it's best. The rough with the smooth. The anger, the rebellion and a big fuck you to the enemies of the working class. As this album cover points out :
OI! = A WORKING CLASS PROTEST 
NOTHING MORE - NOTHING LESS

 
LIQUIDATOR - HARRY J ALL STARS (TROJAN RECORDS)
For the most part this album isn't one of my favourites from that period. All the tracks are hammond organ led instrumentals which - lets be honest - are cheesy to say the least. However - the title track 'LIQUIDATOR' is a little gem that has been ripping up Skinhead dance floors since it's release in the late 60's. No gathering of Skinheads would be complete without at least one spin of Harry J's Liquidator. It's just so damn skankable. There's something addictively catchy about that lazy rhythm and wicked organ hook. Liquidator sticks in your head for days on end and causes a big happy grin every time you hear it. It's instantly recognizable and very unique. There's no other tune quite like it. Ask any ex-Skin who was around back then what they were listening to and this is one of the first tunes they will remember. Liquidator is up there with the likes of Simarip's Skinhead Moonstomp, Prince Buster's Gangsters and Desmond Dekker's Israelites. It  has to be one of the all time Skinhead Reggae classics. Like most Skinheads of my generation i was first introduced to this record after hearing the Two Tone cover version. It's probably the most covered Ska track of all time but none of them even come close to the original. Harry J's Liquidator is still the best.

 
BAD MANNERS - SKA 'N' B (MAGNET RECORDS 1980)
SKA 'N' B was the first and i believe the best Bad Manners album. Although Bad Manners were very much a part of the 2 TONE era, they were less influenced by Punk than other bands like the Specials. Their music was (and still is!) a lot more light hearted. Who can forget all those classic Manners Top Of The Pops appearances with buster doing cartwheels and leaping around like a juggernaut on speed. You couldn't help but like the Manners. Maybe they had less to say than some of the other late 70's/ early 80's british Ska bands but they were always good for a laugh and a dance. SKA 'N' B is packed with classics like the irrepressible NE-NE-NA-NA-NA-NU-NU, HERE COMES THE MAJOR, KING SKA/ FA, SPECIAL BREW and of course LIP UP FATTY. In fact - there's not a single track on this album i can honestly say i don't like. It's been a few years since i last saw the Manners but they were a big part of my youth and SKA 'N' B has to be one of my favourite albums of all time.

 
THE BEST OF JUDGE DREAD (CLIK RECORDS 1976)
To be honest, i wasn't too keen on including this record. I've never been a big fan of Judge Dread. Musically this album is fine but i find the lyrics irritatingly stupid. However, after talking to Skinheads who were around back in the 70's
it's obvious no serious history of Skinhead music would be truly complete without the inclusion of at least one Judge Dread album. So here it is. The one saving grace is a decent cover of Roland Alphonso's Phoenix City. That's all i've got to say on the matter, it's best left to those who lived and loved music like
this.
" To me and my mates Judge Dread was the man. We used to go up the youth club every Friday night and dance to Big one and Phoenix City and all his other stuff. I was the DJ back then and every time i put on a Judge Dread record all the Skins went mad. It's what being a Skinhead was all about. You've got to have Judge Dread in there "
SCOOBY (EX-SKINHEAD/ BARNSLEY PHOENIX CREW '72 - '84)

 
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BOOT TUNES PART 2
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