My tribute to Terry Hall, the scowl and the soul of The Specials. Not forgetting Fun Boy Three, who despite the name could be even bleaker. RIP.
RIP also to Martin Duffy, who played on one of the greatest songs of the 1980s, and one of the greatest songs of the 1990s.
And RIP to Thom Bell, the man behind some of the most beautiful songs ever made.
More mourning - a Coventry native's remembrance of Terry Hall from Neil Kulkarni, while another Melody Maker alum Bob Stanley tells the story of Thom Bell.
Lovely to hear Terry's light, gentle voice and self-deprecating manner on this 1985 radio show as he introduces a selection of his favorite records. Surprisingly, or not surprisingly - given the Colourfield's sound - the selection is fairly weighted to M.O.R. and soft-rock - Edith Piaf's version of "Autumn Leaves", Paul Simon's "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" and Janis Ian's "At 17" all get played and Terry mentions en passant that he recently attended a Cleo Laine concert!. The two-hour show was originally done for Manchester's Piccadilly Radio at the invitation of Timmy Mallett.
Terry also plays the Colourfield's lovely cover of a song by The Roches, as also sampled by The Avalanches.
Thinking of Bell business like The Spinners "I'll Be Around" (below) and "I'm Doin' Fine Now" (as well as non-Bell creations of that era like Al Green's version of "Funny How Time Slips Away"), it struck me how elegantly adult these songs were when it came to things like breaking up, walking away, getting over, and otherwise making it to the other side of heartbreak with dignity intact. Casting my mind back, I wondered whether I had ever achieved such grace in similar circumstances.... I fear the answer is "not quite". Whether we heed their wisdom or not, these songs model how to be.