Ghost Town
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"Ghost Town" was a number one hit for the British ska band, The Specials. It was written in response to Margaret Thatcher's policies which the band believed would increase the large-scale unemployment already present in Britain, particularly in the UK's industrialised north and Midlands regions. This was highly relevant to The Specials as they formed and lived in Coventry and saw the effects of the policies first-hand, as their city experienced some of the UK's worst unemployment at levels of 20%. It was also the summer of large-scale riots in Brixton, London and Toxteth, Liverpool amongst others. Heavy-handed police treatment of young black men was especially relevant to the mixed-race group.
The song spent three weeks at number one and ten weeks in the top 40 of the UK Singles Chart overall and is thought to be their honest impression of Coventry in 1981, although some believe it was inspired following one of the band's concerts in Glasgow. The track was recorded at the Woodbine Street Studios in Leamington Spa, UK.
[edit] Trivia
The club referred to in the lines "All the clubs are being closed down" and "Too much fighting on the dance floor" was The Locarno. It is now Coventry Central Library.
The song is the only record brought by the forgetful DJ priest Father Billy O'Dwyer to the Craggy Island disco and raffle in the Father Ted episode "Think Fast, Father Ted". It even has to stand in for the national anthem "Amhrán na bhFiann".
The song was used in the romantic zombie comedy, Shaun of the Dead.
In the Guy Ritchie movie Snatch, the song is used in the introductory scene for one of the main protagonists of the movie, Sol and Vinnie.
No Doubt included a partial cover of Ghost Town in their Live in the Tragic Kingdom concert DVD. It's part of the song "Move On".
[edit] External links
- "Ska for the madding crowd", an article on the song in The Guardian
- Ghost Town at the All Music Guide
- Lyrics to Ghost Town
- A page about the single on a 2 Tone Records fansite
- An interview about the song with John Collins, the producer
| Preceded by "One Day In Your Life" by Michael Jackson |
UK number one single July 5, 1981 |
Succeeded by "Green Door" by Shakin' Stevens |
