The Specials - A Message To You Rudy SKA 2 Tone 1979 Top Of the Pops SHQ Stereo Sound & Vision.

"A Message to You Rudy" is a 1967 rocksteady song by Dandy Livingstone. Originally titled "Rudy a Message to You", the song later achieved broader success when, in 1979, a cover version by The Specials reached number 10 in the UK Singles Chart.

Livingstone came up with the idea of the song in about 10 minutes and recorded it a day or two later in about 20 minutes at Maximum Sounds Studio on Old Kent Road with engineer Vic Keary. Livingstone has said that he "had a very bad cold" on the day of recording and so it was suggested that he record the song as a guide vocal and then go over the vocals another day. However, everybody liked what Livingstone had done, so he didn't bother going back to sing over it. Whilst recording the song, Livingstone decided he wanted a trombone to feature in the song, so about a week after the recording session, he got trombonist Rico Rodriguez to play the intro melody. At the same time, he got a tenor saxophonist called Pepsi to play the same intro riff and "alternate the solo differently".

"Rudy a Message to You" did have some success commercially, selling 30,000 units. It also peaked at number 9 on Record Mirror's Top R&B Singles chart in August 1967, in which it was listed as "Rudie Take a Message".

The lyrics warn a "rudy" (rude boy) to think of his future and change his ways, otherwise he will end up in prison. However, the reception was not what was intended and it was received as glorifying the rude boy culture.

Livingstone noticed that by 1969, there were three cover versions of "Rudy a Message to You", first of which was by The Locomotive. He only found out about The Specials' version after seeing their performance on Top of the Pops, after which he made inquiries about the publishing. He found out Carlin Music was the publisher and they had been trying to find Livingstone's whereabouts. Livingstone was also contacted by Eddy Grant, who wanted to be the publisher of the song and gave him £250 in advance. However, Livingstone turned down the offer and signed with Carlin.

After the success of The Specials' version, Livingstone's version was re-released in December 1979 on Trojan Records, with the song remixed by Clem Bushay.

The Specials' version also features trombone by Rico Rodriguez and Dick Cuthell played on trumpet. The recording was produced by Elvis Costello. The version was sampled by Sublime in their song "DJ's".

The Specials, also known as The Special AKA, are an English 2 tone and ska revival band formed in 1977 in Coventry. After some early changes, the first stable lineup of the group consisted of Terry Hall and Neville Staple on vocals, Jerry Dammers on keyboards, Lynval Golding and Roddy Radiation on guitars, Horace Panter on bass, John Bradbury on drums, and Dick Cuthell and Rico Rodriguez on horns. The band wore mod-style "1960s period rude boy outfits (pork pie hats, tonic and mohair suits and loafers)". Their music combines the danceable rhythms of ska and rocksteady with the energy and attitude of punk. Lyrically, their work (often written by primary songwriter Dammers) presented overt political and social commentary.

In 1980, their The Special AKA Live! EP, featuring lead track "Too Much Too Young", reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart. In 1981, the recession-themed single "Ghost Town" also hit No. 1 in the UK.

After seven consecutive UK top 10 singles between 1979 and 1981, main lead vocalists Hall and Staple, along with guitarist Golding, left to form Fun Boy Three.

Drummer John Bradbury died on 28 December 2015 at the age of 62.

On 19 December 2022, the Specials announced on social media that Terry Hall had died at age 63 after a brief illness which was later revealed to be pancreatic cancer. They had planned to record a new album in the United States before Hall's health deteriorated.

The Specials (original line-up)
Terry Hall – lead vocals (1977–1981, 2008–2022; his death)
Lynval Golding – rhythm and lead guitar, vocals (1977–1981, 1993, 1994–1998, 2008–present)
Horace Panter – bass guitar (1977–1981, 1982, 1993, 1994–1998, 2000–2001, 2008–present)
Jerry Dammers – keyboards, principal songwriter, vocals (1977–1981)
Roddy Radiation – lead guitar, vocals (1978–1981, 1993, 1996–2001, 2008–2014)
Neville Staple – toasting, vocals, percussion (1978–1981, 1993, 1996–2001, 2008–2012)
John Bradbury – drums (1979–1984, 2008–2015; his death)
Dick Cuthell – flugelhorn, trumpet (1979–1984)
Rico Rodriguez – trombone (1979–1981, 1982; died 2015)

Loved Ska music at the time, 2 Tone produced some wonderful groups.

Hope you enjoyed this one.

Eddy EVB