On the record
By Casey Gillis on Apr. 10, 2008
By Bradford Brady and John Maron
Q: I’ve been listening to my old English Beat and Specials albums recently, and I’ve always wondered where the term “Rude Boy” came from when referring to ska music. Can you tell me?
A: There are actually three different meanings to the term, each coming from the different eras in which ska has been popular. According to historian Horace Campbell, the moniker “Rude Bwoy” (sic) surfaced in Jamaica during the mid-1960s. The term was first used to refer to young Jamaican toughs, who were involved in the ganja trade, often employed as “enforcers.” These youths terrorized their communities and were even feared by the police. During the long, hot Jamaican summer of 1966, violence associated with the Rude Boys escalated. As a result, a whole spate of songs and records about the Rude Boys were released that year. While some songs demonized the Rude Boys for being thugs, others depicted them as heroes, while others portrayed them as victims of their social circumstances. By the early ’70s, their mystique in Jamaica had faded. During the English ska revival of the late ’70s and early ’80s, the term was picked up and used to refer to nattily dressed, fun-loving young men in pork-pie hats, as popularized by such revivalist groups as Madness and the Specials. The craze soon died in England, too. Today, Rude Boy (or Girl) refers to anyone who is a true devotee of ska and its historical/social significance.
Q: Can you tell me if there’s any reason to buy the new Rolling Stones live album? I’m a fan of the Stones but I don’t want to buy another live album if it contains songs that were included on older live albums.
A: Throughout their long career, the Rolling Stones have released nine live albums. Their latest, “Shine A Light,” is the soundtrack to the new Martin Scorsese concert movie. Recorded over the course of two nights at New York’s Beacon Theater in late 2006, “Shine A Light” has been released in a standard version and a 22-track Deluxe Edition. Among the 22 tracks on the Deluxe Edition, 10 songs have never been released in live versions. Included on the list are a few older songs like 1965’s “As Tears Go By” and 1967’s “Connection.” Live versions of two classics from Exile on Main Street are released for the first time (the excellent “All Down the Line” and “Loving Cup”), along with two nuggets from Some Girls (the title track and “Far Away Eyes”). With all 22 songs considered, “Shine A Light” is a good addition to any Stones fan’s collection.
Q: I can’t wait for the next Daughtry album. When is the new album coming out?
A: Late last year, the group’s leader, Chris Daughtry, stated that the band was in the process of writing some new songs and that a new album might come out in 2008. In the meantime, songs from their April 13 acoustic concert at the Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas will be available on Rhapsody.
What’s the name of that song? Where are they now? What does that lyric mean? Send questions to or visit http://www.musicontherecord.com. Brady and Maron are freelance music writers based in Raleigh, N.C.
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