THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

372-The Specials-Ghost Town.

1981-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 1.42. The song was hailed by the contemporary UK music press as a major piece of social commentary. All of the top three music magazines of the time (Melody Maker, NME, and Sounds) awarded ‘Ghost Town’ the accolade of ‘Single of the Year for 1981.’

The Specials were formed in Coventry, England, in 1977. The classic lineup who performed on ‘Ghost Town’ were, John Bradbury, (1953-2015) (drums) Roddy Radiation, (guitar) Jerry Dammers, (keyboards) Lynval Golding, (guitar) Terry Hall, (lead vocals) Horace Painter, (bass) and Neville Staple (vocals.) This was the last song recorded by this lineup as musical differences led to Staple, Golding, and Hall, leaving in order to form ‘The Fun Boy Three.’ The Specials reformed in 1982 as ‘Special AKA,’ adding new members, and remained active for the next two years. There was a re-union in 1993 when Radiation, Staple, Golding, and Panter collaborated with Desmond Dekker (see also best songs 122) on his ‘King of Kings’ Album. There was further activity between 1996-2001, and then in 2008 Terry Hall officially returned to the group, and as of 2022 the three current members are Hall, Panter, and Golding. In total The Specials have released nine studio Albums between 1979-2019, and 23 singles, nine of which have reached the UK top 40, and two of which have made Number 1 (see also best songs 924.)

‘Ghost Town’ was written by Jerry Dammers who was born on May 22nd, 1955, in Ootacamund, Tamil Nadu, India, he was a co-founder of The Specials, and he also founded the record label ‘2 Tone Records’ in 1979. ‘Ghost Town’ was partly influenced by recession hit Britain, and the long lasting effects it would leave. While on tour with The Specials Dammers observed what was happening, he has said,’In Liverpool all the shops were shuttered up, everything was closing down. In Glasgow there were little old ladies on the streets selling their household goods.’ Dammers has also said that the song had a personal meaning as well,”Ghost Town’ was about the breakup of The Specials, it just appeared hopeless, but I just didn’t want to write about my state of mind so I tried to relate it to the country as a whole.’ The lyrics ‘All the clubs have been closed down,’ refer to the ‘Locarno’ club in the band’s home city of Coventry, a venue where Neville Staple and Lynval Golding frequented. The building which housed the club is now Coventry Central Library.

The summer of 1981 saw many riots breakout all over the UK, some commentators linked those events with this song. Terry Hall said,’When we recorded Ghost Town we were talking about 1980’s riots in Bristol, and Brixton. The fact that it became popular when it did was just a weird coincidence.’ Also not everyone was pleased in Coventry, where some residents were angry at the characterisation of their city as a town in decline.

‘Do you remember the good old days before the ghost town? We danced and sang, and the music played in natty boom town.’