Ghost Town

What? No comments?!? This is the song that knocked Michael Jackson off the UK number one spot in 1981 (And stayed there for two or three weeks!). Fantastic song relating to both the state of the 2-tone scene, and the state of politics in the UK at the time.

Though the band were from Coventry Jerry Dammers has said that the song was actually inspired by seeing the state of decay of other cities like Liverpool when they were in tour. Whatever, it perfectly catches the decay and neglect of Britain's inner cities in Thatcher's Britain that would see them errupt into riot just as the song was released.

History repeats itself under the Tories once again - mass unemployment amongst the young with little hope of escaping poverty for a decent life - demonised, miunderstood and misrepresented by the media.

It's like little has changed in 30 years - even the great songs like this remain.

Althought the band are from Coventry (As am i) they are telling the story of the entire UK "no job to be ofund in this country" the booming car industry was falling into disrepair, unemployment was up to nearly a 1/5 of the population. So it wasn't just about coventry.

its funny but its gone full circle and todays society is getting like it..i know theres no rioting but it could speak about any inner city and gorden browns government leaving the youth on the shelf!!!!!!!!no wonder theyre so popular again,they speak up for the downtrodden

Thatcher's Britain, urban decay and rioting.

I great song of immense urban frustration.

Also, we should add that is brilliantly kicks off one of the best movies of today "Shaun of The Dead"

Last single featuring the original line-up. Dammit! The Specials could have been truly massive.

Absoloutly excellent piece of social commentry for its time, and a damned fine piece of music too.

Stuck this on tonight cos the town does feel like a ghost town - pubs and clubs have shut down and no-one has a job - exactly like the Eighties.