The face of ska

2 Tone’s Walt Jabsco Nutty Dancer

Not many record label designs are this iconic. The stark black and white look of 2 Tone Records not so much overshadowed the bands it represented as it became inseparable from their identities. You’re not alone if you see The Specials or The Selecter with the Walt Jabsco design.

The 2 Tone visual style was created by The Specials founding member Jerry ‘The General’ Dammers and a team of designers notably John ‘Teflon’ Sims. Gotta love the names from the day. Teflon was behind the Walt Jabsco logo. The character is inspired by an early image of Peter Tosh, pre-dreads. You can purchase the Nutty Dancer and others prints signed by Teflon himself at 2 Tone Posters.

Jerry ‘The General’ was also the founder of 2 Tone Records.  Dammers orchestrated a deal with Chrysalis Records having them back 2 Tone instead of simply signing his band. Founded in 1978, 2 Tone Records grew fast and failed at the same rate, but its legacy lives on, influencing the sound and look of all modern ska.

You can expect to hear and see more from The Specials and The Selecter in 2015. Both bands are planning tours in various forms of their original selves. And The Specials just announced a plan to rerelease their first three albums repackaged into 2-CD packs.

Feel free to dig out your pork pie hat.