The Specials-Ghost Town

Background Information/Facts

• Released 12th June 1981

•  Jo-Ann Greene of Allmusic notes that the lyrics “only brush on the causes for this apocalyptic vision.” —the closed down clubs, the numerous fights on the dancefloor, the spiraling unemployment, the anger building to explosive levels. 

• In an interview in 2011, Dammers explained how witnessing this event inspired his composition: “The overall sense I wanted to convey was impending doom”

• The song’s sparse lyrics address urban decay, unemployment and violence in inner cities.

• The group got ideas and inspiration from touring in the 1980s

• It was the last song recorded by the band before splitting up

• The song spent 3 weeks at No.1 and 10 weeks on the top 40 uk charts

• The band started in 1977 and broke up in 1981

• three of the major UK music magazines of the time awarded “Ghost Town” the accolade of “Single of the Year” for 1981

• The Specials record label/company was 2 Tone

• The video, directed by Barney Bubbles, consists of bass player Panter driving the band around London in a 1961 Vauxhall Cresta

• The video’s locations include driving through the “Rotherhithe Tunnel” and around semi-derelict areas of the East End before ending up in the financial district of the City of London in the early hours of daylight on Sunday morning, where the streets were deserted as it was the weekend.