Blue Beat Records
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Blue Beat Records was a record label that released Jamaican rhythm & blues and ska music in the United Kingdom in the early and mid 1960s. It led to the creation of the term bluebeat to describe early Jamaican music, including music not associated with the record label. Blue Beat Records was a part of the Melodisc label, which specialised in Calypso and Mento music. Melodisc was formed in London, England in 1947, with strong ties to the West Indies. The Blue Beat label released around 425 records, and is particularly known for Prince Buster's song "Al Capone." Many Blue Beat recordings were played alongside soul music in dance clubs such as the Twisted Wheel in Manchester. The music was associated with the skinhead & mod cultures of the 1960's.
In 1989, Buster Bloodvessel of the 2 Tone ska revival band Bad Manners started a brand new record label called Blue Beat Records and licensed the name and logo. Between 1989 and 1990, he released several records on that label, including the Bad Manners album Return of The Ugly. The Bad Manners single "Skaville UK" was the last Blue Beat single to make an impact on the UK charts, reaching # 87 in 1989.
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