Cherry Red have announced the official release of what has been described as “the lost 2 Tone album”.

Rhoda Dakar joined The Bodysnatchers in 1979 after Shane McGowan introduced her to bassist Nicky Summers. After only their second gig the band signed to legendary UK record label 2 Tone. Nationwide gigs alongside Madness, The Selecter, The Specials,The Go-Gos and Toots & The Maytals followed, as did two UK chart hits; Let’s Do Rocksteady b/w Ruder Than You in March 1980 and Easy Life b/w Too Experienced (produced by label boss/The Specials founder Jerry Dammers) in July of the same year. These now much sought-after singles and their appearance on 2 Tone’s Dance Craze movie were to be The Bodysnatchers only commercial releases.

Alongside The Bodysnatchers Rhoda guested with The Specials on their More Specials album, joining them on tour around Europe and the US (including their final show in Boston). Following The Bodysnatchers breakup she joined Special AKA as lead singer. She co-wrote their politically essential single Nelson Mandela as well as The Boiler, a harrowing tale of rape, which although banned still managed to attain UK chart placement. In more recent times Rhoda has guested with Madness on their Liberty of Norton Folgate album, Apollo440, Dr Robert of The Blow Monkeys, recorded successful solo albums and become a much in demand DJ.

After years of being asked to do so, and to celebrate The Bodysnatchers 35th Anniversary, Rhoda assembled an all-star cast to in effect record The Bodysnatchers debut album. 2 Tone label mates Lynval Golding and Sir Horace Gentleman of The Specials star alongside members of Pama International, The Sidewalk Doctors and Intensified, who admirably capture the spirit of the times.
The majority of The Bodysnatchers songs had only ever been heard live, on ultra rare bootleg live cassettes or on their two John Peel sessions. Scratch the surface of the resulting upbeat album and you’ll hear Rhoda’s, the bands and 2 Tone’s defiant stance on social, political and economic injustice is as relevant today as it was three decades ago. This truly is a must hear record for fans of the band, label and genre alike.

Rhoda Dakar sings The Bodysnatchers is released on 6th November on Phoenix City.