Jazzie B's 1980s: From Dole to Soul
The Soul II Soul frontman tells his tale of the 1980s, an against-the-odds story of a young black British musician and entrepreneur in a time of radical social change.
The Soul II Soul frontman tells his Back to Life tale of the decade, an against-the-odds story of a young black British musician and entrepreneur in a time of mass unemployment and radical social change.
The decade saw him progress from a teen targeted by the law, with his own reggae sound system he took round London on a bus, to international superstar, as Soul II Soul topped the charts in the UK and in America, with a fashion line that sold from Camden Town to the world.
In the decade defined by image, Jazzie created his own unique style, the Funki Dred, the first black British street style, and a Soul II Soul fashion brand 'before we knew what branding was'. He achieved this with the aid of the Tories' Enterprise Allowance Scheme, whilst running his business and sound system as a collective at a time of rampant individualism. They helped forge a British multicultural identity as a generation of Thatcher's unwanted kids turned their music and art, through warehouse parties and pirate radio, into a positive statement of unity and style. Their album Club Classics Vol One and singles topped the charts worldwide by the end of the decade.
With Lenny Henry, Ian Wright, Viv Richards, Tony Hadley, Lord Tebbit, DJs Trevor Nelson, Judge Jules and Norman Jay, Caron Wheeler (singer, Soul II Soul), Caryn Franklin (founder, i-D Magazine) and Sheryl Garratt (editor, The Face).
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鈥淭he records we were playing had a certain vibe 鈥 it was soul鈥
Duration: 03:14
Music Played
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UB40
Food For Thought
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The RAH Band
The Crunch
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Augustus Pablo
King Tubby Meets The Rockers Uptown
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ABBA
Waterloo
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The Cats
Swan Lake
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Phil Collins
In the Air Tonight
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M
Pop Muzik
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Prince Far I & The Arabs
The Right Way
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Adam and the Ants
Kings Of The Wild Frontier
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Spandau Ballet
To Cut A Long Story Short
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Curtis Mayfield
Pusherman
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贬颈鈥怲别苍蝉颈辞苍
Hi Tension
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Junior Giscombe
Mama Used To Say
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Linx
Intuition
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Spandau Ballet
Chant No. 1 (I Don't Need This Pressure On)
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Junior Murvin
Police And Thieves
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The Cure
A Forest
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Laurie Anderson
O Superman
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Booker T. & The M.G.'s
Soul Limbo
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The Valentine Brothers
Money's Too Tight (To Mention)
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Pigbag
Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag
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Crackaveli
Skit
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Eurythmics
Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)
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James Mason
Sweet Power of Your Embrace
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Fun Boy Three & Bananarama
It Ain't What You Do...
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59 Times the Pain
Turn at 25th
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Curtis Mayfield
Little Child Runnin' Wild
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African Music Machine
Black Water Gold
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Bobby Byrd
I Know You Got Soul
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Pet Shop Boys
Opportunities
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Maceo & the Macks
Cross The Tracks
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Rick Astley
Never Gonna Give You Up
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Sonia
You'll Never Stop Me Loving You
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Philip Bailey & Phil Collins
Easy Lover
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Roy Ayers
Everybody Loves The Sunshine
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Jackson Sisters
I Believe In Miracles
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The Passions
I'm In Love With A German Film Star
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Ripple
I Don't Know What It Is But It Sure Is Funky
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Lalo Schifrin
Bullitt (Main Theme)
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Soul II Soul
Fairplay
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Depeche Mode
New Life
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Soul II Soul, Caron Wheeler
Back To Life (However Do You Want Me)
Credits
Role | Contributor |
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Presenter | Jazzie B |
Director | Matt O'Casey |
Executive Producer | Paul Bullock |
Executive Producer | Ryan Minchin |
Broadcasts
Featured in...
My Generation
Charting the history of pop music across the decades starting with the mid-50s to mid-60s
Back to the 80s
Programmes showcasing and celebrating music from the decade.