Do Nothing (song)
{{short description|1980 single by The Specials}}
{{Infobox song
|name=Do Nothing
|cover=File:The Specials Do Nothing.jpg
|alt=
|caption=
|type=single
|artist=the Specials featuring Rico with the Ice Rink String Sounds
|album=More Specials
|A-side="Maggie's Farm"
|released={{start date|1980|12|5|df=yes}}{{cite magazine|date=1 December 1980|title=New Singles|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1980/Music-Week-1980-12-06.pdf|magazine=Music Week|page=26|accessdate=22 May 2021}}
|recorded=
|studio=
|venue=
|genre=
- Ska
- 2 Tone
- reggae{{cite book|first= Jon|last= Harrington|editor-first= Robert |editor-last= Dimery |year= 2016 |title= 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die |chapter= The Specials - More Specials|publisher= Cassell Illustrated |location= London |page= 469}}
|length={{duration|m=3|s=41}}
|label=
|writer=
|producer= Dave Jordan
| misc ={{Extra chronology
| artist = The Specials
| type = single
|prev_title=Stereotype
|prev_title2=International Jet Set
|prev_year=1980
|title=Do Nothing
|title2=Maggie's Farm
|year=1980
|next_title=Ghost Town
|next_year=1981
}}
}}
"Do Nothing" is a song by ska/2-tone band the Specials, released in December 1980 by 2 Tone Records as the second single from More Specials. The single peaked at number 4 on the UK Singles Chart.
Release
For the single release of "Do Nothing", the album version of the song was remixed, with Jerry Dammers adding a string synthesiser, credited as the 'Ice Rink String Sounds'. It was released as a double A-side single with a cover version of Bob Dylan's "Maggie's Farm", with reference to then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.{{Cite web|title=Do Nothing {{!}} The Specials {{!}} 2 Tone Records|url=https://2-tone.info/display/|access-date=2021-02-13|language=en-GB}}
It was the first Specials single in the UK to diverge from the 2 Tone look and have a picture sleeve, with the cover being the band "gathered in a gaudy fun pub clad in polyester leisurewear, an image carrying the pungent subtext that modern life was rubbish".{{Cite news|last=Chick|first=Stevie|date=2015-03-11|title=The Specials: 10 of the best|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2015/mar/11/the-specials-10-of-the-best|access-date=2021-02-13|issn=0261-3077}} The band's appearance on Top of the Pops with this song also saw a depart from the suits and mod/rude-boy look, with the band wearing Christmas jumpers. Also on Top of the Pops were The Beat, promoting "Too Nice to Talk To" and Horace Panter and David Steele decided to swap roles and mime each other's band's songs.{{cite book|last1=Panter|first1=Horace|title=Ska'd for Life: A Personal Journey with The Specials|date=2008|publisher=Pan|isbn=978-0330440738|pages=255–256}}
Reception
Reviewing the song for Record Mirror, Mike Gardner wrote: "A new, improved version of Linval Golding's song of social frustration is given a lusher treatment with washes of Jerry Dammers' 'Ice Rink String Sounds' and a heavier rhythm base which does nothing to diminish a quality piece of work."{{cite magazine|date=6 December 1980|title=Singles|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/80s/80/Record-Mirror-1980-12-06.pdf|magazine=Record Mirror|page=4|accessdate=13 February 2021}} Reviewing for Smash Hits, Ronnie Gurr wrote: "Great Reginald Dixon organ sound from Jerry Dammers and more exemplary trombone etchings from Rico. A truly excellent single. Flip over and find a horrendous cocktail lounge calypso cover of Dylan's "Maggie's Farm". Excusable only if it's a political statement."{{cite magazine|date=11–24 December 1980|title=Singles|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/57779449@N02/50800329083/in/album-72157717724429743/|magazine=Smash Hits|page=32|via=flickr.com|accessdate=13 February 2021}}
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (1981) !Peak |
| {{singlechart|Ireland2|13|song=Do Nothing|rowheader=true}} |
| {{singlechart|UKsinglesbyname|4|artist=Specials|artistid=18200|rowheader=true|refname="UK"}} |
References
{{reflist}}
{{The Specials}}
{{authority control}}
Category:2 Tone Records singles