music.wikisort.org - Composition

"A Message to You Rudy" is a 1967 rocksteady song by Dandy Livingstone. Originally titled "Rudy a Message to You", the song later achieved broader success when, in 1979, a cover by The Specials reached number 10 in the UK Singles Chart.[1]

"Rudy a Message to You"
Single by Dandy Livingstone
B-side	"Till Death Do Us Part"
Released	July 1967 (1967-07)
Recorded	1967
Studio	Maximum Sounds Studio, Old Kent Road, London
Genre	Rocksteady ska
Length	2:48
Label	Ska Beat
Songwriter(s)	Dandy Livingstone
Dandy Livingstone singles chronology
"One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer" (1967) "Rudy a Message to You" (1967) "Somewhere My Love" (1967)

Composition and recording

Livingstone came up with the idea of the song in about 10 minutes and recorded it a day or two later in about 20 minutes at Maximum Sounds Studio on Old Kent Road with engineer Vic Keary. Livingstone has said that he "had a very bad cold" on the day of recording and so it was suggested that he record the song as a guide vocal and then go over the vocals another day. However, everybody liked what Livingstone had done, so he didn't bother going back to sing over it. Whilst recording the song, Livingstone decided he wanted a trombone to feature in the song, so about a week after the recording session, he got trombonist Rico Rodriguez to play the intro melody. At the same time, he got a tenor saxophonist called Pepsi to play the same intro riff and "alternate the solo differently".[2][3][4]

Afterwards

"Rudy a Message to You" did have some success commercially, selling 30,000 units.[5] It also peaked at number 9 on Record Mirror's Top R&B Singles chart in August 1967, in which it was listed as "Rudie Take a Message".[6]

The lyrics warn a "rudy" (rude boy) to think of his future and change his ways, otherwise he will end up in prison. However, the reception was not what was intended and it was received as glorifying the rude boy culture.[7]

Livingstone noticed that by 1969, there were three cover versions of "Rudy a Message to You", first of which was by The Locomotive. He only found out about The Specials' version after seeing their performance on Top of the Pops, after which he made inquiries about the publishing. He found out Carlin Music was the publisher and they had been trying to find Livingstone's whereabouts. Livingstone was also contacted by Eddy Grant, who wanted to be the publisher of the song and gave him £250 in advance. However, Livingstone turned down the offer and signed with Carlin.[2][4]

After the success of The Specials' version, Livingstone's version was re-released in December 1979 on Trojan Records, with the song remixed by Clem Bushay.[8]

The Specials version

"A Message to You Rudy"
Cover of the single released in the Netherlands
Single by The Specials featuring Rico
from the album The Specials
A-side	"Nite Klub" (double A-side)
Released	12 October 1979 (12 October 1979)[9]
Genre	Rocksteady ska 2-tone
Length	2:54
Label	2 Tone Chrysalis
Songwriter(s)	Dandy Livingstone
Producer(s)	Elvis Costello
The Specials singles chronology
"Gangsters" (1979) "A Message to You Rudy" (1979) "Too Much Too Young" (1980)

The Specials' version also featured trombone by Rico Rodriguez[10] and Dick Cuthell played on trumpet. The recording was produced by Elvis Costello.

Chart performance

Chart (1979)	Peak position
UK Singles (OCC)[11]	10
Chart (1980)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[12]	29
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[13]	7
Ireland (IRMA)[14]	19
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[15]	22
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[16]	35
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[17]	29

References

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