New trailer shows off dazzling 4K restoration of “Dance Craze” ahead of film, soundtrack reissue

The Specials’ Terry Hall in the restored “Dance Craze” | British Film Institute 

The British Film Institute has released a trailer for its dazzling new 4K restoration of the classic 2 Tone-era document “Dance Craze: The Best of British Ska… Live!” ahead of the release, at long last, of the film on DVD and Blu-ray for the first time — plus an expanded 3-disc soundtrack set.

The 1981 concert documentary, directed by Joe Massot, captured ska acts The Specials — RIP Terry Hall — plus Madness, The Selecter, The Bodysnatchers, The Beat and Bad Manners on tour in the U.K. the previous year.

The film is notoriously dark in its original VHS release, but the new version is remastered from the original 70 mm materials and approved by cinematographer Joe Dunton, according to the British Film Institute, which is hosting screenings in U.K. theaters this month.

The DVD/Blu-ray combo is being released in the U.K. on March 27 — pre-order it at Amazon.co.uk — and it features the following extras:

• “Rudies Come Back” (1980, 34 mins): In this episode of the BBC series “Arena,” music journalist Adrian Thrills explores the rise of 2 Tone. Featuring interviews with The Specials and The Selecter.
• Outtakes (1980, 17 mins): A collection of outtakes and alternative versions features footage that was ultimately left out of the final cut of “Dance Craze,” but has been recovered from various sources.
• Restoration demo (2023, 2 mins): A before and after look at the restoration of “Dance Craze.”
• Original stereo and surround sound mixes by Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley remastered for this release, plus a new Dolby Atmos surround sound mix approved by Jerry Dammers.
• Newly created English subtitles for the deaf and hearing impaired.
• With the first pressing only, a fully illustrated booklet featuring new writing on the film by author Johnny Mains, the film’s original press release and band biographies and rare promotional materials.

The expanded soundtrack, which is being released in the U.S., will be available in 3CD and 3LP sets on March 24.

The first two discs of both the CD and vinyl editions features the previously unreleased, full 27-song film soundtrack, while the third disc is the original 15-song soundtrack album — not all of which are the same versions used in the film. And it features the soundtrack album’s original tracklist, not the later version where the Madness tracks were replaced by live cuts from The Special AKA.

The audio is all newly remastered from the original production masters, and both the CD and vinyl editions include a reproduction of the original poster.

Here’s the tracklist:

Dance Craze: The Best of British Ska… Live!: Deluxe Edition

DISC 1
1. The Specials, “Nite Klub”
2. Madness, “The Prince”s]
3. Bad Manners, “Ne-Ne-Na-Na-Na-Na-Nu-Nu”
4. The Body Snatchers, “007 (Shanty Town)”
5. The Selecter, “Three Minute Hero”
6. The Beat, “Ranking Full Stop”
7. The Beat, “Big Shot”
8. The Specials, “Concrete Jungle”
9. Madness, “Swan Lake”
10. Madness, “Razor Blade Alley”
11. The Selecter, “Missing Words”
12. The Bodysnatchers, “Let’s Do Rock Steady”
13. Bad Manners, “Lip Up Fatty”

DISC 2
1. Madness, “Madness”
2. The Specials, “Too Much Too Young”
3. The Selecter, “On My Radio”
4. The Bodysnatchers, “Easy Life”
5. The Beat, “Rough Rider”
6. The Specials, “Man at C&A”
7. Bad Manners, “Inner London Violence”
8. Madness, “Night Boat to Cairo”
9. The Beat, “Twist and Crawl”
10. Bad Manners, “Wooly Bully”
11. The Selecter, “Too Much Pressure”
12. The Beat, “Mirror in the Bathroom”
13. Madness, “One Step Beyond”
14. The Specials, “Nite Klub Reprise”

DISC 3
1. The Specials, “Concrete Jungle”
2. The Beat, “Mirror in the Bathroom”
3. Bad Manners, “Lip Up Fatty”
4. Madness, “Razor Blade Alley”
5. The Selecter, “Three Minute Hero”
6. The Bodysnatchers, “Easy Life”
7. The Beat, “Big Shot”
8. Madness, “One Step Beyond”
9. The Beat, “Ranking Full Stop”
10. The Specials, “Man at C&A”
11. The Selecter, “Missing Words”
12. Bad Manners, “Inner London Violence”
13. Madness, “Night Boat to Cairo”
14. The Selecter, “Too Much Pressure”
15. The Specials, “Nite Klub”

PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS

• Vintage Video: ‘Dance Craze: The Best of British Ska… Live!’ celebrates the 2-Tone era
• Madness to play first U.S. concerts in 8 years around Punk Rock Bowling & Music Festival
• The Specials to bring ‘Encore’ 40th anniversary tour to North America this spring
• Listen: The Specials, ‘Vote For Me’ — first new single with Terry Hall since ‘Ghost Town’
• The Beat’s Dave Wakeling records 2 songs for 2 Tone-inspired ‘Scooby-Doo’ episode