Free Nelson Mandela – the Special AKA
This song helped to make the unthinkable happen. The rest is history.
(White Man) in Hammersmith Palais – the Clash
This was one of the first punk tunes that really caught me, it was the moment when the Clash grew up. It demonstrated group’s courage to delve into different styles of music and expresses that there is no difference in colour, that we were all in the same boat.
Pick Up the Pieces – Average White Band
This is the first single I ever bought. I was 13 at the time and used my paper round money to buy the single which cost 50p. Anytime this amazing tune came on at the school disco, everybody would get up and go to the dance floor.
One Love – Bob Marley and the Wailers
Does what it says on the tin. If only we would follow the instructions.
Get Up, Stand Up – Bob Marley and the Wailers
This is obviously a freedom anthem which appeals to us all. He wasn’t wrong when he sang: “You can fool some people sometimes, but you can’t fool all the people all the time. So now we see the light, we gonna stand up for our rights!”
• The Beat’s new album Bounce is out on 30 September on DMF Records.
