DANCE CRAZE! 2 Tone Youtube-y goodness ahoy!→[More:] DANCE CRAZE, a documentary film that captured the major players in the 2 Tone movement live during a tour of the UK, was released in 1981. Apparently it didn’t do much business in Britain, since the ska craze had pretty much run its course by that time. Plus, y’know, they got to see the bands play live, unmediated, all the time. No big deal to see ‘em in a movie.

Here in the US… well, I can only relay my own experience. I saw the film on a hot summer night in 1982, at the Tower Theater in Sacramento. The place was packed, although most of the seats were empty because everybody was down front dancing. Yes, that’s right. We danced for most of the film. Science Girl says the same thing happened when the film played here in Seattle.

Can you imagine that sort of thing happening today? I can’t.

Sadly, the film has never been released on DVD. Apparently it was barely ever out on VHS. That’s a real shame, because it’s a fun movie (if you like second wave ska; if you don’t you’ll hate it, because it’s all performance). I’m willing to bet that most of you kids out there in internet land have never even heard of this film, much less seen it.

Well, today is your lucky day. Through the magic of Youtube, I’ve collected a representative clip or two of all the bands who appeared in the movie. Dancing is not only permitted, it is almost mandatory.