The Bodysnatchers’ Rhoda Dakar delivers a beautiful ska and reggae infused cover of Morrisey’s classic ‘Everyday Is Like Sunday’.
Rhoda began her career as lead vocalist with all female 2Tone band, The Bodysnatchers before going on to guest with The Specials in Europe and USA having featured on their second album ‘More Specials’. She was also a vocalist on Jeremy Dammers’ next project The Special AKA and achieved a top 10 hit with the highly revered single ‘Free Nelson Mandela’. Rhoda has also recorded with Madness and most recently with Sunday Best label mates Dub Pistols on their June 2020 single ‘Stand Together’ – a song about hope and unity released amidst the racial tension in the wake of the killing of George Floyd.
With her own band, The LoTek Four, Rhoda has played all over the UK, Europe and, just before the worldwide lockdown, she travelled to play in Australia for the first time. Back in the UK and itching to get into the studio after the first lockdown, Rhoda recorded her own wonderful ska and reggae take on Morrisey’s ‘Everyday Is Like Sunday’.
“During the first lockdown, trapped in my frontroom looking out over London, this song was my earworm. It never went away. Late summer 2020 we had the chance to get into the studio, in a socially distanced fashion. The track we recorded sounded good, very good and we smiled.”
The b-side is an excellent dub version produced by Lenny Bignell who has worked with artists ranging from Susan Cadogan to Roy Ellis, and the 7” has been cut and mastered by Jason at Transition who has worked on multiple projects from artists such as Burial, DMZ, Flying lotus, Skream and many more.
The artwork is designed by distinguished Sheffield based artist Pete McKee. McKee has forged an artistic career that over the years has attracted a worldwide following. Having grown up on a council estate during the 60s and 70s in Sheffield, McKee’s work explores themes including working class culture and humour. His works are also painted on various buildings across Sheffield, becoming landmark attractions in their own right.
In 2011, Pete McKee opened the McKee Gallery in his native Sheffield. His 2018 show, ‘The Class Works’
was an instant hit and sold out seeing over 10,000 visitors. He has also worked with Paul Smith, the Arctic Monkeys, Richard Hawley, Oasis, BBC 6 Music, Disney, Warp Films plus many more.
This release by Rhoda Dakar marks the first of a Sunday Best series by the 2tone heroine, with pre-orders for the 7” single already close to selling out.
