was formed in 2001 when Mark 'Sir Marcus Downbeat' Downie approached bassist Mark 'Dr. Donut' Thomson and Saxophonist Stuart 'Stax' Atkins with a view to recording some tunes on Dr. Donuts 4 track studio.
The first album:'House Of Joy' was recorded entirely on 4 track and from these recordings Marcus recruited the musicians who would become the band.
Along with the above mentioned musicians, Marcus invited his former band members Russ Cummings and Tarlok Mann - both of whom had previously worked with him and Lee Perry as The Upsetters on the 1986 album 'Battle Of Armagideon'- and along with drummer Jah Bunny and trumpeter Eddie 'Tan-Tan' Thornton they formed a gigging unit.
This line-up continued for several gigs until the chance of a European tour made it necessary to replace some of the musicians who were unable to commit themselves to the duration of the tour.
Thus were recruited Mick 'Bones' Greenwood on bass, and Reuben 'Dr. Sleepy' White on drums. Russ's teaching commitments then rendered him unable to keep up with the bands increasingly busy schedule, and Lee Downie stepped in to play keyboards.
This was the line-up, along with trombonist Pete Lamont who went to Conscious Sounds studio to record the second album 'Keep Up The Pressure'. Recorded entirely on 16 track analogue tape, this album really established the sound of the band. It was armed with this that Marcus approached Blue Beat records founder Siggy Jackson with the proposition of reviving the label for a new wave of 'Blue Beat' for the 21st century.
Siggy -celebrating 50 years in the business- was thrilled with the idea, and it was arranged for the band to record some tracks for release on the Blue Beat label.
The sessions were organised as live takes in the authentic style of the original Blue Beat recordings, and were intended to be complementary to the classic Blue Beat sound. Thus, one fine spring day in 2004, No.1 Station picked a bunch of symbolic bluebells and arrived (late) at Gordon Thrussels Courtfield studio in Kent, where they laid down seven live tracks, which would become the first official Blue Beat releases since the 1960s.
The Records:
The first new releases were: Bush War c/w Laurel Boogie (45BB 0401) and Saturday Night c/w Mods v Rockers (45BB 0402)
Bush War: The blue-print for Bush War was originally laid down on Dr. Donuts 4 track recorder, originally intended for inclusion on 'House Of Joy Vol.2', but was completely re-recorded for the Blue Beat release. Marcus's manic 'peps' and added ricochet gunshot effects -in the style of Siggy's 1967 production of the Bees/Pyramids 'Jesse James Rides Again'- contribute to give the tune a classic sixties ska feel in a similar vein to Prince Buster's immortal 'Al Capone'. A must for your dancing feet!!!
Laurel Boogie was written as a tribute to the great pioneer of Jamaican music, Laurel Aitken. Laurel had the first ever release on the Blue Beat label back in 1960, and became accquainted with No.1 Station when they backed him on tour in 2002. Unfortunately, Laurel was taken seriosly ill at the end of 2003 and a gig he was due to play was almost cancelled. Instead Marcus suggested to the promoter of 'Club Ska' -Mark Wyeth- that the bands get together and do the show as a tribute to our mutual hero. So it was that a pantheon of artists turned out for what was to be an amazing event (available on DVD www.clubska.com). Intensified, The Pressure tennants, & No.1 Station backed an amazing array of artists. It was this event and the depth of mutual respect shown by musicians and fans alike that inspired the song, done in the original Boogie/Bluebeat style (When Laurel heard it he exclaimed; "That sounds like old time Bluebeat, man!!!"
Saturday Night: Siggy produced 'Love On A Saturday Night' back in the sixties with a singer called Terry Nelson in a Jamaican Blues/R&b style, it was released on the Dice label around 1964. Siggy suggested that No.1 Station revamp the tune, which they re-arranged in a more Rocksteady/Bluebeat format, re-writing a few lyrics to bring it more up-to-date. Interestingly, Tan-Tan played trumpet on the first version as well!
Mods v Rockers: Siggy wanted to pay tribute to the '60s mods, who he says enormously boosted the sales of the label back in the day. He said to Marcus "we must make a tune called Mods v Rockers" so referring to that particular time period, this semi-instrumental 12 bar work out harks back to both mod Ska and Rock 'n Roll. "Fighting on the beaches! Deck Chairs flying!!"
The second two releases came in January 2005: You Wanna Get Busy with Me c/w Moonlight Lover (45/BB 0403) Hit And Run c/w Tan Tan Blue Beat (45/BB 0404)
You Wanna Get Busy with Me: Persia is a young up-coming singer 18 years old. Marcus first heard her singing voice when she performed with an accoustic guitar at a friends house. So impressed was he by her voice that he imediately arranged for her to record some songs. You Wanna Get Busy was written by Marcus especially for Persia to sing. Killer!
Moonlight Lover: This classic song from the Duke Ried stable was the first song chosen for Persia to sing as 'a try out'. Persia delivers it with great style. An all time favourite.
Hit And Run: Harking back to the style of the 'Rude Boy' records, this anti-gun message follows the path started with Prince Buster's 'Judge Dread' - rude boys in court! Encouraging the gun man to throw away his guns and follow the path of peace and unity. Judge Mental delivers his judgement to the present day gunmen, finding parallels between '60s Kingston and 21st century London street gangs. 'Gun man - leave town!'
Tan Tan Blue Beat: The legendary trumpet master Eddie 'Tan-Tan' Thornton takes centre stage here, in a cooking little Blue Beat workout. Tan-Tan recorded for Blue Beat records regularly back in the sixties, and his work with the label gave him the status to progress with his career, being sought out by some of the biggest recording artists of the day and playing sessions on many of the golden hits of the 1960's. This is a real Blue Beat stomper.
Watch out for up-coming releases.
The Band:
"Sir Marcus Downbeat" :: Vocals and Rhythm Guitar
Marcus started as a reggae DJ in the 70s and began forming bands soon after, finding a degree of success in the 80s when a fortuitous meeting with Lee Perry led to the recording of the 'Battle Of Armagideon' album. Many projects followed and Marcus went on to work with many of his early influences including Rico, Prince Buster, Laurel Aitken, Dennis Alcapone and others. Marcus formed No.1 Station in 2001 with a view to returning to the original aesthetic of early Jamaican Ska, Rocksteady and Reggae - music collectively known in '60s Britain as 'Blue Beat'. It was with this in mind that he contacted the founder of the original Blue Beat label Siggy Jackson and suggested they start a 'Blue Beat Revival'
Eddy 'Tan-Tan' Thornton :: Trumpet
Tan-Tan is a living legend who has been active on the scene since the 1950s. Educated at Jamaicas renowned Alpha Boys School, he began his career playing in Jamaican dance bands such as Eric Deans Orchestra before moving to Britain in the early '60s. Eddie has worked with an amazing array of artists over the years -too many to mention here- but some of the better known include Georgie Fame, The Beatles, Aswad and of course the legendary No.1 Station!!!
Dr. Sleepy :: Drums
Dr. Sleepy was born on the volcanic island of Montserrat, which may go some way to explaining why he is such a volcanic drummer!!! Cutting his musical teeth on the burgeoning London music scene, he backed many artists as diverse as Dandy, Jimmy Cliff and Eric Clapton, before being hijacked by No. 1 Station, where he has gone from strength to strength
Lee (Fish) Downie (AKA Half-a-day Lee):: Keyboard
Lee made his fortune teaching gullible European holidaymakers to scuba dive in the notorious shark-infested waters of the Gulf Of Thailand. Falling on hard times after burning his house down in a freak accident involving a candle, he returned to his native England and joined No.1 Station, where he decided to take up trying to learn how to play the piano.
Bones :: Bass
Bones (AKA Mick Greenwood) hails from a great heritage of bassists, his great, great, grandfather was known to be a regular consumer of Bass pale ale back at the turn of the century, and his earliest known aquatic ancestor was a Bass (fish)
Stuart 'Stax' Atkins :: Sax, clarinet & flute
The Mighty Stax has played professionally for many years working in a diverse range of musical styles. Classically trained, Stax is a virtuoso saxophonist who always brings a fresh angle to whatever he plays. His involvment with Reggae music goes back to Cambridge band Hondo in the 1980s, but was put on hold until he met Marcus and they formed No.1 Station.
Tarlok Mann :: Lead Guitar
From Baldock, the inimitable Tarlok has worked with Marcus from early days when they played together in Dub Factory, Later going on to back Lee Perry in the Upsetters. A veteran of many sessions -musical and otherwise- Tarlok is the life and soul of any party, and is usually available for weddings, funerals, and distant relatives birthday parties
was formed in 2001 when Mark 'Sir Marcus Downbeat' Downie approached bassist Mark 'Dr. Donut' Thomson and Saxophonist Stuart 'Stax' Atkins with a view to recording some tunes on Dr. Donuts 4 track studio. 
Marcus started as a reggae DJ in the 70s and began forming bands soon after, finding a degree of success in the 80s when a fortuitous meeting with Lee Perry led to the recording of the 'Battle Of Armagideon' album. Many projects followed and Marcus went on to work with many of his early influences including Rico, Prince Buster, Laurel Aitken, Dennis Alcapone and others. Marcus formed No.1 Station in 2001 with a view to returning to the original aesthetic of early Jamaican Ska, Rocksteady and Reggae - music collectively known in '60s Britain as 'Blue Beat'. It was with this in mind that he contacted the founder of the original Blue Beat label Siggy Jackson and suggested they start a 'Blue Beat Revival'
Tan-Tan is a living legend who has been active on the scene since the 1950s. Educated at Jamaicas renowned Alpha Boys School, he began his career playing in Jamaican dance bands such as Eric Deans Orchestra before moving to Britain in the early '60s. Eddie has worked with an amazing array of artists over the years -too many to mention here- but some of the better known include Georgie Fame, The Beatles, Aswad and of course the legendary No.1 Station!!!
Dr. Sleepy was born on the volcanic island of Montserrat, which may go some way to explaining why he is such a volcanic drummer!!! Cutting his musical teeth on the burgeoning London music scene, he backed many artists as diverse as Dandy, Jimmy Cliff and Eric Clapton, before being hijacked by No. 1 Station, where he has gone from strength to strength
Lee made his fortune teaching gullible European holidaymakers to scuba dive in the notorious shark-infested waters of the Gulf Of Thailand. Falling on hard times after burning his house down in a freak accident involving a candle, he returned to his native England and joined No.1 Station, where he decided to take up trying to learn how to play the piano.
Bones (AKA Mick Greenwood) hails from a great heritage of bassists, his great, great, grandfather was known to be a regular consumer of Bass pale ale back at the turn of the century, and his earliest known aquatic ancestor was a Bass (fish) 
The Mighty Stax has played professionally for many years working in a diverse range of musical styles. Classically trained, Stax is a virtuoso saxophonist who always brings a fresh angle to whatever he plays. His involvment with Reggae music goes back to Cambridge band Hondo in the 1980s, but was put on hold until he met Marcus and they formed No.1 Station. 
From Baldock, the inimitable Tarlok has worked with Marcus from early days when they played together in Dub Factory, Later going on to back Lee Perry in the Upsetters. A veteran of many sessions -musical and otherwise- Tarlok is the life and soul of any party, and is usually available for weddings, funerals, and distant relatives birthday parties