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Artist
Rhoda
12+ albums
rnbindependent female soulfemale vocalistsUSA3 stars
about
"The Boiler" is a January 1982 single by Rhoda (Dakar) with The Special AKA. It was released on 2 Tone Records. "The Boiler" is about a woman with low self-esteem (she compares herself with an old boiler) who is raped and assaulted. In the song Rhoda Dakar references the rape of a friend some years before. Rhoda Dakar, born 1959, is a British singer and musician, best known as the lead singer of The Bodysnatchers, who were signed to the 2 Tone record label. "The Boiler" was the first song The Bodysnatchers wrote themselves; prior to this they only had played old ska covers. Jerry Dammers wanted to produce it for the band, but pressure from Chrysalis (who looked after the 2 Tone label) caused The Bodysnatchers to record the more commercial "Let's Do Rocksteady." Due to musical and some personal differences, The Bodysnatchers disbanded after a year, and some members went on to form The Belle Stars; while remaining on friendly terms with The Belle Stars, founder member and bass guitarist Nicky Summers chose to work with Rhoda. There is a live bootleg version of "The Boiler" from 1980, on "The Bodysnatchers Live at Folkestone," though it is a rough mix. There also exists an as-yet-unreleased specially-recorded version from the John Peel show. Rhoda Dakar, who had sung some tunes on the More Specials album, went on tour with The Specials in 1981 more or less by accident, first as a guest then as a permanent fixture. Not long after making the "Ghost Town" promo, "The Boiler" go
