Name: The Specials
Brand: The Specials

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

CDLTTR5001

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Colour

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Expanded version approved by Jerry Dammers with new sleeve notes and unseen photos. The extra CD features the Too Much Too Young EP plus an 11 track live set - BBC in concert at the Paris Theatre fro…

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2017-07-14

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Proper

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

0825646336081

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Total Cap

2 / CD / Extended format: No / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

CDLTTH5001X

Black

[r14244754]

40th Anniversary Half-Speed Master Edition.

2023-05-19

5060516094011

Black LP

CRTT1048

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2018-02-09

5060516090570

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1 / CD / Extended format: No / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

Artist

The Specials

Genre GB

New Wave / Post Punk

Label GB

Chrysalis

The roots of Chrysalis stretch back to a tiny flat in West London in 1967, when former university social secretaries, Chris Wright and Terry Ellis, linked their flair for managing and booking bands to form the Ellis Wright Agency. After trying to release their bands' records via other companies, they decided to start their own label.

In 1968, they signed a licensing deal with Island Records with the proviso that if their acts achieved an agreed number of hits, they would be awarded a label of their own. Within a year, this tally was reached and Chrysalis Records was born.

Over the years, Chrysalis went through various ownership changes. In 1985, Chris Wright bought out Terry Ellis and later sold the label to EMI in 1991. EMI was then acquired by Universal Music Group in 2012 before selling the Parlophone Label Group (including Chrysalis) to Warner Music Group in 2013.

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Rough Trade Essential

The Specials were the first band of the 2-Tone era in Britain during the late '70s and early '80s. Led by keyboardist Jerry Dammers, the band consisted of Terry Hall on lead vocals, Neville Staple on vocals and percussion, Lynval Golding on rhythm guitar and vocals, Roddy "Radiation" Byers on lead guitar, Sir Horace Gentleman (aka Horace Panter) on bass, and John Bradbury on drums.

During their active years from 1979 to 1981, The Specials released seven singles, two of which ("Too Much Too Young" & "Ghost Town") reached #1 in the UK charts. However, amidst widespread street violence in major cities across the country, they disbanded when "Ghost Town" topped the charts on July 11th, 1981.

Afterwards, Jerry Dammers and John Bradbury continued as The Special AKA until 1985. Horace Panter also remained involved to some extent. Roddy Byers left but made a guest appearance on one single. Meanwhile, Terry Hall, Neville Staple, and Lynval Golding formed Fun Boy Three.

The Specials began the British ska revival craze, combining the highly danceable ska and rocksteady beat with punk's energy and attitude. 

The Specials' landmark, 14-track-strong debut album The Specials (UK No.4, 1979), produced by Elvis Costello, declared their intentions loud and clear with a rare blend of furious energy and no-nonsense, hard-hitting lyrics. In essence a studio recording of their live set, the album comprises mostly originals with a few covers of ska classics thrown in for good measure, including their fabulous take on Dandy Livingstone's "A Message to You Rudy", an equally stellar version of the Maytals' "Monkey Man", and a sizzling take on Prince Buster's "Too Hot".

Music GB

Buy The Specials - The Specials (Vinyl, CD) now from Rough Trade - independent purveyors of great music, since 1976.