Best Of The Specials, The - Specials (The)

Advantages: inteligent varied original
Disadvantages: their last record as a group

...Some are born great,as the saying goes ,others have greatness thrust upon them,and in the case of The Specials it seems not only did they achieve greatness with their debut album "Specials",but had even more greatness thrust upon them by an over expectant music press and ravenous fan base all eager for more of their punk/ska riotous rapture ,however in the spirit of true greatness and wanton defiance they delivered "More Specials" in the autumn of 1980,and in direct conflict to its title could well have been called "Less Specials " In the twelve months which had elapsed between their debut and this daring follow up the musical landscape had changed a great deal ,the fury of punk which gave rise to the groups foundations was now a fading memory as new sounds and movements splinterd into a varied buffet of sounds and movements... Read review

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Advantages: Fun, Racy Tracks
Disadvantages: Songs aren't labeled by which band wrote them.

...I bought the album, The specials and fun boy three from a music store in Birmingham town centre with my last two pounds as it was the last one on the shelf and it was the best £2 i ever spent! This is a brilliant abum featuring Neville Staple and his guest band with special appearences from Jane Wiedlin Jennifer and Leila Avila. The front cover design is based on traditional ska style with the black and white check and fully dressed Rude Boys, Pork Pies and all! The album inclides ska classics such as, -Ghost Town (which hit number one in 1981) -A message to you rudy -Our lips are sealed -Gangsters The specials were an English ska band formed in coventry 1977. The members were, Jerry Dammers Terry hall Neville Staples Sir Horace Gentleman Roddy Radiation Lynval Golding John Bradbury Their debut LP was 'Specials... Read review

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Advantages: It's the Specials!
Disadvantages: One or two tracks not so good.

...Specials - The Specials It's 1979 I am 16 going on 17, left school and am a scooter skin, which basically meant I rode a scooter (Lambretta SX 200) and had a skinhead. I was into Ska in a big way, but old style skinhead Ska, The Pioneers, The Upsetters etc. Then something happened, we got British Ska, The Beat, Selector, Madness (early on) and the best of all, The Specials. I have two vinyl LP's left in my house, this one (very scratched) and one by a band called Back To The Planet. This LP rocked, it got played over and over from '79 to '81 (when The Jam took over for me). ~~~~~The Band~~~~~ The band themselves seemed to consist of hundreds of people, though in fact there were: Jerry Dammers - Keyboards Terry Hall - Vocals Neville Staple - Vocals and percussion Roddy radiation - Guitar (Sir) Horace Gentleman - Bass... Read review

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