Specials, The/More Specials - Specials (The) > Reviews

Advantages: Strong songs in a different style
Disadvantages: Sometimes the music is bland

...The Specials returned with More Specials, an album in a much more relaxed vein than its predecessor. It was a fine follow up though it departed substantially from their previous fire. Recorded in Coventry and produced by Jerry Dammers and Dave Jordan, the album featured the usual supporting cast plus guests Kix Thompson from madness on sax and vocalist Rhoda Dakar - from another 2-Tone band, the Bodysnatchers - who was featured on Pearl’s Cafe. ... Read review

Advantages: laid back cool
Disadvantages: none

After bursting onto the music scene in 79 with "Gangsters" and following it uo with a series of ska based singles - Too much too young, rat race etc their 2nd album ,masterminded by chief songwriter Jerry Dammers, showed a complete change of pace - preguessing the easy revival by 20 years. The key single for me is "Do Nothing" a laid back ska number, whilst album tracks show the true diversity of this album from pearl's cafe - a cocktail jazz number ... Read review