7 best the specials

The Specials are a British ska band formed in 1977 in Coventry, England. They are known for their influential and distinctive blend of ska, punk, rock, and reggae music.The band was a part of the 2 Tone ska revival movement in the late 1970s and early 1980s, which fused traditional ska music with elements of punk rock and new wave.

The Specials gained widespread recognition and popularity with their hit singles such as "Gangsters," "A Message to You, Rudy," and "Ghost Town." These songs are considered classics of the ska genre and have left a lasting impact on the music industry.

In addition to their musical contributions, The Specials were known for their socially and politically conscious lyrics, addressing issues such as racism, unemployment, and social inequality. Their self-titled debut album, released in 1979, is often regarded as one of the greatest ska albums of all time.

Regarding their presence on CDs and vinyl, The Specials' music has been released in various formats over the years, including vinyl records, CDs, and digital downloads. Collectors and fans can find their albums and singles in these formats, each offering a unique listening experience. Vinyl records, in particular, have experienced a resurgence in popularity, appealing to both audiophiles and collectors who appreciate the tactile and analog nature of the format.

The Specials' music continues to be celebrated and enjoyed by fans around the world, and their influence can be heard in the work of many contemporary artists within the ska and related genres.

Below you can find our editor's choice of the best the specials on the market

More Specials [40th Anniversary Half-Speed Master Edition]

Chrysalis

Based on 102 reviews Check latest price

Product description

The Specials are one of the defining bands of the late 70's/early 80's along with Jerry Dammers iconic label Two Tone Records. Originally formed in 1977, as The Coventry Automatics, The Specials combined Jamaican ska and Rocksteady mixed with the energy of punk and launching a whole Ska Revival and helped fellow likeminded bands Madness, The Beat, The Selecter to release their first singles. Their debut album 'Specials' was released in October 1979, which has endured over the years as one of the classic debut albums. By the time they came to release their second album 'More Specials' in October 1980, the band had already reached number one in the UK charts with their live single 'Too Much Too Young' and had finished a sold out UK tour and trips to Europe, North America, Japan and Australia. This 40th Anniversary Edition of 'More Specials' has been mastered and cut at half-speed by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios using the original production tapes. For this edition, the album has been split across 2x 12" vinyl running at 45rpm for optimum audio quality. Also include is a bonus 7" single, also cut at half-speed, which originally came with the initial run of the album in 1980.

Specials CD

ADA UK

Based on 591 reviews Check latest price

Product description

The Specials was ranked among the top ten "Albums of the Year" for 1979 by NME. In June 2000 Q placed The Specials at number 38 in it's list of the 100 greatest British albums ever. Pitchfork Media featured The Specials at number 42 in their list of the "Top 100 Albums of the 1970s". Rolling Stone listed the album at number 68 in their list "100 Best Albums of the Eighties", as the album was not released in the US until 1980.

Best Of The Specials

Chrysalis

Based on 278 reviews Check latest price

Product description

The Specials are one of the defining bands of the late 70's/early 80's along with Jerry Dammers iconic label Two Tone Records. Originally formed in 1977, as The Coventry Automatics, The Specials combined Jamaican ska and Rocksteady, mixed with the energy of punk they launched a whole Ska Revival. They also helped likeminded bands such as Madness, The Beat, The Selecter to release their first singles. The Specials released 'Gangsters' as their first single in the summer of '79, quickly releasing the classic singles A Message To You Rudy, Do Nothing and Rat Race. They released their debut album 'Specials' in 1979, followed by 'More Specials' in 1980. During this time, the band has two UK Number One singles, a live version of 'Too Much Too Young' from 'The Special AKA Live EP' and the unforgettable 'Ghost Town' in the summer of 1981. Jerry Dammers continued as The Special AKA following the departure of band members in late 1981, releasing their third album 'In The Studio' which included the iconic single 'Nelson Mandela'. This 20 track compilation collects all their key singles and album tracks, made available on heavyweight 180g vinyl for the first time.

Encore [2 CD][Deluxe Edition]

Island

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Product description

The Specials, one of the most electrifying, influential and important bands of all time, follow the announcement of `Encore', their first new album in 37 years, with the release of their new single "Vote For Me' via UMC / Island Records. 'Vote For Me', the first new Specials single since the band's era-defining 1981 no. 1 `Ghost Town', was written and produced by founding members Terry Hall, Lynval Golding, Horace Panter together with long-time collaborator Torp Larsen.

Specials: Uglies, Book 3

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Encore [2 LP][Red][Deluxe]

UNIVERSAL STRATEGIC

Based on 58 reviews Check latest price

Product description

The Specials, one of the most electrifying, influential and important bands of all time, will be releasing a special limited edition double vinyl set of their number 1 album "Encore" on July 19th. The translucent red 2xLP format includes "Best of The Specials, Live" and "Encore", the band's first new music for 37 years. "Encore" entered the UK album chart at no. 1 and was received with widespread critical acclaim and an acknowledgement from fans and critics alike, that The Specials' music is e

Ghost Town (40th Anniversary Half Speed Master)

Chrysalis

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Product description

The Specials are one of the defining bands of the late 70's/early 80's along with Jerry Dammers iconic label Two Tone Records. They combined Jamaican ska and Rocksteady mixed with the energy of punk and launched a whole Ska Revival which paved the way for fellow likeminded bands Madness, The Beat and The Selecter to release their first singles.Having had seven top 10 singles and two Gold albums over the course of two years, the band released Jerry Dammers' Ghost Town in June 1981, backed by Lynval Goldings' Why? and the Terry Hall penned Friday Night Saturday Morning. The beginnings of the song were written around the closure of the Larcano dancehall in Coventry, but also reflecting what was happening in other towns and cities with urban decay, unemployment and ongoing racial tensions of the period. Themes which are still relevant today.The single, which was recently voted the second greatest UK single of all time by Alexis Petridis in the Guardian, reached Number One in the UK singles charts and stayed there for a further 3 weeks, becoming one of the biggest selling singles of 1981 and has remained one of the classic UK singles of all.This 40th Anniversary Edition has been mastered and cut at half-speed by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios using the original production tapes for optimum audio quality. Presented in a new 3mm 7" spined sleeve, using the original iconic artwork and featuring the 2Tone 40th Anniversary Bellyband.