The Specials (ska band)

~ Group

Annotation

Split in 1984. Reunion in 2008.

Annotation last modified on 2010-01-25 23:47 UTC.

Wikipedia

The Specials (sometimes called The Special AKA ) are an English 2 Tone ska revival band formed in 1977 in Coventry, England. Their music combines a "danceable ska and rocksteady beat with punk's energy and attitude", and had a "more focused and informed political and social stance" than other ska groups. The band wore mod-style "1960s period rude boy outfits (pork pie hats, tonic and mohair suits, and loafers)." In 1980, the song "Too Much Too Young", the lead track on their The Special AKA Live! EP, reached number one in the UK. In 1981, the unemployment-themed single "Ghost Town" also hit number one in the UK Singles Chart. After seven consecutive UK Top 10 singles between 1979 and 1981, the band broke up. Their 1984 song "(Free) Nelson Mandela" was a No. 9 UK hit. It contributed to making Mandela a cause célèbre in the United Kingdom, and became popular with anti-Apartheid activists.

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Discography

Album

Year Title Artist Rating Releases
1979 Specials The Specials 3 11
1980 More Specials The Specials 8
1993 King of Kings Desmond Dekker & The Specials 1
1996 Today's Specials The Specials 1
1998 Guilty 'til Proved Innocent! The Specials 1
2000 Skinhead Girl The Specials 1
2001 Conquering Ruler The Specials 1

Album + Compilation

Year Title Artist Rating Releases
1991 The Singles Collection Compilation The Specials 2
1996 Too Much Too Young Compilation The Specials 1
1996 Best Of Compilation The Specials 3 1
1998 Concrete Jungle Compilation The Specials and Friends 1
1999 A Special Collection Compilation The Specials 1
2000 Stereo-Typical: A's, B's & Rarities Compilation The Specials 1
2000 The Very Best Of Compilation The Specials and Fun Boy Three feat. Neville Staple 1
2008 The Best of The Specials Compilation The Specials 2

Album + Live

Year Title Artist Rating Releases
1979 Live in Manchester Live The Specials 1
1980 Live at the Lyceum Live The Specials 1
1992 Live at the Moonlight Club Live The Specials 2
1992 Live: Too Much Too Young Live The Specials 1
1996 Gangsters Live The Specials 1
1998 BBC Sessions Live The Specials 1
1999 Blue Plate Specials Live The Specials 1
2009 30th Anniversary Tour Live Live The Specials 1

Single

Year Title Artist Rating Releases
1979 Gangsters / The Selecter The Specials / The Selecter 3
1980 Do Nothing The Specials 1
1980 Rat Race / Rude Buoys Outa Jail The Specials 1
1980 Stereotype The Specials 1
1981 Ghost Town The Specials 4
1995 Hypocrite The Specials 1
1996 Pressure Drop The Specials 1

EP

Year Title Artist Rating Releases
1980 Too Much Too Young The Specials 1

Other + Compilation

Year Title Artist Rating Releases
2006 Greatest Hits Compilation The Specials 1

Unspecified type

Year Title Artist Rating Releases
2000 The Very Best Of The Specials and Fun Boy Three feat. Neville Staple 1
— King of Ska Desmond Dekker & The Specials 1

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