The Specials
Wikimp3 information about the music of The Specials. On our website we have 59 albums and 70 collections of artist The Specials. You can find useful information and download songs of this artist. We also know that The Specials represents Reggae genres.
Biography
[Edit]True innovators of the punk era, the Specials began the British ska revival craze, combining the highly danceable ska and rocksteady beat with punk's energy and attitude, and taking on a more focused and informed political and social stance than their predecessors and peers.
The band was originally formed in Coventry, in 1977, as the Coventry Automatics and later the Special A.K.A. by songwriter/keyboardist Jerry Dammers, with Terry Hall (vocals), Lynval Golding (guitar, vocals), Neville Staples (vocals, percussion), Roddy Radiation (guitar), Sir Horace Gentleman (bass), and John Bradbury (drums). An opening slot for the Clash stirred up interest with the major labels, but Dammers instead opted to start his own 2-Tone label, named for its multiracial agenda and after the two-tone tonic suits favored by the like-minded mods of the '60s. The Dammers-designed logos, based in '60s pop art with black and white checks, gave the label an instantly identifiable look. Dammers' eye for detail and authenticity also led to the band adopting '60s-period rude-boy outfits (porkpie hats, tonic and mohair suits, and loafers).
The Specials debuted with the "Gangsters" single, which reached the U.K. Top Ten in 1979. Soon after, hordes of bands and fans followed in the same tradition, and the movement reached full swing. Over the next several months, 2-Tone enjoyed hits by similar-sounding bands such as Madness, the (English) Beat, and the Selecter. Late in 1979, the band released its landmark debut album, The Specials, produced by Elvis Costello. They followed with several 2-Tone package tours and a live EP, Too Much Too Young (confusingly credited to Special A.K.A.). The title track, a pro-contraception song, was banned by the BBC but reached the number one spot in the U.K. At this time, the band switched musical directions, releasing album number two, More Specials, with a new neo-lounge persona. Signs indicated that the movement was fading and 2-Tone began to experience financial troubles. Nevertheless, a film documenting the 2-Tone package tours, Dance Craze, as well as its companion album, saw considerable success.
"Ghost Town," one of the band's most significant singles, was issued in 1981 amid race-related unemployment riots in Brixton and Liverpool. The song jumped to number one, but the band was falling apart. Hall, Staples, and Golding left to form Fun Boy Three, leaving the band without its trademark voice. Dammers held on, reverting back to the old name, Special A.K.A., and enlisted a new vocalist, Stan Campbell. After several years, they returned with In the Studio in 1984. They managed a few hits, including "Racist Friend" and "Free Nelson Mandela," but the album stiffed. The band's final single, "What I Like Most About You Is Your Girlfriend," failed to break the British Top 40. Dammers dissolved the unit and pursued political causes such as Artists Against Apartheid.
Shortly after the official breakup, various members of the band joined up with other ska revivalists (English Beat, etc.) to form a touring unit named Special Beat. By the mid-'90s, in response to the third wave ska revival, a Dammers-less version of the Specials reappeared with a series of shameful cash-in albums: Today's Specials (1996) Guilty Til Proved Innocent! (1998), and Conquering Ruler (2002).
Title: More Specials (Special Edition)
Artist: The Specials
Genre: Rock, New Wave, Reggae, Ska, Alternative
Title: The Specials: 30th Anniversary Tour (Live)
Artist: The Specials
Genre: Rock, Reggae, Ska, Alternative
Title: Too Much Too Young (Live)
Artist: The Specials
Genre: Rock, New Wave, Reggae, Ska, Alternative
Title: A Special Collection
Artist: The Specials
Genre: Rock, Alternative Rock, Reggae, World Music, Pop, Pop Rock, Ska
Title: Guilty 'Til Proved Innocent!
Artist: The Specials
Genre: Rock, Alternative Rock, New Wave, Punk Rock, Reggae, World Music, Pop, Pop Rock, Ska, Alternative
Title: The Specials
Artist: The Specials
Genre: Rock, New Wave, Reggae, World Music, Latin, Pop, Ska, Alternative
Title: The Best of the Specials (Remastered)
Artist: The Specials
Genre: New Wave, Reggae, Pop, Ska, Alternative
Title: Specials (Special Edition)
Artist: The Specials
Genre: Rock, New Wave, Reggae, Ska, Alternative
Title: Ghost Town (Dubstep MIx) [Re-Recorded] - Single
Artist: The Specials
Genre: Dancefloor, Dance Pop
Title: Today'S Specials
Artist: The Specials
Genre: Rock, Alternative Rock, World Music, Pop, Pop Rock, Ska
Title: The Very Best of the Specials and Fun Boy Three (Re-Recorded Versions)
Artist: The Specials, Fun Boy Three
Genre: Rock, New Wave, Reggae, Ska, Alternative
Title: The Singles Collection
Artist: The Specials
Genre: Rock, Alternative Rock, New Wave, Pop, Ska
Title: The Specials & Friends (Re-Recorded)
Artist: The Specials
Genre: New Wave, Reggae, Ska, Alternative
Title: Stereo - Typical: A'S, B'S And Rarities - Disc 2
Artist: The Specials
Title: Stereo - Typical: A'S, B'S And Rarities - Disc 1
Artist: The Specials
Title: More...Or Less. The Specials Live
Artist: The Specials
Genre: Rock, New Wave, Reggae, Ska, Alternative
Title: More Specials - Remastered
Artist: The Specials
Genre: Rock, Alternative Rock, Reggae, World Music, Pop, Pop Rock, Ska
Title: In The Studio
Artist: The Specials
Genre: Rock, Alternative Rock, World Music, Pop, Pop Rock, Ska
Collections
Title: 101 Reggae Classics
Genre: Reggae
Title: OMG! '80s Party
Genre: Pop
Title: I Love The '80s (Re-Recorded / Remastered)
Genre: Rock
Title: Ultimate Ska
Genre: Reggae
Title: Ska & Reggae Summer Jams
Genre: Reggae
Title: Super Reggae Party
Genre: World Music
Title: Dubstep Madness
Genre: Electronica
Title: This Is Ska and Reggae Roots
Genre: Reggae
Title: Into the Mix V - Nothing But the Remixed Hits
Genre: Electronica
Title: 99 Dubstep Essentials
Genre: Dancefloor, Dance Pop
Title: 100 Dubstep Now
Genre: Electronica
Title: This Is '80s New Wave 2.0
Genre: Rock
Title: Funky Breaks and Chemical Beats
Genre: Electronica
Title: Halloween Dance Party
Genre: Rock
Title: Smokin' Reggae Music
Genre: World Music
Title: Reggae Roots & Ska Music
Genre: World Music
Title: The Best Pop Album In The World CD 1
Genre: Pop
Title: Back To Mine: Liam Prodigy
Genre: Ambient, Downtempo, Trip Hop, Electronica, House
Title: Mixmag: Orbital: The Bedroom Sessions
Genre: Electronica, Acid House, Techno
Title: Best Of The 70'S CD 4
Genre: Pop
Title: Massive Hits! 80s Remix
Title: DMC Commercial Collection 346 (CD 1)
Genre: Dance Pop
Title: DMC Commercial Collection 348 (CD 1)
Genre: Dance Pop
Title: One Shot Reggae - (Compilation)
Genre: Electronica, Rock, Pop
Title: M80 Radio New Wave Classix
Genre: Rock, Alternative Rock, New Wave, Punk, Pop Rock, Synth Pop, Ska
Title: Summer 80s CD1
Title: We Own The Night
Genre: Electronica, Techno, Dancefloor, Dance Pop, Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: Dance Craze
Genre: Ska, Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: Monster Halloween Hits - CD ONE
Genre: Dancefloor, Pop
Title: Greatest Hits Of The 80'S (CD7)
Genre: House, New Wave, Disco, Italo Disco, Pop Rock, Synth Pop
Title: Massive Hits! - Number 1s (CD2)
Genre: Pop
Title: Riddim Come Forward
Title: Best Of British (CD2)
Genre: Folk Rock, World Music, Pop, Alternative
Title: Snatch (Original Soundtrack)
Genre: Trip Hop, Electronica, Ambient Techno, Pop, Dance Pop, Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: The Best Album Tracks... Ever!
Genre: Rock, Alternative Rock, Progressive Rock
Title: I Grew Up In The 80s
Genre: Pop
Title: 100% - 80's (CD2)
Title: Pure... Alternative 80s (CD2)
Genre: Pop
Title: Friend Of A Friend Vol. 12
Title: Wow That Was The 70s (CD8)
Genre: Rock
Title: Grosse Pointe Blank (Original Soundtrack)
Genre: Soul, Rock, Latin, Theatre/Soundtrack, Funk
Title: Shaun Of The Dead (Original Soundtrack)
Genre: Electronica, Rock, Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: 100 Hits 80s Classics (CD1)
Genre: Rock, Dancefloor, Disco, Pop
Title: 100 Hits 80s Classics (CD2)
Genre: Rock, Dancefloor, Disco, Pop
Title: 100 Hits 80s Classics (CD4)
Title: DMC Commercial Collection 348 January
Genre: Euro House, Tech House, Soul, Rock
Title: A Time To Remember - 1980
Title: A Time To Remember - 1981
Title: One Hit Wonders - 1979-82 (CD6)
Genre: Pop
Title: 80's Night Ultimate DJ Collection (CD13)
Genre: Rock
Featuring albums
Title: Night Club Guide To Breakbeat
Artist: DJ Yoda
Genre: Electronica, Hip Hop/R&B, Rap, Rock, New Wave, Reggae, Ska, Alternative
Title: 100 Dubstep - Club Tracks
Artist: Dubstep
Genre: Electronica, Dancefloor, Pop, Dance Pop, Dubstep
Title: The Specials vs. the Untouchables - Ska's Greatest Stars Back to Back
Artist: Various Artists
Genre:
Title: Back To Mine
Artist: Audio Bullys
Genre: Electronica, House, Rock, Dancefloor, DJ/Remixes, Pop, Pop Rock, Dance Pop, Ska