THE SPECIALS

LP x 2

The Specials

45 RPM AUDIOPHILE

40th Anniversary Edition

2 x 180 GRAM VINYL

HALF-SPEED MASTER EDITION

New and SEALED

CLASSIC DEBUT ALBUM

40th Anniversary DOUBLE 180 Gram 45 RPM

Audiophile pressing of the classic debut SPECIALS

Album, with Obi strip and slightly different artwork.

REMASTERED at HALF-SPEED!

The Specials were formed in Coventry in 1977. True

innovators, the band began the British ska  revival

craze, combining the highly danceable ska and

rocksteadybeat with punk’s energy and attitude.

The Specials had seven consecutive UK Top 10

singles between  1979 and 1981, including the

number 1 hits ‘Too Much Too Young’ and ‘Ghost

Town’ The Specials’ landmark, 14-track-strong

debut album ‘Specials’  (UK No.4, 1979), produced

by Elvis Costello, declared their intentions

 loud and clear with a rare blend of furious energy 

and no-nonsense, hard-hitting lyrics.

This album has been digitally remastered from the

original analogue stereo masters and the new vinyl

cuts have been made using those new masters.

Careful comparison was made to the first pressed

 copies of the original albums throughout the

process to maintain the sound as the band had

originally envisaged.

In essence  a studio recording of their live set, the

album comprises mostly originals with a few covers

of ska classics thrown in for good measure,

including their fabulous take on Dandy

Livingstone's  ‘A Message to You Rudy’, an equally

stellar version of the Maytals' ‘Monkey Man’, and  a

sizzling take on Prince Buster's ‘Too Hot’.

Features: the vicious ‘Nite Klub’, with its

Unforgettable line, “All the girls are slags and the

beer tastes just like piss”; ‘Blank Expression’

, which extended the misery into unwelcoming

pubs‘; ‘Concrete Jungle’, capturing the fear and

 violence that stalked the inner cities; the personal

 ‘It's Up To You’, a message to those who disliked

the group and its stance, and a rallying cry for

supporters;  ‘Too Much Too Young’, showing the

Specials' disdain for teen pregnancy and marriage;

‘It Doesn't Make It Alright’, delivering a heartfelt plea

against racism, and the  rocksteady-esque yearning

of ‘You're Wondering Now’ 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

launched a whole Ska Revival which helped fellow

like-minded bands Madness, The Beat and The

Selecter to release their first singles. 

The Specials first single, ‘Gangsters’, was released

in May 1979 with independent distribution by Rough

Trade and the initial pressing of just 5,000 records

sold out.

The band and label soon signed with Chrysalis

Records who picked up on the release of

‘Gangsters.’ The next single, ‘A Message To You

Rudy’, followed in September with their first album

released soon after in October.  The Specials

recently celebrated a UK Number One with their new

album ‘Encore’ and are currently on a 40th

Anniversary World Tour.

This 40th Anniversary Edition of their debut album

‘Specials’ has been mastered and cut at half-speed

by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios using the

original production tapes.

NEW SEALED and in Stock

Tracks –

SIDE A

1. A Message To You Rudy

2. Do The Dog

3. Its Up To You

4. Nite Klub

SIDE B

1. Doesn't Make It Alright

2. Concrete Jungle

3. Too Hot

SIDE C

1. Monkey Man

2. (Dawning Of A) New Era

3. Blank Expression

4. Stupid Marriage

SIDE D

1. Too Much Too Young

2. Little Bitch

3. You're Wondering Now

CONDITION – MINT / UNPLAYED (SEALED)

CATALOGUE NUMBER  - CDLTTH5001

DATE – 2019

EDITION – HALF SPEED REMASTERED

SPEED – 45RPM AUDIOPHILE

Combine items to save on postage.

ADD any additional 7" - 50p in the UK , £1 to

EUROPE and £1.50 elsewhere.

ADD any additional 12" – £1 in the UK , £3 to

EUROPE and £4 elsewhere.

  YOU CAN ADD TRACKED & REGISTERED / INSURED MAIL AT £5

ANYWHERE – This provides NEXT DAY DELIVERY in the UK

(please allow for processing).

WE ONLY USE PROPER RECORD MAILERS TO POST ITEMS –

SO YOU RECEIVE THE ITEMS IN MINT CONDITION!

We strongly recommend TRACKED mail to South

America, and ITALY otherwise parcels are at your

own risk!

Outside the UK REGISTERED (TRACKED) mail

 provides full tracking and insurance - the fee is per

parcel. If you want your item(s)

tracked choose this option at the check-out.

All orders  over £40 must go tracked.

Please note due to the global pandemic mail is slower than usual.

Expect delays, some extended. Stay safe!

  Please note that the POSTAL SERVICE to ITALY is

very slow and items can easily take OVER 1 MONTH to arrive.

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