The Specials

In the late seventies a movement hit the UK just after the Punk revolution. A revival of the old Ska music saw a Coventry band called The Specials introduce there high beat Ska music fused with a political and social message.

The band started in the late seventies as the Coventry Automatics and eventually the final seven members ended up as The Specials. The band consisted of Jerry Dammers, Terry Hall, Lynval Golding, Neville Staples, John Bradbury, Horace Gentleman and Roddy Radiation. They caught the attention of Joe Strummer and The Clash and the band was asked to support them which gave them the exposure they needed.

The Clash played a raw punk sound with white Reggae and that multiculutural sound was equally important to the the Specials. With that in mind the band formed the legendary 2 Tone label with a black and white logo with a Rude Boy wearing a suit, pork pie hat and loafers which was the early look of the band.

They released a single 'Gangsters' with another Coventry band The Selector on the flip side. The single was a huge success and a top 10 hit in 1979 and the band on the back of that released released the debut album self titled The Specials. The album featured several copies of old Ska Tunes such as 'A message to you rudy' as well as self penned songs to compliment the old with new.

In 1980 they released the legendary EP Too Much Too young which got there first number one although controversial as the song referred to teen pregnancy and contraception. The EP was mixed with some old Ska songs which showcased there talents at a Live event.

The band went to work on a new album and the material showed a change from the old ska sound and a more ambient style mixed with the odd heavy song. The album was released as 'More Specials' and commercially was not as succesful as the debut album. There was some notable songs such as 'Do Nothing' and 'Hey, little rich girl' but the album then started to cause frictions within the band.

The band took a break and released a non album single which proved to be there biggest hit. In the summer of 1981 with Britain locked in a recession and summer riots they released 'Ghost Town' which documented the urban decay in the UK. The song was a huge success and topped the charts and became an anthem for the disenchanted youth of Britain.

Following that suprise success the cracks appeared and Terry Hall, Lynval Golding and Neville Staples left the band to form Fun Boy Three and the band to reinvent again. There was a personnel change with Stan Campbell and Rhoda Dakar leading the vocals. A new album 'In the studio' was released in 1984 and again commercially the album was not as successfully hoped. One song did get great results was 'Free Nelson Mandela' which was a top 10 hit in the UK.

Shortly after the band split for good but they made a huge contribution to music and there social and political comments were the voice of the young in the UK.

In the 1980s The Specials released 2 albums with More Specials peaking at number 5 and In the Studio reaching 34. In terms of singles they released 11 singles, they enjoyed 6 top 10 hits with 'too much too young' and 'Ghost Town' hitting the top summit. In addition 'Rat Race' and 'Do Nothing' enjoyed top 5 status and 'Stereotype' and 'Free Nelson Mandela' also hit the top 10.

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