Reviews (9)

4.5 rounded up
Solid disc for any Beat fan, but I would have liked to see the instrumental version of Rotating Heads (from Ferris Bueller's Day Off) thrown on this disc for good measure. In my opinion, one of EB's better songs. Plus it would have spared people from having to buy that soundtrack to get it.

Can't be Beat
In the second coming of ska (c. 1979-1983) the English Beat ruled supreme. The Beat used ska as a foundation on which they used R&B, punk, rock, dub and Afro-beat as material to build three superb albums and a handfull of singles. This collection does a marvelous job of distilling their all too short career highlghts into one disk. Dancable to the extreme, thought-provoking at several levels, and thoroughly enjoyable, this is an excellent addition to any CD collection.

Beat fans you DO need this !
Prior reviews of this collection have missed an important detail. The Stand Down Margaret (track 15) included here IS NOT the Whine & Grine / Stand Down Margaret from the Beat's first album "I Just Can't Stop". It is the rare dub version that I believe was only previously availble in the U.S. as a 12" 45rpm import.

I remeber hearing this on the radio (small community access station) in the early eighties and have searched for it ever since. It KICKS ! Oh and BTW, with their blending of many musical styles and Saxa, the Beat always ruled. Although a very good ska band, Madness wasn't even in the same league !

This is "Beat"
I often rummage through the racks at my favorite record stores or online looking for the 80's bands that I loved. What a suprise to come across this collection. Back in the day the Beat were probably second to Madness as far as new wave ska bands go but I have to say time has probably been kinder to the Beat as these songs sound a lot less dated then some of the Madness efforts. You're gonna love this one. Classic reggae/ska cuts like "Twist and Crawl" and "Mirror in the Bathroom", Pop gems "Save it for Later" and "Best Friend", the funky, smooth, soulful "Too Nice To Talk To" and sophisticated ska influenced soul cuts "Sole Salvation" and "I Confess" and so much more this "Beat" goes on and on and on!

Still The Best Ska Band Ever!
This has just about every track you will ever need by The English Beat.

Starting with the classic "Mirror in the Bathroom" all the way through the later years with "Save it for Later" and "I Confess". The thing I particularly liked about this "best of" was it had many ofthe tracks off of "I Just Can't Stop It", the first American realease in I think about 1982. There's "Hands Off She's Mine", "Twist and Crawl" and the ultra-skankin "Rankin' Full Stop".

You will still need to get "Special Beat Service" for some other incredible tracks, but start with this and SKANK AWAY! ... Read more

Album Description

UK 2002 remastered reissue of the British ska revivalist's1979 album. Includes ECD section containing 2 promotionalvideos 'Gangsters' & 'Too Much Too Young'. Produced byElvis Costello. ... Read more

Reviews (32)

A ska free-for-all
Even the absence of "Gangsters" can't deflate my joy in listening to this cd. (I can't say the same for the missing "Tears of a Clown" and "Ranking Full Stop" on the English Beat cd.)

I'll never forget when The Specials appeared on Saturday Night Live in 1981. They performed a searing, blistering "Gangsters" as they slam danced with the air around them. When they were through, the usually savvy New York audience was stunned. Dead silence. And I don't think it was because they were impressed: they just didn't know what they had just heard. But this Brooklyn boy was on his feet at home, jumping, and scrambling for pen and paper to remember this band's name so I could buy the album, which I did the next day.

I was in for more than I'd expected. Half this album's tunes are pure energy, the other half were more subtle reggae tunes. I thought The Specials were a tight, no-holds-barred, musically frenzied band. But there's something else: their songs carry incredibly intelligent, socially aware lyrics. Some songs are of the utmost seriousness. "It Doesn't Make It Alright" is a powerful indictment of racism. On the other hand, "Too Much Too Young" is a more witty, sarcastic look at teen pregnancy. There are strong messages in several songs, and this is an added plus. It is ska that is unafraid to approach any topic. It's fun, it's serious, it's damned good music.

Have you bought this cd yet?

An all time Classic
This is clearly the best Ska record ever made. Their debut album (the BBC had just aired The Specials John Peel Sessions, but it was not yet for sale. Also, their true debut was a 45rpm single of Gangsters whose B-side was titled The Selector and credited to The Selector, but in reality, The Selector was Jerry Dammers, John Bradbury, both from The Specials, and two of their roommates. I think it is the best song The Selector ever did).

If you listen to earlier versions of these songs available elsewhere, you can see how much they honed everything. The Specials had toured the U.K. supporting The Clash, and as a result you can hear more Clash-like-Grit on this album, and you can also see The Specials influence on Clash songs like Pressure Drop, very Ska.

I like everything about this album, every song. I still remember my high school English tutor in the 9th grade (I was really bad in school) who was more interested in shaping my musical tastes, and my sister, English was third on his list. He made me a tape of this album with the This Are Two Tone compilation on the second side. I listened to that tape for years, before they had tape-players that would flip the tape for you. I remember one time I accidentally hit "Record", so to this day I am surprised there is no gap at the beginning of "Concrete Jungle".

Not too long ago, I was invited to several Specials shows. My friend had gone to school with Mark Addams (keyboards) in Coventry and whenever they'd come to San Francisco my friend rob would arrange to have us on the list. They have altered the band since 1980 (when this album came out), a few new members, but they still have Neville Staples(who looks even cooler today), Horace Panter, Roddy Radiation, and Lynval Golding. They preformed these songs in a dizzying frenzy. After each show we'd go backstage with them (once to the Green-Room of the legendary Fillmore Auditorium!) and one time on their tour bus somewhere in Santa Cruz. My friends wife was blind, so she had a seeing-eye-Doberman with her. We were on this crowded bus, with the band, this huge dog and scattered other people. They were playing some old sixties Ska on the bus stereo, and Lynval Golding (guitarist) danced with the seeing-eye-dog, and I cracked a corny joke, which I began to regret as I was saying it. I said to Mr. Golding, "Do The Dog!" (referring to their song by the same name) then my ears began to turn red. He thought it was the funniest thing he'd ever heard and slapped his leg as he laughed. He put his rude-boy hat on my head, which was pathetically loose, and laughed his way to the ice-chest and he fetched two beers and brought one to me as his laughter died down. The joke seemed rather obvious to me. He took his hat back as he gave me the beer. It was all very weird.

Anyway, this is the album to have. I have many Specials albums, and would choose this one over all the rest, or any other Ska band, there is No Doubt about that. If you have never heard this album but are considering it, then trust the instincts that brought you this far and get it, if you remember this album from your youth but haven't gotten around to getting it on CD I suggest you drop everything and get it, and get Led Zeppelin IV another time. This album has aged very well.

awesome just awesome i mean fantastic even
this cd was great it was one of the best things ive heard in my entire life it was awesome just awesome you know the rest i love you specials you changed my life you know jerry dammers is the man with the amazing lyrics it just blew me away there awsome

Rock steady and rock solid
This album is permanently seared into my brain. I listened to this album too many times to even estimate, having discovered it in High School (when it came out - yes, I'm getting old), spun it endlessly in College, and have never really stopped listening to it. Now and then it kind of fades to the back of the old collection, but sounds as strong as ever every time I resurrect it from the stack. This is one of those albums that I've owned on vinyl, tape, CD and now resides in my Ipod. The infectious nature of this album is best related in a ridiculous story: We were on a business trip to make an advertising presentation for a client in Chicago about 5 years ago, My colleague and I both graduated college in the late 80's but we never really discussed music. While we were waiting to pitch our campaign outside the boardroom, we both noticed a framed 2-tone poster inside a nearby office. One by one we both ran through every song, every beat, every freestyle ranking from this album, each picking up seamlessly where the other would leave off. Sounds stupid, I know - but it's that kind of album. Just buy it - buy it now!

fantastic stuff
This is the best 2tone/ska album there is.Although the Specials introduced a raw,punky,English working class aspect to the ska sound, they retained much more of that original Jamican sound than any of the 3rd Wave American bands.The sounds of inner city England at the time were punk and reggae.The likes of Sex Pistols,The Clash along with reggae from the likes of Bob Marley and Dennis Brown were regularly in the top 5 in the UK charts.Unlike in the ghettoised projects in the United States,black and white working class kids in England shared the same housing estates and schools and so there were much greater opportunities for cultural hybrids.When punk appeared in 76 skinheads re emerged after disapearing from the scene for 5 years.The whole Specials idea was partly a calculated response by Jerry Dammers to remind the many skinheads who were flirting with nazism at the time that black cultural influences had been fundamental to the existence of the original skinhead movement.Anyhow it was a clever experiment that proved commercially succesful and this is an excellent album. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

The More Mature of Their Albums
This cd is a definte departure from the earlier Beat cds. The earlier cds are more where the Fine Young Cannibals went back to, while this cd marks the beginning of General Public. The songs "Save it for Later" and "I Confess" are two of their best, but lack the wildness of the quintessential Beat style that Fine Young Cannibals recaptured. This, oddly, is the best Beat cd. Odd because it seems an accident in the face of the break-up of the band that followed its making. It has a refined Jazz feel with the marked Beat raggee sound forced on it, as opposed to the other albums which have it just the other way around. Out of all the albums that The Beat, The Fine Young Cannibals, or General Public made this, I think, will survive the test of time.

One of Beat's Best...
This c.d. is absolutley astounding ! From the first track to the last there is not a single flop or disappointment; Even the album cover conveys a sense of coolness and sophistication. I had only heard the name English Beat growing up but never ventured to listen to their music thinking it was another heavy-synth new romantic band by it's name alone. Now, I am glad I've heard them ! Their mixture of ska, reggae, pop, and a few other styles will surely capture any avid music collector's attention. Also, the vocals of the lead singer are very reminiscent of Colin Hay's from Men At Work (another '80s great group). Although the album originally was released in 1982 I can see or hear why it firmly stands up to the test of time !

One of my all time favorites
I loved this CD since college, when it was just vinyl. I'm listening to it today in my office, and it just really stands the test of time. The lyrics are so clever and the beats interesting. Really, how many times have we all "done too much of both types of w(h)ining"

Highly recommended! A great 80s classic.

Classic English Beat
The best songs are the poppy ones that you know already ("Save it for later", "I Confess") but the other tracks are pretty solid. Not as great as "Whap'pen" or the first album (name escapes me), but good none the less. If you only buy one English Beat album, buy one of the first two or the greatest hits album. If you're a fan and already have the others, buy this one to complete your set.

To Beat this, You better beat me first
If there is a better overall cd by the Beat i dont know what it is. This is actually one of the best cd's ever, by anyone save perchance Debbie Gibson or Tiffany (hardy har har). Thats not subjective opinion either thats objective fact. My grandpa agrees. On the real though this is the serious a$$kicker with great songs like Jeanette and the untouchable Save it for later. Please. Plus it feature toasting by Pato Banton - buy it just for that if for no oher reason. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A good collection
This collection brings you what someone considered to be the best of the British Ska group Madness.
First off, every song on this CD is good, great even. The major draw back is, as if with every "best of" album, it's only worth buying if you're not a huge fan. If you are a fan than you should already own every Madness CD in which case there is no reason to buy this CD.
If you're new to Madness, or you just want their major US hits like Our House, It Must Be Love, House of Fun, and One Step Beyond than this will be great for you.
The other draw back to this album is that it features nothing from "Wonderful," which is a 'wonderful' album but never realesed here in the states.
All that said it's still a great album featuring many great songs.

A Bit of the Best, but not quite "Best of"
This really is a pretty decent dose of Madness, and it was good to see they picked a generous selection from the first two albums.

The only downer is: the first two Madness albums were fantastic, and, in my opinion, they lost much of their pizazz on future releases. It's hard to picture a Madness "Best of" without tunes like "Bed and Breakfast Man," "Middle of the Night," "You Said" and "E.R.N.I.E," especially when they include mediocre songs like "Michael Caine."

This is a good ---but not great--- Madness collection. But if you want an excellent selection of Madness tunes, search for their first album and "Absolutely."

Incomplete
Looks like a good collection EXCEPT where is "Bed and Breakfast Man"????!!! I hate it when domestic "Best-Of's" always leave out one or two of the most deserving songs.

Can't beat 'em!!
well, being an ex-skin (but still young at heart!!) you just cant beat them!!!...all their songs have relavancy, and still love listening to them all these years later (even converted my late father to their music....so they must have been good!!)

"Camden, London, England gives birth to Ska - Madness"
In the late '70s and early '80s - Ska-revival was in the group from Camden - "Madness" - humorous, rollicking, fun, quirky, whimsical and good-natured. This British phenomenon, influenced future bands and was fast becoming the countries most beloved groups.

Hip-O records, Pat Lawrence (producer), Dana Smart (compilation producer), Jim Phillips (mastering) and Ilene Weingard (art direction) have given the music enthusiast the ride of their life...entire album is awesome, outstanding and complete. Each selection of this 19-track compilation stands on its own infectious merit!

Total Time: 71:33 on 19 Tracks...Hip-O Records 699...(2000) ... Read more

Reviews (42)

I Just Can't Stop Loving It
When The English Beat burst onto the musical two-tone scene with Ranking Full Stop and Tears of a Clown, everyone knew they were great. This album merely confirms it. Every song is a jam fest with toe-tapping magic and a crisp sound. Mirror in the Bathroom, Big Shot, Whine and Grind/Stand Down Margaret, and Best Friend are the "hits" as it were, but Two Swords, Hands Off...She's Mine, Twist and Crawl and Click Click make this album for me. The rhythm section for this band cannot be "beat" as they are fantastic. This is an excellent look at the two-tone influenced music of the early 1980s and what an excellent sound it was. Sadly, the English Beat could not sustain it after this album; but this is one pure, shining, fun moment in time. If you buy it, it will be one of your favorites. I was thrilled when they re-released it, and I thought of docking it a star because Tears of a Clown and Ranking Full Stop are not included, but one can suppose contract/royalties type of something or other has only allowed this version. You can find those songs on the Two-Tone Collection, A Checkered Past--which you should own anyway. Realistically, I Just Can't Stop It is still an excellent CD. Buy it for the kids today who think they know what SKA is. The English Beat puts all of the rest to shame.

Make no mistake
Make no mistake, the Beat was a great band and this release is a testament to that!

If you're looking for something to get you to snapping your fingers and tapping your toes, you've found it.

Not a bad track here!

unity
this was some mean unity music im like yaa you know how it goes you know im like yaa this awesome i mean awesome just awsome fantastic even it was the complete aposite of baah i mean it was yaa i mean the song rough rider is so awsome just awsome fantastic even every time i listen to it im blow away im just goin yaa

Can't Stop Playing It.
I can't be as generous as some reviewers who gave this cd the full five stars, even though it lacks "Ranking Full Stop" and "Tears of A Clown". But I can't condemn it entirely either. This is still a great collection of beautifully crafted tunes. I keep coming back to this cd and I never tire of it. I don't think it's for nostalgic reasons: I have other cd's for that. Plainly, these are gorgeous tunes, better than most that came out that year. Atmospheric, alternating between the energetic ("Mirror in the Bathroom", "Twist and Crawl") and the moody (Dave Wakeling doing a beautiful [and underrated] version of Andy Williams' "Can't Get Used to Losing You"), these songs remain as vital as they were twenty-odd years ago. And Saxa... not enough can be said about his ability to fit his horn into any arrangement.

I would argue that English Beat was NOT the best ska band ever, only because they didn't really limit themselves to it. Too much is going on in these melodies. And if you were lucky enough to see them live, their improvisations were extremely complex. This is not to imply that ska is "simple", but it is a singular, distinct sound. English Beat had way too many sounds.

Ah -hem.......
What box o' rocks left off two of the best songs on this album? I would not buy this just out of spite to show WEA what a group of fools we are NOT.

This was THE "ska" album of it's time! It rocked my college campus for months & months on end. I LOVED it, and still do! Timeless! But not when some do-do does a hatchet job on it.

BIG sigh... ... Read more

Album Description

UK reissue of the 1979 debut from the much loved new wave/ska act, digitally remastered with special packaging.Includes CD-ROM videos for 'The Prince', 'One Step Beyond...', 'My Girl' and 'Night Boat To Cairo'. 2000 release. Standard jewel case. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Life changing
I bought this album (maybe my Dad paid for it as I was only 9!!!) soon after its release. I saw them do One Step Beyond on Top Of The Pops and immediately began contemplating starting my serious music collection. The only other records I had at the time were Gary Glitter (wahha hahahahah hahahaha hahahahahahaha) and Elvis Costello's Oliver's Army 7" single.

This band really started it off for me as far as following bands was concerned. I later graduated to The Police then U2 and REM and havent really followed a band so closely since.

This band made me get a crew cut!!!

The sad thing is, the only album I have ever bought on CD is Absolutely which was my all time favourite. The vinyls are gathering dust somewhere. I saw them play at the Manchester Apollo sometime in the early 80's and they were amazing.

Classic memories...

This is THE Madness to get!
Madness did it best the first time around. Their first album has, so far, outdone any "best of" collection. "One Step Beyond," simply put, will keep the lamest party awake and hopping. Starting with the instrumental title tune, even the slowest paced tunes (My Girl, Razor Blade Alley), is a Ska-Based jolt of pep.

What I enjoy about Madness above most other Ska bands is that their early music is sheer fun spirited song & dance, written in an era where it was becoming much cooler to throw a lot of social commentary into the lyrics. My favorite examples are a little 60s pop-culture with "Tarzan's Nuts" (one of the TV Tarzan theme songs), "Rockin' In A Flat" (if you have trouble waking up in the morning, spin this tune first thing after you creak out of bed); and "Night Boat To Cairo."

"One Step Beyond" is worth the extra money spent over their various compilations. A very good second place is their second album "Absolutely," but their debut CD rocks above them all!

It doesn't get any better than this
This is a timeless album ! There are several 'Greatest Hits' CDs available from 'Madness' but this, their debut CD, is the real deal. There is not a dull moment, from the very first note of the title track to the final (goofy) track 'Chipmunks are go'. Their first single 'One Step Beyond' hit the music scene like a rocket back in 1979 and is still their concert opener. 'My Girl' shows the true musical skills of the band and is followed by 'Night Boat to Cairo', which is a fantastic, fun little SKA piece. But things are still getting better: 'Believe me' and 'Land of Hope and Glory' build up to my all time favorite Madness (and even SKA) song 'The Prince'. And 'Madness' are able to keep this high level all the way to the end of the album. This is a must have CD - whether you are a SKA fan or you just enjoy great music played by a truly great band.

Stylish, Nutty, Ska Greatness
This album is one of my five favorites since I first bought it in 1982. These guys can really play! (Imagine real musicians with real instruments in the 80'S)Every song is great in its own way--some for pure energy, others for off-the-wall lyrics. The album is all about having a good time, burning some energy, and again: TRUE MUSICIANSHIP. The clearly British and stylish vocals don't hurt it a bit either. This is one of the best-ever ska albums along with "I Just Can't Stop It" by the English Beat.

Absolutely nutty!
If you dig the second wave of ska and don't have this, or haven't even of heard of it, then it's time to introduce yourself to a milestone of the forementioned era! It has the classic pieces : One Step Beyond, Night Boat To Cairo...and one truely "classical piece" : Swan-Lake which is a great rendition of Tchaikowski's master piece. This is the record which shows the nutty-boys being more about ska than they get credited for. Some of the later records still rule, but the're a bit more about pop and a bit less about ska. This is THE article! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

My favorite...now
If you are looking at this review, I imagine that you have already heard the English Beat--If you haven't, then don't waste your time reading any further and go and get "I Just Can't Stop It". If you have a Beat CD, odds are that this isn't the one. Of the three major releases, this was my least favorite as a teenager...too slow.

But now when I revisit this one...twenty years later (Has it been that long?)...I find it superior to the 1st release (just barely) or Special Beat (by a mile). So if you missed Wha'ppen the first time around, give it a second shot, there is a chance that you will find that this album aged more gracefully than its siblings.

i'm just a johnny come lately
I heard the first Beat LP ("I Just Can't Stop It") in a small town record shop in 1980 and instantly fell in love with this band's brand of ska/soul/rock. For some strange reason, I never bought "Wha'ppen" and never got familiar with it. I confess to reading some less than enthusiastic reviews and shying away. Of course, I did buy "Special Beat Service" and found it to be par excellent. So I ordered "Wha'ppen" a couple of months ago and it arrived a few weeks back and I've been wearing it out. Damn! How did I miss this? This is a great collection of snaky sweet, politically smart songs. "Doors of Your Heart"... I've loved that song for years... and "Too Nice to Talk To" has always been a favorite. But every other single song on this CD, including the bonus tracks, is outstanding. These songs are textural wonders. Great stinging guitar work and the incredible Saxa on his horn make this a stunning recording. I regret not discovering it sooner, but it sure is a nice find after-the-fact. Oh yeah... one more thing... I had the pleasure of meeting Dave Wakeling in Nashville this past summer and he's a very nice fellow who cares about the people that support him. If he comes to a venue near you, don't miss the show. You'll get your money's worth and more. Wear your dancin' shoes. He is truly one of the great talents of the 80's and continues to make significant music. He may be the most underrated recording artist of the past two decades. Buy this CD. You won't regret it. It sounds best in the early evening. I'm the Big Oh and I gotta go.

Great Follow-up to "I Just Can't Stop It"
For whatever reason I bought this album much later on than the other two English Beat albums - something about it "not being as good". That's complete nonsense. This album is excellent and it was a welcome revelation to hear it years later, after the fact as it were. There's not a weak track on this CD. Plenty of soulful saxophone solos abound. "Dreamhome in NZ", "Walk Away", and "Monkey Murders" are lost 80's classics to go along with the better-known "Doors of Your Heart" and "Too Nice to Talk To". Love the alternate version of "Get-A-Job" found here. I rank this second Beat album in the all-too-short trilogy of albums from these guys right up there next to "I Just Can't Stop It"; it's certainly a stronger album from start to finish than "Special Beat Service" - their final album - where the strain of not having widespread commercial acceptance sounded like it had taken its toll. Looking back, I wish the English Beat had stayed together long enough to record a few more gems like "Wha'ppen?". They probably do too.

Great CD
The English Beat is one of my all time favorite bands, and I'm happy to see that their music is being re-released. This is a terrific album.

Ya Mon
I love English Beat - it is just perfect beach music. This particular album I have worn out - my tape is 15 years old and I thought I would never get another chance to own one. If you are into funky reggae style music, this album is for you. My favorite tracks to jump to are "French Toast" and "Get a Job". "Drowning" and "Doors of Your Heart" are very smooth and you want to sway to them, or close your eyes and soak up the rays, mon! Of course there is "Monkey Murders" which is the only song I remember listening to on the radio. Great stuff! ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Specials' Singles a Mixed Bag
I was captivated by the Specials when they appeared on Saturday Night Live way back in the late 1970s, and was hooked on ska and the Specials ever since. This collection however lacks the punch and enthusiasm of their first, self-entitled album or their later three-song EP "Ghost Town."

The CD includes some dull filler material ("Maggie's Farm" for example) and is most recommended for the three songs off the hard to find 1981 "Ghost Town" vinyl EP, including the title cut, "Why?", and the hypnotic "Friday Night/Saturday Morning." The lack of "Blank Expression" from the first album is baffling. It would have been a more solid collection if material from the post-Specials band, the Fun Boy Three, were included instead of the filler.

Overall, worth getting to round out your Specials collection.

A little Specials goes a long way
I like ska, but I don't LOVE Ska. This Cd does it for me. My only beef is that they could have packed a few more tracks onto it.

Now then... Unless you're seriously into ska, punk or jamaican music in general- this is probably all The Specials you'll ever need. This album is more conclusive than either the Specials (best of) CD or the More Specials (best of 2) Cd. Stylistically, it covers all the bases including several hard to fing cuts (most notably Ghost town, a sweet creepy little tune with an arabian sound to it- well used in Guy Ritchie's 'Snatch'... or maybe it was 'Lock, Stock...').

At any rate, this is all prime-rate, good stuff. If you are looking for a place to begin delving into ska, or simply trying to round out a decent CD collection- you could do far worse. No, actually, I'm pretty sure it was 'Snatch,' afterall.

some top-rank singles here
The specials are an interesting band-- Elvis Costello, of all people, produced their first album.

This is a good collection-- these songs are pretty much easy to get a consensus on. 'Ghosttown', 'Too Much, Too Young' and 'Gangsters' shine through for what they are: some of the greatest songs of the 80's. There is a bit of filler on here, yes, but, it's filler that grows on you as time passes by.

This is a must-have record for the ska/punk enthusiast. It's worth a gamble for most other people as well.

name says it all
anyone interested in the roots of ska/punk/reggae and political music will undoubtedly love this collection. i wasn't a huge specials fan before i bought this (i hadn't heard much outside of the amazing "ghost town") but this seals the deal. if you're like me, this is likely the only disc you'll ever need from these guys, as it includes all the singles (i assume). from the opening "gangsters" and "rudi, a message to you", to the safe-sex anthem "too much too young", it's clear that their earlier stuff is the best (some key members left after "ghost town"), but none of this disappoints. the music is uplifting and the lyrics raise awareness as a political band should, even if some of the material is a bit dated ("free nelson mandela" - though the spirit here never ages). the two live cuts are nice to have, especially since this music is usually better in concert, and the dylan cover "maggie's farm" is delivered passionately. this is an excellent disc that serves as a worthy overview of the specials' career when they were truly revolutionary (they pretty much kickstarted this whole movement in the late 70s), and it should be a welcome addition to anyone's music library, regardless of whether you've heard of them or not.

Special by Nature
The Specials were one of the greatest bands ever to come out of the British music scene. They burnt a bright, yet short-lived flame consistently hitting the UK top 10 with an array of danceable and thought provoking singles. Songs such as Gangsters, Ghost Town and Too much Too Young show how the band were able keep the integrity of Jamaican ska and reggae whilst reflecting the British musical and social environment (especially punk). Conveniently labeled as "ska revivalists", this only tells half the story. Though ska was definitely the basis of much of their work, songs such as Stereotype, Rat Race and International Jet Set show The Specials ability to incorporate diverse influences and retain the group identity. This album recalls the times when the band dominated the British music scene. What a shame the original line up split when they did. ... Read more

Album Description

UK 2002 remastered reissue of the British ska revivalist's1980 album. Includes ECD section containing 2 promotionalvideos 'Ghost Town' & 'Rat Race'. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Amazing amount of variation, but lacks debut's cohesion.
The Specials second album, and final before imploding, is called "More Specials" and gives the listener more, alright... maybe a little too much to digest. Jerry Dammers seems to have gone a bit crazy in the studio, as he produced the album and added multiple layers of keyboard, organ, vibes, synthesiser, melodica and whatever else he had lying around. I also assume the 'muzak' feel of "International Jet Set" and the mechanical drums on "I Can't Stand It" and "Stereotypes Part 2" are his doing as well. The stylistic menu is varied, including reggae ("Do Nothing"), retro fifties rock ("Hey, Little Rich Girl", "Pearl's Cafe"), new-wave pop ("I Can't Stand It") and even mariachi ("Holiday Fortnight"). Terry Hall's vocals sound great, especially on the anti-war "Man At C&A" and "International Jet Set", where his monotone delevery almost acts as another instrument. The group vibe is diminished, as most people have their own 'feature' song, like Roddy's "Rat Race", Lynval's "Do Nothing" and Neville's vocal overkill on "Stereotypes Part 2" and drummer John Bradbury's James Bond tribute "Sock it to 'Em J.B.". The Go Go's are even brought in for backing vocals on the "Enjoy Yourself" reprise (Terry co-wrote their hit "Our Lips are Sealed" and later covered it with his band Fun Boy Three, which included him, Lynval and Neville). Overall, it is a genre-shifting soup, with rockers like "Rat Race" alongside the moody bossa-nova of "Stereotypes". This is not altogether a bad thing, but proved the band had little time left. After the Dammers penned "Ghost Town" single, with offerings from Terry and Neville, the band went their separate ways. Roddy formed his retro-rock styled the Tearjerkers, Bradbury formed his own goofy and thankfully short-lived band, bassist Horace Panter joined with members of the English Beat to form General Public, Fun Boy Three formed with the Specials vocalists, and Dammers went on with the Special AKA. This, therefore was the Specials album swan song. For that, it was a success, but would not fare as well if they recorded others.

What the Specials could have been and were.
I've had this record since 1982 and I still listen to it. While their untitled debut was a great ska defining record of its time More Specials is a classic with an incredible variation and vision of all times. Terribly unique and haunting (did someone say that?) this record embodies something which is truly hard to describe. I dig that! This is a true milliniem album and more.

One Star for One Song
I love ska. I love the Specials 1st Album and Ghost Town. On this CD you get the Keith Richard's whammy, "One hit and (X-1) trax of crap" (rhymes). Can you guess which song is not vapid? Save your money and get "I Just Can't Stop It" by The Beat - English

Distracted, different, dying breed
More Specials is the type of album that I just can't say bad things about. Compared to the music being forced down our throats these days, music that doesn't know where it's going or is too wimpy to say anything, More Specials is a bright spot in a better past. Listen to it, not comparing it to the Specials first, but with an ear for quality. There's a lot there.

"International Jet Set" has probably become my favorite track. I also prefer the LP version of "Do Nothing" to the singles version. At first I kind of thought a couple of the tracks were annoying, but listening to a song as a whole instead of in parts reveals it's true quality. An underrated album for sure.

Unique blend of ska, soul and kitsch
More Specials is definately not for every ska fan. In fact, this album is a mix match of so many different genres that I would not even call it a ska album. Whereas The Specials first album gets you up off your rear end and dancing this is a more contemplative album to really listen to. The album moves around from darker themes to the silly with an overriding feel of 60's kitsch. Another 2Tone classic. ... Read more

Album Description

1999 collection on Virgin featuring the first six albums bythe original nutty boys, England's hit late '70s ska revivalists Madness. Each album has been digitally remastered & contains all of the original audio tracks, plus four CD-ROM videos per disc added as a bonus! Comes packaged as three gatefold slipcases (with two CD albums per slipcase) inside of a black card slipcase with familiar gold Doc Martens boots on the cover. Also contains a 36 page booklet with interviews& quotes from 1999. A grand total of 76 audio tracks & 24 CD-ROM videos, including 'One Step Beyond', 'Our House', 'MyGirl', 'House Of Fun', 'Bed And Breakfast Man', 'Baggy Trousers', 'Embarrassment', 'Return Of The Los Palmos 7', 'GreyDay', 'Cardiac Arrest', 'It Must Be Love', 'Wings Of A Dove' and 'Waiting For The Ghost Train'. The outer package is afull color CD-sized slipcase box. 1999 release. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

UTTER MADNESS!!!!!
If your a MADNESS fan then you need to buy this. Its totaly right on. Granted its the original 7 albums but its even got the videos for the singles off of the specific album. Its totaly kick @$$

Almost Perfect
There are a ton of Madness collections out there. This one is definitely the most complete one I've ever seen. My only complaint: Where's Crying Shame. This B-side is one of my favorites, and unfortunately it's still unavailable anywhere on CD.

That aside, it's a perfect collection from one of the best bands of it's time.

Squashing Snails
One of the most underrated bands of all time, Madness incorporated elements of reggae,ska,music hall and big band in their marvellous catalogue. All of you who remember Dan Akroyd's "Blues Brothers" dance routine, take a look at the early Madness videos and see what you have been missing. What seperated this group from their peers, was the ability to write and perform in a multitude of styles, with a touch of humor and soul. My daughter and her friends love to dance to the early hits. I hope that Virgin will get around to releasing all their great videos on one DVD shortly as it is a pain having to constantly change discs - my only complaint.

Quality Album Material Often Overlooked
In this collection of the first six 'original' Madness albums, you get a lot of material heretofore missing from American releases. The tracks from "Rise and Fall" and "Seven" are worth the full price of the box set alone. A lot of these tracks have often been hard to track down in the US (especially the RaF material) and are greatly improved on with remastering. While Madness is often viewed as a simple cog in the Ska-revival wheel, the tracks on discs 3-6 prove that they were quality songwriters in their own right and even the overproduced, far too depressing "Mad Not Mad" tracks turn out to be good material on a 5th or 6th listen. Combine this with "The Business" CD set and you have all the Madness your heart could desire.

Could have gone another step beyond...
on the packaging. Great tunes and contains many videos that I haven't seen before. My only complaint is the packaging. While the cardboard cd sleeves look great, they tend to be abrade the hard to remove cd's. The liner notes seemed skimpy as well. ... Read more

Album Description

Budget-priced 1996 compilation on EMI featuring all of theoutstanding ska band's best for 2 Tone. 16 tracks,including 'Too Much Too Young' (Extended Mix), 'MonkeyMan', 'Enjoy Yourself', 'Man At C&A', 'Little Bitch', 'RatRace', 'Do The Dog', 'Blank Expression', 'A Message To YouRudy', & '(Dawning Of A) New Era'. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

This is the one to get!
There's plenty of Specials CDs out there, but if you just want one to add to your collection, this is it. The music is great fun, and it never fails to get people dancing. The recording sounds a bit thin on some of the tracks, but it's not bad. ... Read more

Album Description

First time on CD for this legendary ska album from 1980.Includes the singles 'On My Radio', 'Three Minute Hero' &'Missing Words'. Deluxe booklet includes original albumartwork & liner notes by ska expert George Marshall. 2001release. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The archetypal 2 tone sound.
The Selecter more than any other band encapsulated the 2tone sound.Three Minute Hero is my favourite but the whole record is high quality.This album is more enjoyable than say any Madness or even The Beat (English Beat in the USA) albums that I have heard but having said that those two bands reached slightly higher peaks in terms of memorable songs.If youre into skinhead/rudeboy/mod stuff you really should have this already, but there you go,4 stars good stuff.

A lost classic - one of the best albums I own!
The Selecter's "Too Much Pressure" is the single most overlooked album of the U.K. ska revival, and in my opinion, the most overlooked album of the late-70s/early-80s.

Fans of the short-lived U.K. ska revival are probably familiar with The Selecter, but unfortunately most don't own "Too Much Pressure". It was out of print until 2002, and then only released on a small indie label in the U.K.

The album was originally released in 1980, following a few key singles, on the then fledgling 2-Tone label. Those early singles - "The Selecter", "On My Radio" and "Too Much Pressure" - are included as bonus tracks on this reissue.

Like other 2-Tone bands, The Selecter is indebted to early Jamaican ska, specifically Duke Reid and Prince Buster productions, as well as late seventies U.K. punk. The Selecter is rooted in rock steady and reggae rhythms as well, which aligns them more closely with The English Beat than The Specials or Madness (all label-mates.)

What makes The Selecter completely unique is lead vocalist Pauline Black. Black was born to belt out infectious, punk-inspired ska tunes. Without her, The Selecter would sound too much like The English Beat - not a bad thing, just that Black really makes the band something special. She can back a social statement like "Danger" with fierce intensity and then bounce along playfully to some of the most infectious songs in existence. (Is "On My Radio" pure bliss or what?)

This is truly one of the best albums that I own, and I highly recommend it to fans of this type of music. Even if you already own a Selecter compilation, you shouldn't hesitate to pick this up. Seriously, no slapdash compilation can ever replace the original album, especially when every track is a killer. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The beat that got a generation dancing and brought ska back into the public eye. Produced by Elvis Costello, then still a boy wonder himself, the album built on the sound of the Specials' first two singles, and gave the world its first extended look at Two Tone. Inspired writing and arranging (much of it down to founder Jerry Dammers) with Terry Hall as the laconic front man made for a perfect combination, the riddim of ska and the speed of punk. As a testament to its power, two decades haven't lessened its impact. --Chris Nickson ... Read more

Reviews (32)

A ska free-for-all
Even the absence of "Gangsters" can't deflate my joy in listening to this cd. (I can't say the same for the missing "Tears of a Clown" and "Ranking Full Stop" on the English Beat cd.)

I'll never forget when The Specials appeared on Saturday Night Live in 1981. They performed a searing, blistering "Gangsters" as they slam danced with the air around them. When they were through, the usually savvy New York audience was stunned. Dead silence. And I don't think it was because they were impressed: they just didn't know what they had just heard. But this Brooklyn boy was on his feet at home, jumping, and scrambling for pen and paper to remember this band's name so I could buy the album, which I did the next day.

I was in for more than I'd expected. Half this album's tunes are pure energy, the other half were more subtle reggae tunes. I thought The Specials were a tight, no-holds-barred, musically frenzied band. But there's something else: their songs carry incredibly intelligent, socially aware lyrics. Some songs are of the utmost seriousness. "It Doesn't Make It Alright" is a powerful indictment of racism. On the other hand, "Too Much Too Young" is a more witty, sarcastic look at teen pregnancy. There are strong messages in several songs, and this is an added plus. It is ska that is unafraid to approach any topic. It's fun, it's serious, it's damned good music.

Have you bought this cd yet?

An all time Classic
This is clearly the best Ska record ever made. Their debut album (the BBC had just aired The Specials John Peel Sessions, but it was not yet for sale. Also, their true debut was a 45rpm single of Gangsters whose B-side was titled The Selector and credited to The Selector, but in reality, The Selector was Jerry Dammers, John Bradbury, both from The Specials, and two of their roommates. I think it is the best song The Selector ever did).

If you listen to earlier versions of these songs available elsewhere, you can see how much they honed everything. The Specials had toured the U.K. supporting The Clash, and as a result you can hear more Clash-like-Grit on this album, and you can also see The Specials influence on Clash songs like Pressure Drop, very Ska.

I like everything about this album, every song. I still remember my high school English tutor in the 9th grade (I was really bad in school) who was more interested in shaping my musical tastes, and my sister, English was third on his list. He made me a tape of this album with the This Are Two Tone compilation on the second side. I listened to that tape for years, before they had tape-players that would flip the tape for you. I remember one time I accidentally hit "Record", so to this day I am surprised there is no gap at the beginning of "Concrete Jungle".

Not too long ago, I was invited to several Specials shows. My friend had gone to school with Mark Addams (keyboards) in Coventry and whenever they'd come to San Francisco my friend rob would arrange to have us on the list. They have altered the band since 1980 (when this album came out), a few new members, but they still have Neville Staples(who looks even cooler today), Horace Panter, Roddy Radiation, and Lynval Golding. They preformed these songs in a dizzying frenzy. After each show we'd go backstage with them (once to the Green-Room of the legendary Fillmore Auditorium!) and one time on their tour bus somewhere in Santa Cruz. My friends wife was blind, so she had a seeing-eye-Doberman with her. We were on this crowded bus, with the band, this huge dog and scattered other people. They were playing some old sixties Ska on the bus stereo, and Lynval Golding (guitarist) danced with the seeing-eye-dog, and I cracked a corny joke, which I began to regret as I was saying it. I said to Mr. Golding, "Do The Dog!" (referring to their song by the same name) then my ears began to turn red. He thought it was the funniest thing he'd ever heard and slapped his leg as he laughed. He put his rude-boy hat on my head, which was pathetically loose, and laughed his way to the ice-chest and he fetched two beers and brought one to me as his laughter died down. The joke seemed rather obvious to me. He took his hat back as he gave me the beer. It was all very weird.

Anyway, this is the album to have. I have many Specials albums, and would choose this one over all the rest, or any other Ska band, there is No Doubt about that. If you have never heard this album but are considering it, then trust the instincts that brought you this far and get it, if you remember this album from your youth but haven't gotten around to getting it on CD I suggest you drop everything and get it, and get Led Zeppelin IV another time. This album has aged very well.

awesome just awesome i mean fantastic even
this cd was great it was one of the best things ive heard in my entire life it was awesome just awesome you know the rest i love you specials you changed my life you know jerry dammers is the man with the amazing lyrics it just blew me away there awsome

Rock steady and rock solid
This album is permanently seared into my brain. I listened to this album too many times to even estimate, having discovered it in High School (when it came out - yes, I'm getting old), spun it endlessly in College, and have never really stopped listening to it. Now and then it kind of fades to the back of the old collection, but sounds as strong as ever every time I resurrect it from the stack. This is one of those albums that I've owned on vinyl, tape, CD and now resides in my Ipod. The infectious nature of this album is best related in a ridiculous story: We were on a business trip to make an advertising presentation for a client in Chicago about 5 years ago, My colleague and I both graduated college in the late 80's but we never really discussed music. While we were waiting to pitch our campaign outside the boardroom, we both noticed a framed 2-tone poster inside a nearby office. One by one we both ran through every song, every beat, every freestyle ranking from this album, each picking up seamlessly where the other would leave off. Sounds stupid, I know - but it's that kind of album. Just buy it - buy it now!

fantastic stuff
This is the best 2tone/ska album there is.Although the Specials introduced a raw,punky,English working class aspect to the ska sound, they retained much more of that original Jamican sound than any of the 3rd Wave American bands.The sounds of inner city England at the time were punk and reggae.The likes of Sex Pistols,The Clash along with reggae from the likes of Bob Marley and Dennis Brown were regularly in the top 5 in the UK charts.Unlike in the ghettoised projects in the United States,black and white working class kids in England shared the same housing estates and schools and so there were much greater opportunities for cultural hybrids.When punk appeared in 76 skinheads re emerged after disapearing from the scene for 5 years.The whole Specials idea was partly a calculated response by Jerry Dammers to remind the many skinheads who were flirting with nazism at the time that black cultural influences had been fundamental to the existence of the original skinhead movement.Anyhow it was a clever experiment that proved commercially succesful and this is an excellent album. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Neol Davies founded the Selecter with the aim of mating punk's manic energy with ska and reggae's steady-throbbing beats. Then he dressed Pauline Black in a suit and porkpie hat and pushed her front and center as lead vocalist. The Selecter were less nihilistic than the Sex Pistols and other punk crews, with a black-white configuration and female singer, and their political stance re the police, the government, and unemployment didn't have to be stated overtly in tunes like "Too Much Pressure," "On My Radio," and their 78 rpm version of Justin Hinds & the Dominos' "Carry Go Bring Come." It was implied. Together with the Specials and other groups, the Selecter fused black and white musical expression, kicking off the "two-tone" ska craze that captured the youth markets in Europe and America with a working-class antiestablishment stance that couldn't be bothered with more contemplative "message" music. In fact, ska's popularity has never died completely; it has merely gone underground now and again, only to force its way back to major record label recognition by virtue of its continually swelling fan pool. --Elena Oumano ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great Selector CD
I saw the Selector in 1980, I was right at the stage in NY around 45th St (coulda touched Pauline Black!), I was 16 and new to the whole scene (who was'nt?). The Selector put on an awesome show! So I've been kinda thinking of this short lived group recently, having played to death The English Beat, The Specials, Madness, and others over the past 20 years. This CD for the price, I got mine new at Amazon.com, was a great buy!

Fantastic original Trad. Ska tunes!
Probably one of the best 2nd wave instigators. Selecter provideds a cool mix of trad. ska-reggae beats with modern vocals and reps. One thing about this c.d. is that the songs are unique to the rest of the 2-tone collection. Specials and English Beat close seconds, this c.d. provides novice ska listeners a taste of what makes oldies goodies. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Excuse us for caring, but there are a few things shamefully wrong about this long overdue salute to the immortal Nutty Boys. For starters, any self-respecting Madness package should open with "One Step Beyond," not end with it. And a meager 12 tracks (43 minutes) from the hugely prolific ska/pop kings of the early '80s is a tad miserly. To justify the title, Geffen could have made stronger efforts to license gems like "Baggy Trousers," "Night Train to Cairo," and "Embarrassment" from Sire. The liner note ode by Dicky Barrett of the Mighty Mighty Bosstones is small compensation.--Jeff Bateman ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Excellent band, excellent music
Madness was one of those great bands that when you heard them you knew you were listening to a classic. This album could have used more of the older songs but it is an excellent selection nonetheless, so many gems. I had to put the CD on the minute it was delivered.

You Don't Need This
The best of Madness has a lot more than just this 12 songs. I don't have this CD but from the short song list I know there are better Madness CDs, for starter look for Madness Ultimate Collection, there are 19 songs in it, not complete yet, but better than this.
Note for casual listener, In Business Box Set contain interview/commentaries between each song, very annoying.
Five stars for the band, 3 for the lack in quantity.

For the casual fan.
If you are only familiar with Madness' few U.S. hits ("One Step Beyond" "Our House") this is probably the collection for you. The CD captures the basics of the sound this group put out and the influences they have had on many other bands, (Mighty Mighty Boaatones, No Doubt, Smashmouth) is evident even on this limited set. As you can read in the other reviews, this was a band that deserves a much more complete compilation. Hopefully, this CD will make you want more Madness. If not, this is a good addition for anyone who might want to broaden their musical taste to include one of the best ska bands ever.

Best of... from an American perspective!
Well, where to start when talking about my all-time favourite band? It has been said that Americans never totally understood Madness because they were 'too British'! Well, then why did No Doubt, The Bosstones, Smashmouth and all the rest rate them so highly? Seems to me someone somewhere is VERY wrong and judging by the success of said American bands, we know WHO! True, this particular compilation doesn't do the band TOTAL justice (look for the British compilation 'Divine Madness' for full enjoyment), but it has enough great tunes on it to convince the American public that Madness were indeed NOT a one-trick pony (Our House) but a very quirky AND intelligent pop band a` la` Kinks. Forget the British tag... just put it on, clear the floor and start dancing! This one will keep you up all night.

Ten Reasons to Buy This Album
1. Madness is pop fun with loud horns 2. "Wings of a Dove" (A Celebratory Song) is a wonderful Caribbean-sounding blast 3. "One Step Beyond" is a ska materpiece 4. "Micheal Caine" is a twisted delight 5. Madness completely trancends its '80s roots 6. That said, "Our House" is a dance classic 7. Unlike a lot of 80's stuff (like most Time-Life collections) this is disc is nicely remastered 8. If you have only heard "Our House," you're in for a treat - Madness is so much more than a one-hit wonder 9. It's goofy 10. It's fun ... Read more

Album Description

Their second album from 1981. Features the singles 'TheWhisper' & 'Celebrate The Bullet'. Original album artwork,plus pictures of rare releases & liner notes. 2001release. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Fresh and relevant
Celebrate The Bullet is a must-own record. I have never heard another record with its mix of alluring vocals, topical lyrics, ska beats and luscious, textured orchestrations. The CD rerelease even includes several remixed dub versions that are worth an extra listen.

I bought the vinyl many, many years ago and have always counted it as one of my favorite albums. When I saw the CD available, I jumped at the chance to order it. What I found is that the music still sounds fresh and inventive and the lyrics are even more apropos than ever. It's as if The Selecter were looking twenty years ahead in time when they put the record out.

The CD release also includes a useful historical booklet with interesting facts (the title cut, for instance, was banned from the BBC because it was released the week that President Reagan was shot).

always was treasured
i got vinyl in '83. i too was a little taken aback when it first hit my ears, but then the more i listened, the more it grew on me until i was totally sold on the selecter as my favourite band from that period and one of my all-time favourites. it was a cleverly orchestrated album for them when you consider the scene from which they spawned, and especially following their first "influential" album of the era - no more than 2 years earlier. a new direction, or rather a tangent to the sound that was essentially theirs anyway, i think further propelled the group to a brave new level. alas, the rest of the world had moved along. nevermind, the spirit of the music that was the selecter, is still very much alive whenever i play any of their tracks. PS: i'll look around for the re-release cd as the vinyl went the way of a number of other classic albums from the era - eroded.

Ska with a creepy edge.
Those of us accustomed to the fun loving beat ska of Prince Buster, The Skatalites, The Specials, and the skinhead fun of Symarip will be put off when first listening to this album. There is fun to be had here, with lively beats and those orgasmic bass lines that make ska one of my favourite styles, but there is a much darker, more sombre edge to this album than to most ska. The music is haunting, intruding, not the carefree skanking tunes we are used to. The lyrics of ska have always been darker than the music, but in this case the music meets the lyrics emotionally, making an innovative and at times brilliant album. I have the vinyl version, I just got it for five dollars, so I don't know about the asterisked tracks, but the original version is overall quite good, an interesting addition to a true ska lover's collection. When just getting introduced to the style, The Specials or Skatalites might be better representatives, however.

Talk about underrated...
I've been waiting for this one to come out on CD for 16 years! In fact, I still have the LP, the one vinyl album I've kept, out of nostalgic reasons.

The Selecter were part of the 1980s ska revival that included Madness, the Specials, and Bad Manners. Their first album, Too Much Pressure (also long unavailable in its original form) was straightforward dance music, and is one of the highly rated albums of this genre. Their second album, Celebrate the Bullet, described by lead singer Pauline Black as "our blue period" featured a wider range of sound, some of it fast-paced dance music, some of it thoughtful and contemplative. It didn't meet with the success of the first record, and no doubt had something to do with the band's temporary demise.

Don't believe the critics, though. In fact, don't believe the current Selecter members, who ignored these songs entirely when they regrouped in the 1990s. Cool Blue Lady, Deep Water, and Bombscare feature Pauline Black's most haunting vocals, combined with emotionally intense, compelling melodies.

Most of these songs have been released on CD, scattered across three or four compilations. But at last, the original album is available. If you like ska music, this is a rarity you shouldn't overlook! I'm ordering my copy right now, and so should you. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

New and Improved Specials!
With the guitarist Roddy Byers being one of the few remaining Specials, the band's old sound, like that of the 2-Tones, has now changed to a newer sound. Lack of musicians Terry Hall and Jerry Dammers make for a changed sound in the band, a new sound all-together. I tend to enjoy the new sound of "Today's Specials" a little more than the other albums though. The new sound has more of a reggae feel with the still present Ska type upbeat of the original Specials. The Specials helped in the production and invention of what today is known as Second Wave Ska. With a Jamaican beat, The original Ska sound of bands like The Skatalites were taken and expanded upon to form sounds like that of The Specials and other "2-Tone like" bands in the early 70's. This album has developed a dramatic change in The Specials. Songs like "Pressure Drop" and "Dirty Old Town" shape the sounds of the album. "Take Five" was a great song choice for an intro to the album. Sounds of a solo Trombone and Trumpet (Adam Birch) add to the rich sounds of Roddy's guitar. The album progresses through "Pressure Drop" and other songs to end with a slow mellow song, "Bad Boys." An echoing solo Trumpet serenades the listener into the completion of the album.

Many people complain that it is too much of a popular sound. I tend to believe that it is a wonderful mix of the old Specials sound of albums like "The Singles Collection," with an added faster, more modern sound of reggae and some sounds that resemble that of Sublime. I tend to believe that Sublime got their sounds from The Specials rather than the other way around, but it is an accurate comparison. Overall I believe that The Specials have made a success of this album. I believe that "Today's Specials" expresses the sound of the new and improved Specials. For being a comeback album, with many lost musicians, the band is rhythmically tight and sounds great.

It's Special...
When I first bought this album, a long time ago, I didn't listen to it much. In fact, I didn't listen to the whole thing until recently. I purchased it at the same time as a bunch of other albums, and it just sort of sank to the bottom. However, I recently got a random urge to listen to it, and it's really grown on me. I've been listening to it for several days now... I'll listen to this when I'm on my computer, and then Catch 22's Keasbey Nights when I'm elsewhere... I spend most of my time on the computer... The Specials and Catch 22 are really not similar in any way, I just happen to be listening to the two of them a lot.

reggae and other jamacan rooted songs-all covers
i'm not a huge fan of reggae, mostly Ska and Two tone, but since this was a cover album...I'm giving it a kinda low score. i think if this had some of their stuff, I'd like it more. still, its The Specials, and it does complete your specials collection ... Read more