Specials


 * "That was The Specials 'Gangsters'. The record of it - one of those records that really changes your life, I mean it actually does, rather like I suppose The Damned's first single, where you wake up the next day and nothing's ever really quite the same again." (John Peel, 09 June 1980)





Originally known as the Coventry Automatics, the Specials were the ska outfit from the Midlands who led the 2 Tone explosion that hit the UK for a couple of years from 1979, providing a launch pad for bands including Madness, Selecter, The Beat and Bodysnatchers, as well as others not on the label itself such as UB40 and Dexy's Midnight Runners.

The original Specials split in 1981 in the wake of the UK #1 hit 'Ghost Town' with the departure of the three main vocalists to form the Funboy Three. Led by keyboard player Jerry Dammers and including drummer John Bradbury (1953-2015), the others continued for a while with different singers under the earlier name Special AKA, which had been used on their landmark debut single 'Gangsters' and again shortly afterwards on their 'Too Much Too Young' live EP. The new grouping recorded a session and scored a 1984 Festive Fifty entry with 'Nelson Mandela'.

Links to Peel
Peel was keen to see a live show by the group at the earliest opportunity. The chance to attend the gig in Norwich on Saturday 26 May 1979 was scuppered due to the national petrol shortage, something that John particularly rued. After complaining on 17 September 1979 that the band were top of his list of bands that he really wanted to see (along with Madness), Peel eventually saw the band with the Selecter and Madness when the 2 Tone package tour played at Norwich UEA on 26 October 1979. 

Festive Fifty Entries

 * 'Gangsters' (1979 Festive Fifty), #7 (as Special AKA)
 * 'Too Much Too Young' (1979 Festive Fifty), #36
 * 'Gangsters' (1980 Festive Fifty), #32 (as Special AKA)
 * 'Gangsters' (1981 Festive Fifty), #57 (as Special AKA)
 * 'Ghost Town' (1981 Festive Fifty), #21
 * 'Ghost Town' (1982 Festive Fifty), #43 (all-time chart)
 * 'Nelson Mandela' (1983 Festive Fifty), #41 (as Special AKA)

Sessions
1. Gangsters / Too Much Too Young / Concrete Jungle / Monkey Man
 * Recorded: 1979-05-23. First broadcast: 29 May 1979. Repeated: 18 June 1979, 03 July 1979, 27 August 1979, 26 December 1979, 09 June 1980.
 * Session released by Strange Fruit as a Peel Session EP (SFPS018).

2. Rude Boys Out Of Jail / Rat Race / Long Shot Kick - Liquidator - Moon Stomp (The Skinhead Symphony In Three Movements)
 * Recorded: 1979-10-15. First broadcast: 22 October 1979. Repeated: 13 November 1979, 12 February 1980.

3. Sea Cruise / Stereotypes / Raquel
 * Recorded: 1980-10-29. First broadcast: 01 December 1980.

(as Special AKA)

4. Alcohol / Lonely Crowd / Bright Lights
 * Recorded: 1983-08-22. First broadcast: 12 September 1983. Repeated: 28 September 1983, 26 August 1985.

(Please correct mistakes and add any missing info)

Other Shows Played

 * 1979
 * 07 May 1979: Gangsters (7") Two-Tone (as Special AKA - first play)
 * 08 May 1979: Gangsters (7”) Two-Tone (as Special AKA)
 * 09 May 1979: Gangsters (7") 2 Tone (as Special AKA)
 * 10 May 1979: Gangsters (7") 2 Tone (as Special AKA)
 * 12 May 1979 (BFBS): Gangsters (7") Two-Tone (as Special AKA)
 * 16 May 1979: Gangsters (7") 2 Tone (as Special AKA)
 * 26 May 1979 (BFBS): Gangsters (7") Two-Tone (as Special AKA)
 * 21 June 1979: Gangsters (7") 2 Tone (as Special AKA)
 * 26 June 1979: Gangsters (7") 2 Tone (as Special AKA)
 * 19 July 1979 Gangsters (7") 2 Tone (as Special AKA)
 * 24 July 1979: Gangsters (7") 2 Tone (as Special AKA)
 * 08 October 1979: A Message To You Rudy (7") 2 Tone
 * 09 October 1979: Nite Klub (single – A Message To You Rudy) 2 Tone
 * 10 October 1979: A Message To You Rudy (single) 2 Tone
 * 11 October 1979: Nite Klub (single – A Message To You Rudy) 2 Tone
 * 15 October 1979: Monkey Man (LP – The Specials) 2 Tone (plus five other tracks from album)
 * 16 October 1979: Too Much Too Young (LP – The Specials) 2 Tone
 * 17 October 1979: Stupid Marriage (LP - The Specials) 2 Tone
 * 17 October 1979: Concrete Jungle (LP - The Specials) 2 Tone
 * 18 October 1979: It's Up To You (LP - The Specials) 2 Tone
 * 20 October 1979 (BFBS): Stupid Marriage (album - The Specials) Two-Tone CDL TT 5001
 * 20 October 1979 (BFBS): Monkey Man (album - The Specials) Two-Tone CDL TT 5001
 * 20 October 1979 (BFBS): (Dawning Of A) New Era (album - The Specials) Two-Tone CDL TT 5001
 * 20 October 1979 (BFBS): Too Much Too Young (album - The Specials) Two-Tone CDL TT 5001
 * 24 October 1979: Too Much Too Young (LP – Specials) 2 Tone
 * 27 October 1979 (BFBS): Concrete Jungle (album - The Specials) Two-Tone CDL TT 5001
 * 27 October 1979 (BFBS): It's Up To You (album - The Specials) Two-Tone CDL TT 5001
 * 27 October 1979 (BFBS): A Message To You Rudy  (7") Two-Tone CHS TT5
 * 31 October 1979: Concrete Jungle (LP - The Specials) 2 Tone
 * 01 November 1979: A Message To You Rudy (7") 2 Tone
 * 03 November 1979 (BFBS): Concrete Jungle (album - The Specials) Two-Tone CDL TT 5001
 * 10 November 1979 (BFBS): Too Much Too Young (album - The Specials) Two-Tone CDL TT 5001
 * 12 November 1979: Stupid Marriage (LP - The Specials) 2 Tone
 * 15 November 1979: Concrete Jungle (LP - The Specials) 2 Tone
 * 20 November 1979: Too Hot (LP - The Specials) 2 Tone
 * 21 November 1979: Little Bitch (LP - The Specials) 2 Tone
 * 24 November 1979 (BFBS): Too Hot (album - The Specials) Two-Tone CDL TT 5001
 * 27 November 1979: Too Much Too Young (LP - The Specials) 2 Tone
 * 05 December 1979: Monkey Man (LP - The Specials) 2 Tone
 * 06 December 1979: Concrete Jungle (LP - The Specials) 2 Tone
 * 08 December 1979 (BFBS): Too Much Too Young (album - The Specials) Two-Tone CDL TT 5001
 * 10 December 1979: Stupid Marriage (LP - The Specials) 2 Tone
 * 11 December 1979: Too Hot (LP - The Specials) 2 Tone
 * 12 December 1979: Concrete Jungle (LP - The Specials) 2 Tone
 * 15 December 1979 (BFBS): Monkey Man (album - The Specials) Two-Tone CDL TT 5001
 * 22 December 1979 (BFBS): Stupid Marriage (album - The Specials) Two-Tone CDL TT 5001


 * 1980
 * 09 January 1980: Stupid Marriage (LP - The Specials) 2 Tone
 * 15 January 1980: Longshot Kick The Bucket (7" EP- Too Much Too Young) 2-Tone (as Special AKA)
 * 15 January 1980: Skinhead Moonstomp (7" EP - Too Much Too Young) 2-Tone (as Special AKA)
 * 16 January 1980: Too Much Too Young (7" EP) 2-Tone (as Special AKA)
 * 16 January 1980: Guns Of Navarone (7" EP - Too Much Too Young) 2-Tone (as Special AKA)
 * 16 January 1980: Skinhead Symphony (7" EP - Too Much Too Young) 2-Tone (as Special AKA)
 * 17 January 1980: Skinhead Symphony (7" EP - Too Much Too Young) 2-Tone (as Special AKA)
 * 22 January 1980: Too Much Too Young (7" EP) 2-Tone (as Special AKA)
 * 22 January 1980: Guns Of Navarone (7" EP - Too Much Too Young) 2-Tone (as Special AKA)
 * 24 January 1980: Longshot Kick The Bucket (7" EP- Too Much Too Young) 2-Tone (as Special AKA)
 * 04 February 1980: Monkey Man (LP - Specials) 2 Tone
 * 25 February 1980: Nite Klub (LP - The Specials) 2 Tone
 * 06 May 1980: Rat Race (double A side 7") 2 Tone
 * 06 May 1980: Rude Boys Outta Jail (double A side 7") 2 Tone
 * 07 May 1980: Rat Race (double A side 7") 2 Tone
 * 08 May 1980: Rude Boys Outta Jail (double A side 7") 2 Tone
 * 13 May 1980: Rude Boys Outta Jail (double A side 7") 2 Tone
 * 14 May 1980: Rat Race (7”) Two-Tone
 * 15 May 1980 Rude Buoys Outta Jail (7” – Rat Race) Two-Tone
 * 21 May 1980: Rat Race (7”) Two-Tone
 * 26 May 1980: Rude Buoys Outta Jail (7” – Rat Race) Two-Tone
 * 29 May 1980: Rat Race (7”) Two-Tone
 * 03 September 1980:Stereotype (7") Two-Tone CHS TT 13
 * 08 September 1980: Stereotype (7") Two-Tone
 * 09 September 1980: International Jetset (b/w 7" - Stereotype) Two-Tone CHS TT 13
 * 10 September 1980: Stereotype (single) Two-Tone
 * 11 September 1980: Stereotype (single) Two-Tone
 * 15 September 1980: Enjoy Yourself (It's Later Than You Think) (LP - More Specials) Two-Tone
 * 15 September 1980: Man At C&A (LP - More Specials) Two-Tone
 * 15 September 1980: Holiday Fortnight (LP - More Specials) Two-Tone
 * 15 September 1980: Stereotypes (LP - More Specials) Two-Tone
 * 18 September 1980: Do Nothing (album - More Specials) Two-Tone CHR TT 5003
 * 23 September 1980: Enjoy Yourself (It's Later Than You Think) (album - More Specials) Two-Tone CHR TT 5003
 * 24 September 1980: Man At C&A (LP - More Specials) Two-Tone
 * 02 September 1980: Hey, Little Rich Girl (album - More Specials) Two-Tone CHR TT 5003
 * 20 October 1980: Hey, Little Rich Girl (album - More Specials) Two-Tone CHR TT 5003
 * 25 November 1980: Do Nothing (7") Two-Tone CHS TT 16
 * 26 November 1980 featuring Rico with Ice Rink String: Do Nothing (7") Two-Tone CHS TT 16
 * 09 December 1980: Do Nothing (7") Two-Tone CHS TT 16


 * 1981
 * 02 April 1981: Monkey?? (LP - unknown)
 * 11 May 1981: Gangsters (7") 2 Tone (as Special AKA)
 * 02 June 1981: Why? (7" b-side Ghost Town) 2-Tone
 * 02 June 1981: Ghost Town (7") 2-Tone
 * KevH Tape 4: Stereotypes / Stereotypes Pt. 2 (album - More Specials) Two-Tone CHR TT 5003
 * 26 October 1981: Stereotype (7") Two-Tone CHS TT 13

1983
 * 1982
 * 06 January 1982 (with Rhoda): The Boiler (7”) Two-Tone
 * 02 March 1982 featuring Rico: Jungle Music (single) Two-Tone CHS TT 19
 * 18 March 1982 featuring Rico: Jungle Music (single) Two-Tone CHS TT 19
 * 01 December 1982: War Crimes (10") Two-Tone (as Special AKA)
 * 06 December 1982: War Crimes (10") Two-Tone (as Special AKA)
 * 15 December 1982: War Crimes (The Crime Remains The Same) (b-side) 2-Tone (as Special AKA)
 * 23 January 1983 (BFBS): Guns Of Navarone


 * 1984
 * 20 February 1984: Free Nelson Mandela (7") Two-Tone CHS TT 26 (as Special AKA)
 * 05 June 1984: What I Like Most About You (as Special AKA)
 * 19 June 1984: The Lonely Crowd (album - In The Studio) 2-Tone (as Special AKA)
 * 30 August 1984: What I Like Most About You Is Your Girlfriend! (7") Two-Tone CHS TT 12 27 (as Special AKA)
 * 20 September 1984: What I Like Most About You Is Your Girlfriend! (7") Two-Tone CHS TT 12 27 (as Special AKA)
 * 26 August 1985: Free Nelson Mandela (7") Two-Tone CHS TT 26 (as Special AKA)
 * 13 June 1988: Free Nelson Mandela (The Whole World Is Watching Dance Mix) (12") Tone
 * 18 July 1988: Free Nelson Mandela (The Whole World Is Watching Dance Mix) (12") Tone


 * 1990s
 * 09 April 1993 (John Peel Is Jakki Brambles): Too Much Too Young (session version)
 * 05 August 1996: Long Shot Kick The Bucket / Liquidator / Moon Stomp (The Skinhead Symphony In Three Movements) (John Peel's Classic Sessions)


 * 2000s
 * 22 October 2003: Too Much Too Young (7") 2 Tone