453. The Specials - The Specials (1979)
















Track Listing

1. A Message To You Rudy
2. Do The Dog
3. It's Up To You
4. Nite Klub
5. Doesn't Make It Alright
6. Concrete Jungle
7. Too Hot
8. Monkey Man
9. (Dawning Of A) New Era
10. Blank Expression
11. Stupid Marriage
12. Too Much Too Young
13. Little Bitch
14. You're Wondering Now

Review

The most noticeable punk band with very recognisable Jamaican influences we had here was the Clash. Now we close the 70's with The Specials, it is hard to say if they are a punk band with Ska or a Ska band with punk. But they are a pretty nifty band.

The album starts with the very well known Message to You Rudy and it shows their respect to the sources of Jamaican music, and it is actually quite admirable that al the covers show this respect. But The Specials shine equally in their original compositions, those have the very marked punk aspect to them and are great. Funny and with social consciousness they are some of the best modern Ska.

This is a great album, if you like Reggae, Ska, Punk or just good music, this is for you.


Track Highlights

1. Message To You Rudy
2. Little Bitch
3. Too Much Too Young
4. Money Man

Final Grade

9/10

Trivia

From Wikipedia:

Trombonist Rico Rodriguez, who performed on many 50s and 60s Jamaican recordings before moving to London in 1962, played on the band's version of "A Message to You, Rudy," as he had on the original recording fifteen years previously. As a former member of the legendary Skatalites, a band that helped define the sound of ska and reggae, Rico's appearance on the album considerably added to the album's credentials.

A Message To You Rudi: