The Specials - The Specials [ECD] [Remastered] (CD 2002)

This was one of the first albums I bought as a 15 year old back in late 79, I wanted it because of the singles Gangsters and the double A sided Rudy, A Message To You and the fantastic Nite Klub. I put it on the turntable for the first time and it didn't fail me, my feet began to tap as the familiar Rudy blasted out of the speakers, as this finished I sat in antisipation, the first of the tracks I hadn't heard before was just about to start, it began, heavy drumming in a, what I call, 'football chant' beat, then Terry Hall blasts, 'All you punks and all you Teds, National Front and Natty Dreads, Mods, Rockers, Hippies and Skinheads keep on fighting till you're dead,' awesome, it was 'Do The Dog' and I was now a fully converted Rude Boy.

The rest of the album followed, the slower It's up to You, then the aforementioned 'Nite Klub', I was now dancing round my bedroom, another slow one followed to slow me down, the excellent 'It doesn't make it alright'. It then hit me like a Jack Hammer, 'what is this' I asked myself grabbing at the album sleeve another football chant started it off, 'You're going home in a F****** Ambulance, You're going Home in a F****** Ambulance' The rocking 'Concrete Jungle' had just smashed me in the gob and I found myself wanting the next and then the next. Another slow one finished off the A side the brilliant 'Too Hot', I was really glad of this by now as I was sweating conkers because of the dancing!

I quickly flipped it over for side 2 and I heard Neville Staples yell 'This one's for all the bouncers, big, big Monkey Man, and guess what, I was dancing again, only this time I couldn't have a breather as they followed it up with '(Dawning Of A) New Era'. Thank god for that a slow track, the amazing 'Blank Expression' which showed the bands versatility. This was followed by, what only can be described as, a funny track, the track they called 'Stupid Marriage', brilliant. Their next single was to follow, the poke at the trend of young Mothers 'Too Much Too Young' this was the studio version which I preferred, but not to dance to. The penultimate track began, the rocking 'Little Bitch' this, of course, got me dancing. Last but by no means least is the only song they could have used to finish the album 'You're Wondering Now' with it's last few lines being repeated 'You're Wondering Now What To Do Now You Know This is The End' and you know they were wrong, I knew exactly what to do......... put it on again! I must have played it 5 times in that first sitting, ecstasy!

When I recently bought an MP3 I was wondering what tracks to put on it, and you've guessed it tracks 2-15 is the Specials first album of the same name, what is track one? I hear you cry, maybe not then! Gangsters of course, the first album for some inexplicable reason didn't have it, I put this right a few months after purchasing the original album I got hold of a French import which had Gangsters on the A side, a couple of months after that I got a Portugese import with the song on the B side so these more than made up for the British editions short falls and guess what? I've still got them.

I regard this album, which was voted in the top 100 albums of the 20th century, and Madness' One Step Beyond as groundbreaking masterpiece's, who's unique sound is as lively today as it was back in the day. I defy anyone not to tap their feet at the sound of 2-Tone and Ska, I have mates from Biker and Teds backgrounds who do. Buy it, you'll love it.