THE SPECIALS
THE SPECIAL AKA
From Coventry, England. Led by Jerry Dammers (Gerald Dankin)(keyboards) with Terry Hall (vocals), Roddy Radiation (Rod Byers)(guitar), Lynval Golding (guitar), Neville Staple (vocals/percussion), Horace "Sir Horace Gentleman" Panter (bass), Rico Rodriguez (trombone) and John Bradbury (drums). The band began as The Coventry Automatics. The brainchild of Dammers who formed the Two Tone label and virtually created the whole second wave ska scene in Britain. The band had great success but splintered when Golding, Hall and Staples left to form Fun Boy Three. Dammers took a break then started the band again under their sometimes alternate name The Special AKA with new members Rhoda Dakar (vocals) of The Bodysnatchers, Gary McManus (bass), John Shipley (guitar), Edigio Newton (vocals) and new lead singer Stan Campbell. This version of the band released the phenomenally popular "Free Nelson Mandela". Sadly, Dammers called it a day in 1984. Panter became a member of General Public. Bradbury formed J.B.'s All Stars before forming the successful Special Beat which combined members of The Specials (Staple, Panter and Bradbury) and The Beat. When the third wave of ska hit in the late 90's, Dammers gave his consent to the use of the band name but did not join the latest line-up which included: Golding, Staples, Byers, Panter and new members Aitch Hyatt (drums), Adam Birch (trumpet) and Mark Adams (keyboards). Hall was invited but declined involvement as well, his solo career being more of a priority. The members dwindled away until it was finally just Staple who released a "best of" The Specials and Fun Boy Three which was nothing more than remakes and even techno versions. Dammers himself is immersed in the trip-hop scene and plans a solo release soon. Golding now dj's and produces. Staple has revived a solo career for himself in England after almost ten years of living in Los Angeles. Radiation now leads the Skabilly Rebels. In 2008 and 2009, to celebrate the band's 30th anniversary, the band reunited for a series of live concerts, for the first time with Terry Hall since he left the group! Dammers however again chose not to participate. The Specials reunion was so successful that the touring has continued in 2010 and may lead to new studio recordings. Dammers meanwhile has been touring with his Spatial AKA Orchestra. 1978-84/1996-2001.
see FUN BOY THREE, TERRY HALL, THE COLOURFIELD, GENERAL PUBLIC, SPECIAL BEAT, STAN CAMPBELL.
DISCOGRAPHY:
| FULL RELEASES | SINGLES |
| Dawning Of A New Era (as The Coventry Automatics) | demos |
| Blue Plate Specials (as The Coventry Automatics) | live performance |
| The Specials | A Message To You Rudy/Gangsters/Monkey Man/Concrete Jungle |
| Live - Too Much Too Young | live performance/Too Much Too Young (live) |
| More Specials | Enjoy Yourself/Rat Race/Stereotype/Do Nothing |
| In The Studio | Free Nelson Mandela/War Crimes/What I Like Most About You Is Your Girlfriend |
| The Singles Collection | compilation/Ghost Town |
| BBC Radio One Live In Concert | live performance (with The Selecter) |
| Today's Specials | A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You |
| Live At The Moonlight Club 1979 | live performance |
| Guilty 'Til Proved Innocent | It's You |
| BBC Sessions | live studio performance |
| Too Much Too Young | compilation |
| Stereo-Typical | compilation/rarities/Nelson Mandella '88/Ghost Dub '91/The Boiler |
| Ghost Town: Live at Montreaux Jazz Festival 1995 | live performance |
| Skinhead Girl | title track |
OFFICIAL WEB PAGE: http://www.thespecials.com/
Search for music by The Specials here:
Follow these links
to instantly download songs by The Specials:
| A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You |
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| A Message To You Rudy |
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| Concrete Jungle |
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| Do Nothing |
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| Enjoy Yourself |
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| Free Nelson Mandela |
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| Gangsters |
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| Ghost Town |
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| Monkey Man |
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| Rat Race |
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| Too Much, Too Young (live) |
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| Stereotype |
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| War Crimes |
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| What I Like Most About You Is Your Girlfriend |
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