Group
The Specials
Roddy Radiation and The Specials · Special A.K.A. · Special AKA · Specials · The Special A.K.A · The Special A.K.A. · The Special AKA · The Specials A.K.A.
British 2-Tone ska band
Biography
The Specials, also known as the Special A.K.A., were an English 2 tone and ska revival band formed in 1977 in Coventry. The first stable lineup of the group consisted of Terry Hall and Neville Staple on vocals, Jerry Dammers on keyboards, Lynval Golding and Roddy Radiation on guitars, Horace Panter on bass, John Bradbury on drums, and Dick Cuthell and Rico Rodriguez on horns. Their music combined the danceable rhythms of ska and rocksteady with the energy of punk. The lyrics of their songs included political and social commentary. The band wore mod-style "1960s period rude boy outfits (pork pie hats, tonic and mohair suits and loafers)". In 1980, their The Special A.K.A. Live! EP, of which the lead track was "Too Much Too Young", reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart. In 1981, the recession-themed single "Ghost Town" also hit No. 1 in the UK. After seven consecutive UK top 10 singles between 1979 and 1981, the main lead vocalists Hall and Staple, along with the guitarist Golding, left to form Fun Boy Three. A revised Specials band continued as "the Special A.K.A." (a name that they had used on earlier Specials releases) which released new material until 1984, including the top 10 UK...
From Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
People
Songs written
- It’s Youwriter1998 · 8 releases
- Can't Get a Breakcomposer1984 · 7 releases
- Bonediggin’writer1998 · 5 releases
- Call Me Nameswriter1998 · 4 releases
- All Gone Wrongwriter1998 · 3 releases
- Fantasizewriter1998 · 3 releases
- Fearfulwriter1998 · 3 releases
- Keep On Learningwriter1998 · 3 releases
- Leave It Outwriter1998 · 3 releases
- My Tears Come Falling Down Like Rainwriter1998 · 3 releases
- No Big Dealwriter1998 · 3 releases
- Place in Lifewriter1998 · 3 releases
- Running Awaywriter1998 · 3 releases
- Stand Upwriter1998 · 3 releases
- Tears in My Beerwriter1998 · 3 releases
- The Man With No Namewriter1998 · 3 releases
Songs recorded
- Too Much Too Young43 versions
- Gangsters42 versions
- Ghost Town34 versions
- A Message to You Rudy30 versions
- Nite Klub28 versions
- Concrete Jungle26 versions
- Monkey Man24 versions
- Blank Expression20 versions
- Do The Dog20 versions
- Nelson Mandela20 versions
- Rat Race19 versions
- You’re Wondering Now19 versions
- LITTLE BITCH18 versions
- Do Nothing14 versions
- Stereotype14 versions
- Too Hot13 versions
- Doesn’t Make It Alright12 versions
- Man at C&A12 versions
- It’s Up to You11 versions
- (Dawning of a) New Era10 versions
- Friday Night, Saturday Morning9 versions
- Stupid Marriage9 versions
- Guns of Navarone8 versions
- Rude Boys Outa Jail8 versions
- 10 Commandments7 versions
- Blam Blam Fever7 versions
- It’s You7 versions
- Racist Friend7 versions
- Vote for Me7 versions
- Breaking Point6 versions
- Embarrassed by You6 versions
- International Jet Set6 versions
- We Sell Hope6 versions
- Why?6 versions
- Break Down the Door5 versions
- Enjoy Yourself (It’s Later Than You Think)5 versions
- Hey Little Rich Girl5 versions
- It Doesn’t Make It Alright5 versions
- Skinhead Moonstomp5 versions
- The Lunatics5 versions
- What I Like Most About You Is Your Girlfriend5 versions
- A Message to You, Rudy4 versions
- Bright Lights4 versions
- Longshot Kick de Bucket4 versions
- War Crimes4 versions
- Alcohol3 versions
- Bright Lights (Instrumental)3 versions
- Can't Get a Break3 versions
- Friday Night Saturday Morning3 versions
- Lonely Crowd3 versions
- Man at C & A3 versions
- Pressure Drop3 versions
- Version3 versions
- War Crimes (The Crime Remains the Same)3 versions
- A Message to You Rudy (re-recorded)2 versions
- B.L.M2 versions
- B.L.M.2 versions
- Bonediggin’2 versions
- Carry Go Bring Come2 versions
- Dirty Old Town2 versions
- Farmyard Connection2 versions
- Ghost Town (Chemical Submission mix)2 versions
- Ghost Town (re‐recorded)2 versions
- Hey, Little Rich Girl2 versions
- Jezebel2 versions
- Leave It Out2 versions
- Long Shot Kick de Bucket2 versions
- Nite Club2 versions
- Pearl’s Cafe2 versions
- Raquel2 versions
- Return of Django2 versions
- Rudi, a Message to You2 versions
- Running Away2 versions
- Simmer Down2 versions
- Skinhead Girl2 versions
- Take Five2 versions
- The Boiler2 versions
- Wear You to the Ball2 versions
- (Dawning of a) New Era (cuts in)
- (What I Like Most About You Is Your) Girlfriend
- 007
- A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You
- A Little Bit of Me, a Little Bit of You
- A Message to You Rudy (re-recorded, slowed + reverb)
- A Message to You Rudy (re-recorded, sped up)
- A Message to Your Rudy (Spot Fiat Doblò)
- Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Us Around
- All Gone Wrong
- All the Time in the World
- Another Message to Rudie (remix)
- Bad Boys
- Bangerang Crash
- Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys
- Black, Brown and White
- Braggin’ & Tryin’ Not to Lie
- Break Down the Door (Instrumental)
- Break Down the Door (extended version)
- Call Me Names
- Can't Get a Break (extended version)
- Conquering Ruler
- Dancing Mood
- Data Track
- Decimal Currency
- Double Barrel
- Easter Island
- Easy Snappin’
- El Pussycat Ska
- Enjoy Yourself
- Enjoy Yourself (It's Later Than You Think)
- Enjoy Yourself (reprise)
- Everybody Knows
- Fantasize
- Fat Man
- Fearful
- Fever / Gangsters (X-ERT mix)
- Fire Corner
- Foolish Plan
- Free Nelson Mandala
- Free Nelson Mandela
- Free Nelson Mandela (LP version)
Albums
A Message to You RudyThe Specials · 1979
Gangsters / The SelecterThe Specials / The Selecter · 1979
Live in ManchesterThe Specials · 1979
SpecialsThe Specials · 1979
1980‐02‐09: Whisky a Go Go, West Hollywood, CA, USA; audThe Specials · 1980
Braggin’ & Tryin’ Not to Lie / Rude Boys Outa JailThe Specials · 1980
Do NothingThe Specials · 1980
Live at the LyceumThe Specials · 1980
More SpecialsThe Specials · 1980
Rat Race / Rude Buoys Outa JailThe Specials · 1980
StereotypeThe Specials · 1980
Too Much Too YoungThe Specials · 1980
Concrete JungleThe Specials · 1981
Ghost TownThe Specials · 1981
Ghost Town / Why? / Friday Night Saturday MorningThe Specials · 1981
Jungle MusicRico and The Special AKA · 1982
The BoilerRhoda with The Special A.K.A. · 1982
War CrimesThe Special A.K.A. · 1982
Racist Friend / Bright LightsThe Special A.K.A. · 1983
In the StudioThe Special AKA · 1984
Nelson MandelaThe Special A.K.A. · 1984
On FilmSpecial A.K.A. · 1984
What I Like Most About You Is Your GirlfriendThe Special A.K.A. · 1984
Ghost Town RevisitedThe Specials · 1991
The Singles CollectionThe Specials · 1991
BBC Radio 1 Live in ConcertThe Selecter / The Specials · 1992
Live at the Moonlight ClubThe Specials · 1992
Live: Too Much Too YoungThe Specials · 1992
King of KingsDesmond Dekker & The Specials · 1993
Princes at the PalaceThe Specials · 1994
HypocriteThe Specials · 1995
A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit YouThe Specials · 1996
Best OfThe Specials · 1996
GangstersThe Specials · 1996
Pressure DropThe Specials featuring Sheena Staple & Kendell · 1996
Today’s SpecialsThe Specials · 1996
Too Much Too YoungThe Specials · 1996
Two Tone Live. Exciting Live Performances.The Specials, The Selecter, Special Beat · 1996
BBC SessionsThe Specials · 1998
Concrete JungleThe Specials and Friends · 1998
Guilty ’Til Proved Innocent!The Specials · 1998
It’s YouThe Specials · 1998
A Special CollectionThe Specials · 1999
Blue Plate SpecialsThe Specials · 1999
Ghost Town ‘Live’The Specials · 1999
King of SkaDesmond Dekker & The Specials · 2000
Skinhead GirlThe Specials · 2000
Stereo‐Typical: A’s, B’s & RaritiesThe Specials · 2000
The Very Best OfThe Specials and Fun Boy Three feat. Neville Staple · 2000
Conquering RulerThe Specials · 2001
Greatest HitsThe Specials · 2006
The Best of The SpecialsThe Specials · 2008
30th Anniversary Tour LiveThe Specials · 2009
BBC in Concert (15 December 1979)The Specials · 2009
Ghost TownThe Specials · 2009
Ghost Town: Greatest Hits (re‐recorded versions)The Specials · 2009
More… Or Less. – The Specials LiveThe Specials · 2012
Live 2014: The Tour EditionThe Specials · 2014
Vote for MeThe Specials · 2018
10 Commandments / You’re Wondering NowThe Specials · 2019
EncoreThe Specials · 2019
Protest Songs 1924–2012The Specials · 2020
2009-06-26: Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, UKThe Specials · 2021
A Message to You Rudy (Re-Recorded, Sped Up)The Specials & Neville Staple · 2023
Ghost Town (re‐recorded – sped up)The Specials, Neville Staple · 2023
Live From the CathedralThe Specials · 2026
Rude Boys Out of JailThe Specials
Source: MusicBrainz artist 07eb40a2-2914-439c-a01d-15a685b84ddf (CC0).