The Specials In The Studio (Special Edition) CD
Featuring Additional Rare Bonus Material, Non-Album Singles, Ep's & B-Sides, New Extensive Sleevenotes And Previously Unseen Chalkie Davies' Photos!
2 Tone Records/Warners Catalogue is pleased to release Special Editions of three exceptional, ground breaking albums by one of the most important British bands ever - The Specials. These reissues have been liaised and approved by the band's founder and main songwriter Jerry Dammers and have been remastered by Tim Debney at Fluid.
As well as the original albums, they include all the band's EPs, non-album singles and b-sides, the 'Too Much Too Young EP', 'Rat Race', 'Ghost Town' (full version), 'Friday Night, Saturday Morning' and 'Why?' (extended version); a rare, previously unreleased on CD, frenetic concert recorded for the BBC at the Paris Theatre in December 1979 plus John Peel BBC radio sessions and instrumentals of six tracks from 'In The Studio' mixed at the time, (which perfectly demonstrate the album's groundbreaking experimentation).
All three Special Editions include new and extensive sleevenotes by Lois Wilson, as well as rare and previously unseen Chalkie Davies' photos of the band, some of which have been used to create variations on the albums' original cover photos.
Formed in Coventry in the mid-1970s, The Specials (formerly Coventry Automatics) was the idea of musician Jerry Dammers, who brought together an eclectic array of individuals to fulfill his vision of a multi-racial band, fusing the energy of punk with the legendary but, at the time, often overlooked, sound of Jamaican ska. This was a fusion which proved to be explosive. The seven individuals – Dammers (keyboards), Terry Hall (vocals), Neville Staples (vocals), Lynval Golding (rhythm guitar), Roddy 'Radiation' Byers (lead guitar), 'Sir' Horace 'Gentleman' Panter (bass) and John Bradbury (drums), along with legendary Jamaican ska trombonist Rico Rodriguez and trumpeter Dick Cuthell - not only fully realised Dammers' vision, but their exuberant, uncompromising sound and 'message' music reached the top of the charts. The resulting popularity of the band and its music was considered by many, to have a hugely positive influence on race relations in late '70s/early '80s Britain, helping to create unity amongst disaffected youth.
In early 1981, the group re-entered the studio to record another non-album single, one that would eerily soundtrack that summer's widespread rioting and assure the group's place in music history. 'Ghost Town', (B/W 'Friday Night, Saturday Morning' and 'Why?') influenced the dystopian sounds which were to dominate the Bristol "trip hop" scene, and in turn pass into much British music since, up to and including dubstep. Capturing a mood of inner city anger and alienation in an uneasy amalgam of Eastern melody, skank reggae and heavy dub bass, with an inimitable and mournful trombone solo by Rico Rodriguez, the song reached no.1 in the charts, but sadly, after what should have been an occasion for celebration, Hall, Golding and Staple left to form the Fun Boy Three and Byers left to tour with his band the Tearjerkers.
Title: In The Studio (Special Edition)
Format: CD
Release Date: 27 Oct 2017
Artist: Special Aka
Sku: 2295124
Catalogue No: CHRTTR5008
Category: Reggae
Disc Count: 2
DISC 1
Bright Lights (2015 Remastered Version)
The Lonely Crowd (2015 Remastered Version)
What I Like Most About You Is Your Girlfriend (2015 Remastered Version)
Housebound (2015 Remastered Version)
Night On The Tiles (2015 Remastered Version)
Nelson Mandela (2015 Remastered Version)
War Crimes (the Crime Remains The Same) [2015 Remastered Version]
Racist Friend (2015 Remastered Version)
Alcohol (2015 Remastered Version)
Break Down The Door (2015 Remastered Version)
DISC 2
The Boiler (2015 Remastered Version) - Rhoda With The Special Aka
Can't Get A Break (2015 Remastered Version)
Jungle Music (2015 Remastered Version) - Rico & The Special Aka
Lonely Crowd (bbc John Peel Session)
Alcohol (bbc John Peel Session)
Bright Lights (bbc John Peel Session)
Break Down The Door (instrumental) [2015 Remastered Version]
Racist Friend (instrumental) [2015 Remastered Version]
War Crimes (the Crime Remains The Same) [instrumental] [2015 Remastered Version]
Theme From The Boiler (instrumental) [2015 Remastered Version] - Rhoda With The Special Aka
Bright Lights (instrumental) [2015 Remastered Version]
Nelson Mandela (instrumental) [2015 Remastered Version]