Encore (Deluxe Edition) (Deluxe)

The Specials

explicit

Released on 01/02/2019 by UMC (Universal Music Catalogue)
Main artists: The Specials
Genre: Ska & Rocksteady

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In the midst of a punk explosion in the late ‘70s, the UK experienced a ska revival led by Madness and, most notably, The Specials. Originally from Coventry, the multicultural gang originally led by Jerry Dammers is now reviving the syncopated rhythms of Jamaican rocksteady and its derivative, ska. In the heart of a grey Thatcherian England, it seemed that their strict dress code (pork pie hats, black suits and chequered patterns) was mandatory to fully appreciate their singles A Message To You Rudy (a cover of Dandy Livingstone), Too Much Too Young or Gangsters, as well as their two albums, Specials in 1979 and More Specials in 1980. Going by the name of The Special AKA, they published the equally essential album In The Studio With in 1984, which topped the charts thanks to their hit song (Free) Nelson Mandela...

In the middle of Winter 2019, the Specials broke their (very) long silence with Encore. However, Jerry Dammers – the author of their greatest songs - and Neville Staple are no longer in the group! Terry Hall, Lynval Golding and Horace Panter are certainly present but for purists, wouldn’t The Specials without Jerry Dammers be like... The Rolling Stones without Keith Richards? With the help of guitarist Steve Cradock (from Ocean Colour Scene), drummer Kenrick Rowe and pianist Nikolaj Torp Larsen, these 2019 Specials look great. Their ska style crosses soul with vintage disco (with a beautiful cover of Black Skinned Blue-Eyed Boys by The Equals) and they certainly don’t forget to comment on the socio-political climate just as they did at the start. As a bonus, we find eleven live tracks (with all the hits from the golden era!), recorded in Paris at the Bataclan on November 30, 2014, and in London at the Troxy on November 16, 2016. A rather successful comeback. © Marc Zisman/Qobuz

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Encore (Deluxe Edition) (Deluxe)

The Specials

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Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys

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George Murphy, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eddy Grant, ComposerLyricist - Nikolaj Torp Larsen, Producer, Keyboards, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Ian Burdge, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Cenzo Townshend, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Tom Pigott-Smith, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Bruce White, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Frank Arkwright, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Terry Hall, Producer, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Pablo Mendelssohn, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Smart, Trombone, Tuba, AssociatedPerformer - Lynval Golding, Producer, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Horace Panter, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - The Specials, MainArtist - Steve Cradock, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Oli Langford, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Sophie Ellis, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kenrick Rowe, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Marcos Ferrari, Outside Interest - Rob Sellens, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel