The Specials by Special Brew - 2 Tone / Ska Band from Coventry

Gangsters - The Specials

The Specials first single. Reached Number 6 in the UK singles chart, spending 12 weeks in the charts. Catalogue no. CHS TT1.
The B side was a demo that was recorded a few years before its release by Neol Davies, John Bradbury and Barry Jones and had its own catalogue number (CHS TT2).

A Message To You Rudy - The Specials

Double A Side with Nite Club. Highest UK Chart Position was 10. It spent 16 weeks in the UK charts in 1979.Catalgoue Number CHS TT5. Released to promote the bands first album this was a cover of the old Dandy Livingstone classic. This single featured the Jamaican trombone legend Rico Rodriguez.

Monkey Man - The Specials

Stupid Marriage - The Specials

A track from their debut LP entitled The Specials. The LP reached Number 7 in the Album charts following its release in October 1979. Catalogue Number CDL TT 5001.

Monkey Man - Written by Frederick 'Toots' Hibbert

Released by Toots & The Maytals in 1969. Catalogue Beverley 090. It also appeared as a cover version on the Specials LP.

You're Wondering Now - Rueben Anderson / Joanne Dennis
This was the final track on the Specials first album.

Do Nothing - The Specials

Double A Side with Maggie's Farm (a Bob Dylan cover version). Do Nothing was released in December 1980 and reached number 4 in the UK charts, spending 11 weeks in the charts. Catalogue Number CHSTT16.

Guns of Navarone - Skatalites

This was the only Skatalites single to chart in the UK. It was released on 20th April 1967 and reached number 36 in the UK charts. It remained in the charts for 6 weeks. Catalogue number WI 168. Were the 'Pop' charts to be anything like representative, Guns Of Navarone would have definitely made the top twenty best sellers of the day, it was immensely popular in the clubs and dance halls at the time. Judging by the amount of this issue that were to be found secondhand during the period from it's release and up to the 1990s, it must have been just about the best seller on the label. The single takes its name from the 1961 war film of the same name.

Liquidator - Harry Johnson

Reached number 9 in 1969 for Harry J's All Stars. Catalogue Number TR675.

Both of the above tracks were covered by the Specials. Part of the 'Too Much Too Young Live EP' recorded at Tiffany's in Coventry. The EP reached number 1 in the UK charts and was in the UK charts for 10 weeks. Released 26/01/80. Catalogue Number CHSTT7.

Ghost Town - The Specials

One of the most timely, poignant & relevant pop songs ever recorded. It was released on 20th June 1981 against a backdrop of inner city violence and race riots across the cities of England. The single shot to number 1 and it remained in the charts for 14 weeks. The seventh successive hit single was however to be their last. Within weeks, the group had fragmented. Terry, Lynval & Neville formed the Fun Boy Three leaving Jerry to re-group with the remaining members. Roddy however had already decided to pursue a career with his own band the Tearjerkers, whilst Horace would also soon announce his departure and subsequently join General Public with Dave Wakeling & Ranking Roger of the Beat. Brad would be the only other original member left by the time that Jerry released their next single under the guise of the Special AKA. It was the end of the era and the effective end of the Specials.

Little Bitch - The Specials

The penultimate song from The Specials self entitled LP.

Pressure Drop - The Specials

A Toots & The Maytals song that has never appeared in the UK charts. Written and recorded by Frederick 'Toots' Hibbert in 1969, it has appeared on numerous LPs, the first of which was Monkey Man released in 1970. 14 years after the original band had split up, when Lynval, Neville, Horace & Roddy starting appearing as the Specials again, it was to be their second single. Both this song and the first single, Bob Marley's Hypocrite appeared on the 'Today's Specials' album of 1996 released on Ali Campbell's Kuff Records.

Nite Klub - The Specials

A double A side with A Message To You Rudy, this is one of the tracks featured live on the soundtrack album for the film Dance Craze.

Concrete Jungle - The Specials

Concrete Jungle was never released as a single in the UK. It was only released in Holland as a single. Catalogue Number 103.106. Roddy still performs this track with The Skabilly Rebels live. Concrete Jungle, not to be confused with the Bob Marley song with the same title, was written by Roddy in his pre-Specials punk days. It was also recorded along with Gangsters, Too Much Too Young and Monkey Man for a John Peel session on 29th May 1979 which was later released as a 12".

Rat Race - The Specials

Penned by the legendary Roddy Radiation. The Specials 4th single reached number 5 in the UK singles chart and remained in the charts for 9 weeks. Released 24/05/80. Catalogue Number CHSTT11.

Enjoy Yourself - Carl Sigman / Herb Magidson

The first track off the Specials 2nd LP entitled More Specials. The album reached number 5 in the UK Album charts, Catalogue No. CHRTT5003. The original song was written in 1950 and had different lyrics to the verses.

Hey Little Rich Girl - The Specials

The 3rd track on the 'More Specials' LP. This was track was also penned by Roddy Radiation. The track should have been a single (in our opinion). It also featured Lee Thompson from Madness on Sax.