Band Name: The Specials
Music Album: Complete John Peel Sessions
Album Release Date: November 2024
Music Genre: Rock Ska
Record Label: Not On Label (The Specials)
Album Release Country: United States
Music Record Type: 13 Tracks Vinyl LP Repress
The Specials (originally known as The Coventry Automatics, then later named The Special AKA) were the first band of the 2-Tone era in the late '70s and early '80s in Britain. Led musically by keyboardist Jerry Dammers, the band also comprised Terry Hall (lead vox), Neville Staple (vox/percussion), Lynval Golding (rhythm gtr/vox), Roddy "Radiation" Byers (lead gtr), Sir Horace Gentleman (aka Horace Panter; bass), and John Bradbury (drums). From 1979 to 1981, they released seven singles, two of which ("Too Much Too Young" & "Ghost Town") got to #1. By the time "Ghost Town" reached UK#1 on July 11, 1981 amidst massive street violence in the UK's major cities, The Specials had split. Jerry Dammers and John Bradbury continued under the name The Special AKA until 1985, as did Horace Panter to a certain extent. Roddy Byers left but made a guest appearance on one single, and Terry Hall, Neville Staple, and Lynval Golding formed Fun Boy Three.
| A1 | Gangsters |
| A2 | Too Much Too Young |
| A3 | Concrete Jungle |
| A4 | Monkey Man |
| A5 | Rude Boys Outa Jail |
| A6 | Rat Race |
| A7 | Skinhead Symphony In Three Movements |
| B1 | Sea Cruise |
| B2 | Stereotype |
| B3 | Racquel |
| The Special AKA | |
| B4 | Alcohol |
| B5 | Lonely Crowd |
| B6 | Bright Lights |
A1 - A4 from 5/29/1979
A5 - A7 from 10/23/1980
B1 - B3 from 12/1/1980
B4 - B6 from 9/12/1983
File download is hosted on Megaupload
