Specials - S/T - LP

Label: Chrysalis Records; Year: 1979; Format: Vinyl LP

Google this album and you will come up with a million and one stories in regard to the Specials and the 2-Tone label and movement. I will spare you any lengthy review here, but have to say that I have given this album a spin not too long ago, and have thoroughly enjoyed it. The Specials were maybe the 'punkiest' out of all the 2-Tone bands, and one of their members, Terry Hall, was even a member of Coventry punk outfit Squad. I shall review their 'Red Alert' single at another point, but that was just a little side note. The songs on this 14-song long-player range from upbeat to slow, but never disappoint as they combine danceable ska and rocksteady to perfection. "Too much too young" even reached No. 1 in the UK, and at one point the band shared the same management with the Clash as they were supporting them on a tour. No matter whether you're into punk, ska, rocksteady, or whatever, I think we can all agree that this is a classic album and should be found in everybody's record collection.