Reviews (page 4 of 11)
Enjoyed listening to this. Great energy in places and I’ve always liked Too Much Too Young and a Message to you Rudy.
I like the Specials, this album contains some great tracks, but also some weak ones. Nevertheless, the rhythm is great and you could dance to most! It's a 3.5 from me.
2tone delight. Some absolute classics here and nothing not to like
I fear what this has taught me is the belief I like The Specials should be quantified by “the singles”. Apple Music included “Gangsters” as this album’s opening track, which wasn’t included on the original pressing - great song, but I can’t really consider it here. This would fare a bit better mark wise if I could. “A Message to You Rudy” is a fabulous song. The rest of the album feels like a let down in comparison. When the opening bars to “Too Much Too Young” started, I got a bit excited - but then I remembered I didn’t like the studio version compared to the live version; it lacks that quick, sharp spark that the live version has.
I listen to this album regularly, so this was one of those occasions where I debated whether I even needed an "official" 1001 Album Generator listen... But any excuse to listen to it. I love ska, from the original wave in the 50s and 60s, all the way through to the tracks being released in the 2020s. The Specials were a really incredible band of the genre though, and this album in particular is fantastic. Too Much Too Young is, as far as I'm concerned, one of the best songs ever written. But then, so is A Message To You Rudy. I do have a real soft spot for the Toots and the Maytals cover Monkey Man too, although that started due to the Reel Big Fish cover version. This was never getting less than a 5 from me. I was however today years old when I discovered Elvis Costello produced this album, which makes a lot of sense. 5/5
Great from start to finish by a very influential band. Love the production of this album. It's warm, angry, uplifting all at once. Fantastic!
Ok
Some bangers
I have never listened to much ska music due to the ska music that i have listened to being pretty awful. This album makes me reconsider my opinion of the genre. This is a well made album with great singing from both singers, excellent songs and a great groove.
Never really gave ska a real go for finding it too tedious, and I did find this tedious towards the end but I can appreciate it still. This album in the first instance is very listenable and makes you want to move. The tracks flow and bounce off each other in a theatrical way. Felt like I was simultaneously on a beach in Jamaica and also in a dusty back alley somewhere in London. Unconventional and triumphant. My highlights were: A Message To You Rudy, Doesn't Make It Alright, Monkey Man, Too Much Too Young and Little Bitch. 4/5
Gangsters - V catchy, not sure about major and minor shifts - 3.9/5 A Message to You Rudy - 4.7/5 Loved this song already so smooth and catchy with great lyrics Do the Dog - 3.3/5 Not sure about this one structurally it's up to you - bit repetitive but overall good 3.5/5 nite klub - favs out of new ones so far 4.0/5 doesnt make it alright - can really tell what style of song i like on this album, the slower more reflective ones 4.1/5 concrete jungle - 3.6/5 solid but not my fav overall the second half of the album is sm better then thr first - second half amazing first half mid
Shared at work even they loved it.
Thought I'd never heard of these guys, then realized of course I know "A Message To Rudy". I really like their style, it's like an offshoot of punk but mixed with an almost ska-like feel. Very cool!
Not my style, but I really enjoyed the first song and the rest of the album was better than expected.
I liked it more than I expected to. The musicians are very skilled and have great musical range. I feel like the quality of the individual songs is a bit hit or miss. I don’t think I could have guessed that this was made in the 70s, but according to Wikipedia, “ska revival” was popular in England around that time, so maybe I’m just uneducated. 3/5
Good vibes but gets old towards the end of the album
Probably one of the most loved album by some. It has unique tracks, but not my jam.
THE SPECIALS by THE SPECIALS (1979) If the album could be summarised into one it would be a fight between the style of the specials and that of elvis Presley's catalogue of early 70's. For me the album poses as a letdown with monotonous beats and peculiar style of reverberation. Although one things that is done extremely well is storytelling throught in songs like LITTLE BITCH , A MESSAGE TO YOU RUDY , and especially STUPID MARRIAGE. The album doens't surprise me when it ends and doesn't deliever a favourite with the only standout songs being YOU'RE WONDERING NOW , LITTLE BITCH , MONKEY MAN , NEW ERA and STUPID MARRIAGE
the specials are a great band and this album was also a good listen.
Pick it up, go!
Liked this album more than I thought I would just based on first appearances. Not necessarily my style. But there were some enjoyable moments. Favorite song: a message to you rudy
Some classics, but I found the experience of listening to the whole thing sorta grating. The Clash really outdo them overall IMO.
icons. greats.
There is a very narrow lane of Reggae/Ska-type music that I enjoy. Fortunately, The Specials sit comfortably in that space. Their urban take on island music stays fresh and avoids the repetitive tropes that can make the genre irritating. Give a bonus half-star for their contribution to the visual iconography that became vital to the Two-Tone Mod scene.
Excellent
So that’s what Ska is!
The good songs on this album really are great. Gangsters, Too Much Too Young etc etc. But that’s kinda it for me, I think Ska is a genre that had a place in my younger heart, feels a bit lost on me now. That being said Terry Hall is a real MVP. 3.6/5.0 Best Song: Gangsters
Very fun album. It's definitely Reggae, but it also surprised me every step of the way. I pretty comfortably enjoyed this even more than Bob Marley, which surprised me. I was under the incorrect assumption that every Reggae song kind of had to sound the same, exactly like Bob Marley, but this album proved me wrong. It's very catchy, and there are enough differences between the songs to keep it fresh. Some of the songs have little stretches of Rock which are quite enjoyable, a continuing trend with these Reggae albums that have been pleasant little surprises and further keep the albums interesting. That being said, I would not always want to listen to this, and there's definitely a lot of filler as well. Right out of the gate you've got a catchy banger with the classic "A Message to You Rudy", and the album is interspersed with some really good, catchy songs, my favorite for personal reasons being "Monkey Man". For being a very unique and catchy, but far from perfect album, this one is going to get a high 3. Probably around a 3.75/5. I actually recognized a lot of these songs, which is something that genuinely surprised me as well, so that was pretty neat and unexpected as well. What a super fun band. Would return to these guys for sure.
Not my genre at all but i can see the appeal. a fun album
mid
1/5 didn’t finish the album 2/5 didn’t keep the album 3/5 kept it and will listen when songs randomly show up on shuffle 4/5 kept it and will listen to it again front to back on my phone 5/5 buying the vinyl
I like these songs in isolation but find that as an album it lacks a bit of variety and because of this it disappears int the back ground a little bit.
My disclaimer is that ska isn’t generally my thing. The specials seem to be one of the better in their genre but I think the ceiling of it is quite low. ‘A Message to you Rudy’ does seem to stand out head and shoulders over the rest, and, other than ‘monkey man’ (itself I think is a cover of the original by toots and the maytals) most of this I found forgettable. By the end I was practically begging for anything other than a syncopated staccato guitar, which I know is a hallmark of the genre but gets tired quickly. Some of the guitar work reminded me of ‘television’ and so the solos weren’t bad, nor was the brass section but not quite enough to pull this score upwards.
This is a fun one. I am particularly smitten by the bass playing. London must have been a weird and interesting place in the late 70s. Punk, nwobhm, and Ska all competing for space. Anyway, the Specials is one of those records I don’t think about much but it’s always a good choice.
🍃🎷🪘🥁🎸🎤🍃
Bumping from a 2 to a 3 just bc of A Message To You Rudy
Rudy, too hot, up to you, and monkey man are all absolute bops, super enjoyable ska album overall, kind of a standard in my mind. 3.5 rounded down bc I feel like ska requires a pretty specific state of mind.
"A Message to You Rudy" is such a great song, found out about it from a Sublime recording years ago. Funny to find that they re-wrote it for the same album and called it "Too Hot", that must have been intentional? The album itself is pretty cool, a nice blend of different styles and sort of ska/punk thing that never feels forced. You can hear some of the Elvis Costello influence in the production for sure, especially on "It's Up To You" (which coincidentally sounds a lot like "Watching the Detectives"). Some songs are better than others, its a tad long, but I like it. 3.5 with a round down
Classic album with crisp grooves and fun lyrics.
its like… ska?? idk i js didnt rlly fw it
This was all new to me though I think I was familiar with a track or two. Got me amped while completing a 1,000 piece Star Wars puzzle. Fun listen.
Ah cool album for #100. I’d heard a few of these songs over the years but didn’t know the band or anything. What a good selection.
Still doing nothing much for me
I love the upbeat music mixed with furious vocals. The social justice of two tone makes me feel both very happy and very sad in equal measure. You can hear the late 70s anger and discontent mixed in with some of the most catchy songs ever.
Perfectly decent, reliable, standard-bearer ska. It’s not my genre but these guys do it well and with a ton of attitude, but definitely not overcooked. It’s kind of a miracle that in 70’s England you could get a sound this well put together and this political without it being completely buried. But the horn section probably helps. Not one I have to hear all the time but fun nonetheless.
The blueprint for the coming Spa revolution.
I've never been into ska but this album took me by surprise. I can also hear where Blur took a lot of their early inspiration.
A lot of British bands and British artists recently and a lot of music from the 70s. I don't know if the 70s were really my era musically. I feel like a lot of the music that I have heard from then is more upbeat and energetic than the music I prefer to listen to. I'm not saying I don't like it, I think it's a nice mix-up from what I normally listen to, but it's just not music I will likely reach for again. They are known as a "ska-revival" band, which is a blend of Jamaican ska, rocksteady, reggae, and punk influence. Overall, seems like an important album is music history as it blended black and white music, but it's just not my favorite. Rating: 6/10 Favorite track: Too much, too young
4.5
I just don’t like the beat of ska. I’m glad I listened right through to be sure. The album wasn’t offensive to have on as background noise.
Fun album
Oi, oi, argey bargey can in hand and powdered nose jostlin' amongst it. Otherwise, a bit old hat. Not much fun without the scene to go with it and I'm over it.
Great album with excellent social commentary about living in Margaret Thatcher’s England. Some of the lyrics are just as relevant now as they were in 1979.
When the 2-Tone movement exploded, I was 11 and hungry for something new. Punk had passed me by, but this album was my awakening. The raw energy, the ska rhythms, the sharp social commentary—it was electrifying. I couldn’t afford albums back then, so I lived on singles until Christmas brought the full record home. It didn’t just soundtrack my youth; it made me politically aware and shaped the person I became. The Specials wasn’t just music—it was a manifesto, and I ate up every note.
Gold standard for ska
One of my favourite bands and albums
En lille 3'er. Mest reggaerytmisk.
Main, I love some ska, but The Specials couldn't hold my attention the whole thing true. The opening track was phenomenal, but quickly thereafter the quality was lost.
Fun album. Just not a lot of variety.
feels experimental but a bit dated
Not my normal tunes, but a couple of blasts from the past
Puiku
якийсь альбом all over the place немає певної синергії яку очікуєш від альбомів зазвичай.
ніби трохи й качова, але абсолютно не моя музика
this was fun to listen to!
This was really fun.
Standouts A Message to You Rudy
3.5/5
I understand this band's importance in ska and influence on later 90s bands that I really do like (Reel Big Fish, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, etc etc) but man I really could not stand the vocals.
I have always felt Some Type of Way about Ska music and its place in the punk sphere. I get why it's popular, and I definitely think it's fun and has a good groove to it. but like. Jello didn't write any songs about breaking up with a girl or genuinely wanting to get laid... the only songs he wrote about a guy getting it up were from a mocking perspective. he was too busy yelling about Reagan and throwing bricks at cops, ya know?
I found the vocals so annoying, it took away from the enjoyable parts of any song. Even the horn section couldn't save it. Standout Tracks: Blank Expression
Ska should be banned
British ska revivalists The Specials have some killer singles in their catalog but unfortunately none of them appear on this (their debut album) which honestly sounds like a bunch of b-sides. Only "Too Much Too Young" manages to distinguish itself from the pack (but it certainly didn't need to be 6 minutes long). This album *is* lively and upbeat and it would make for decent party music, so it's not entirely without merit. The band also has a lot more personality than, for example, the godawful UB40, but nonetheless the songs on this record lack the melodic sense or inventiveness of say, fellow two-toners like Madness or The (English) Beat.
Dammit, Rudy!
A classic! Some super songs on here with some forgettable ones too. It just really works.
Sometimes im almost happy when an album pisses me off like this. Im so glad I still have feelings <3
First time ever listening to Ska. Also researched that is considered the best Ska album of the First Wave. Completely unimpressed by the whole project. Feels unserious but not in a fun way. Sounds like a parody of Yacht Rock. Stupid Marriage was the best moment for me. Overall not looking forward to the other Ska albums on this journey.
Is that reggae?
Loads of this was fun, with important things to say. The bass was great. But a fair bit was a bit disjointed. I've never quite loved the Specials' music as much as other ska bands (and I don't love ska that much anyway) but they're a important band and it's a good album. I'd probably like it more on repeated listens. But I'm probably not going to do that. High 3.
mhh some bits i enjoyed. most of it not so much.
I'm not really into ska and two tone. I find it all just too samey, I was hopeful though as Rudy is pretty good, but it didn't really go anywhere after this. Much too young is catchy but it's just the same thing forever. I can't be bothered with it all.
Ka ska man si? Gubbeska, en fin variasjon fra gubberock.
Love it
Peaked at the start with englands greatest anthem. Not bad just had its time this
Yeah I love The Specials, this is fucking great.
Love the 80s composition and sound, kind of one note throughout the album though. Some sick licks throughout.
Track One: I like the instrumentations. This is a fun opening track to the album. I like the main beat being kept by the brass instruments as well as the percussion. Track Two: Immediately picking up the pace a bit. already much more my vibe. getting a little bit more of that rock vibe. Track Three: i like the vibe. i don't really have any other major thoughts. very vibey Track Four: okay wait that was a fun intro moment. im vibing with this. different vibe than the other songs so far but kinda digging it. okay guitar and bass solos Track Five: nice chill track now. fun variety in sound between the different tracks. bit of an abrupt end but didnt hate it Track Six: okay loving this shift in vibe right off the bat. back to that more upbeat almost rock feel. okay yeah im loving this guitar solo moment. also love the couple breaking glass sounds added in the percussion Track Seven: and now were back to a bit of a more chill vibe. okay were picking it up a bit here at the very end. fun little twist toward the end Track Eight: nice beat. somehow still distinct from the rest of the tracks so far Track Nine: ooh i like this. real funky opening. real nice rhythms going on here. ooh ok. im liking this trend of a distinct shift in either tempo, vibe, or instrument focus as the sort of button of some of these songs Track Ten: ooh. im really loving the percussion in this one. also sick guitar solo. loving these different rhythmic emphases. Track Eleven: okay this is real fun. this courtroom set up is really fun. oh this is different than the rest of the album. ope. not the lyrics i was expecting lol. oh this is interesting. this is definitely supposed to have a much deeper meaning critiquing society i just think i am not culturally informed enough to understand exactly what it was critiquing at the time exactly. Track Twelve: that was a smooth transition between songs. this is really fun. i like the flow from the last track into this one. i like the funky ass beat in the background of the verses. the sort of wobbly sound is really fun. song has chilled out i am enjoying it but also how is there still almost two minutes left of this song Track Thirteen: ooh okay back to a more upbeat vibe. im not loving the idea of a song by a bunch of men being title "little bitch" but unfortunately it is kind of a bop. like as much as i hate to admit it this song is a vibe. ooh okay. this is funky im liking it. yes drums and guitar. Track Fourteen: im liking the more chill vibe to close out the album. Overall: i did enjoy this album a lot. again another album that was just really enjoyable to listen to and a good vibe. i liked the variety in the different vibes, with some of the songs leaning more upbeat and rock than others while others had a much more chill vibe. i definitely think there is a sort of cultural nuance i am missing out by virtue of being american. i think if i were to do a little bit more research about the band as well as the historical context i would defintiely appreciate it and understand it a little better than i do now. that being said i still really enjoyed the album. it didnt make me feel anything super deep, but i was definitely grooving and enjoying every song, which is rare for me. i want to rate it at like a 3.5 just because i didnt emotionally connect to it quite as much, but since i cant do that imma go ahead and give it four stars cause im feeling generous and three feels too low.
Some bangers. Some preaching. Death is not the end
Pretty good but not that special, *knee slap*
Well, it was kinda fun to learn that ska existed in the 70's. It was less fun to make it all the way through this album. I didn't dislike it...but I was definitely ready for it to end. 2.7
fascinating album given its timeframe. i feel like you could draw a direct line from this to sublime, seems like it’s very influential
Spannender Sound. Ist mir manchmal ein bisschen eintönig aber hat trotzdem Spaß gemacht.
Naporno za slušati i baš mi apsolutno ništa ne radi, baš bezveze album i pokušaj nekog ska panka ili nezz ni kako ovo nazvati. 1/5, 2/10
Good old ska
Highly influential 1979 debut album by the Specials. Loads of American acts in the 90s and beyond are inspired by this style, mixing punk and ska, guitars and horns. Some of the songs are cover versions of 60s reggae tracks and A Message To You Rudy hits best. However there are other wins, with Concrete Jungle and Doesn't Make It Alright in particular standing out for me. Too Much Too Young wasn't on the original album but is added here on the remaster. Wouldn't go the full 5 stars but pioneering album and heartily recommend
1979 England isn’t usually what I think of with ska so interesting in that sense
It’s always important to take a balanced view when reviewing any art. So first up I’d like to think of a few elements of this album where I think The Specials got it right: let’s see, the songwriting, the arrangements, the humour, the vocals and musicianship, the melodies, the genre bending, the politics, the inclusivity, the artwork and graphic design, the influences, the clothing and image. Now to be fair I’ll take a look at where they got it wrong: who do I think I’m kidding? They didn’t get anything wrong. Everything about this record is right. This will be the easiest maximum score I will likely ever give.
One of those situations where I can only find the delux expanded edition which mashes up live performances with remastered versions, I would rather just listen to the original for the sake of this project and am only using apple music. I dig this album overall, good variance in sound, however I feel sorry for ska, reggae, and to an extent country bands that just repeat the melody over and over. So that wears a bit with this style but I like it
Nothing special here lol but it was an ok album
The Specials is an album bursting with energy, attitude, and sharp social awareness, all wrapped in that unmistakable ska bounce. It has a raw, live-wire feel that makes the whole thing crackle from track to track, and the band’s mix of punk urgency with ska rhythms still sounds refreshing. The horns punch through the mix, the guitars chop along with precision, and Terry Hall’s vocals add just the right amount of deadpan bite. Tracks like “A Message to You, Rudy” and “Too Much Too Young” are obvious highlights, capturing the album’s blend of catchy hooks and pointed commentary. There is a real sense of place to the record, a snapshot of late 70s Britain that feels lively and tense at the same time. Even the more chaotic moments feel intentional, like a band fully aware of what they want to say and how they want to move people. That said, the consistency can waver. Some tracks slip into filler territory or blur together, and the stylistic repetition means the back half doesn’t hit quite as hard as the front. But even when it dips, the attitude and charisma carry it. The Specials remains a solid, culturally important debut with plenty of charm, even if it does not land every punch.
nouvelle passion unlocked
Fedt album, alt det der fungerede på den sidste med dem er lidt bedre her. God energi. Ikke London Calling godt men det kan alt jo ikke være
Fed punk-agtig energi på en overhovedet-ikke-punk plade.
British ska... Alright but also not 🤷
I've only heard a few ska songs that I've actually liked. I've never been a fan of the combination of leisurely pace and rocksteady rhythm that signifies most reggae/ska music, but on top of that in this particular case, the vocals have a really off-putting quality to me. The songs with faster tempos ("Concrete Jungle" and "Little Bitch") are more enjoyable, and the bass on some of these songs sounds fun to play, but overall there are too few diamonds and too much rough. The only other thing I have to add is go for the Deluxe Version (2015 remaster) if you're going to listen to this. The 2002 remaster is terrible.
Otro grupo esencial, por estilo, influencias y por calidad. Solo dos discos y ambos igual de buenos (el segundo no tuvo éxito por incomprendido). El paso del Punk a la New Wave fue por bandas como ellos. Aquí hay clásicos como el A Message to You Rudy de Dandy Livingstone. También más versiones como Do the Dog de Rufus Thomas, Concrete Jungle popularizado por Marley y que tiene poco que ver con esta, You're Wondering Now de los Skatalites o Monkey Man de Toots. Pero la muestra de temas compuestos por la banda raya a gran altura: It´s up to you o Too Much Too Young son fenomenales. Nite klud desata el ritmo. La música es para bailar y pasarlo bien, no para exabruptos huecos como los imperantes en gran parte del punk entonces.
Nah.1.5
I don’t like it. 1
Such a vibe. Definitely will re listen.
According to the YouTube comments for "Gangsters" (the first track on this Deluxe version here on YouTube), this album and band is strictly Ska, which I generally have little knowledge of, but not enough previous experience to name another grou[. From the outset, it seemingly blends Jazz with Reggae. "A message to Rudy" is a classic track, heard many times of my life. It has a real comfortable and pure vibe, with the lyrics delivering a positive message to younger generations. "Do the Dog" has a punk feel to it, in it's playfully aggressive delivery and overall political tone. Speaking on this note, a strong political vein running through The Specials' music was the only real thing I knew about them before listening to this album. "Concrete Jungle" was the first track on this whole musical journey on the website that didn't hit my ear right on the first play, though the Chorus is a lot of fun. Still, the song's social commentary doesn't come off heavy-handed. "Too Hot" has a more relaxed, almost UB40, sort of vibe to it which is a big change against the rest of the tracks. Interesting to learn that "Monkey Man" is a cover track from Toots & The Maytals, who are themselves a Ska band from the '60s. "Too much too young" is one of those songs that burned itself upon the zeitgeist of 70s/80s and is recognised by everyone and for good reason. Overall, this album feels like a bit more of an acquired taste, but that may be because it feels distinctly as a product of it's time; I was a child of the 90s, but my Dad identified as a Mod growing up, so this album is not entirely misunderstood by me.
Didn't hate. Didn't love.
A 1979 ska album? Hell yeah. Really cool to see this one and assume this is a direct influence to so many bands in the 90's and then a band like the Interrupters today. Hated the Do The Dog song but every other song was a great listen!
ay-ay-ay, ay-ay-ay them a tell me you huggin' up a big monkey man
Some good moments but overall not my favorite
Awesome album. The beginnings of the Two Tone resurgence of ska. It has the angst of the British punks, but with a fantastic, danceable upbeat sound straight from the Jamaican immigrants. Political and a party at the same time. While I haven’t listened to enough of the albums from this era of ska, not full albums anyway, this is my favorite of those I have heard. Super thrilled when this popped up as my album this morning.
It was alright I guess
Loved it, this has a really nice combination of party songs with social commentary. Ska is not a genre I'm really familiar so that might be why i consider The Specials to have a very distinctive sound. The energy and vibe of the more upbeat songs in particular is really infectious
I can keep on happily living without ever listening to The Specials again.
I guess it’s an important release in the revival of ska in its time but didn’t float my boat then and still doesn’t really. Curiously, it actually feels much slower than I remember it being at the time.
Not bad. Had one really good song
Some great songs
Eerste nummer leuk, daarna beetje zenuwachtig
Fun, easy, catching!
I feel like Ska has a cap at 4 Stars, and that's what makes it so great! It's not trying to impress anyone, it's just the most fun music genre, period. 4.5 Stars
80's boyband with a mix of New Order, The Cure, New Kids On The Block, and Beastie Boys. This, combined with a spin of reggae, new wave, and funk rap.
Didn’t hit me
The debut album of The Specials is great, a very good 2 tone, ska revival album from the late 70s. The music is mostly fun and upbeat while the lyrics have important societal topics. I can see why it's a cult band in the UK. I liked this more than theie second album.
Nice sound, but lyrics weren't great
The first song i.e. the big hit was pretty fun and different, overall as the rest of the album went on there was a certain cleanliness to it, a sort of aftertaste making me wish for more grit. It has that sound that makes it *feel* like it's a more forgettable album, but it was fun and varied enough to make a counterargument for that
7 / 10
Day 99 Such a great album, just so fun yet a lot of the songs about serious topics. 9/10 Highlights Too Hot New Era Blank Expression
I respect it
6/10 Favourite: Nite Klub Least Favourite: Stupid Marriage
I liked the second album more...
fun little intro to the Brit-Ska scene.
This ended up winning me over since I wasn’t initially receptive to the reggae/ska vibe. Still not something I expect I’ll seek out but good for what it’s worth
all in all a nice album, was fun to listen to
Meh.
Ska is cool! Some good songs on here.
First time officially hearing Ska music. It has got the perfect "night at the pub, downed a couple pints, and the uni kids are tonight's band" vibe.
This is quintessential British ska and reggae revival. Think the Clash with a little less edge; this was released a few months prior to London Calling after all. There is also an underlying pop, surf, and rock n' roll feel to many guitar parts. On the scale of reggae to punk, this sits closer to reggae in terms of the happy instrumentals and song structure, but the lyrical social consciousness is present throughout. This means that most of the tracks have laid back and slow timing which contrasts the youthful anger. This doesn't always work for me-- some songs seem to plod along, like "Doesn't Make It Alright" or "Too Much Too Young". There is not much variation in pacing track-to-track and I find myself initially liking a track, then getting a bit bored with it and wanting to skip because it feels slightly lethargic. It's as if some songs are being played at about 90% speed. It is surprising to learn Elvis Costello is the producer here for the album to not have that "snap" or "edge" to them. Overall, this is an enjoyable album with good songs and ideas, but it is missing that energy that could bring it into Clash territory.
I enjoyed the political messaging, but I find ska incredibly irritating. 3 stars bc I’m feeling generous
British reggae? I mean, that’s essentially what this was. Not bad but not something I would seek out on my own.
This is #day466 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… I've always liked this record cover. For some reason, I'd never actually listened to it before, even though I've always been aware of it. As much as I want to like this music, it's just not happening. I get that it's influential and all that jazz, but... I don't know. What I did like is the way it's recorded: every instrument is so prominent and crisp, and is genuinely fun to listen to. Also, I've always liked the record cover. Let it be a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day467.
Stop your messin’ around - it’s a 5!
fun old school ska album.
Much more my speed
Great album from the godfathers of Two Tone - a couple of iconic tracks, Message to you Rudy and Too Much to Young. Ghost Town, later that year was their very best though.
never a bad time to skank
Yeah, I liked this!
This is a classic ska album, may THE classic ska album, though maybe the English Beat has something this good too. First song is an earworm that everyone from a certain time and place knows.
Nice album - great opening track.
Pickituppickituppickitup
BIG BIG MONKEY MAN
Brilliant album that is fun from start to finish
look ma, he's skankin! he's skankin' ma! outta 5
Just ok, though did recognize Message for Rudy
Sounds like a fever dream
Fun and joy for bleak times.
4/5 V much enjoyed
A good way to weed out the yanks. 4 Stars.
The reggae elements of this album drove me crazy. It just felt out of place and repetitive. Not to mention the lyricism and delivery of the vocals was pretty corny.
Always vibed with The Specials, and I enjoyed this. The bass playing is particularly good.
I cannot put into words how excited I became when this album popped up. I LOVE ska music, and the Specials are a classic group. What a great debut album too! There’s just something about the upbeat brass and the biting lyrics that works SO well.
I dont know if i will be coming back to that album at the moment, but im sure that at one point i will remember it in a different mood; decent listen, important for sure. rudeboy
it's fine, but for some reason didn't quite grab me
Gear: 64 Audio Duo Artwork: ▀▄▀▄▀▄ Production (2015 Remaster): 🎧👂🧈 Music: 🎺🤝🕶️ Ratinng: 🏁🏁🏁/5
I find that I like ska in small doses. I was definitely ready for this one to end about 2/3 of the way through. Shout out to A message to you Rudy (Sublime sampled), Do the Dog, and Concrete Jungle.
Kinda interesting.
combines this rock and this jazzy feel which i like. didnt realise the amy winehouse song is not actually by her but from the specials. cool but nothing very special
Early SKA. Not for me.
2,3/5
it was ight. mess with ska but like i’m good fr
Excellent weekend listen - was able to enjoy it a few times. Essential listening. I appreciate that The Specials have never lost their place in the conversation of ska music. Real godfathers and worthy of the legacy.
I wasn't particularly enthusiastic about this for whatever reason but a very pleasant surprise, it's great on the whole.
This album is like reading a richard brautigan book. It's bonkers and I love it. 3.9
Funky! British… reggae? I liked it
Great album..my first
This is a great album. Never boring or predictable, but still keeps the essence of the band clear. I kindda expected more brass though.
nice sound enjoyed
Great a bit repetitive, beachy and fun
This album is nice. However, even though it's good, some songs are a bit bland and repetitive, and it's nothing impressive, to be honest. So, I liked it, but I can't say much more than that about this album, except that it's pretty enjoyable.
Hard to go past Rudy! Classic track. Generally a very good listen.
Chelsea
Really fun album, but one listen through was enough. You need to be in the right mindset for ska. 3.25/5
A MESSAGE TO YOU RUDY! I think I listened to AMTYR like 20+ times keeping me from moving on to the rest of the album, and the other subsequent albums. It honestly just made me want to listen to a bunch of other ska/rock with horns artist, like They Might Be Giants, Madness, Street Light Manifesto and Pain. It makes me feel like I’m a kid again watching the really old Nickelodeon splash reels. “nick-toons-only on Nick-nick toons, on Nickelodeon, Nicktoons!”
I love ska
I want to play Tony hawk pro skater
I was starting to get REAL sick of all the British bullshit on here, but these guys just brought me all the way back. Sick ass album.
Do I detect the origins of ska? 'Do The Dog' feels like I'm watching America's Funniest Home Videos Also sensing Jimi Hendrix
British ska, new wave, and reggae inspired all rolled into one. "Ghost Town", which does not appear on this album is maybe th le most well known, thanks in part to one my favorite movies, Shaun of The Dead. This album is okay, glad to know it. Probably won't listen to it again.
This is one of those albums that I would have never heard in my life, but I’m glad I did
Just because you can, doesn’t mean that you should. Call me biased but the Americans did a far better job ripping off Jamaican culture. I’ll save for the special exception that is Sting
3 1/2 stars. A very fun upbeat album.
I liked a lot of this. Makes me want a hot day and a cold beer. But some was pretty slow. And theres a lot of covers and reworked stuff on here. Can appreciate its place in history. Also you can feel Costellos touch all over it.
Ska pioneers
Was ok, nothing stood out particularly
Музыка на любителя - но я и есть любитель. Задорный хулиганский ска в самом классическом его понимании - однозначно лайк. Регги-мотивы, трунь-трунь на гитаре. Главный хит с альбома мне как-то не очень зашел, а вот остальные треки - вполне ничего.
Absolutely seminal
A lot of ska is fun, but this was just boring. Not a fan.
Somewhat special
meh
Felt oddly sour on this one compared to More Specials. Maybe I just don't like older ska too much?
Not as much a fan of this as More Specials, which we got a while ago - this one's a lot more rooted in more straightforward rocksteady/reggae stuff, and doesn't do much interesting with it. It's still an enjoyable listen though!
I’m not going to give this a 1 because I did enjoy a lot of the instrumental jams but hoo boy this was pretty bad
I tried to have fun with it but this singing is seriously so bad. I think it's the infusion of punk that kills it for me. Standout: A Message To You Rudy
Eurgh. I like reggae, for the record, but I realized after the OTHER album by The Specials that popped up that I don't like ska. I definitely eased in more on my second listen - I was ready to say fuck it and give it a 1 the first time. However, there are some truly abominable cuts on here. The one two punch of Stupid Marriage and Too Much Too Young almost took me out.
Some funky basslines in here, but at the end of the day it's Ska
I was excited when I saw this album pop up, not because I have a personal connection to the music, but because I love the cultural background behind this release and, more broadly, the two-tone movement. My understanding is that two-tone refers to the connection between black and white working-class youths in housing projects in postcolonial UK. In the late 70s to early 80s, these kids had every social motivation to be racist against each other, but they chose to love the people they grew up with and, by extension, their music. Also, these kids looked super slick in their mod-revival suits! Even though the movement was ultimately small and short-lived, it represents one of the best things about cultural connections between groups: the immense creativity that comes from blending styles and influences. The music itself is inconsistent. Sometimes, it is really exciting; other times, it drags. A few of the tunes, especially those that address young marriage, while fun, can be too specific to their particular time and place to hit home with me. Ultimately, I had a lot of fun with this release. Four stars.
Sparkling ska, spoiled by some sour misogyny - Little Bitch and Too Much Too Young especially - which takes away the achievements of A Message To You Rudy and Doesn't Make It Alright.
later
+⭐ for preemptive Death in Paradise cover 🌊 🌊 🌞 🌊 🌊 ⛵🏝️ 🌊 ⛵ 🌊 🌊 🌊
(65/100)
As a ska fan, I really enjoyed this. Lots of energy and great grooves.
I didn’t care for the tempo of the first song but I like the second one, the third song has a bit reggae in the tempo
Reminds me of being a kid, enjoyed it
Guitar is pretty good but just couldnt vibe with the rest
I just never got into ska, not even the '90s re-revival. There are Clash songs I like that would probably be categorized as ska, but that's about as far as I can enjoy it. There's a Specials video in heavy rotation on MTV Classic but I looked it up just now and it's "Ghost Town," which isn't on this album. I don't have anything else to add.
Ehh. I've never listened to much ska and albums like this are making me realize it's probably just not my thing. Good vibes in the music and it's certainly not bad but I don't think I'll be regularly returning to this one. 3.5 stars.
I hope there’s more ska on this list. I like ska but this album is not one of my favorites. For one, I’ve never been a fan of chanted group vocals which this album has on most songs. And the main singers voice wasn’t great to me. Musically I enjoyed it but the vocals turned me off.
Takes me back to my youth - jumping about!
lo escuche en el auto creo q eso ya le suma un punto xq pega distinto, me gusto mucho
The drummer alone lifts this to a 5. 5/5
this was fun, not my fav but it did rock. bonus points for the fedoras
Brit pop based around ska, reggae, new wave, punk all produced by Elvis Costello. It’s an interesting listen and I’ll give it many more listens throughout the day, but my first few impressions were underwhelming, especially the vocals. The music wasn’t bad. I didn’t mind it, but I also found myself looking forward to it ending and was relived these 14 songs were only 45 min.
Not all that into reggae and adjacent genres though it had its moments, I really liked the Concrete Jungle track
27/10/2025 Nothing too special about The Specials. Spotify listeners: 2.2 million
Great distinctive sound.
Joyous, bit punk, bit ska, all briliant and still fresh sounding. Elivs Costello's production did a good job creating something just cohesive enough, I felt if it was cleaned up you'd have lost the political tone. 5
The specials - strong 4. Such an important album. National Front was big in the mid/late 70s. So mods aligning behind a sound and a vision of the UK as multicultural is pretty cool. Great tracks as well
Genre defining.
A uniformly fun and free record. Each song has a strong lyrical concept behind it and the band do a great job of balancing the structure of clear, concise songwriting with looser, more longform moments. There’s not a weak spot on the LP - the gap in brilliance between flawless singles and good album tracks is only due to the strength of the former rather than the weakness of the latter.
Specials gets a 4 for me, a low one because a couple of the tracks suffer with some straight up sexist lyrics, but there are several iconic tunes here and it’s my favourite blend of ska
Enjoyed it much more than I expected. Going back to the source of all of the Ska tropes in this album, but it feels fresh and authentic. Might listen again.
This was a great listen. I'm adding it to my library and plan to come back to it. It's so easy to hate on ska, but not this.
The Specials are a blindspot for me, so I was excited to check this out. I enjoyed it quite a bit, despite some side-eye for "Little Bitch" (and "Too Much Too Young" goes on and on and on). But this is fun, and I'll need to dig into more of their discography.
Favourite track: Concrete Jungle
pretty ok ska
Entretenido. Pura cultura musical y ejemplo de Ska de libro. A message to you, Rudy y Concrete jungle, las dejo guardadas.
That first listen was special, full on classic roots intro, taking each upcoming track to ease into more modern approaches of reggae and ska. Beautiful! This is also my first time dealing with Elvis Costello, on production here, and I'm pleased with the resulting album. Not my favorite vocals, but the lyrics are fun to dissect over time. 3.6/5
107 The thing is... I do this to myself. La versión del splotify tiene 2 discos, asumí que era sólo el primero y en un acto de amor propio decidí no extender más esta agonía. Está bien, pero el ska/reggae definitivamente no es para mi.
One of the best things to come out of Cov
Oh, on touche de quoi de SPÉCIAL là! C'est groovy, reggaety et panini, viens faire mon spaghetti!
Bunch of songs I knew but didn't *know*. Early influence on MMBT? Crossover with the Clash? Very weird-brit.
Fun album. A lot of the songs sounded the same, so can't say what stood out. Maybe Monkey Man and Little Bitch. Easy album to get through. 3.5/5
Creo recordar que ya me había salido este disco, pero supongo que estoy equivocado. Realmente pasa lo mismo con el disco, es repetitivo. Creo que más allá de su significado político y social, no soporto esta música mucho rato.
Some of these songs are pretty good, but I just can't listen to this much Ska at once.
2.7 1x interesting to see early ska
Love me some ska
The least angry of any "angry" album I've listened to. This is what happens when you aren't tough enough to be The Clash, and not talented enough to be The Police.
My dad is a huge Madness fan. Turns out the love for ska revival is a hereditary trait. I didn't really know The Specials, besides of course having heard "A message to you Rudy" before, but I'm glad I do now. I found myself humming "Too much too young" on my way to work.
I believed that I would hate this. I was right.
Huh, I guess I like Ska. Interesting lyrics, and typical horn rhythem
Music happened. But it didnt need to. Not much special about this.
Another British bias inclusion. This is mediocre at best.
Ska for me has to be a certain mood. Yesterday wasn’t it. Not that great
Kinda fun, but I won’t listen again. I don’t think I listen to ska… ever? So it’s interesting to hear some of that. Sounded like boardwalk carnival music. Why, I don’t know. But that’s a fun vibe, and for that I didn’t hate it.
not bad
Good fun although not something I would listen to normally
Loving third wave ska for a long time it was very over due for me to hear. Love being able to pinpoint where bands I love got thier sound started.
Hell yeah, such fun ska music.
5.43
4.5 - really good this.
I just don’t like this kind of music. Gets a point for the recognisable songs
2.78
I'm not sure what was going on with the UK and its sudden and brief appropriation of ska in the late 70s and early 80s - but this is probably the poster child album from that period. It's fun and you can certainly imagine this would be an incredibly engaging live act. That said, I prefer my ska as icing to the cake (as in Madness or The Police) rather than as the cake itself.
A mixture of covers and original Ska / 2-Tone / Reggae tracks. The covers include "A Message to You Rudy" and "Monkey Man", while the original tracks include the bouncy "Too Much Too Young".
Yeah idk this stuff is weird but they have talent
hype
This is just fine. I would prefer Bob Marley or even The Mighty Mighty Bosstones...but this is just fine!
Ska Revival - this is my first ska revival album and it was interesting. I definitely wasn't sure if it was ska or just reggae at first. I like how the songs were catchy but also tackled interesting subject matter.
Zwei Songs haben es in die Playlist geschafft
Monkey Man: me encantó, copada de verdad Crítica social, a la irresponsabilidad juvenil
'Produced by Elvis Costello' - goddamnit, this man will not go away on this list... To be fair, this is some of the best ska music I've heard; the reggae influences are unmistakable. That said, I've never loved ska, no matter how technically 'good' it is, so I don't see myself revisiting this album in its entirety anytime soon
I got excited when I saw this pop up on my screen! My memory exceeded the reality a bit and it loses a star for lacking energy in parts, but still a fun listen.
Only one song that I liked Very mid Good guitar but bad vocals
not my kind ma carino!
Such a fun album. Wish it had been bigger in the US around the time I was getting into Madness and other Ska-Revival bands in the early 80s.
SKA! Why have I never heard of this band before??? Fun album.
Talk of influencial. I may be a man of a certain age - I was 15 when this came out - but this album was the start of a massive ska starburst; which burned out in a flash of glory and 2 years later was gone. Ska was all over my school. One of my best mates got a buzz cut and wore a set-forward beany and Doc Marten 1914s for ages. Made riding his racing bike rather amusing. I was into rock and metal myself, but I was happy to engage in a lot of Specials, Madness, Selecter, Beat, Bad Manners and the like. Yeah of all 274 albums I've had so far I'd say this is one of the most influential. To my school year at least. Never listened to it in full before. A nice treat. (factoid for the fact fans : Too Much Too Young is one of only a handful of live singles to make it to #1 in the UK Charts - My Ding-a-Ling is one of the others)
What a classic
This is a really good album that emerged from the multiracial working class community in Coventry. Mixing punk energy with ska revivalism, with an additional dose of social commentary, it's a startlingly good debut album.
Spanning. Was craving this.
Meh, just waiting for this album to be over. Not the worse I’ve heard, some of it is catchy, but def won’t listen to again. I’m stuck between a 1 and 2.
Реггей, ска, панк. Как-то довольно гладко показалось и особенно не зацепило.
Like it
7/10
2 Tone ska is not the ska kids hear when there's extra mozzarella sticks.
IDK these boys don’t seem all that rude.
oh man, this record is tops. Produced by Elvis Costello, who once described his production style as basically trying to get out of the way of a band and capture their sound before someone else came along to fuck it up. Perfect example.
Seminal blue tone and ska album.
I did buy this one on vinyl back in its day. Had not heard it in many years. Entertaining still, yes. Yet, only a few songs actually stand out as classics. Can’t say that I would listen to it very often.
good album
Enjoyable listen with fun lyrics and some catchy songs, though vocals don't always do the songs justice.
4 - great ska
Brittiläistä reggae musiikkia. Onkohan tämä sitä skinhead musiikkia alkuperäisin. Rytmit kivoja musiikki ei iskenyt
Ace
Not as much fun as I was expecting
375 albums in and I'm realizing that my musical tastes do not align with those of whoever made this list. I would rather listen to "A Night at the Opera" 375 times over than ever hear some of these albums - this one included.
Concrete jungle and Little Bitch (minus the misogyny) are my shit. Great vibes, love the ska rhythms, and for the life of me I can't remember a single melody or lyric having just listened to the entire album. Actually that's not entirely true, as the little bitch riff was lifted straight from brown sugar.