ALBUM: The Specials - Encore

The Specials release their long-awaited new album 'Encore' today (1st February). Listen to the LP in full via YouTube below. If you appreciate the music, we encourage you to support the artists by buying their music digitally or physically online or from your local record shop.

Many people still refer to the era of the late 1970s and early 80s as an age where popular music truly reflected the times. Multiracial 2 Tone legends The Specials were a prime example, scoring hit singles with songs regarding racial and social tensions, class war, politics and human rights.

2019's heated political climate provides the perfect backdrop for the return of The Specials. 'Vote For Me' is the first "proper" new material from the band since their era-defining 1981 number 1 single 'Ghost Town'. In the current turbulent climate 38 years later, comeback LP 'Encore' picks up almost exactly, in style and in substance, where 'Ghost Town' left off, addressing serious issues head-on.

After seven consecutive UK Top 10 singles between 1979 and 1981, vocalists Terry Hall and Neville Staple, along with guitarist Golding, left to the group to form Fun Boy Three. The remainder of the group continued as "The Special AKA", releasing the 1984 album 'In The Studio', which included the hit single 'Free Nelson Mandela'. After this, Jerry Dammers dissolved the band and began a new career in political activism.

Since the break-up of the original line-up, various members of the band performed in other bands and in Specials-related projects. However, there has never been a complete reunion of the original line-up.

The first reunion under the Specials name occurred in 1993, when producer Roger Lomas decided to use the Specials as backing band for an album by ska legend Desmond Dekker. Only Golding, Panter, Roddy Radiation and Staple participated in this reunion of sorts. This led to this partial line up of the group releasing a new album under The Specials name, 1996's 'Today's Specials', a collection of cover versions. A couple of years later, this version of the group released 'Guilty Til Proven Innocent', an album of brand new tracks. It featured the excellent 'Fearful', which was recorded with American punks Rancid. Two more albums of covers followed: 'Skinhead Girl' from 2000, and 2001's 'Conquering Ruler' but Lynval Golding had now left the band, who fizzled out shortly afterwards.

In 2008, Terry Hall confirmed that The Specials would be reforming, minus the estranged Jerry Dammers. The group have toured around the world and played many festivals, thrilling fans old and new. Staple departed in 2012, Roddy Radiation left in 2014, and drummer John Bradbury sadly died in 2015. But the band remain strong with founding members Hall, Golding and Panter at the core. New additions to The Specials include Ocean Colour Scene and Paul Weller guitar legend Steve Cradock, and Libertines drummer Gary Powell. The new album marks the first time vocalist Hall has sang with the band since 1981.

Unexpected disco opener 'Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys' sets things up nicely for the red-hot reggae and excellent Lynval Golding monologue on 'B.L.M'. Sticking a boot into corrupt, self-serving politicians, 'Vote For Me' was written and produced by founding members Terry Hall, Lynval Golding, Horace Panter together with long-time collaborator Torp Larsen.   'Ghost Town' vibes also find their way into the long-overdue Specials version of 'The Lunatics Have Taken Over The Asylum'. 'Breaking Point' provides a damning critique of social media, while 'Blam Blam Fever' takes aim at lack of gun control, and '10 Commandments' enlists the help of activist Sophia Khan, allying with gender equality and as always, anti-racism. 'Embarrassed By You' also spits in the face of right wing bigots, and 'The Life And Times (Of A Man Called Depression)' sticks a wicked bassline to a spoken word passage by Hall, before 'We Sell Hope' delivers a fine closing call for unity.

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