Released
on October 19th, 1979, the debut eponymous LP from The Specials is
turning 45 years old today. If you were to only have one UK ska album
in your collection, it might as well be this one because it’s simply so
concise and thorough that it captures every important aspect of the
genre and movement, at least as far as it manifested in its revived form
at the end of the 1970s.
Following
in the wake of punk, the UK SKA scene took the anger and social outrage
of punk and channelled it into a racially diverse commentary on
cultural fusion. The “2 Tone” ideology of black and white working
together, in balance and unity, was a forward thinking approach that
seems so sadly distant in the post “Brexit” era of UK bigotry and
anti-immigration furor. Though there were many vital artists who also
came out of this scene, the Specials remain the most memorable and this
album captures all the best of their essence across 14 compact and
infectious songs.
The Specials
came together starting in 1977, with Jerry Dammers as the principal
instigator and architect of the band's sound. Initially billed as
"Specials AKA", their first brush with success was independently
releasing the split single, Gangsters b/w The Selector by the group, The
Selector. The success of the single attracted the attention of the
majors, and Dammers negotiated a deal with Chrysalis Records to set up
2-Tone as an independent sub-label, leveraging the financial input of
the major label while retaining the freedom of 2-Tone to release records
by unsigned bands, without requiring them to commit to any obligations
to the parent label.
The band
had also been making a name for themselves by joining The Clash on tour
around the UK. The two bands were very simpatico in terms of their
political and social stances, so it was a natural fit and helped to
bring the band to national prominence. With their first singles then
charting, a full length album was in order, and the group secured Elvis
Costello as producer for the sessions. Recording was focused on mostly
attempting to recreate the band's live set on LP, incorporating their
mix of original songs with updated versions of classic Rock Steady and
Ska tunes from the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Surprisingly,
when the album was released, while it was a hit in terms of sales,
critics at the time were divided on its success. Most of the criticisms
that the album received were from people who were intimately familiar
with the band's live sound, and they felt that Costello had dampened and
muted the group's energy compared to what they delivered on stage.
That may well be true, but for those not biased by such preconceptions,
the album is considered a flawless masterpiece, encapsulating the spirit
and essence of the times with a selection of songs that are unfailing
when it comes to delivering the goods. It's an album that has retained
every ounce of its power to engage, enrage and inspire, as sharply
observant of the times while still completely relevant to the modern
worlds. None of the issues it tackles have been really resolved in the
decades since its release, so its critiques remain as valid today as
they were 45 years ago. Plus you can dance to it!
