ALBUMS THE BLEW MY MIND: The Specials Debut
The album that defined, shaped and lead the charge for the second wave of Ska
I discovered this gem of an album a few years after its release but again, as so many great albums do, it grabbed me by the shirt collar and shook me to the core.
From the opening track "A Message To You, Rudy" to "Too Hot" (the first track to be recorded), and "Too Much Too Young", every single song is a revelation of energy, rawness, and electricity.
These were the days of vinyl or cassette, I had my Walkman glued to my hip, assorted cassettes either in my knapsack or back pocket (in case of a musical emergency), headphones embedded into my skull, and would listen over and over, taking in the music, the arrangements, the production (Elvis Costello produced it) and the mixing.
Like any album with longevity, it was all of the above details that made this such a cohesive soundtrack to so many lives, and has remained one of the definitive 2nd wave ska albums to this very day.
A must listen from top to bottom, all killer, no filler.
My personal tracks to check suggestions:
1. Gangsters
2. Monkey Man
3. Too Much Too Young
Let me know your favourite tracks from the album in the comment section below.
Thanks Jesse. An absolute classic. I've always had a soft spot for You're Wondering Now and the whole album has to be considered one of Elvis Costello's better moments in a career full of them.
Message to You Rudy is one of my favourites off this album Gangsters and Stupid Marriage are kinda my favourites but as you said no fillers on this album Great listen from start to finish 😎 Got this album the same time I got English Beat’s I Just Can’t Stop It and Too Much Pressure by The Selectors…a great day of listening