See 10 more photos

The Specials

On Tour

2,879,679 plays (199,429 listeners)

Listening now: froston

Add to my Library Share

ska, two-tone, punk, reggae, 80s… see all

107 shouts

United Kingdom (1977 – present)

The Specials are a British band formed in 1977 in Coventry, UK. Their founder, Jerry Dammers, based on his knowledge of 60’s mod and ska cultures, formed the label “Two Tone”, releasing a number of seminal singles by seminal bands with the same passion, outlook and style.

The Specials assault on both the charts and popular UK culture began with their debut, “

Gangsters”, closely followed with a cover of “

A Message to You Rudy”…, and then a short-lived but brilliant career featuring such highlights as the “Too Much Too Young” live single, “

Rat Race” (featuring the stomping B-side, “

Rude Boys Outta Jail”), “

Do Nothing”, “

Stereotype” (documenting the lad-about-town thug that every UK town knew, made pleasantries with, but were secretly terrified of) and the bleak, terrifying “Ghost Town”, a song eeirly documenting the mass unemployment and disaffection amongst the youth of the UK, and swiftly making its’ way to the top of the charts.

“

Ghost Town” later made a resurgence into popular culture, after an episode of ‘Father Ted’, where ‘The Spinmaster’ Father Billy O’Dwyer, a DJ-yet-gambling-addicted priest, forgot to bring any records to the disco, but later found a copy of “

Ghost Town” in the boot of his car. The point where everyone stood for the national, anthem, and “doooooo,do do do do do dooooo…

1	A Message to You Rudy	1,260
2	Ghost Town full track	1,189
3	Too Much Too Young full track	925
4	Gangsters full track	673
5	Little Bitch	618
6	Do the dog	613
7	Monkey Man	581
8	Blank Expression	555
9	Concrete Jungle	543
10	Nite Klub	527
11	Rat Race full track	505
12	It's Up to You	397
13	Too Hot full track	396
14	You're Wondering Now full track	378
15	Doesn't Make It Alright	377

Top Albums

The Singles Collection
The Specials
Buy
- Amazon
- eBay
Download
Specials
The Specials
Buy
- Amazon
- eBay
Download
The Specials
The Specials
Buy
- Amazon
- eBay
Download
More Specials
The Specials
Buy
- Amazon
- eBay
Download

Shoutbox

Leave a comment. Log in to Last.fm or sign up (it’s free).

stoneagedinosau wrote:
Wednesday afternoon

Aaah the formative years of my youth. You're going home in a cosmic ambience! When we were skins...

View Profile | Leave stoneagedinosau a shout
BareNakedMike wrote:
Tuesday evening

Man at C&A

View Profile | Leave BareNakedMike a shout
Warrenzzz wrote:
last month

Excellent stuff!

View Profile | Leave Warrenzzz a shout
Kym-B wrote:
last month

Too many great tunes to name but one. So I won't. :) xxx

View Profile | Leave Kym-B a shout
morda_panie wrote:
last month

*_* love it

View Profile | Leave morda_panie a shout
kevin4455 wrote:
last month

i know you know you're just a little BITCH!! ..... one two

View Profile | Leave kevin4455 a shout
drumbum16 wrote:
last month

theu just make me want to dance all the time :D

View Profile | Leave drumbum16 a shout
MellowT wrote:
last month

love their cover of maggie's farm

View Profile | Leave MellowT a shout
johnnytwotone wrote:
last month

Their music is sooooooo much better than The Clash's. The Clash were great, but The Specials just fucking own. I realized this today when, in rapid succession, I listened to a mix of The Clash and then The Specials.

View Profile | Leave johnnytwotone a shout
TheOnlyRoc wrote:
last month

their version of pressure drop is sooooooohohohoooooo much better than the clash's

View Profile | Leave TheOnlyRoc a shout
monbozia wrote:
July 2008

BOOM SHAKALAKA BOOM!

View Profile | Leave monbozia a shout
Expediance wrote:
July 2008

Do the Dog = Brilliance

View Profile | Leave Expediance a shout
danfenton91 wrote:
July 2008

man at C&A, such an awesome song!

View Profile | Leave danfenton91 a shout
talkingminds wrote:
July 2008

the good old days

View Profile | Leave talkingminds a shout
johnnytwotone wrote:
July 2008

Their first album is nearly perfect.

View Profile | Leave johnnytwotone a shout
Danimod wrote:
July 2008

PICK IT UP UP UP!!

View Profile | Leave Danimod a shout
gretski101 wrote:
July 2008

the specials are awesomeeee

View Profile | Leave gretski101 a shout
IKilledBambi wrote:
July 2008

PICK IT UP UP UP!!

View Profile | Leave IKilledBambi a shout
FleshyOne wrote:
July 2008

PICK IT UP PICK IT UP

View Profile | Leave FleshyOne a shout
nuttyrudeboy wrote:
July 2008

Rude boys are still in town

View Profile | Leave nuttyrudeboy a shout

12…6 Next

Listeners

PiratePrincess
Listening now
to Ghost Town
Trigger1978
Listening now
to You're Wondering Now
froston
Listening now
to Do the dog
stereosonicdiscs
Top Listener
loweare138
Top Listener
essexgreenman
Top Listener

Events

Oct 17 The Specials Casa Babylon, Córdoba, Argentina
1 shout
Oct 18 The Specials Teatro Roxy (Colegiales), Buenos Aires, Argentina
4 shouts | 12 attendees

Add event | See more

Recent Activity

Bellarte, gdawg1965, kosmoz999 and 2 other people added The Specials to their libraries. 2 hours ago
mcitizen tagged The Specials with ‘two-tone’. 4 hours ago
ListerNoSpaces, Girlcymru, lucasbarrow and 7 other people added The Specials to their libraries. 5 hours ago
twirlability connected The Specials to the group all girls are princesses. yesterday morning
caith72, oldboy121 and jessicakh added The Specials to their libraries. yesterday morning
sparklism tagged The Specials with ‘ska’. yesterday evening
inigosun, whatjousay, KaroBilly and 21 other people added The Specials to their libraries. yesterday evening
tunebug tagged The Specials with ‘ska’ and ‘two tone’. Thursday evening
Laughingcarrot, Nagapriya and tobydare added The Specials to their libraries. Thursday evening
OverFjell connected The Specials to the group Stop bitching about the Last.fm Layout.. last month