THE SPECIALS - The Specials - Original UK LP - 2-Tone Punk Ska Terry Hall Two

	£		16
	$		21

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** RECORD COLLECTOR **

THE SPECIALS

The Specials

Original UK LP released on 2-Tone Records in 1979.
Front-laminated cover.

CDL5001 A//2▼E C   TY-CBS   /   CDL5001 B//5▼E C   TY-CBS

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A perfect moment in time captured on vinyl forever, such is the Specials' eponymous debut album. It was an utter revelation -- except for anyone who had seen the band on-stage, for the album was at its core a studio recording of their live set, and at times even masquerades as a gig. There were some notable omissions: "Gangsters," for one, but that had already spun on 45, as well as the quartet of covers that would appear on their live Too Much Too Young EP in the new year. But the rest are all here, 14 songs' strong, mostly originals with a few covers of classics thrown in for good measure.

That includes their fabulous take on Dandy Livingstone's "A Message to You Rudy," an equally stellar version of the Maytals' "Monkey Man," and the sizzling take on Prince Buster's "Too Hot." If those were fabulous, their own compositions were magnificent. The Specials managed to distil all the anger, disenchantment, and bitterness of the day straight into their music. The vicious "Nite Klub" -- with its unforgettable line, "All the girls are slags and the beer tastes just like piss" -- perfectly skewered every bad night the members had ever spent out on the town; "Blank Expression" extended the misery into unwelcoming pubs, while "Concrete Jungle" moved the action onto the streets, capturing the fear and violence that stalked the inner cities. And then it gets personal.

"It's Up to You" throws down the gauntlets to those who disliked the group, its music, and its stance, while simultaneously acting as a rallying cry for supporters. "Too Much Too Young" shows the Specials' disdain for teen pregnancy and marriage; "Stupid Marriage" drags two such offenders before a Judge Dread-esque magistrate, with Terry Hall playing the outraged and sniping prosecutor; while "Little Bitch" is downright nasty. Those were polemics; "It Doesn't Make It Alright" reaches a hand out to listeners and, with conviction, delivers up a heartfelt plea against racism, but even this number contains a sharp sting in its tail.

It's a bitter brew, aggressively delivered, with even the slower numbers sharply edged, and therefore the band wisely scattered sparkling covers across the album to help lift its mood. The set appropriately ends with the rocksteady-esque yearning of "You're Wondering Now," the song that invariably closed their live shows. Even though producer Elvis Costello gave the record a bright sound, it doesn't lighten the dark currents that run through the group's songs; if anything, his production heightens them. It's left to guests Rico Rodriguez and Dick Cuthell to provide a little Caribbean sun to the Specials' sound, their brass sweetening the flashes of anger and disaffection that sweep across the record.

Tracks Are :-

Side One

A Message To You Rudy
Do The Dog
It's Up To You
Nite Klub
Doesn't Make It Alright
Concrete Jungle
Too Hot

Side Two

Monkey Man
(Dawning Of A) New Era
Blank Expression
Stupid Marriage
Too Much Too Young
Little Bitch
You're Wondering Now

Released on '2-Tone Records' in 1979

Catalogue No. CDL TT5001

Disc is in VG+ condition (some surface wear)

Sleeve is in VG+ condition (general light wear)

Please contact me via Ebay Messages with any questions I will try my best to get back to you as quickly as possible.

PAYMENT BY PAYPAL ONLY

IF BUYING MORE THAN ONE ITEM PLEASE WAIT FOR COMBINED INVOICE!!!

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT COMBINED SHIPPING ON ALL 12" RECORDS (LPs / 12" SINGLES etc). PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY!!!!

We offer combined shipping on vinyl records: our shipping rates are listed below. HOWEVER shipping packages that weigh more than 2kg is VERY expensive. Therefore we can only offer combined shipping up to a maximum of SIX (6) LPs / 12" records. Any extra purchases will be invoiced, packaged and shipped separately.

***Due to the physical logistics of how I can package orders, I will not combine box sets with other items, I will only package them individually***

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UK POSTAGE RATES FOR 12" RECORDS (LPs & 10"/12" SINGLES):

1 LP £4.25
2 LP £4.25
3 LP £6.50
4 LP £6.50
5 LP £6.50
6 LP £6.50

*********DOUBLES COUNT AS TWO*********

INTERNATIONAL POSTAGE RATES TO EUROPE FOR 12" RECORDS:

1 LP £7.35
2 LP £8.65
3 LP £9.65
4 LP £10.45
5 LP £11.60
6 LP £12.40

INTERNATIONAL POSTAGE RATES TO "WORLD ZONE 1" (USA, CANADA, JAPAN etc ) FOR 12" RECORDS:

1 LP £9.80
2 LP £12.35
3 LP £14.50
4 LP £15.50
5 LP £17.00
6 LP £18.20

INTERNATIONAL POSTAGE RATES TO "WORLD ZONE 2" (AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, SINGAPORE etc)

1 LP £10.50
2 LP £13.10
3 LP £15.25
4 LP £16.45
5 LP £18.25
6 LP £19.70

*********DOUBLES COUNT AS TWO*********

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POSTAGE RATES FOR 7” SINGLES & CDs:

UK: £2.00 – then £0.50 each extra.
EUROPE: £4.95 – then £0.50 each extra.
"WORLD ZONE 1" (USA, CANADA, JAPAN etc ): £6.00 – then £1.00 each extra
"WORLD ZONE 2" (AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND etc): £6.55 then £1.00 each extra

*********DOUBLES COUNT AS TWO*********

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COMBINED POSTAGE FOR DIFFERENT FORMATS will be invoiced at my discretion:

While I am happy to combine (for example) one or two 7” singles into one package with 12” records, sometimes it isn’t practical (like if you want me to combine one 12” record with three or more 7” records). I do not think that these combinations can be packaged together safely and securely. Therefore these will be invoiced separately as two packages.

IF YOU ARE UNSURE, please contact me before bidding!

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Sorry but I am no longer willing to carry combined transactions beyond two weeks of auctions (see below).

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PAYMENT

I would appreciate payment within seven days of the auction's end. If you want to bid on more of our auctions ending a week later please inform me. I will wait and issue a combined invoice at the close of the second week's auctions.

However, I am no longer willing to carry combined transactions beyond two weeks and in these cases would appreciate payment promptly after the close of the second week's auctions.

I am sorry to have to introduce these measures – I always try to be patient and allow buyers to bid on extra auctions and / or delay payment. Unfortunately some buyers have been stretching out transactions to unacceptable lengths so I have no option but to limit 'carried over' transactions to two weeks.