c or d: the specials

No, not really. But I am curious to hear them now.

POO POO POO BEING THROWN AT YOU, ANTHONY.

Seriously though, my main point of contention with the Clash has nothing to do with their actual output. They've written a lot of great songs, but it took them several double-albums plus to get something worth that first Specials record (IMHO). There's a lot of great songs on "Sandinista" for instance. But it took them a triple-LP to get that many out. In brief, the Clash has a much poorer hit/miss ratio.

Also, there's this whole lingering distraction with the Clash involving them somehow being responsible for punk or something, which gets a little grating.

..yeah, so the specials are too blame for the bosstones, hand drawn black and white checkered stuff, plaid pants, but not skanks

I can't even begin to name how many awful bands the Clash inspired. But come on, what's the point of this type of argument?

And before anybody chastises me for using the word wack, please remember that I'm Brian Austin Green.

so amazingly classic. i cant wait to see them in may.

always thought the album version of do nothing wasnt as good as the single one though.

POO POO POO BEING THROWN AT YOU, ANTHONY

haha i hope i'm slightly older, mentally, than a schoolkid in 2009

Anyway, the 2001 remasters of the first three Specials CDs has (over?-)corrected a lot of the production issues of the original CD issues -- minus the unlisted bonus single tracks. (The Specials now lacks "Gangsters", More Specials now lacks "Rat Race", etc.) The original LPs, UK and US, still sound ace. The new CDs sound really nice.. almost too nice. :-/

Also, that 3-CD odds, ends, rarity comp is really really great.

Anyway, the 2001 remasters of the first three Specials CDs has (over?-)corrected a lot of the production issues of the original CD issues -- minus the unlisted bonus single tracks. (The Specials now lacks "Gangsters", More Specials now lacks "Rat Race", etc.) The original LPs, UK and US, still sound ace. The new CDs sound really nice.. almost too nice. :-/

But for novices, it's worth noting that the 2001 remasters simply restore the albums to their original UK release tracklistings, and the "missing" tracks - including alternate single versions of "Do Nothing" (etc) are all on the triple CD, which pretty much collects all the non-LP specials tracks from beginning to end with only a couple of tracks in the same versions as their album counterparts.

Recession, unemployment - now is surely the time for a major revival of this group

i heard Free Nelson Mandela on the radio just this morning. (why? i hate that song. luckily it was the bbc's iplayer and i could hit ffwd)

Nice. I've been listening to a bunch of second-wave ska stuff this morning, and christ the sound on the specials records is SOOOOOO bad. almost unlistenably so. i mean, yes, i like Madness and The Beat more, but not that much more. Glad to see I just need to make sure I have the 2001 remasters.

they are down as being on Jools Holland this tuesday(?) and (longer repeat) friday

cool. i have a ticket for them in may but am wondering if i should sell it on ebay or not. spent 40 quid on it. i miss the days when concert tickets were cheaper.

my son was singing along to "Doesn't Make it Alright" tonight, felt a kind of glow

"(What I like most about you is your) Girlfriend" has been stuck in my head for weeks. Perfect blend of menacing and ridiculous, and the video's great too.

one of the upcoming glastonbury broadcasts on BBCx is listed as 'The Specials'...

BBC4 Fri 26 Jun 2009 21:00
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00lc8ms

oh, that was good. a field full of people dancing to Rudy in the sun.

it wasnt bad. those songs are all still so good but it seemed like they were just kinda going through the motions. not really doing anything with the songs - just getting them out one after the other.