''Today's Specials'' is a
cover album
An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track cartridge, 8-track or Cassette tape, cassette), or digital distribution, dig ...
by
the Specials
The Specials, also known as the Special AKA, were an English 2 tone and ska revival band formed in 1977 in Coventry. After some early changes, the first stable lineup of the group consisted of Terry Hall and Neville Staple on vocals, J ...
, released in 1996. It is the first studio album by the group since 1984, albeit not involving the full original line-up. Original members
Neville Staple,
Roddy Byers,
Lynval Golding, and
Horace Panter are joined by new members Mark Adams and Adam Birch, along with a number of sessions musicians. Lead vocals are mostly handled by Staple and Golding, with Neville's daughter Sheena Staples contributing backing vocals to the album.
The album was released exclusively on
CD in the US, UK and Canada, and on CD and
cassette tape
The Compact Cassette, also commonly called a cassette tape, audio cassette, or simply tape or cassette, is an analog audio, analog magnetic tape recording format for Sound recording and reproduction, audio recording and playback. Invented by L ...
in the Netherlands. It did not receive favourable reviews from media or fans, with many reviewers decrying in particular the over-use of synthesizers and pre-programmed drums beats. Neville Staple claims that several of the recordings were actually produced demos, and regrets including them on the album.
[Original Rude Boy: From Borstal to The Specials by Neville Staple with Tony McMahon; Chapter 10: The Third Wave - America Revive's Ska]
The tracks "
Pressure Drop" and "Hypocrite" were released as singles in the UK.
Track listing
Personnel
*
Neville Staple - vocals, producer
*
Roddy Byers - vocals, guitar
*
Lynval Golding - guitar, vocals, harmonica, mixing
*
Horace Panter - bass guitar
*Mark Adams - organ, keyboards, backing vocals, programming, mixing
*Adam Birch - trombone, trumpet, horn, flugelhorn
*Aitch Hyatt - drums, backing vocals
*Kendell Smith - DJ Vocals
*Sheena Staple - backing vocals
*Stoker - producer, mixing
*Tom Lowry - producer, programming, engineer
*Jim Lansberry - programming, mixing, engineer
*Mike Exeter - Engineer (Hypocrite)
References
1996 albums
The Specials albums
Virgin Records albums
1990s covers albums
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