THE SPECIALS レコード& CD

Review: The Specials' ghostly pop-dub classic 'Ghost Town' resonated far and wide with international audiences ever since its initial release in 1981. First springboarded by the gothic ska/rocksteady group's song of the same name - with its gloomy meditations on destitution and winters of discontent around the time, manifested in statements like "all the clubs are being closed down" and "too much fighting on the dancefloor" - the ensuing album is similarly political, urgent and doomy. Classics such as 'A Message To You, Rudy' and 'Gangsters' appear once more on this stealth limited edition reissue.

Review: The Specials are real UK national treasures, aren't they? And rightly so. Alexis Petridis has even gone so far as to say their standout single 'Ghost Town' is the second greatest UK single to have ever been released. Again, it's hard to really argue with that one. It was a UK chart topper at time of release and speaks eloquently of the urban decay, unemployment and ongoing racial tensions of the period. Sound familiar? Sadly, you once again have to agree. This 40th Anniversary Edition has been mastered and cut at half-speed for extra oomph.

Review: 
The Specials are real UK national treasures, aren't they? And rightly so. Alexis Petridis has even gone so far as to say their standout single 'Ghost Town' is the second greatest UK single to have ever been released. Again, it's hard to really argue with that one. It was a UK chart topper at time of release and speaks eloquently of the urban decay, unemployment and ongoing racial tensions of the period. Sound familiar? Sadly, you once again have to agree. This 40th Anniversary Edition has been mastered and cut at half-speed for extra oomph.