THE SPECIALS Specials (2024 UK limited edition 14-track LP pressed on Crystal Clear Vinyl. The self-titled debut album by The Specials stands as one of the defining statements of the late 1970sBritish ska revival. Originally released in 1979 on Jerry Dammers' Two Tone Records, the album fused Jamaican ska and rocksteady with the urgency and attitude of punk, setting the blueprint for a movement that would soon bring groups such as Madness, The Beat, and The Selecter to national attention. Formed in 1977 as The Coventry Automatics, the band quickly established their identity with the debut single "Gangsters", initially issued in a short-run pressing that sold out rapidly before being picked up for wider release. The follow-up single "A Message To You, Rudy" further cemented their reputation, leading directly into the release of this album later the same year. This remastered reissue presents the original track sequence with upgraded audio sourced from the original masters. A cornerstone release for British ska and post-punk, the album captures The Specials at their most direct and influential. Picture sleeve, factory sealed. Recommended).