The Specials  by The Specials

The Specials, a group of young people from Coventry, recorded and released their debut album in 1979, titled with the name of the band. Combining reggae and ska, but also with the punk aesthetic lingering in the air, the Specials offered the British youth an album that, through its lyrics, expressed the anger and disappointment that were widespread among the youth in Great Britain in the late 1970s.

The album was released by the legendary record label 2 Tone, which was founded by Jeremy Dammers, a key member of the Specials. The producer of the album was Elvis Costello. Most of the songs were their own compositions, but there were also successful covers of ska songs originating from Jamaica.

At the time of its release, the album reached No. 4 in the United Kingdom and sold over 100,000 copies. It is rightly considered one of the finest albums of the British new wave.