Today's Specials

Today's Specials is a cover album by The Specials, released in 1996 (see 1996 in music). 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.

For the 2009 film, see Today's Special (film).
For the Canadian children's TV series, see Today's Special.
Today's Specials
Studio album by
The Specials
ReleasedMay 14, 1996
GenreSka
Length47:41
Label
ProducerTom Lowry, Neville Staple, Stoker
The Specials chronology
Too Much Too Young: The Gold Collection
(1996)		 Today's Specials
(1996)		 Guilty 'til Proved Innocent!
(1998)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]

The album was released exclusively on CD in the US, UK and Canada, and on CD and cassette tape 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.[2][3] Neville Staple claims that several of the recordings were actually produced demos, and regrets including them on the album.[4]

The tracks "Pressure Drop" and "Hypocrite" were released as singles in the UK.

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Take Five"Paul Desmond3:56
2."Pressure Drop"Toots Hibbert4:18
3."Hypocrite"Leroy Sibbles3:25
4."Goodbye Girl"Ken Boothe3:57
5."A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You"Neil Diamond4:32
6."Time Has Come"Slim Smith5:09
7."Dirty Old Town"Ewan MacColl3:33
8."Somebody Got Murdered"The Clash3:06
9."Shanty Town 007"Desmond Dekker3:57
10."Simmer Down"Bob Marley3:46
11."Maga Dog"Peter Tosh2:54
12."Bad Boys"Beckford Bailey5:08

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)
gollark: How do you know what cardiac arrest is like exactly?
gollark: They shouldn't really beep.
gollark: Some are assigned to monitoring and stuff.
gollark: You can determine whether it is a bee by using your phone to communicate with it using the Bee Communication Protocol.
gollark: They mostly buzz, beeping is rare.

References
  1. Allmusic review
  2. http://www.allmusic.com/album/todays-specials-mw0000183147
  3. http://dropd.com/issue/26/CD/TheSpecials/
  4. Original Rude Boy: From Borstal to The Specials by Neville Staple with Tony McMahon; Chapter 10: The Third Wave - America Revive's Ska
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