The Specials - More Specials (LP) (1980) - €10,00

posted by ad-vinylrecords

More Specials is the second album by English ska band the Specials, released by 2 Tone Records in September 1980. 

After the success of the band's self-titled debut, band member Jerry Dammers assumed the role as the band's leader and stirred them into expanding their 2 Tone sound into other genres of music, most prominently a lounge music and easy listening style inspired by Muzak. Several band members disagreed with Dammers' vision and brought their own influences to the album, including from northern soul and rockabilly, contributing to an eclectic sound palette. 

The relations between band members continued to sour into the album's accompanying tour and most of the band departed in 1981.

The album features collaborations with the Go-Go's members Belinda Carlisle, Charlotte Caffey, and Jane Wiedlin; Rhoda Dakar from the Bodysnatchers; and Lee Thompson from Madness. 

The lyrics on the album, as with the band's debut album, are often intensely political. Upon its release, the album alienated some fans, but reached number 5 in the UK Albums Chart, while its singles reached the top 10 of the UK Singles Chart. 

Side one

Side one is eclectic, incorporating energetic ska ("Enjoy Yourself"), northern soul ("Sock It to 'em J.B."), reggae ("Do Nothing") and a "kitsch singalong" ("Pearl's Cafe"). The album is bookended by two cover versions of music hall standard "Enjoy Yourself (It's Later than You Think)." Nick Reynolds writes that the irony behind recording the song is "very black indeed." 

In the version that opens the album, the song is upbeat, with inventive drumming from Bradbury, but ironically hints at the nation's then-fear of a potentially impending nuclear war. 

Indicating the band's move away from ska, the song's horn arrangements are said by Goldman to "evoke Bernard Herrmann and the Northern Dance Orchestra more than the cool jerk at Studio One."

"Man at C&A", Hall's first composition, also shares a theme of nuclear war with its lyrics addressing doomsday, and was described by Simon Reynolds as a "film soundtrack/Muzak fusion." The song includes a horn arrangement inspired by Nelson Riddle and "explosion" sounds from Bradbury's synthesised drums. 

Bradbury's interest in new technology, including synthesised drums, provided a foil to most of the other band members, who preferred simplistic live recording. Lee Thompson of Madness contributes saxophone solos to "Hey, Little Rich Girl", which concerns an aspiring young woman whose career detours into pornography after moving to London.

"Do Nothing" sharply warns about the "dangers of obliviousness", although its searching lyrics are contrasted with the upbeat, laidback rhythm.

 Peter Chick of The Guardian noted that "[t]he track might conjure a blissful, muzak-smooth, easy-listening utopia, but – as seemed to be More Specials' bleak theme – underneath the surface, everything was fucked up." 

"Pearl's Cafe" features future Specials vocalist Rhoda Dakar, then of the Bodysnatchers, dueting with Hall, and lyrically comments on the country's frustration, with one critic particularly noting the line: "It's all a load of bollocks, and bollocks to it all."

Bradbury's northern soul tribute "Sock It to 'em J.B." was updated via saxophone work from Paul Haskett, who applies a 1960s kitsch sound to proceedings.

Side two

Side two sees the album enter into more radical territory, dominated by Dammers' infatuation for exotica and film scores. 

Throughout this side, Dammers plays rhythms in the styles of cha-cha, beguine and bossa nova on his Yamaha home organ. "Stereotypes/Stereotypes Pt. 2" blends lounge, dub and Spaghetti Western music and features complex chord circles that have been compared to Bach. 

The track begins with exotica sounds, a "chintzy" drum machine beat and ominously harmonised vocals from Hall, Golding and Staple.

In the song's second part, it transforms into an extended dub section with Dammers' ringing synth figures, Byers's flamenco notes and drum machine beats rubbing with echo-laden snare drums. 

Lyrically, it concerns a slacker who drinks heavily and then crashes his car in a police chase. "Holiday Fortnight" is an instrumental flavoured by Mexican and calypso music, whereas "I Can't Stand It" contains cool jazz licks, and was one of the first songs Dammers had ever written.

"International Jet Set" is a bleak psychedelic track in an exotica and "elevator music" style with a sitar-style groove and lucid synths. 

Lyrically, Hall narrates a personal nervous breakdown on a McDonnell Douglas DC-10 aeroplane in which he talks of the misery of life and his alienation, before the sound of a captain announcing over the PA that the plane is to take a crash landing, presumably killing its passengers. 

According to Simon Price of Melody Maker, the wider message is explicit: "There’s no one driving. This is the late 20th century and the lunatics have their fingers on the red button. We’re alone. We’re all going to die. Brrrr." 

The reprise of "Enjoy Yourself" that closes the album is a collaboration with the Go-Go's and is slower and broodier than the first version, transforming the song into "a wry cynicism worthy of 'Threepenny Opera' or similar Brecht/Weill cabaret collaborations," according to Goldman.

Side A

A1.  Enjoy Yourself (It’s Later Than You Think)  (3:39)

A2.  Man At C & A   (3:36)

A3.  Hey, Little Rich Girl  (3:35)

A4.  Do Nothing  (3:43)

A5.  Pearl’s Café  (3:07)

A6.  Sock It To ‘Em J.B. (2:56)

Side B

B1.  Stereotypes  (3:16)

B2.  Stereotypes Pt 2  (7:24)

B3.  Holiday Fortnight  (2:45)

B4.  I Can’t Stand It  (4:01)

B5.  International Jet Set  (5:37)

B6.  Enjoy Yourself (Reprise)  (1:46)

The Specials

• Terry Hall – vocals
• Lynval Golding – vocals, guitar
• Neville Staple – vocals, percussion
• Jerry Dammers – organ, piano, keyboards, production
• Roddy Byers – guitar
• Horace Panter – bass guitar
• John Bradbury – drums, production on one track

with:

• Rico Rodriguez – trombone
• Dick Cuthell – cornet, flugelhorn, horn
• Lee Thompson – saxophone
• Paul Heskett – saxophone
• Rhoda Dakar – vocals
• Belinda, Charlotte and Jane – background vocals

Technical

• Dave Jordan – production, engineering
• Jeremy "The Blade" Allom – engineering
• Chalkie Davies, Carol Starr – cover photographs and artwork

Notes

Release: 1980

Format:  LP, Vinyl

Genre:  Ska, 2 Tone

Label:  2 Tone / Chrysalis Records

Catalog#  202848

Vinyl:  Goed (VG)

Cover:  Goed (VG)

Prijs: €10,00