The Specials (Remastered)

The Specials’ self-titled debut not only fueled the mod, skinhead and rude-boy revival during the late '70s/early '80s, but it also served (and continues to serve) as a gateway album by covering a handful of classic reggae tunes, helping introduce old-school ska to a young generation. It opens with an infectiously bouncy rendition of Lee “Scratch” Perry and Dandy Livingstone’s “A Message To You Rudy” before turning Rufus Thomas’ “Do The Dog” into a hyper Two Tone anthem. While they played Prince Buster’s “Too Hot” close to the original, Toots Hibbert’s “Monkey Man” gets energized with punk angst. The band’s disdain for club culture is further expanded on the hilarious “Nite Klub” where Elvis Costello’s production is most salient with Sir Horace Gentleman’s 16th notes on the bass and a pub-rock mix that’s aged wonderfully. Throughout the album Terry Hall’s snotty punk inflections contrast well with Lynval Golding’s cool Jamaican accent, though it was keyboard player Jerry Dammers and guitarist Roddy Radiation who penned instant classics like “Little B*tch” and “Concrete Jungle,” respectively.