THE SPECIALS / PARADISO 1980 (1CDR)

Recorded live at the Paradiso,
Amsterdam, Netherlands
January 21, 1980

01. Dawning of a New Era
02. Do The Dog
03. It's Up To You
04. Monkey Man
05. Rat Race
06. Blank Expression
07. Rude Boys Outta Jail
08. Concrete Jungle
09. Too Hot
10. Doesn't Make It Alright
11. Stupid Marriage
12. Too Much Too Young
13. Guns of Navarone
14. Little Bitch
15. A Message to You Rudy
16. Nite Club
17. Gangsters
18. Long Shot Kick De Bucket
19. Liquidator
20. Skinhead Moonstomp
21. Madness
22. You're Wondering Now

Here is a superb soundboard recording of The Specials—the undisputed heavyweights of 2-Tone ska. This recording captures the band at their absolute peak, just prior to the release of their second album. It is a 2021 24-bit digital remaster, featuring careful adjustments to the treble and low-end frequencies. Their 2-Tone ska sound—which infused the genre with a punk essence—elevated ska into a fresh form of "rebel music," taking the world by storm alongside other trends of the post-punk era like world music, calypso, and qawwali. They are the legendary band that captivated the youth with ska, a genre with a history even longer than that of reggae. From their signature debut "Gangsters" and Toots' "Monkey Man" to Harry J's "Liquidator" and tracks from their Costello-produced first album, this relentless setlist is a flawless, high-energy performance.
While there are fans of The Selecter, Madness, and The Beat, this release is truly something special.