Album of the Week for March 14th: The Specials self-titled debut release from 1979

Enjoy first wave Brittish ska? Me too. Join me and my co-hosts for a listen of The Specials 'The Specials' from 2 Tone records, produced by Elvis Costello. You'll think "isn't this a greatest hits album?" and I'll say "No! Unless you consider that it was The Specials' first album and every song is a hit." They're all here:

Side one

"A Message to You Rudy" (Dandy Livingstone) – 2:53

"Do the Dog" (Rufus Thomas, arr. by Jerry Dammers) – 2:09

"It's Up to You" (Dammers, The Specials) – 3:25

"Nite Klub" (Dammers, The Specials) – 3:22

"Doesn't Make It Alright" (Dammers, Dave Goldberg) – 3:26

"Concrete Jungle" (Roddy Byers) – 3:18

"Too Hot" (Cecil Campbell) – 3:09

Side two

"Monkey Man" (Toots Hibbert) – 2:45

"(Dawning of A) New Era" (Dammers) – 2:24

"Blank Expression" (Dammers, The Specials) – 2:43

"Stupid Marriage" (Dammers, Mark Harrison, Neville Staple, Cecil Campbell) – 3:49

"Too Much Too Young" (Dammers, acknowledgment to Lloyd Charmers) – 6:06*

"Little Bitch" (Dammers)† – 2:31

"You're Wondering Now" (Clement Seymour) – 2:36

I'll see if I can grab a copy of the vinyl and we'll go from there...