The O-town Scene - Oneonta, NY
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/23825
Vinyl Vault The Specials, “The Specials” (Chrysalis) When I first discovered this record I thought I had struck gold. This was a mid-high-school period in the early ’90s of intense seriousness about classic punk rock amongst my friends. Clash and Ramones prevailed, but guys were getting to Elvis Costello and old Police as well. When I saw Elvis produced this album, I was up for a listen. Plus, the album is really cool looking. All black-and-white (a nod to the two-tone genre they helped pioneer) with compulsory checkering for a ska band, a picture of four very English- looking white dudes in oddly fitting suits and loafers and two sharp-looking black dudes in porkpie hats and shades. They had the look, all right. The album begins on a mellow note with indecipher- able Coven- try “Wot” (not sure if I want to know what he’s talk- ing about in this one, judging from the title), you can imagine a smoky dancehall going bonkers. “When lead singer Terry Hall spazzes ... you can imagine a smoky dancehall going bonkers.” a cover of Danny Livingstone’s “A Mes- sage to You, Rudy,” an irresistible, upbeat melody lead by the horn section and sung by two gentlemen harmonizing in thick Ja- maican accents _ a plea to a youngster to stay away from street-life, or to stop being such a Rude Boy. But things get out of hand quickly. The second track, “Do The Dog,” begins with a heavily reverbed drumline that sounds like a Tommy gun, and the band kicks a similar skanky rhythm to “Rudy,” but sped-up about 18 times. And when lead singer Terry Hall spazzes in with his manic, high-register, frequently But regardless of what exactly “The Dog” is, The Specials’ aim was to spread a socially conscious message of racial unity, safe communities with healthy families and, in at least one case, advocating the use of contraception. And while this is defi- nitely a second-wave ska album, the band is able to dial-in different levels of English-punk lightning where the need dictates. A cover of Toot’s “Mon- key Man” is sheer ska-reggae jubilation. “Nite Klub” completely sneers at the trendy socialite scene. “Stupid Marriage” is a hilarious stalker-case courtroom drama. The coda to “Too Much Too Young” is about as snarling punk as you could get. But, alas, this extremely solid album never caught on with my high-school cronies. Didn’t pass some 15-year-old cool litmus test, I suppose. But these guys had a lot to do with revitalizing the styles of Desmond Dekker and other originators, and the genre thrives in many circles today. _ Eric Coan Want to write a Vinyl Vault column? E-mail editor@otownscene.com for info 10 O-Town Scene Jan. 27, 2011