Track Listing

1. Enjoy Yourself (It's Later Than You Think)
2. Man At C & A
3. Hey Little Rich Girl
4. Do Nothing
5. Pearl's Cafe
6. Sock It To 'Em Jb
7. Stereotype/Stereotypes Pt 2
8. Holiday Fortnight
9. I Can't Stand It
10. International Jet Set
11. Enjoy Yourself (Reprise)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2780 in Music
• Released on: 2002-03-25
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Enhanced, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

CD Description
'More Specials' is avaialable on CD for the first time since its deletion in 1992. The Midlands-based ska act fronted by Terry Hall had two top ten hits from this album in 1980, 'Stereotype/International Jet Set' and 'Do Nothing'. This enhanced version includes the video to their second no.1 single, 'Ghost Town'.

Customer Reviews

Massively under-rated gem
Totally agree with the other reviewers here. I was 13 when it came out & it was eagerly awaited, and although well recieved & racked up some 'units' for Chrysalis at the time, I can honestly say that on most of my mates copies, Side 2 of the vinyl would have looked clean as a whistle being as it was rarely played. What 'the kids' wanted was another 1st album; they wanted 'Monkey Man' and 'Nite Klub' - jump about & bounce around 3 minute killers- and the likes of 'Stereotypes' & 'I Can't Stand it' were too much a departure.

And yet this album (sorry, but it is an album - if ever a recording was to be split into sides, this was it)stands strong to this day. The writing was much more spread out amongst band members than on the first & also not as reliant on covers,and as a result sounds more mature & personal.

Also -and I think this is very important- the whole thing just jumps out as a reaction to the time it was recorded. In answer to one of the other reviewers, 1980 was a stinky old year indeed (I might've only been 13 then, but it very much filtered through to me & my peers) & this really is the soundtrack to those times. In fact, the cynic in me suggests that its not that out of place right now! If one song on this record encapsulates 1980, then for me its 'Do Nothing' which outside of 'Ghost Town' really summed up the mood of the Specials & their social commentary.

And yet despite the phrase 'why the long face?' not being in circulation until Terry Hall came along, this record is far from po-faced. 'Sock It to em JB' is sheer quality northern soul brass filled floor pounding moving music, and 'Holiday Fortnight' can't help but make me crack up whenever i play it.

Make no mistake, with the two studio albums the Specials recorded with this line-up, they left an imprint on the history of English music that would be the envy of many (all?) of their peers. They really were that important. But the music still stands up today, and this album really does deserve to be re-evaluated as it always seems to be in the shadows of their debut & I'm glad I can see that with the other reviewers here I'm not alone in recognising what a great recording this still is.

Sounds even better now than when I was 15!
I was a bit of a rude boy, back in 1980. I have fond memories of strutting around North London in my Harrington jacket, Fred Perry shirt, white socks, braces and tassled loafers. I wasn't a skinhead then but I am now! When CDs came out, I stupidly gave away all my vinyl to charity shops, including More Specials.

Making a welcome return to my music collection, More Specials is such an overlooked gem. I notice it did make it into "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die" but you are unlikely to find it in a top 50 or 100 list.

It's difficult to put into words why this album is such a treat. It's somehow timeless, borrowing from the '60s and '70s, rooted in the '80s but not out of place in the '90s and '00s. In fact, it doesn't sound at all dated. I recommend playing along side the likes of Massive Attack, Gorillaz and Lilly Allen, all clearly inspired and influenced by The Specials.

Finally, a word to the wise. Check the small print on the back of the CD and buy the enhanced CD which includes original videos of Ghost Town and Rat Race - two very special singles.

A hell of an era
When I first heard the more specials album it completely blew me away I recall finishing work and going home to lie on my bed and play this album I learnt every track word for word and can still hear my mum shouting at me to turn it down.There was nothing better on a friday night but to listen to this whilst cleaning my loafers and pressing my levis and Ben sherman ready for a nite on the tiles at the local townhall.
The track that I love the most has to be stereotype because it summed up the youth culture at that time what a pity the new romantic era soon followed and men deciced that this kind of 'fashion'should be replaced with frilly shirts and makeup!
I still have all of the specials(and special aka)original singles and albums but have replaced them on cd so as not to overplay them.