The Specials A.K.A. - Gangster 1979

In 1979, out of nowhere (Coventry actually) appeared this single by the multiracial The Specials A.K.A.. They seemed to act as a counterpoint to the racist element creeping into music via some in the Oi/Skinhead camp. Although their sound was based on Jamaican Ska and Rocksteady, it seemed fresh. You could dance to it and not just the pogo. There was a degree of musicianship that was frowned upon in punk. But it still had the energy of punk.

This was the first release of 2 Tone Records. The reason The Selecter appeared on the flipside is because The Specials A.K.A. had used their entire recording budget (£700) on recording Gangsters and didn’t have a B-side. The instrumental The Selecter had been recorded two years earlier in 1977 by Coventry musicians Neol Davis, John Bradbury and Barry Jones. John Bradbury was now the drummer in The Specials A.K.A.. When Gangsters took off, Neol Davis set about forming a band under the name The Selecter. The Specials A.K.A. (soon changed to just The Specials, before the A.K.A. was again readded in 1981) were one those seminal bands that inspired a musical moment and legions of imitators.

Terry Hall                                                                vocals
Jerry Dammers                                                keyboards
Lynval Golding                                rhythm guitar, vocals
Neville Staple         toasting, backing vocals, percussion
Roddy Byers                                                    lead guitar
Horace Panter                                                 bass guitar
John Bradbury                                                        drums


The Specials A.K.A. - Gangster
The Selecter - The Selecter

***Warning The Selecter track was recorded of off vinyl. Some Surface Noise.***

As a footnote, here's the original song Gangsters was based on, Prince Buster's 1965 hit Al Capone.

Prince Buster - Al Capone