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the Special AKA – in the studio
Album | 15/06/2024 | 2 Tone Records
42:56 | 10 tracks | Vinyl
Ska / 2 Tone
Coventry, England
Between two Name Changes
The history of The Specials is a long chain of changes in name and line-up, as well as break-ups and reunions. In the year 1984, the band had already been called The Automatics, The Conventry Automatics, The Special A.K.A., The Specials, and then again the Special AKA. Nevertheless, all important albums except for the one on hand were published under the name The Specials. Generally speaking, in the studio can be counted as a Specials release although the cover atwork reads the Special AKA.
The Curse of the early Success
When The Specials presented their revival of Ska and 2 Tone in the late 70s and early 80s, crowds went crazy. The band from Coventry has immediately reached the status of immortals, and so has the sound of their first two albums. Songs that have been covered and sampled billions of times will always be a core part of the Specials legacy. And thus, cover versions by Amy Whinehouse may be more famous than the whole album in the studio.
The Lies Remain the Same
Music-wise, in the studio marked clear progress compared to the previous albums. Concerning its content, the album comes with a very bitter aftertaste. Today, many of us wonder why so many people who call themselves anti-racist, left-wing, or feminist support the atrocities and the constant acts of terrorism by Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad and others. Looking back on 1984, you will find that the Special AKA already spread the lies of Israeli apartheid (on the same album on which actual South African aparheid was condemend), and of genocidal acts by Israel’s government. It is sad to see how people who fight for progress on the one hand, support backward fascist ideals on the other hand, ans thus fall for anti-semitic discourses.
5/10 Mangoes
Next week in this series:
Days in Grief – Portrait of Beauty (2004 | Eat the Beat)
We will dance again
Mia Schem
