ANNOUNCEMENT! In order to get everyone their vinyl on release date we’ve had to move the release of ‘Protest Songs 1924-2012’ back a week to October 1st. You can still pre-order the album here https://t.co/2cDSBRakmp pic.twitter.com/QYGKjbVFB5

— The Specials (@thespecials) August 27, 2021

The Specials are also known as The Special AKA and are a 2 Tone ska group that was formed in 1977. The band have been through various band lineups including the sad loss of their drummer John Bradbury in 2015 as detailed in the mxdwn article here. Terry Hall (Vocals) Lynval Golding (Vocalist and Rhythm guitarist) and Horace Panter (Bassist) now make up the main band lineup.

The origins of the bands new album evolved during the Covid-19 Lockdown when Hall pieced together a collection of protest songs with Golding and Panter, via email. This resulted in the trio putting together 50 songs and then reducing them to 12 songs for their new album.

Hall stated that the word ‘Protest’ has been a keyword in society for the last two years and in wondering if the chosen songs on the album would promote change said “Do these songs change things? I’m not sure they do, but they do have a role in making people aware of issues”

The band’s career spans over 44 years and their lyrics are known for sharing social messages, political ideals, progression and inclusion. At the time of delaying the album, the band released their first single “Freedom Highway” from the album earlier this month. The single was written by The Staple Singers in respect of the Civil Rights marches in the US that took place from Selma to Montogomery in 1965.

Watch The Specials video for “Freedom Highway” here The band achieved their first-ever UK number one album in the UK Officials Albums Charts with their 2019 album release Encore. The band began work on their new album on February 20 with the support of co-producer and touring band member Nikolaj Torp Larsen (Producer, Film Composer and Writer).

Work on the album seized due to the Covid 19 Pandemic and the wave of protests during the first Lockdown last March, inspired the bands’ creative process as they worked together to chose personal singles for the album.

Golding expressed a wish to include the classic Bob Marley single “Get Up, Stand Up” for the album with Panter, choosing The Mothers of Invention’s single “Trouble Every Day” and Hall choosing his personal favourite Leonard Cohen’s “Everybody Knows”. The band then added further personal singles to complete the album.

The band have just wrapped up their UK tour dates for The Protest Tour on September 25th and have announced two further intimate concert dates in Kingston. The first date is set for October 7th and an extra date was added due to public demand. Tickets go on sale tomorrow October 1st at 11.00 am.

See details for The Specials intimate concerts, their new album and tickets in their Tweets here. 

Thank you London for some great shows this week. If you’re wondering now if it’s the end there are still some very special one-off’s to come. Find out more here https://t.co/1jivTSv6SE @Downts @DavidJMarkham pic.twitter.com/4XrvFfUukD — The Specials (@thespecials) September 26, 2021

2nd Show Added! Tickets for our exclusive stripped back intimate show on 7th October at Pryzm Kingston @pryzm_kingston flew out the door so we’ve decided to add a second show.

Tickets available from 11am tomorrowhttps://t.co/1jivTSdw16 pic.twitter.com/2OmHcyMx6u

— The Specials (@thespecials) September 27, 2021

The band are hoping to raise awareness with their new album Protest Songs 1924-2012, set for release tomorrow October 1st by their new record label Island Records. The label is known for releasing music for the late Bob Marley, the late Amy Winehouse, The Streets, as well as Leona Lewis and many other musical artists.

See the tracklist for The Specials Protest Songs 1924-2012 album below and pre-order the album here

Freedom Highway (The Staple Singers)
Everybody Knows (Leonard Cohen)
I Don’t Mind Failing In This World (Malvina Reynolds)
Black, Brown And White’ (Big Bill Broonzy)
Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Us Around’ (Traditional)
F*** All The Perfect People’ (Chip Taylor & The New Ukrainians)
My Next Door Neighbour
Trouble Every Day (Frank Zappa & Mothers of Invention)
Listening Wind (Talking Heads)
Soldiers Who Want To Be Heroes (Rod McKuen)
I Live In A City (Malvina Reynolds)
Get Up, Stand Up (Bob Marley)