The Specials jsou britská 2 tone a ska revival kapela založená v roce 1977 v Coventry. Jejich hudba kombinuje taneční rytmy ska a rocksteady s energií punku, zatímco texty otevřeně komentují politická a sociální témata.
Kompilační box 2 Tone: The Albums vyšel v roce 2020 na labelu Two-Tone Records, který v roce 1979 založil Jerry Dammers. Soubor osmi CD přináší prvních osm alb vydaných na této značce včetně dvou kompilací s dlouho nedostupnými nahrávkami. Obsahuje 96 skladeb zahrnujících hity jako A Message to You Rudy, Too Much Too Young nebo Ghost Town. Box zachycuje nejen alba The Specials (Specials, More Specials, In the Studio), ale i desky The Selecter, Rica Rodrigueze a kompilace Dance Craze a This Are Two Tone, jež dokumentují zlatou éru 2 tone hnutí.
Na albu se podíleli John Bradbury, Dick Cuthell, Jerry Dammers, Lynval Golding, Horace Panter, Roddy Radiation, Rico Rodriguez, Neville Staple a Mark Adams.
Skladby
CD1
1. A Message To You Rudy
2. Do The Dog
3. It's Up To You
4. Nite Klub
5. Doesn't Make It Alright
6. Concrete Jungle
7. Too Hot
8. Monkey Man
9. (Dawning Of A) New Era
10. Blank Expression
11. Stupid Marriage
12. Too Much Too Young
13. Little Bitch
14. You're Wondering Now
CD2
1. Three Minute Hero
2. Everyday
3. They Make Me Mad
4. Missing Words
5. Danger
6. Street Feeling
7. My Collie (Not A Dog)
8. Too Much Pressure
9. Murder
10. Out On The Streets
11. Carry Go Bring Home
12. Black and Blue
13. James Bond
CD3
1. Enjoy Yourself (It's Later Than You Think) [2015 Remastered Version]
2. Man At C&A (2015 Remastered Version)
3. Hey, Little Rich Girl (2015 Remastered Version)
4. Do Nothing (2015 Remastered Version)
5. Pearl's Cafe (2015 Remastered Version)
6. Sock It To 'Em J.B. (2015 Remastered Version)
7. Stereotypes/Stereotypes - Pt. 2 (2015 Remastered Version)
8. Holiday Fortnight (2015 Remastered Version)
9. I Can't Stand It (2015 Remastered Version)
10. International Jet Set (2015 Remastered Version)
11. Enjoy Yourself (Reprise) [2015 Remastered Version]
CD4
1. Concrete Jungle (Live / 2020 Remaster)
2. Mirror In The Bathroom (Live / 2020 2020 Remaster)
3. Lip Up Fatty (Live / 2020 Remaster)
4. Razor Blade Alley (Live / 2020 Remaster)
5. Three Minute Hero (Live / 2020 Remaster)
6. Easy Life (Live / 2020 Remaster)
7. Big Shot (Live / 2020 Remaster)
8. One Step Beyond (Live / 2020 Remaster)
9. Ranking Fullstop (Live / 2020 Remaster)
10. Man At C & A (Live / 2020 Remaster)
11. Missing Words (Live / 2020 Remaster)
12. Inner London Violence (Live / 2020 Remaster)
13. Night Boat To Cairo (Live / 2020 Remaster)
14. Too Much Pressure (Live / 2020 Remaster)
15. Nite Klub (Live / 2020 Remaster)
CD5
1. Easy Snappin
2. Fiesta
3. Chang Kai Shek
4. Stay Out Late
5. Red Top
6. X
7. Ganja
8. That Man Is Forward
CD6
1. Destroy Them
2. We Want Peace
3. Jam Rock
4. Some Day
5. Distant Drums
6. Love And Justice
7. Java
8. Do The Reload
9. Easter Island
CD7
1. Gangsters (2020 Remaster)
2. Madness (2020 Remaster)
3. On My Radio (2020 Remaster)
4. Tears Of A Clown (2020 Remaster)
5. A Message To You Rudy (2020 Remaster)
6. Too Much Pressure (2020 Remaster)
7. Too Experienced (2020 Remaster)
8. Ranking Full Stop (2020 Remaster)
9. Too Much Too Young (2020 Remaster)
10. The Selecter (2020 Remaster)
11. Stereotype (2020 Remaster)
12. Mantovani (2020 Remaster)
13. Do Nothing (2020 Remaster)
14. Jungle Music (2020 Remaster)
15. The Boiler (2020 Remaster)
16. Ghost Town (2020 Remaster)
CD8
1. Bright Lights (2015 Remastered Version)
2. The Lonely Crowd (2015 Remastered Version)
3. What I Like Most About You Is Your Girlfriend (2015 Remastered Version)
4. Housebound (2015 Remastered Version)
5. Night On The Tiles (2015 Remastered Version)
6. Nelson Mandela (2015 Remastered Version)
7. War Crimes (The Crime Remains The Same) [2015 Remastered Version]
8. Racist Friend (2015 Remastered Version)
9. Alcohol (2015 Remastered Version)
10. Break Down The Door (2015 Remastered Version)
