English ska revival band the Specials have released a diverse discography since their debut in 1979, including: nine studio albums, one collaboration album, seven live albums, eleven compilation albums, four extended plays, twenty-three singles, and filmed five videos.
Their debut album "The Specials" (1979) and "More Specials" (1980) both achieved Gold status, while their 2019 album "Encore" hit number 1 on the UK chart. The band collaborated with Desmond Dekker on the album "King of Kings" (1993). Their work spans various formats and has seen chart success in multiple countries.
Albums Studio albums Title Album detailsPeak chart positionsCertifications UK AUS CAN GER NZ SWE SWI USThe Specials Released: 19 October 1979 Label: 2 Tone Formats: LP, MC, 8-track42021—534—84 BPI: GoldMore Specials Released: 19 September 1980 Label: 2 Tone Formats: LP, MC, 8-track58649—2830—98 BPI: GoldIn the Studio(as the Special AKA) Released: 15 June 1984 Label: 2 Tone Formats: CD, LP, MC34———————Today's Specials Released: 15 April 1996 Label: Kuff/Virgin Formats: CD, MC————————Guilty 'til Proved Innocent! Released: 24 March 1998 Label: MCA Formats: CD, LP, MC————————Skinhead Girl Released: 17 October 2000 Label: Receiver Formats: CD————————Conquering Ruler Released: 13 February 2001 Label: Receiver Formats: CD————————Encore Released: 1 February 2019 Label: Island Formats: CD, 2×CD, LP, 2×LP, digital download1——20———— BPI: SilverProtest Songs 1924–2012 Released: 1 October 2021 Label: Island Formats: CD, LP, MC, digital download2——47——85—"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Collaboration albums Title Album detailsKing of Kings(with Desmond Dekker) Released: 8 November 1993 Label: Trojan Formats: CD, LP
Live albums Title Album details Peak chart positions UKLive at the Moonlight Club Released: 30 March 1992 Label: 2 Tone Formats: CD, LP, MC—Live – Too Much Too Young Released: 6 April 1992 Label: Receiver Formats: CD, LP, MC—BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert Released: 21 December 1992 Label: Windsong International Formats: CD Split album with the Selecter—Blue Plate Specials Live Released: 23 February 1999 Label: Big Ear Music Formats: CD—Ghost Town Live Released: September 1999 Label: Receiver Formats: CD—More... Or Less: The Specials Live Released: 6 August 2012 Label: Chrysalis Formats: 2×CD, 2×LP109Live from the Cathedral Released: 10 July 2026 Label: Island Formats: 6×CD, 3×LP30"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Compilation albums Title Album detailsPeak chart positionsCertifications UKSingles / The Singles Collection Released: 29 January 1991 Label: 2 Tone Formats: CD, LP, MC10 BPI: GoldDawning of a New Era(as the Coventry Automatics aka the Specials) Released: March 1994 Label: Receiver Formats: CD, LP—Too Much Too Young: The Gold Collection Released: 13 May 1996 Label: EMI Gold Formats: CD, MC— BPI: GoldBest of the Specials Released: September 1996 Label: Disky Formats: CD—Concrete Jungle(as the Specials and Friends) Released: March 1998 Label: Receiver Formats: 2×CD—BBC Sessions Released: 26 October 1998 Label: EMI Formats: CD—A Special Collection Released: October 1999 Label: EMI Formats: CD—Stereo-Typical: A's, B's and Rarities Released: 28 August 2000 Label: EMI Formats: 3×CD— BPI: SilverArchive Released: 26 March 2001 Label: Rialto Formats: CD—The Best of The Specials Released: 31 March 2008 Label: Rhino Formats: CD+DVD24 BPI: Gold"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
EPs Title EP detailsPeak chart positionsCertifications UK UK Indie BEL (FLA) IRE NL NZToo Much Too Young – The Special A.K.A. Live! Released: 18 January 1980 Label: 2 Tone Formats: 7", 12"1—1131547 BPI: SilverThe Peel Sessions Released: February 1987 Label: Strange Fruit Formats: 12", MC—17————2 Tone EP Released: 27 September 1993 Label: 2 Tone Formats: 7", CD, MC30—————Too Much Too Young – The Specials E.P. Live!Released: 21 April 2012 Label: 2 Tone Formats: 7" Live re-recording of original 1980 EP——————Dub Mixes ExclusiveReleased: 24 October 2020 Label: 2 Tone Formats: 10" Record Store Day release——————"—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Singles Title YearPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbum UK AUS AUT BEL (FLA) IRE NL NOR NZ US Alt US Dance"Gangsters" 19796——62711—20—— BPI: Silver"A Message to You Rudy" / "Nite Klub" 10297241935—29—— BPI: PlatinumThe Specials"Rat Race" / "Rude Buoys Outa Jail"19805———17————89"Stereotype" / "International Jet Set"6———1241————More Specials"Do Nothing" / "Maggie's Farm" 4———13————— BPI: SilverMore Specials
Non-album track"Sock It to Them J.B." 1981——————————More Specials"Concrete Jungle" (live) ——————————Dance Craze (soundtrack)"Ghost Town"168—15312720—— BPI: Platinum rowspan="3" "The Boiler" 198235—————————"Jungle Music" ——————————"War Crimes" 84—————————In the Studio"Racist Friend" / "Bright Lights" 198360—————————"Free Nelson Mandela" / "Break Down the Door" 1984966—869—1—34"What I Like Most About You Is Your Girlfriend" 51—————————"Free Nelson Mandela" (re-recording) 198893—————————"Jamaica Ska" 1993——————————King of Kings"Coz I Luv You" 1994——————————"Hypocrite" 199566—————————Today's Specials"Pressure Drop" 1996100—————————"A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You" ——————————"It's You"1998————————29—Guilty 'til Proved Innocent!"Bonediggin'" ——————————"Sock It to Them J.B." (dub) / "Rat Race" (dub) 2014——————————"Vote for Me"2018——————————Encore"10 Commandments" / "You're Wondering Now" (live) 2019——————————Encore
Non-album track"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Compilation contributions TitleReleasedateLabel The Specials vs. The Untouchables: Ska's Greatest Stars 2002 Big Eye Music80's New Wave Hits – Rearrangement of The Go-Go's' "Our Lips Are Sealed", with Jane Wiedlin,originally on The Specials vs The Untouchables: Ska's Greatest Stars2006Big Eye Music
Videography "Dance Craze – The Best of British Ska... Live!" (VHS) "The Special AKA on Film" (1981 VHS & Laserdisc) "The Specials: Too Much, Too Young" (2008 DVD) "The Best of the Specials" (CD/DVD 2008) "The Specials – 30th Anniversary Tour" (2009 DVD)
Films Sixteen Candles (1984) – song – "Little Bitch" Natural Born Killers (1994) – song – "Ghost Town" (not included on the soundtrack album) Multiplicity (1996) – song – "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You" Grosse Pointe Blank (1997) – songs – "Pressure Drop", "A Message to You, Rudy" and "You're Wondering Now" SLC Punk! (1998) – songs – "Too Hot" and "Gangsters" 200 Cigarettes (1999) – song – "A Message to You, Rudy" Mystery Men (1999) – song – "Gangsters" (covered by Citizen King) A Room for Romeo Brass (1999) – song – "A Message to You, Rudy" An Extremely Goofy Movie (2000) – song – "Pressure Drop" Snatch (2000) – song – "Ghost Town" Garage Days (2002) – song – "Ghost Town" Shaun of the Dead (2004) – song – "Ghost Town" This Is England (2006) – songs – "Do the Dog", "Pressure Drop" We Own The Night (2007) – song – "A Message to You, Rudy" Vivarium (2019) – song – "A Message to You, Rudy"
Television Father Ted – Episode – Think Fast, Father Ted – song – "Ghost Town" Six Feet Under – song – "Monkey Man" Misfits (TV series) – song – "A Message to You Rudy"
Commercials The song "A Message to You, Rudy" was featured in a SFR television commercial directed by Bruno Aveillan, with world champion football player, Marcel Desailly in 2001 The song "Blank Expression" was featured in a Ford Fiesta television commercial in 2003
Video games Dance Dance Revolution – song – "Little Bitch" (remix) MLB 2K7 – Song – "A Message To You, Rudy" Skate 2 – Song – "Ghost Town"
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