Ska Kings The Specials Return with First Album in 37 Years, Aptly Named ‘Encore’

By JOHN DALY

The Specials have released the new album Encore, the renowned ska band’s first new music in 37 years.

The album via Island Records proves The Specials’ music is as vital and relevant today as it was 40 years ago. 

This year also marks the 40th anniversary of the formation of The Specials and the legendary Two-Tone label in Coventry in 1979, and also marks 10 years since the band reformed to play some of the most vital and joyous live shows in recent memory.

The 10-song Encore was produced by Specials founding members Terry Hall, Lynval Golding and Horace Panter with Danish musician/producer Torp Larsen. It’s the first time Hall, Golding and Panter have recorded new material together since the band’s 1981 No.1 single Ghost Town.

The Specials will be taking to the road in North America and abroad throughout 2019 in support of the new album. See full list of dates below.

Listen to Encore here

The band is credited with reinvigorating the British ska revival in the late 1970s, The Specials embraced a diverse melting-pot that embodied more than just their black-and-white-checked 2-Tone label logos.

Encore tracklist: 

1. Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys
2. B.L.M.
3. Vote For Me
4. The Lunatics
5. Breaking Point
6. Blam Blam Fever
7. 10 Commandments
8. Embarrassed By You
9. The Life And Times (Of A Man Called Depression)
10. We Sell Hope

Limited Edition Deluxe version includes “Greatest Hits” of live recordings.

Order Encore HERE. 

Tour Dates:

5/22 – Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom

5/23 – Seattle, WA @ The Showbox

5/24 – Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom

5/25 – Oakland, CA @Fox Theater

5/27 – Las Vegas, NV @ Punk Rock Bowling & Music Festival

5/28 – Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues

5/30 – San Diego, CA @ House of Blues

5/31 – San Diego, CA @ House of Blues

6/01 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Novo

6/03 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren

6/05 – Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre

6/07 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue

6/08 – Chicago, IL @ Vic Theatre

6/10 – Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore

6/11 – Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of Living Arts

6/14 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel

6/15- Boston, MA @ House of Blues

6/17 – Montreal, QB @ Corona Theatre

6/18 – Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall

6/19 – Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall