The Specials Release New Single ‘Vote For Me’, New Album ‘Encore’ Due In February

The Specials, one of the most electrifying, influential and important bands of all time, follow the announcement of Encore, their first new album in 37 years, with the release of their new single ‘Vote For Me’ via UMC /Island Records.  The song has just debuted on BBC Radio 1 on Steve Lamacq’s programme and you can hear it below.

’Vote For Me’, the first new Specials single since the band’s era-defining 1981 no. 1 ‘Ghost Town’, was written and produced by founding members Terry Hall, Lynval Golding, Horace Panter together with long-time collaborator Torp Larsen and addresses the same social and political issues which were prevalent when the band formed in the late 70s

2019 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 Specials will take to the road in the UK and abroad throughout 2019 in support of Encore, which is released on 1 February 2019.  For tickets and further information on the shows, please visit the band’s official website.

Spearheading the British ska revival in the late 70s, The Specials embraced a multi-racial melting-pot that embodied more than just their black-and-white-checked 2-Tone label logos. Hailing from Coventry and dressed in pork-pie hats, mohair suits, Ben Sherman shirts and DMs, they hit the UK music scene hard.

In the UK their debut single ‘Gangsters’ shot to No. 6 and every subsequent single was a Top 10, including 2 No. 1s in ‘Too Much Too Young’ and the legendary ‘Ghost Town’. They released twoTop 5 albums before splitting up at the end of a 10 week run at the top of the UK singles chart with ‘Ghost Town’ which went on to win single of the year at NME, Melody Maker and Sounds in 1981.

In the current turbulent climate, Encore picks up almost exactly, in style and in substance, where ‘Ghost Town’ left off, addressing serious issues head on.

Encore is out on 1 February. Scroll down to read the full tracklist and buy it here.

Encore: 

‘Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys’
‘B.L.M’
‘Vote For Me’
‘The Lunatics Have Taken Over The Asylum’
‘Breaking Point’
‘Blam Blam Fever’
‘The Ten Commandments’
‘Embarrassed By You’
‘The Life And Times Of A Man Called Depression’
‘We Sell Hope’

Format: UK English