Specials version

There was going to be an induction of the Specials into the Illustrated Guide pantheon here to tie in with this week's latest Best Of and the reformation reports but, to show how professional an outfit Sweeping The Nation is, we couldn't find our research materials. Ah well. All you need to know is both albums with the full classic line-up are well worth your money, and that not all of those songs are originals. Six of the fourteen tracks on the debut are ska and bluebeat covers, and another three are interpolations. Here's some of those originals now.

Toots And The Maytals - Monkey Man
Prince Buster - Too Hot
Lloyd Tyrrell - Birth Control (the basis of Too Much Too Young)

Previously on STN: discussion of The Boiler. We haven't reuploaded its mp3, but we will if anyone really wants.