Biography

The Best of The Specials
The Best of The Specials
Compilation album by The Specials
Released	31 March 2008
Recorded	1979-1984
Genre	Ska, new wave
Label	EMI
The Specials chronology

Professional ratings
Review scores
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Allmusic	link

The Best of the Specials is a CD and DVD compilation album by The Specials and The Special A.K.A released in 2008. The compilation was re-issued on double vinyl-LP in 2019.

Track listing

Disc 1 (CD)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Gangsters" (as The Special A.K.A.)	J. Dammers	2:48
2.	"A Message to You, Rudy" (as The Specials feat. Rico)	R. Thompson	2:53
3.	"Nite Klub (Album Version)"	J. Dammers, The Specials	3:23
4.	"Concrete Jungle"	R. Radiation	3:19
5.	"Too Much Too Young (Live)" (as The Special A.K.A.)	J. Dammers, L. Chalmers (acknowledgement)	2:06
6.	"Blank Expression"	J. Dammers, The Specials	2:42
7.	"Doesn't Make It Alright"	D. Goldberg, J. Dammers	3:25
8.	"Rude Boys Outta Jail"	L. Golding, N. Staples, H. Gentleman	2:39
9.	"Rat Race"	R. Radiation	3:10
10.	"Man at C&A"	J. Dammers, T. Hall	3:36
11.	"Do Nothing (Single Version)" (as The Specials feat. Rico with The Ice Rink String Sounds)	L. Golding	3:41
12.	"Stereotypes" (Stereotypes/Stereotypes Pt 2)	J. Dammers ("Stereotypes"), N. Staples ("Stereotypes Pt 2")	7:24
13.	"International Jet Set (Album Version)"	J. Dammers	5:37
14.	"Friday Night Saturday Morning"	T. Hall	3:34
15.	"Why?"	L. Golding	2:56
16.	"Ghost Town (Full Version)"	J. Dammers	6:01
17.	"What I Like Most About You Is Your Girlfriend (Album Version)" (as The Special A.K.A.)	J. Dammers	4:50
18.	"Racist Friend (Single Version)" (as The Special A.K.A.)	D. Cuthell, J. Dammers, J. Bradbury	4:02
19.	"War Crimes (The Crime Remains the Same) (Single Version)" (as The Special A.K.A.)	J. Dammers	4:03
20.	"Nelson Mandela (Album Version)" (as The Special A.K.A.)	J. Dammers	4:15

Disc 2 (DVD)

*On Video*
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Gangsters" (as The Special A.K.A.)	J. Dammers	2:54
2.	"Message to You Rudy" (as The Specials Feat. Rico)	R. Thompson	2:46
3.	"Too Much Too Young (Live)" (as The Special A.K.A.)	J. Dammers, L. Chalmers (acknowledgement)	2:05
4.	"Rat Race"	R. Radiation	3:10
5.	"Do Nothing" (Performed on Top of the Pops)	L. Golding	3:20
6.	"Enjoy Yourself (It's Later Than You Think) (Live)"	Madison, Carl Sigman	3:57
7.	"Ghost Town"	J. Dammers	3:40

*On Film* (as The Special A.K.A)
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
8.	"Bright Lights"	D. Cuthell, J. Dammers, J. Bradbury, S. Campbell	3:45
9.	"Lonely Crowd"	J. Dammers, J. Shipley, S. Campbell	3:52
10.	"Housebound"	J. Dammers	4:15
11.	"Alcohol"	J. Dammers	4:56
12.	"Racist Friend"	D. Cuthell, J. Dammers, J. Bradbury	3:29
13.	"War Crimes (The Crime Remains the Same)"	J. Dammers	4:02
14.	"Nelson Mandela"	J. Dammers	4:05
15.	"Break Down the Door"	J. Dammers, J. Bradbury, S. Campbell	2:51
16.	"What I Like Most About You Is Your Girlfriend"	J. Dammers	4:29

Vinyl LP [2019]

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Gangsters" (as The Special A.K.A.)	J. Dammers	2:48
2.	"A Message to You, Rudy" (as The Specials feat. Rico)	R. Thompson	2:53
3.	"Nite Klub (Album Version)"	J. Dammers, The Specials	3:23
4.	"Concrete Jungle"	R. Radiation	3:19
5.	"Too Much Too Young (Live)" (as The Special A.K.A.)	J. Dammers, L. Chalmers (acknowledgement)	2:06

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
6.	"Blank Expression"	J. Dammers, The Specials	2:42
7.	"Doesn't Make It Alright"	D. Goldberg, J. Dammers	3:25
8.	"Rude Boys Outta Jail"	L. Golding, N. Staples, H. Gentleman	2:39
9.	"Rat Race"	R. Radiation	3:10
10.	"Man at C&A"	J. Dammers, T. Hall	3:36

Side three
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
11.	"Do Nothing (Single Version)" (as The Specials feat. Rico with The Ice Rink String Sounds)	L. Golding	3:41
12.	"Stereotypes" (Stereotypes/Stereotypes Pt 2)	J. Dammers ("Stereotypes"), N. Staples ("Stereotypes Pt 2")	7:24
13.	"International Jet Set (Album Version)"	J. Dammers	5:37
14.	"Friday Night Saturday Morning"	T. Hall	3:34
15.	"Why?"	L. Golding	2:56

Side four
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
16.	"Ghost Town (Full Version)"	J. Dammers	6:01
17.	"What I Like Most About You Is Your Girlfriend (Album Version)" (as The Special A.K.A.)	J. Dammers	4:50
18.	"Racist Friend (Single Version)" (as The Special A.K.A.)	D. Cuthell, J. Dammers, J. Bradbury	4:02
19.	"War Crimes (The Crime Remains the Same) (Single Version)" (as The Special A.K.A.)	J. Dammers	4:03
20.	"Nelson Mandela (Album Version)" (as The Special A.K.A.)	J. Dammers	4:15

References

^ "BRIT Certified Award – Specials – The Best Of". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 11 November 2022.

[1] "BRIT Certified Award – Specials – The Best Of". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 11 November 2022.

[1]

The Specials
Lynval Golding Horace Panter Tim Smart Drew Stansall Nikolaj Torp Larsen Steve Cradock Pablo Mandleson Terry Hall Jerry Dammers Silverton Hutchinson Tim Strickland Roddy Radiation Neville Staple John Bradbury Dick Cuthell Rico Rodriguez Rhoda Dakar John Shipley Satch Dickson Groco Anthony Wymshurst Stan Campbell Edgio Newton Nick Parker Gary McManus Jon Read Adam Birch Mark Adams Aitch Bembridge
Studio albums	The Specials More Specials In the Studio Today's Specials Guilty 'til Proved Innocent! Skinhead Girl Conquering Ruler Encore Protest Songs 1924–2012
Live albums	Blue Plate Specials Live Ghost Town Live
Compilation albums	The Singles Collection Dawning of a New Era Too Much Too Young: The Gold Collection Best of the Specials BBC Sessions Stereo-Typical: A's, B's and Rarities Archive Greatest Hits The Best of The Specials
Extended plays	Too Much Too Young
Singles	"Gangsters" "A Message to You Rudy" "Rat Race" "Stereotype" "Do Nothing" "Ghost Town" "The Boiler" "Free Nelson Mandela"
Related	Discography 2 Tone Records The Best of The Specials & Fun Boy Three Dance Craze The Very Best of The Specials and Fun Boy Three