Back catalogue: Reggae Classics/Ska

Review: Celebrate The Bullet was the revered second album by The Selecter back in February 1981. It came on the heels of the massive debut Too Much Pressure and a serious run of singles including the likes of 'Missing Words' and 'On My Radio.' Here though things slowed down a little with lyrical commentaries still coming thick and fast on everything from racial to social issues. At the time, the recent murder of John Lennon and an assassination attempt on U.S. President Ronald Regan meant the album got little to no mainstream support because of the title. For this special reissue, the original production tapes were dug out and remastered by Alchemy Mastering at AIR.

Review: The 40th Anniversary edition of In The Studio by The Special AKA celebrates one of the most unique and politically charged albums of the 1980s. Originally released in 1984, the album fused an eclectic mix of reggae, jazz, soul, and Arabic rhythms, with Jerry Dammers leading the band's bold shift in sound. Despite its modest commercial performance, In The Studio has since gained recognition as an underappreciated classic, thanks to its deeply reflective lyrics and innovative arrangements. The album's standout tracks, 'Free Nelson Mandela' and 'What I Like Most About You Is Your Girlfriend', blended infectious energy with serious political messages. This newly remastered, half-speed mastered edition, overseen by Dammers, gives the album the sonic depth it deserves. With its themes of social unrest and global awareness, In The Studio feels as relevant today as it did four decades ago, a testament to its enduring power.

Review: This special 40th anniversary edition of More Specials has been mastered and cut at half-speed by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios using the original production tapes. It also includes a 7" bonus that first came with the original album in 1980. Of course, the band remains a defining act of the 70s and 80s for all their work on Two Tone Records. Mixing the edgy of punk, the rolling rhythm of rocksteady and their own Special magic, they launched a whole ska revival and remain as popular today as ever.

Review: It's been 40 years since The Specials changed the ska game with their self titled debut, so what better time to remaster and re-cut it at half speed at the legendary Abbey Road Studios. Spread out over 2 x 12" vinyl it was originally produced by Elvis Costello and was a loud and proud blend of big and energetic tracks, no-messing lyrics and hard hitting grooves. It includes a few covers along the way, such as their fabulous take on Dandy Livingstone's "A Message to You, Rudy" and red-hot version of the Maytals' "Monkey Man". A strong anti-racism message on "Doesn't Make It Alright" sits next to the tongue in cheek takedown of local pubs on "Nite Club" and much more.

Review: More Specials is the second studio album from the Coventry band, originaly released in 1980 and reportedly splitting opinion among their fanbase, although it's come to be seen as a classic containing many of their best loved songs, from ska knees up 'Enjoy Yourself' to the deadpan reggae of 'Do Nothing'. Produced by the band's own keyboardist Jerry Dammers, it had a more eclectic and less obviously punk sound than its Elvis Costello-produced predecessor, with the band's constant disagreements on the direction of the sound proving a creative rather destructive force here, even if it would - barely more than a year later - cause them to eventually split.

Review: At the height of the 2-tone ska movement came Dance Craze, a comprehensive music video film charting the best of the 1970s and 80s ska craze in Britain - a movement dominated by such greats as The Specials, Madness, The Selecter and Bad Manners. This new expanded box set consists of the original film soundtrack (formerly unreleased) as well the film's original poster in A3, not to mention an attached 3xCD and live versions of classics aplenty, from 'Mirror In The Bathroom' by The Beat to 'Night Boat To Cairo' from Madness.