In the Studio
Encyclopedia
- This article is about the album. For the radio show, see In the Studio with RedbeardIn the Studio with RedbeardIn the Studio with Redbeard is a North American radio program, produced and hosted by Dallas, Texas based rock and roll disc jockey Redbeard....
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In the Studio is the third album from the ska
Ska
Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
band The Specials
The Specials
The Specials are an English 2 Tone ska revival band formed in 1977 in Coventry, England. Their music combines a "danceable ska and rocksteady beat with punk's energy and attitude", and had a "more focused and informed political and social stance" than other ska groups...
, released in 1984 - long after the break-up of the original Specials - and only just managed to get into the UK Top 35.
The album was released under the name 'The Special AKA' and, despite over 2 years in the making (hence the title), was not as commercially successful as their previous two albums although "(Free) Nelson Mandela
Free Nelson Mandela
"Nelson Mandela" is a song written by Jerry Dammers and performed by his Coventry-based band The Special A.K.A. - with lead vocal by Stan Campbell - released on the single Nelson Mandela / Break Down The Door in 1984 as a protest against the imprisonment of Nelson Mandela...
" and "Racist Friend" became popular singles.
Track listing
All tracks composed by Jerry Dammers; except where indicated- "Bright Lights" (John BradburyJohn Bradbury (drummer)John Bradbury is the drummer with The Specials. They had a #1 UK hit with 'Ghost Town'.He joined The Special AKA when the original Specials split in 1981; they had a Top 10 hit with 'Nelson Mandela'. He and Noel Davies recorded "The Selecter", the 'b'side to "Gangsters", before the latter had...
, Stan Campbell, Dick CuthellDick CuthellDick Cuthell is a British musician and record producer. He plays flugelhorn, cornet, and trumpet, amongst a range of other brass instruments, including tenor horn and valve trombone. Cuthell is best known for his work with The Specials and Rico Rodriguez. He also collaborated with bands such as...
, Dammers) – 4:11 - "The Lonely Crowd" (Campbell, Dammers, John Shipley) – 3:52
- "What I Like Most About You Is Your Girlfriend" – 4:50
- "Housebound" – 4:13
- "Night on the Tiles" (Dammers, Shipley) – 3:04
- "(Free) Nelson MandelaFree Nelson Mandela"Nelson Mandela" is a song written by Jerry Dammers and performed by his Coventry-based band The Special A.K.A. - with lead vocal by Stan Campbell - released on the single Nelson Mandela / Break Down The Door in 1984 as a protest against the imprisonment of Nelson Mandela...
" – 4:07 - "War Crimes" – 6:13
- "Racist Friend" (Bradbury, Cuthell, Dammers) – 3:49
- "Alcohol" – 5:01
- "Break Down the Door" (Bradbury, Cuthell, Dammers) – 3:36
Personnel
- Caron WheelerCaron WheelerCaron Wheeler is a two-time Grammy Award winning British R&B/soul singer, who gained fame by writing and singing the lead vocals on the two biggest hits for Soul II Soul Caron Wheeler (19 January 1963) is a two-time Grammy Award winning British R&B/soul singer, who gained fame by writing and...
- Backing Vocals - Stan Campbell - Male Vocals
- Rhoda DakarRhoda DakarRhoda Dakar is a British singer and musician, best known as the lead singer of The Bodysnatchers, who were signed to the 2 Tone record label.-Career:...
- Female Vocals - John Shipley - lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
- Jerry DammersJerry DammersJeremy David Hounsell "Jerry" Dammers is a British musician who is a founder and keyboard player of the Coventry, England based ska revival band The Specials, The Special A.K.A...
- organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, Vocals - Gary McManus - bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- John BradburyJohn Bradbury (drummer)John Bradbury is the drummer with The Specials. They had a #1 UK hit with 'Ghost Town'.He joined The Special AKA when the original Specials split in 1981; they had a Top 10 hit with 'Nelson Mandela'. He and Noel Davies recorded "The Selecter", the 'b'side to "Gangsters", before the latter had...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Claudia FontaineClaudia FontaineClaudia Fontaine is a backing vocalist from Bethnal Green, London, England. She has sung with Betty Boo, Dusty Springfield, Claudia Brücken, Julia Fordham and the bands Pink Floyd and The Beatmasters...
- Backing Vocals - Dick CuthellDick CuthellDick Cuthell is a British musician and record producer. He plays flugelhorn, cornet, and trumpet, amongst a range of other brass instruments, including tenor horn and valve trombone. Cuthell is best known for his work with The Specials and Rico Rodriguez. He also collaborated with bands such as...
- flugelhornFlugelhornThe flugelhorn is a brass instrument resembling a trumpet but with a wider, conical bore. Some consider it to be a member of the saxhorn family developed by Adolphe Sax ; however, other historians assert that it derives from the valve bugle designed by Michael Saurle , Munich 1832 , thus... - Nigel Reeve - saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
Technical Credits
- Nigel Reeve - remasteringRemasterRemaster is a word marketed mostly in the digital audio age, although the remastering process has existed since recording began...
coordination - Noel Summerville - remastering
- Adrian Thrills - sleeve notes