In the Studio

Updated on Dec 17, 2023

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Released June 1984 Length 42:56 Release date June 1984 Label 2 Tone Records		Recorded 1983–1984 Artist The Specials Producer Jerry Dammers Genre Ska

In the Studio (as The Special AKA) (1984) The Singles Collection (1991) Similar The Specials albums, Ska albums

The specials in the studio full album

In the Studio is the third album from The Specials, released in 1984, long after the breakup of the original Specials. It charted in the UK Top 35.

The album was released under the name The Special AKA and was over two years in the making (hence the title). It was not as commercially successful as their previous two albums, although "(Free) Nelson Mandela" and "Racist Friend" became popular singles.

The special aka the complete in the studio album

Track listing

All tracks composed by Jerry Dammers except where noted.

"Bright Lights" (John Bradbury, Stan Campbell, Dick Cuthell, 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 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

Stan Campbell – vocals

Rhoda Dakar – vocals

Jerry Dammers – organ, piano, vocals

Gary McManus – bass guitar

John Shipley – lead guitar

John Bradbury – drums

Additional personnel

Dick Cuthell – flugelhorn

Claudia Fontaine – backing vocals

Edgio Newton – vocals, percussion

Horace Panter – bass guitar

Roddy Radiation – lead guitar, vocals

Nigel Reeve – saxophone

Caron Wheeler – backing vocals

Technical

Nigel Reeve – remastering coordination

Noel Summerville – remastering

Adrian Thrills – sleeve notes

David Storey – album cover design

Songs

1Bright Lights4:11
2Lonely Crowd3:52
3Girlfriend4:50

References

In the Studio Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA