The Specials - Rat Race

WHO: The Specials

WHAT: Rat Race (Rude Buoys Outa Jail)

WHEN: 1980

LABEL: 2Tone - CHS TT11

I think I got this at South Shields market for one of your English pounds.

Once, my lovely girlfriend and me went camping in the Lake District with her sister and brother in law. On the way out the house I picked up a CD to play on the way. It was “Specials” the eponymous first album from the band (first released 1979).  The trip took over two hours. We only had one CD. And the radio didn’t work.

Thankfully this song isn’t on the first album; it isn’t even on their second, the imaginatively titled “More Specials”(1980). This single was a stand alone and reached number 5 in the UK charts when it was released in 1980.

The Specials were instrumental in the 2tone ska revival of the late 70’s, the movement being named after the record label started by Jerry Dammers, one of the founding members of group (along with Lynval Golding and Horace Panter).

THE A SIDE

Despite the repeated play of  “Specials” on the aforementioned jaunt to the lakes, I really like The Specials. And I like this tune. “Rat Race” was written by Roddy Byers (credited as Roddy Radiation on the label), not by Jerry Dammers, the usual songwriter of the band. It’s a typical Specials tune though, full of the anger of punk with the bouncy ska off beat and clever, political lyrics delivered by Terry Hall, in his distinctive laid-back style. With all this though its still a tune you can dance to. And I do have a bit skank when I put it on the record player (making sure there isn’t anyone at the bus stop outside my window first).

THE B SIDE

“Rude Buoys Outa Jail” is an out and out ska dance tune, great at a live gig. Again not written by Dammers but credited on the label to Staples (vocals), Golding (rhytm guitar/vocals) and Gentleman (or Horace Panter, bass). This tune is a lot of fun, showing the skills of the band to the full.

I was lucky enough to see The Specials at Sziget Festival, Budapest in 2010, and they were great. But I can’t remember if they played either of these songs. In my defense though, the beer in Budapest is strong, cheap and plentiful, and makes for good dance fuel.

 THE VINYL

The record its self isn’t in too bad condition and plays fine. It does however have (one of) the previous owners name written in red ink on the B-side. Wayne Thompson also decided to write his name all over the sleeve, on one side with a typewriter and on the other with the typewriter and, in case it wasn’t already apparent to whom the record belonged, in large red letters. He’d also had it stuck to the wall, as is evident by the remaining blu-tac stuck in the corners. So thanks Wayne, for scrawling your moniker all over this sleeve and record. But in Wayne’s defense he must have taken quite good care of it because it still plays well, I don’t sound this good and I’m the same age.

MY VERDICT

You can’t beat a bit of 2tone. Two quality tunes from one of the most important British bands of the last 30 years and all for 100 pennies. Great stuff! 

(Main Image at top of post taken from a photo on The Specials Website)