Terry Hall & The Specials to return with long awaited new material, tour

The Specials have unveiled details of Encore, their first new album in 37 years. It will be released on Feb. 1. Today sees the release of the album's first single "Vote For Me" via Island Records.

STREAM "VOTE FOR ME" HERE

"Vote For Me", the first new Specials single since the British band's era-defining 1981 UK #1 "Ghost Town", was written and produced by founding members Terry Hall, Lynval Golding, Horace Panter together with long-time collaborator Torp Larsen and addresses the same social and political issues which were prevalent when the band formed in the late 70s.

2019 marks the 40th anniversary of the formation of The Specials and the legendary Two-Tone label in Coventry, England in 1979, and also marks 10 years since the band reformed to play live shows with Hall.

Spearheading the British ska revival in the late 70s, The Specials' debut UK single "Gangsters" went to #6 and every subsequent single was a Top 10, including two further #1s. In April 1980 they played "Gangsters" on Saturday Night Live - a performance that's frequently name checked as one of the show's most memorable music bookings.

Encore includes a version of "The Lunatics Have Taken Over The Asylum" - originally a hit for Terry and Lynval's post-Specials band Fun Boy Three in 1982 - as well as a powerful spoken word track "The Ten Commandments" featuring British anti-racism activist Saffiyah Khan.

The Specials will take to the road throughout 2019 in support of the new album.

Track listing:

Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys
B.L.M.
Vote For Me
The Lunatics Have Taken Over The Asylum
Breaking Point
Blam Blam Fever
The Ten Commandments featuring Saffiyah Khan
Embarrassed By You
The Life And Times Of A Man Called Depression
We Sell Hope

Pre-order Encore HERE.