THE SPECIALS #1
We start out in 1963 LA, with the vocal trio of Walter 'Sleepy' Ward, Eddie Lewis and Charles Fizer. Later in the 60s they would return as the backing band of Cal Green (from Hank Ballard's The Midnighters).
The Specials - I'm Leaving It All Up To You
THE SPECIALS #2
One year later in The Hague, we find ourselves enjoying some classic Nederbeat. Singer Wim Koekoek has very little to do on this track. Later in 1964, they renamed themselves The Special Five, but also appear to have gone by The Black Albinos, Danny & Favorites, Eddy & Crazy Jets Show, Rene & His Alligators and The Silhouettes.
THE SPECIALS #3
Chicago soul band from the late 60s / early 70s. Here they are in 1968...
The Specials - You Stood Me Up
DE SPECIALS #4
Dutch Specials who appear to have been in the go from the late 60s, all the way through to 1990, when they released a song dedicated to FC Groningen. This is what they sounded like in 1970...
De Specials - Spaanse Vliegenier
THE SPECIALS #5
The obvious winners this week. I don't need to tell you anything about these guys. Extra Specials.
THE SPECIALS #6
I'm not going to ask who you consider most Special of the Specials... but beyond the answer, do any of the others strike you as particularly Special?
Obviously #5 and I like #3 very much as well, but the rest are 'bobbins' (to use a term associated with your regular contributor). Even Donny & Marie did a better version of "Leaving It Up To You" than #1.
ReplyDeleteThat incestuous, hideously creepy Osmond version is worse than a load of old bobbins.
Delete"The obvious winners this week." Says who?
ReplyDeleteSo it's established that #1 is superior to the Osmond siblings' version. #2 is irritating. Alas #3 is nothing special, pleasant but forgettable (unlike that bloody D & M song mentioned above), are #4 the dutch equivalent of the Barron Knights? jesus wept. Almost as irritating as D & M Osmond. #6 reminded me of that peculiar C4 programme of the 1980s where young children dressed up as pop stars and mimed tunes. Even more downright as creepy as D & M Osmond. So it's #5.
ReplyDelete"Established". Says who?
DeleteI'm with Ernie 5 and 3
ReplyDeleteAny band that would call themselves the Specials after the existence of no. 5 is either shamefully ignorant or has balls the size of an elephant’s. - Brian
ReplyDelete