AMG Review of Greatest Hits

Thom Jurek
All Music Guide

Who ever heard of a Specials Greatest Hits collection that didn't include "Concrete Jungle" or "Rat Race"? It's not like the music that is here isn't wonderful -- it is, and the choices made are righteous insofar as they go. The problem is that the missing cuts leave such a gaping hole. Other best-ofs -- including the one compiled by Disky -- contain 15 tracks or more. Other tracks that could have been included here are "Guns of Navarone," "Nike Klub," and "Racist Friend." As for what is here, you get the uptempo bluebeat skankers like "A Message to You Rudy," "Ghost Town," "Man at C & A," "Rude Boys Outta Jail," "Simmer Down," and "Too Hot." So this is an enjoyable spin, but there are way better collections out there.