The Specials arrived at Coventry’s Canal basin in 1979, unknowing that the photographs taken here would later become so iconic. The photographer on the day was Chalkie Davis and Caroll, who later stated that they felt their work for The Specials ‘was the best we’d ever done’. Their images from that day, with the band staring up into the camera would grace the front and rear covers of their first self- titled album.

It was released on 19th October 1979, and is seen by some as the most defining moment in the UK ska scene. It features original material in addition to covers of classic Jamaican tracks. AllMusic claimed that the album had captured an accurate feeling of ‘Britain in late 1979, as an unhappy island about to explode’.

 

In June 2000, The Specials album was placed at number 38 in Q’s list of 100 greatest albums ever, and number 42 in the list by Pitchfork.