The Specials announce new album Encore – get pre-sale access to their upcoming UK tour with hmv

Ska legends The Specials have announced that they are to release their first album of original material in more than 20 years – and their first new recordings to feature original lead vocalist Terry Hall since their chart-topping 1981 hit 'Ghost Town'

New album Encore is set to be released on February 1st next year and will include 10 brand new tracks, while the CD edition will also include a second disc featuring The Best of The Specials Live.

In addition to Terry Hall, the new album features a line-up that includes two other original members, bassist Horace Panter and guitarist Lynval Golding. The trio have also produced the album alongside Danish musician and composer Nikolaj Torp Larsen, who first joined the band as a touring member in 2008. Also featuring on the new album are drummer Kenrick Rowe and Ocean Colour Scene guitarist Steve Cradock.

You can find the full track listing below:

'Black Skinned Blue-Eyed Boys'

'B.L.M.'

'Vote For Me'

'The Lunatics'

'Breaking Point'

'Blam Blam Fever'

'10 Commandments'

'Embarrassed By You'

'The Life And Times (Of A Man Called Depression)'

'We Sell Hope'

Alongside Encore's release, the band are also due to tour the UK next year and you can get early access to tickets by pre-ordering the album from hmv.

Pre-order Encore before 11.59pm on Monday 29th October 2018 for first access to their 2019 UK tour tickets. Your pre-sale access will be from Wednesday 31st October, ahead of tickets going on general sale at 9am on Friday 2nd November. Tour dates will be announced on Tuesday 30th October.

Fans who have pre-ordered the album online or in-store from Friday 26th October 2018 until 11.59pm on Monday 29th October 2018 will receive an email with their pre-sale code after 2pm on Tuesday 30th October 2018.

You can find full terms & conditions here. (For 'no purchase necessary' route click here.) You can also find the full list of tour dates below:

April 2019

15th Bournemouth O2 Academy

16th Portsmouth Guildhall

17th Brighton Dome

19th Plymouth Pavilions

20th Exeter Great Hall

21st Cardiff Uni Great Hall

23rd Blackburn King George’s Hall

24th Leicester De Montfort Hall

26th Birmingham O2 Academy

27th Liverpool Olympia

28th Manchester Academy

30th Leeds O2 Academy



May 2019

1st Carlisle Sands Centre

2nd Glasgow Barrowland

4th Newcastle O2 Academy

5th Middlesbrough Town Hall

6th Scarborough Spa Grand Hall

8th Scunthorpe The Baths Hall

9th York Barbican

10th Sheffield O2 Academy

12th Cambridge Corn Exchange

13th Southend Cliff Pavilion

14th Margate Winter Gardens

16th London O2 Academy Brixton

Encore (CD) The Specials Pre-Order CD (2CD) Buy CD now