Tracklist Hide Credits

1-1	–The Special A.K.A.*	Gangsters Producer – The Special A.K.A.*Written-By – Jerry Dammers	2:47
1-2	–The Selecter	The Selecter Producer – R. Lomas*Written-By – Bradbury*, N. Davies*	2:59
1-3	–Madness	The Prince Written-By – Lee Thompson*	2:31
1-4	–The Selecter	On My Radio Producer – Roger LomasWritten-By – N. Davies*	3:07
1-5	–The Specials Featuring Rico*	A Message To You Rudy Producer – Elvis CostelloWritten-By – R. Thompson*	2:55
1-6	–The Specials Featuring Rico*	Nite Klub Producer – Elvis CostelloWritten-By – Panter*, Dammers*, Bradbury*, Golding*, Staples*, Byers*, Hall*	3:08
1-7	–The Beat	Tears Of A Clown Producer – Bob SargeantWritten-By – H. Cosby*, W. Robinson*, S. Wonder*	2:42
1-8	–The Beat	Ranking Full Stop Producer – Bob SargeantWritten-By – A. Cox*, D. Wakeling*, D. Steele*, E. Morton*, R. Charlery*	2:49
1-9	–The Special A.K.A.*	Too Much Too Young Producer – Dave Jordan, Jerry DammersWritten-By – Jerry Dammers, L. Chalmers*	2:05
1-10	–The Special A.K.A.*	Guns Of Navarone Producer – Dave Jordan, Jerry DammersWritten-By – Thompkin*, Webster*	2:19
1-11	–The Selecter	Three Minute Hero Producer – Errol Ross, The SelecterWritten-By – N. Davies*	3:02
1-12	–The Bodysnatchers	Let's Do Rock Steady Arranged By – The BodysnatchersProducer – Roger LomasWritten-By – R. Thompson*	2:55
1-13	–The Bodysnatchers	Ruder Than You Producer – Roger LomasWritten-By – Gaz*, The Bodysnatchers	2:49
1-14	–The Selecter	Missing Words Producer – Errol RossRemix – Roger LomasWritten-By – N. Davies*	3:20
1-15	–The Specials	Rat Race Producer – Dave JordanWritten-By – Roddy Radiation	3:10
1-16	–The Specials	Rude Boys Outa Jail Producer – Dave JordanWritten-By – Golding*, Staples*, Gentleman*	2:40
1-17	–The Bodysnatchers	Easy Life Producer – Jerry DammersWritten-By – The Bodysnatchers	3:12
1-18	–The Bodysnatchers	Too Experienced Producer – Jerry DammersWritten-By – W. Black*	2:31
1-19	–The Specials	Stereotype Producer – Dave Jordan, Jerry DammersWritten-By – Jerry Dammers	3:42
1-20	–The Specials	International Jet Set Producer – Dave Jordan, Jerry DammersWritten-By – Jerry Dammers	4:10
1-21	–The Swinging Cats	Away Producer – Jerry Dammers, The Swinging CatsWritten-By – J. Bailey*, J. Shipley*, T. Lyons*	3:12
1-22	–The Swinging Cats	Mantovani Producer – Jerry Dammers, The Swinging CatsWritten-By – J. Shipley*Written-By [Hear My Song Violetta] – Close*, Lukesch*Written-By [Speak To Me Of Love] – Lenoir*	3:17
1-23	–Rico*	Sea Cruise Producer – Dick Cuthell, Rico*Written-By – Huey Smith*, J. Vincent*	3:00
1-24	–The Specials Featuring Rico* With The Ice Rink String Sounds	Do Nothing Producer – Dave JordanWritten-By – Golding*	3:36
1-25	–The Specials	Maggie's Farm Producer – Dave Jordan, Jerry DammersWritten-By – Bob Dylan	3:29
2-1	–The Specials	Ghost Town Producer – John CollinsWritten-By – Jerry Dammers	3:40
2-2	–Rhoda* With The Special A.K.A.*	The Boiler Producer – Jerry DammersWritten-By – J. Summers*, Joyce*, N. Summers*, Leyton*, Dakar*, Owens*, Barker*	5:43
2-3	–Rico* And The Special A.K.A.*	Jungle Music Producer – Jerry DammersWritten-By – Rico Rodriguez	3:57
2-4	–The Apollinaires	The Feeling's Gone Producer – Jerry DammersWritten-By – F. Brown*, J. Hunt*, Kraig Thornber, P. Tickle*, S. Kirk*, T. Brown*	3:48
2-5	–The Higsons	Tear The Whole Thing Down Producer – Jerry DammersWritten-By – The Higsons	3:30
2-6	–The Higsons	Ylang Ylang Producer – Jerry DammersWritten-By – The Higsons	4:53
2-7	–The Apollinaires	Envy The Love Producer – Warne LiveseyWritten-By – F. Brown*, J. Hunt*, K. Thornber*, P. Tickle*, S. Kirk*, T. Brown*	4:01
2-8	–The Special A.K.A.*	War Crimes (The Crime Remains The Same) Producer – Jerry DammersWritten-By – Jerry Dammers	4:01
2-9	–The Higsons	Run Me Down Producer – The Higsons, Warne LiveseyWritten-By – The Higsons	3:48
2-10	–The Special A.K.A.*	Racist Friend Arranged By – Jerry DammersEngineer [Executive] – Dick CuthellProducer – Jerry DammersWritten-By – Cuthell*, Jerry Dammers, Bradbury*	3:38
2-11	–The Special A.K.A.*	Bright Lights Arranged By – Jerry DammersEngineer [Executive] – Dick CuthellProducer – Jerry DammersWritten-By – Cuthell*, Jerry Dammers, Bradbury*, Campbell*	4:06
2-12	–The Special A.K.A.*	Nelson Mandela Producer – Elvis CostelloWritten-By – Jerry Dammers	4:13
2-13	–The Special A.K.A.*	Break Down The Door Producer – Jerry DammersWritten-By – Jerry Dammers, Bradbury*, Campbell*	3:44
2-14	–The Special A.K.A.*	What I Like Most About You Is Your Girlfriend Mixed By – Jeremy GreenProducer – Dick CuthellWritten-By – Jerry Dammers	3:59
2-15	–The Friday Club	Window Shopping Producer – Jerry DammersWritten-By – Brooks*, Hodges*	3:51
2-16	–J.B.'s Allstars*	The Alphabet Army Producer – Dee Sharp, Brad J.B. Bradbury*Written-By – John Bradbury	3:09
2-17	–The Specials	Raquel	1:58
2-18	–Roddy Radiation And The Specials	Braggin' And Tryin' Not To Lie	3:24
2-19	–Neville Staples* A.K.A. Judge Roughneck	Rude Boys Outa Jail	4:07

Credits

• Art Direction – Henry Marquez
• Compilation Producer – Vincent M. Vero*
• Design – Wayne Kruse
• Executive Producer – Bruce Harris
• Liner Notes – Scott Isler
• Mastered By [Digitally] – Kevin Reeves

Notes

Compiles every 2 Tone single A-side except Elvis Costello & The Attractions' "I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down" (planned but never officially released on 2 Tone, although some were accidentally released), and every 2 Tone double A-side except the flip side of "Ghost Town" (a three-track single also featuring "Why?" and "Friday Night, Saturday Morning," neither included in this set due to space limitations); plus 3 additional rarities.

Digitally mastered at Capitol Recording Studios, Hollywood, California, September 1993

Tracks 1-1 & 1-2 originally released July 28, 1979 on TT 1/TT 2. Chart: UK #6.
Track 1-3 originally released September 1, 1979 on CHS TT 3. Chart: UK #16.
Track 1-4 originally released October 13, 1979 on CHS TT 4; B-side from the album Too Much Pressure. Chart: UK #8.
Tracks 1-5 & 1-6 originally released October 27, 1979 on CHS TT 5, both sides from the album Specials. Chart: UK #10.
Tracks 1-7 & 1-8 originally released December 8, 1979 on CHS TT 6. Chart: UK #6.
Tracks 1-9 & 1-10 originally released January 26, 1980 on CHS TT 7. Chart: UK #1.
Track 1-11 originally released February 20, 1980 on CHS TT 8, both sides from the album Too Much Pressure. Chart: UK #16.
Tracks 1-12 & 1-13 originally released March 15, 1980 on CHS TT 9. Chart: UK #22.
Track 1-14 originally released March 29, 1980 on CHS TT 10; A-side from the album Too Much Pressure. Chart: UK #23.
Tracks 1-15 & 1-16 originally released May 24, 1980 on CHS TT 11. Chart: UK #5.
Tracks 1-17 & 1-18 originally released July 19, 1980 on CHS TT 12. Chart: UK #50.
Tracks 1-19 & 1-20 originally released September 20, 1980 on CHS TT 13, both sides from the album More Specials. Chart: UK #6.
Tracks 1-21 & 1-22 originally released August 4, 1980 on CHS TT 14. "Mantovani" includes excerpts from "Hear My Song Violetta" and "Speak To Me Of Love."
Track 1-23 originally released September 22, 1980 on CHS TT 15
Tracks 1-24 & 1-25 originally released December 13, 1980 on CHS TT 16; A-side from the album More Specials. Chart: UK #4.
Track 2-1 originally released June 20, 1981 on CHS TT 17. Chart: UK #1.
Track 2-2 originally released January 23, 1982 on CHS TT 18. Chart: UK #35.
Track 2-3 originally released February 4, 1981 on CHS TT 19
Track 2-4 originally released June 10, 1982 on CHS TT 20
Tracks 2-5 & 2-6 originally released October 11, 1982 on CHS TT 21
Track 2-7 originally released November 8, 1982 on CHS TT 22
Track 2-8 originally released November 22, 1982 on CHS TT 23; A-side from the album In The Studio
Track 2-9 originally released February 7, 1983 on CHS TT 24
Tracks 2-10 & 2-11 originally released September 3, 1983 on CHS TT 25, both sides from the album In The Studio. Chart: UK #60.
Tracks 2-12 & 2-13 originally released March 17, 1984 on CHS TT 26, both sides from the album In The Studio. Chart: UK #9.
Track 2-14 originally released September 8, 1984 on CHS TT 27; A-side from the album In The Studio. Chart: UK #51.
Track 2-15 originally released November 8, 1985 on CHS TT 28
Track 2-16 originally released January 2, 1986 on CHS TT 29
Track 2-17 only appeared as the B-side to the single "Concrete Jungle" which was released in The Netherlands. It was recorded during the sessions for More Specials
Tracks 2-18 & 2-19 were issued as a free 7" single with the first 100,000 copies of the album More Specials. This single was issued as TT 99 and was recorded during the sessions for More Specials

This compilation ℗ 1993 Chrysalis Records Ltd.,
© 1993 Chrysalis Records, Inc., a division of ERG, 1290 Avenue Of The Americas, NewYork, New York 10104. Manufactured by EMI Manufacturing (USA), a subsidiary of Capitol-EMI Music, Inc., Hollywood and Vine Streets, Hollywood, California. Printed in the USA.
Manufactured by Columbia House Under License.

Barcode and Other Identifiers

• Barcode: 0 20831 - 4713 - 2 75

Other versions

Category	Artist	Title (Format)	Label	Category	Country	Year
7243 8 27677 2 5, F2 27677	Various	The 2 Tone Collection: A Checkered Past ‎(2xCD, Comp, RM)	Chrysalis, Chrysalis	7243 8 27677 2 5, F2 27677	US	1993
7243 8 27677 2 5, F2 27677	Various	The 2 Tone Collection: A Checkered Past ‎(2xCD, Comp, Club, RM)	Chrysalis, Chrysalis	7243 8 27677 2 5, F2 27677	US	1993
7243 8 27677 2 5	Various	The 2 Tone Collection: A Checkered Past ‎(2xCD, Comp, Club, RM)	Chrysalis, ERG	7243 8 27677 2 5	US	1993
D 201653	Various	The 2 Tone Collection A Checkered Past ‎(2xCD, Comp, RM)	Chrysalis	D 201653	US	1993