Live In NYC: The Specials
Andy Schwartz, New York Rocker, March 1980
IF THE REACTION of the New York rock press is any indication (and it usually isn't), the Specials are going to be Very Big In America. So numerous were the requests for interviews with the group that, on the afternoon of their U.S. debut appearance at Hurrah, Chrysalis Records called a press conference. Such formalities are usually reserved for special occasions like the Rolling Stones' fifty-fifth tour of America, or Elvis Costello calling Ray Charles an "old, blind nigger."
Total word count of piece: 1126
Best Databases: RBP is Runner-up in Best Niche category
Video: Johnny Marr talks about Rock's Backpages
RBP on Spotify: The Very Best of 40-year-old Virgin
RBP Album Club, June 13th: Miki Berenyi and Lucy O'Brien celebrate a Blondie classic
Essential Listening: Green Day grilled by Roy Trakin
RBP Album Club, July 11th: Nick Hornby and Nick Coleman celebrate Southside Johnny's debut
Essential Reading: Bud Scoppa's 1971 Byrds classic