The Specials, Large Original Promo Poster for 1st Album, Elvis Costello, 1979

Description

When The Specials’ first album was released in 1979, it was the first shot across the bow of a Ska/Reggae/Rocksteady revival with Punk attitude and energy that came to include Madness, The Selecter, The English Beat, and several other bands that spun off from those original pioneers. It was quite an event too, partially because the album was produced by Elvis Costello, who at the time was the fastest rising star of the new style of Rock n Roll coming out of
New York
, at CBGB’s, and later,
London
and LA. But it wasn’t just the Costello connection that made
The Specials
so special. The songs. The songs. The songs were great! Musically rockin’, lyrically intelligent and funny, and graphically, the album and images associated with the band were just cool! The band was so hot, for a moment, that when they came to
New York
for their first shows, at legendary, now defunct NY night spot, Hurrah, I could not get in to the sold out show! Even when my buddies in Blondie walked in while I waited outside! Chris Stein’s response, when I asked him to take me in with them, was, “We’re lucky we can get in”! And I used to get comped at Hurrah! For The Specials, I couldn’t even PAY to get in, and Blondie, who were riding high with chart hits at the time, and who I was friends with and use to hang out with, a lot, were powerless to help me out! It was the only show I was ever locked out of at Hurrah, and everybody played there! Such was the power of The Specials!
Be that as it may, this awesome poster, stands on its own. Its striking imagery and stark contrasts of black and white colors, and its large size (27x37), combine to make it a joy to look at!
There are a couple of condition issues, but nothing major, no pin holes, and nothing preventing this poster from looking amazing when framed or linen-backed. The most egregious issue is a fairly large tear near the lower right corner (see pics). It’s about 6 inches long, but there isn’t anything missing, so it would be quite easy for an experienced framer to frame this, or back it with linen, (which is a totally respectable and accepted way of restoring poster art), so the tear is completely, or at least almost completely, invisible.
There is normal age related wear around the edges of the poster, but take a look at the pics I posted, and you’ll see that there is nothing major to worry about. The main body of the poster looks awesome, and with the tear fixed or framed, it would look even better! This poster deserves to hang in a place of honor in somebody’s music studio, and it can’t be me because I’m out of room, so have at it!
This is the Chrysalis version of the poster that was intended for
US
use. It is absolutely original and vintage, and is now almost 40 years old! Not a reproduction, and more than twice the size of the repros that are being hawked online! Poster will ship rolled and double tubed for protection.