The first incarnation of
the Specials
, a six-piece band called
the Automatics
, recorded a batch of demos in London in 1978, hoping to obtain a major recording deal;
Dawning of a New Era
presents them for the first time. As is the case with most demos, these recordings have a limited audience, but die-hard fans will thrill to the early, rawer versions of their favorites, along with songs that never made it to actual albums. ~ Chris Woodstra