Specialized are very excited and very honoured to announce that Dave Wakeling, songwriter and lead vocalist of UK ska legends The Beat and currently frontman of The English Beat , has submitted a brand new version of “Mirror in the bathroom” to be included on the album “ Specialized II – Beat Teenage Cancer. This superb highlight from the Beat catalogue has been re-recorded and transformed into a scintillating version for 2013 that will certainly prick up your ears! “Mirror in the bathroom” is one of those rare tracks that’s stands the test of time and the new lease of life breathed into it by Dave’s new recording will again catapult it back into the limelight and be an album stand out moment.
“The lyrics were written when I was working on a construction site. I’d had a couple of drinks the night before, and forgot to hang up my clothes to dry for the next day. It gets very wet on those construction sites, and it was the winter, so it was a snowy wet. I got into the bathroom and realized my clothes were all on the floor in a wet, sandy pile. So I hung them up and thought, “Well, if I steam them, at least I’ll be puttin’ ’em on warm.” I had a shower, and then I was shaving in the mirror, with the hangover and the wet clothes, and the thought of trying to break up frozen sand to put into the concrete machine was not that tasty. And I started talking to myself in the mirror, and said, “Dave, we don’t have to do this, mate. We don’t have to do this.” And in the mirror behind me, the door of the bathroom had a tiny little latch on it, and I said to myself, “The door’s locked. There’s only me and you. Just me and you here. We don’t have to do this.” And of course we did, because we needed money for Guinness that night. So on the motorbike we got, and skidded our way back to the construction site. And while I was on the bike, I was pondering it. “The door is locked, just you and me.” Had a nice feel to it. “Mirror In The bathroom.” That’s a great idea, but you can’t have a pop song called “Mirror In The Bathroom,” can you? That’s stupid. You’re meant to have pop songs called, “I Love You, Lady,” or something. Anyway the poem started, and continued during the day, and kept me warm while my clothes weren’t, and I’d got the germ of it from there. And when I heard David Steele’s bassline, I was like, “Wow, that poem I was writing on the motorbike fits it like a glove.”
Fit like a glove it did and luckily for us all, there was the birth of a timeless work of art. The first airing of this modern classic will be on your Officially Specialized radio station at www.wolfmanradio.co.uk nearer the release of the album so stay tuned to updates on the Specialized website, facebook and twitter. Specialized would like to thank Dave for his time and support with this project and although we are sorry to tease you all with this announcement, it will be worth the wait!
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After the great success of the Specialized release and the project in general, and after much well meaning pressure (lol) it has been decided that there will be a Specialized 2 project in 2013.
We are very pleased and honoured that we are today launching “Specialized- Beat teenage cancer”. In the same vein as the first album, this time we are basing the whole project around another of the UK ska and 2-Tone legends ,of course ,it’s THE BEAT. As is the norm with Specialized, all money raised goes to Teenage Cancer Trust.
Always one of the stand out 2-Tone related bands, The Beat were truly the rhythm kings of the movement and they continued this on after the demise of 2-Tone such was their appeal. A team of great songwriters within the band saw many hits and they became the first 2-Tone act to really crack the USA, where their popularity is still huge. They have proved as popular at home too of course, and the latest releases of their work on vinyl and CD has proved this. The cool and efficient front men of Dave Wakeling and Ranking Roger were the perfect front for the band with the continual manic struts of superb guitarists Dave Steele and Andy Cox were a sight to behold. Throw into that melting pot the slinking driving rhythms supplied by Everett Morton on drums and the surprise element in the mix of Lionel Martin AKA “Saxa” (on what else, a saxophone) the laid back, floppy hatted brass maestro who had played with the likes of Prince Buster and Laurel Aitken on the original first ska boom and there you have a band that was crammed with musical greatness . Time has not diminished the bands legacy and glory, their songs remain hugely popular and we all know both sets of bands currently in formation under The Beat banner, carry off the catalogue of tuneful melodic tracks with aplomb.
The album will feature all the Beat classics and plenty of album tracks for your delight and the project aims to have plenty of surprises along the way. This of course will also see a fantastic return to Parkdean Sandford on November 8th, 9th & 10th 2013 for the aptly titled “Big One 2”, with a new format but just as entertaining. Big names and a star studded reggae showcase being the highlights. More details to follow shortly on the Parkdean weekender, so stay tuned.
The bands lined up to appear on the album so far include- The Hotknives, Addictive Philosophy, King Hammond, Big Fat Panda, Bluebird Parade, Buford o’Sullivan, Dirty Revolution, Dub Pistols, Dubtonik, Ed Rome, Esperanza, The Splitters, Swagga, The Amphetameanies, The Kosmos, just to name a few…. The new website is now up and running at www.specializedproject.co.uk . Have a look when you have some spare time as its the new place for all things Specialized.
Thank you all for your continued support and hope to see old and new faces at our events.
Come on- lets try and Beat Teenage Cancer. Together.
Message from Dave Wakeling –
“…Music has always had a healing aspect, and two tone a bit more than most, as it was designed to bring people together. These songs have been a big part of my life, and I am honoured that they could be of use to the Specialized project. a wonderful opportunity to assist a worthy cause, the Teenage Cancer Trust, and remember, when we help others, we help ourselves...one hand wash the other!