The Special A.K.A.* Vs. The Selecter – Gangsters / The Selecter

The Specials - Gangsters / The Selecter album cover

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Genre:	Reggae
Style:	Ska
Year:	1979

Tracklist

	The Special A.K.A.*–	Gangsters
	The Selecter–	The Selecter

Credits (1)

E.G..*
Plated By

Notes

Early pressings have the band named as Special A.K.A. while later pressings use The Specials as the artist.

Recorded for a mere £700 (if the legend is to be believed) and initially distributed by Rough Trade. These Rough Trade issues came with a plain white sleeve stamped by the band themselves with the words THE SPECIAL A.K.A 'Gangsters' Vs THE SELECTER. This stamped sleeve was limited to 5000 copies.

The B side was a demo that was recorded a few years before its release by Neol Davies, John Bradbury and Barry Jones and came complete with its own unique catalogue number. This may seem unusual but was actually quite common with old ska and reggae singles.

The record was the biggest selling independent single of the year.

Versions

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39 versions

Image	,	–			In Your Collection, Wantlist, or Inventory	Version Details	Data Quality
	Gangsters / The Selecter 7", 45 RPM, Single	Chrysalis – 6172 682	France	1979	France — 1979	Recently Edited
	Gangsters / The Selecter 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo	Chrysalis – 6155 262	Germany	1979	Germany — 1979	Recently Edited
	Gangsters / The Selecter 7", 45 RPM, Single, Repress, Lyntone Pressing	Two-Tone Records – TT1, Two-Tone Records – TT2	UK	1979	UK — 1979	Recently Edited
	Gangsters / The Selecter 7", 45 RPM, Single, Blue Injection Moulded Labels	Chrysalis – 100 879	Netherlands	1979	Netherlands — 1979	Recently Edited
	Gangsters / The Selecter 7", Single	Chrysalis – K 7610, Chrysalis – K 7610	New Zealand	1979	New Zealand — 1979	Recently Edited
	Gangsters 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo, Mono	Chrysalis – CHS 2374, Chrysalis – CHS-2374	US	1979	US — 1979	Recently Edited
	Gangsters / The Selecter 7", 45 RPM, Single, Santa Maria pressing	Chrysalis – CHS 2374, Chrysalis – CHS-2374	US	1979	US — 1979	Recently Edited
	Gangsters / The Selecter 7", 45 RPM, Stamped Sleeve, Solid Centre	Two-Tone Records – TT1, Two-Tone Records – TT2	UK	1979	UK — 1979	Recently Edited
	Gangsters 12", Promo	Chrysalis – CHS-17-PDJ	US	1979	US — 1979
	Gangsters / The Selecter 7", 45 RPM	Two-Tone Records – WWR-20652, Chrysalis – WWR-20652	Japan	1979	Japan — 1979	Recently Edited
	Gangsters / The Selecter 7", Single, 45 RPM	RTV Ljubljana – SL 0227, Two-Tone Records – TT1, Two-Tone Records – TT2	Yugoslavia	1979	Yugoslavia — 1979	New Submission
	Gangsters / The Selecter 7", 45 RPM, Single, Repress, Push-out Centre	Two-Tone Records – TT1, Two-Tone Records – TT2	UK	1979	UK — 1979	New Submission
	Gangsters / The Selecter 7", 45 RPM, Single, Paper Labels	Two-Tone Records – TT1, Two-Tone Records – TT2	UK	1979	UK — 1979	Recently Edited
	Gangsters 7", Single	Chrysalis – CHS 2374	Ireland	1979	Ireland — 1979	Recently Edited
	Gangsters / The Selecter 7", 45 RPM, Single	Chrysalis – 6172 682	France	1979	France — 1979
	Gangsters 7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint	Chrysalis – 6155 262	Germany	1979	Germany — 1979	New Submission
	Gangsters / The Selecter 7", Single	Chrysalis – K7610	Australia	1979	Australia — 1979	New Submission
	Gangsters / The Selecter 7", 45 RPM, Silver Injection-moulded Labels	Two-Tone Records – TT1, Two-Tone Records – TT2	UK	1979	UK — 1979	New Submission
	Gangsters / The Selecter 7", 45 RPM, Single	Chrysalis – CHS 2374	Canada	1979	Canada — 1979	New Submission
	Gangsters / The Selecter 7", 45 RPM, Single, Repress, Solid Center, Paper Label, Orlake, Gripper Ring	Two-Tone Records – TT1, Two-Tone Records – TT2	UK	1979	UK — 1979	Recently Edited
	Gangsters / The Selecter 12", 45 RPM, Single, Promo	Chrysalis – PRP-8129	Japan	1979	Japan — 1979	Recently Edited
	Gangsters / The Selecter 7", 45 RPM, Promo	Two-Tone Records – WWR-20652, Chrysalis – WWR-20652	Japan	1979	Japan — 1979	New Submission
	Gangsters / The Selecter 7", 45 RPM, Single, Solid Centre, Tranco Pressing	Two-Tone Records – TT1, Two-Tone Records – TT2	UK	1979	UK — 1979	New Submission
	Gangsters / The Selecter 7", 45 RPM, Single, 4-Pronged Centre, Tranco Pressing	Two-Tone Records – TT1, Two-Tone Records – TT2	UK	1979	UK — 1979	New Submission
	Gangsters / The Selecter 7", 45 RPM, Repress, Solid Centre, CBS pressing	Two-Tone Records – TT1, Two-Tone Records – TT2	UK	1979	UK — 1979	New Submission
	Gangsters / The Selecter 7", 45 RPM, Single, WEA Pressing, Paper Labels	Two-Tone Records – TT1, Two-Tone Records – TT2	UK	1979	UK — 1979	Recently Edited
	Gangsters / The Selecter 7", 45 RPM, Single, Silver Injection Labels	Chrysalis – 100 879, Chrysalis – 100879	Netherlands	1979	Netherlands — 1979	New Submission
	Gangsters / The Selecter 7", 45 RPM, Single, Damont Press	Two-Tone Records – TT1, Two-Tone Records – TT2	UK	1979	UK — 1979	New Submission
	Gangsters / The Selecter 7", 45 RPM, Single, Paper Labels	Chrysalis – 100 879	Netherlands	1979	Netherlands — 1979	New Submission
	Gangsters / The Selecter 7", 45 RPM, Single, Solid Centre, Paper Label, No Gripper ring	Two-Tone Records – TT1, Two-Tone Records – TT2	UK	1979	UK — 1979	New Submission
	Gangsters / The Selecter 7", 45 RPM, Single, Pitman pressing	Chrysalis – CHS 2374, Chrysalis – CHS-2374	US	1979	US — 1979	New Submission
	Gangsters / The Selecter 7", 45 RPM, Single, Terre Haute pressing	Chrysalis – CHS 2374, Chrysalis – CHS-2374	US	1979	US — 1979	New Submission
	Gangsters / The Selecter 7", 45 RPM, Single, White Label	Two-Tone Records – TT1, Two-Tone Records – TT2	UK	1979	UK — 1979
	Gangsters / The Selecter 7", 45 RPM, Repress, Solid Centre, Orlake Pressing	Two-Tone Records – TT1, Two-Tone Records – TT2	UK	1979	UK — 1979	New Submission
	Gangsters / The Selecter 7", 45 RPM, Single, 4-Pronged Centre, A Porky Prime Cut	Two-Tone Records – TT1, Two-Tone Records – TT2	UK	1979	UK — 1979	New Submission
	Gangsters / On My Radio CD, Single	EMI France – 880 809 2	France	1993	France — 1993	New Submission
	Gangsters / The Selecter 7", 45 RPM, Reissue	Two-Tone Records – TT1, Two-Tone Records – TT2	UK	2023	UK — 2023	New Submission
	Gangsters / The Selecter 7", 45 RPM, Single	Chrysalis – CHS 2374, Chrysalis – 6172 682	France		France	New Submission
	Gangsters / The Selecter Lathe Cut, 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Reissue, Unofficial Release, Green	Two-Tone Records (2) – TT1, Two-Tone Records (2) – TT2	Brazil		Brazil	Recently Edited