CAFFE` LATTE` 
TOP 1500 CHOICE TRACKS

#239 FREE NELSON MANDELA Special AKA
The Specials formed in England in 1977. Pivotal founding member Jerry Dammers launched his own record label, 2-Tone. The group reached #9 in the UK in 1979 with its 1st single "Gangsters". "Too Much Too Young" topped the British chart the following year. "Ghost Town" did the same in 1981. Following its success, 3 members of the band departed to form Fun Boy Three. 
Dammers collaborated with Rhoda Dakar, issuing "The Boiler" in 1982, before assembling a new line-up using the monicker Special AKA. He co-wrote "Free Nelson Mandela" with her. The song was featured on the 'In The Studio' album, released in 1984 with new addition Stan Campbell on lead vocals. Backing vocalists on the hit song included Caron Wheeler (later with Soul II Soul), Dave Wakeling and Rankin Roger (from The English Beat), as well as Elvis Costello. The latter produced the track.
The single reached #1 in New Zealand and peaked at #9 in the UK. "Nelson Mandela" remained a topical anthem for the efforts to free the famous South African victim of apartheid. Special AKA however, failed to sustain its success and broke up. Dammers immersed himself further in the Artists Against Apartheid cause. A later revival of the group did not include him. 
Mandela was finally freed on 11 February 1990. In May 1994, he became the 1st democratically elected State President of his homeland, holding office until 1999. The much-loved South African hero passed away on 5 December 2013 in his home. Mandela was aged 95.
 
This is a list made up of the songs I enjoy the most, ranked in order of preference: the higher we go, the more I cherish them. Some were released as singles, others as album tracks. Some are obscure; others were worldwide hits or have universal appeal. They aren't always the most famous or popular, but simply a personal choice. I have excluded songs from the last few years in order to get a better idea of a song's lasting impression. I hope you find some new tracks to love, or re-discover some past favourites.
A new song is added each day.