Rip it up - the best of Specialty Records

"These 18 killers (all in glorious mono) fly by quickly. They leave you wanting more from a somewhat forgotten, yet historically vital imprint that provided the music world with timeless tracks which sound as vibrant today as when they were cut seventy-some years ago".

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"These 18 tracks cover a game-changing 12 years (1945-1957), highlighting the label's significant contribution to rock and roll ... Kudos to Craft Recordings for keeping the legacy of these blues and early rock artists alive".

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"As for the music, what's found on Rip It Up: The Best of Specialty Records is undeniable, inarguable, incontestable ... Suppose this collection merely serves as a primer for the much more comprehensive box set, or it offers a chance for both older collectors and first-timers to own a new physical product boasting the Specialty label. In that case, it's done its job as proving that Specialty forever deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Chess and Sun as an originator of the rock 'n' roll sound that still powers the backbeat of pop radio to this day".

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"Capturing the label's remarkable legacy in a mere 18 tracks is folly but "Rip It Up" succeeds by emphasising excitement over exhaustiveness, whether it's the staggering rhythms of Jimjmy Liggins' "Drunk" or the exuberance of Lloyd Price's ageless "Lawdy Miss Clawdy"".