The beginnings of The Selecter arose in 1977, when Neol Davies, John Bradbury and Barry Jones recorded what would become “Kingston Affair” whilst in session. They then decided to form a band, becoming “The Selecter,” with this first track being featured on the b-side to the Specials’ single “Gangsters.” Neol Davies (guitar) then recruited Desmond Brown (hammond organ), Charley Anderson (bass), Compton Amanor (guitar), Arthur ‘Gaps’ Hendrickson (vocals), Charley ‘H’ Bembridge (drums) and finally vocalist Pauline Black, completing the lineup in 1979.
The band went straight into the studio, recording and releasing a string of singles, “On My Radio,” “Three Minute Hero” and “Missing Words’ before the end of the year. Their debut album, “Too Much Pressure” was released in February 1980, by 2 Tone Records and Chrysalis Records. The album was a success, peaking at number five in the UK charts. Their second release, “Celebrate the Bullet,” came out a year later. However it did not achieve the same success and the band crumbled apart.
The band split in 1982, with Black pursuing a career in theatre, TV and film as well as music. However, this was not to be the end of The Selector, as Davies and Black reunited in 1991, continuing to tour and perform live, supporting No Doubt on their North American tour in 1997. Throughout the 90s and 2000s, varying lineups under the guise of The Selecter released albums intermittently, led by front woman Pauline Black. In 2010, Black and Hendrickson again played under the name of The Selecter, celebrating the 30th anniversary of their debut album. In celebration, they performed the whole album in its entirety. In 2014, The Selecter was again mobilized for a show at the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Subsequently, they embarked on an extensive tour of the UK, Europe, New Zealand and Australia.
Emerging from the same 2-Tone ska punk scene that birthed the likes of The Specials, Madness and The Beat, early singles from The Selecter like "Too Much Pressure," "On My Radio" and their self-titled "The Selecter" contained such an urgent brilliance that they cemented the band’s credibility for many years yet to come. Hearing them performed live today understandably brings out a nostalgic thrill in those old enough to have donned their steel toe capped Doc Martens and headed for the dancefloor back in the late 1970s, but The Selecter still imbue tunes entering their fifth decade of life with a degree of energy younger bands surely wish they could bottle and neck in one go. The line up may have gone through a few shifts in the intervening years, but front and centre as ever remains inimitable frontwoman Pauline Black, as imposing and endearing a singer as ever emerged from the punk, new wave, ska (or whatever you’d like to call it) movement. Extended periods of synthesiser ambience or backing orchestras aren’t to be expected, but if it’s buoyant yet hard hitting ska with a social conscience that resides in exactly the right place you’re after, there are few bands you’d select over this legendary group.
ThomasHannan
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