The Selecter – At The BBC: The Complete Recordings 1979-1981 -

The Selecter – At The BBC: The Complete Recordings 1979-1981

Release Info

Label
Chrysalis
Format
CD / 3 x LP
Street date
June 2026
Contact
FB The Selecter

Tracklist

01 They Make Me Mad (John Peel Session, 22 October 1979)
02 Carry Go Bring Come (John Peel Session, 22 October 1979)
03 Danger (John Peel Session, 22 October 1979)
04 Street Feeling (John Peel Session, 22 October 1979)
05 Murder (Live at the Paris Theatre, London, 15 December 1979)
06 Out On The Streets (Live at the Paris Theatre, London, 15 December 1979)
07 James Bond (Live at the Paris Theatre, London, 15 December 1979)
08 Carry Go Bring Come (Live at the Paris Theatre, London, 15 December 1979)
09 Street Feeling (Live at the Paris Theatre, London, 15 December 1979)
10 Everyday (Live at the Paris Theatre, London, 15 December 1979)
11 They Make Me Mad (Live at the Paris Theatre, London, 15 December 1979)
12 Too Much Pressure (Live at the Paris Theatre, London, 15 December 1979)
13 Three Minute Hero (Look! Hear!, 29 January 1980)
14 Everyday (Look! Hear!, 29 January 1980)
15 Too Much Pressure (Look! Hear!, 29 January 1980)
16 Murder (The Old Grey Whistle Test, 19 February 1980)
17 Danger (The Old Grey Whistle Test, 19 February 1980)
18 Missing Words (The Old Grey Whistle Test, 19 February 1980)
19 Selling Out Your Future (John Peel Session, 11 October 1980)
20 Tell Me What’s Wrong (John Peel Session, 11 October 1980)
21 Washed Up And Left For Dead (John Peel Session, 11 October 1980)
22 Deep Water (John Peel Session, 11 October 1980)
23 Bombscare (Mike Read Session, 14 November 1980)
24 (Who Likes) Facing Situations (Mike Read Session, 14 November 1980)
25 Cool Blue Lady (Mike Read Session, 14 November 1980)
26 Selling Out Your Future (Mike Read Session, 14 November 1980)
27 Bombscare (Look! Hear!, 3 March 1981)
28 (Who Likes) Facing Situations (Look! Hear!, 3 March 1981)
29 Celebrate The Bullet (The Old Grey Whistle Test, 4 April 1981)
30 Washed Up And Left For Dead (The Old Grey Whistle Test, 4 April 1981)

Well this takes me back. In 1979 I started working in south London in a Youth Centre for several years. I was asked by some of them in about 1982 to set up a dance one night. There was a mixture of Black and white teenagers, mostly around 14 or 15 years old. We bandied together and rustled up several copies of records by Yellowman and Scientist Rids The World Of The Evil Curse Of The Vampires (from the boys) and Marie Pierre’s lovers rock classic Love Affair album (from the girls). Then there were quite a few Two-Tone 45s (and clothing). All I remember now is that whenever there was a complaint (“Too much dub!” / “Too Much Lover’s”/ “Play some dub!”/ Play more Lover’s!”), I’d stick something like The Selecter on the deck and everyone was happy jumping around for three minutes. It wasn’t rocket science, but it didn’t actually encourage me to extend my dee-jay career past that one night.

Listening to this music now, its youthful exuberance and enthusiasm is plain to hear. A couple of years earlier, punk rock had exploded onto Britain’s music scene and there had been an unexpected connection with reggae. Two-Tone originally came from Coventry in Britain’s south midlands, and there is punk-flavoured anger mixed in with rigid ska rhythms at sometimes at truly breakneck speed, played mostly on electric guitar and organ (and an occasional reggae interlude); remember that when the earliest of the material here was recorded (for counter-cultural radio DJ John Peel in October 1979) Maggie Thatcher had been Prime Minister for around six months – things would only get worse, as some of Pauline’s song introductions suggest as the set progresses.

Two-Tone really kicked off with The Specials AKA – The track The Selecter was on the ‘B’ side of the first hit Gangsters, credited to “The Selecter” but actually two members of The Specials. A band of that name did not exist, so a racially- and gender-diverse band was formed from the city’s punk, soul and reggae bands. Pauline Black was the frontwoman, a force of nature at the time, with music that included covers of Justin Hinds’ Carry Go Bring Come, Leon & Owen’s Murder, The Pioneers Time Hard (a.k.a. Everyday)’ and The James Bond Theme drawing from Roland Alphonso. All are present here, with Hinds’ and Leon & Owen’s songs in duplicate versions. The original material – some of it very political – is often present from different dates too, as is only to be expected, and there are a couple of The Selecter’s hits included: Missing Words and Three Minute Hero. Arthur “Gaps” Hendrickson sings the lead vocal on the curious Tell Me What’s Wrong.

These tracks come mainly from radio show appearances and some from television, and include tracks from a live show in London. The music is not subtle, but it is hard-hitting and still, (sadly, given the political issues that are addressed) relevant today. And of course, it stands as the link between the originators and the “Third Wave Of Ska”. The Selecter and The Specials were far and away the best two Two-Tone Bands, and Pauline Black still puts on quite a show. But these tracks are from when Two-Tone was young and fresh, and the energy and commitment is still quite something to hear.

Norman Darwen Reviews