On My Stereo, 01 May 2008
Like all cut price compilations they are most telling for their omissions rather than what they include. This one has only one glaring omission debut side `The Selecter' the instrumental on the b-side of The Specials 45 `Gangsters' which created the initial excitement to start the band in the first place. Also absent is the classic version of the cover of `Train to Skaville' which with its 12" dub version was definitely a high point of the bands career.

However gripes aside it manages to include the non album singles `On My Radio' and my personal favourite `The Whisper' along with the best eight cuts from the debut LP `Too Much Pressure'. The remaining six songs are drawn from the bands disappointing second LP `Celebrate the Bullet' which is perhaps too many. Still at least it doesn't contain anything from the bands reformation.

The best Selecter compilation available and at a price so low it would be rude not to buy it.


Select this!, 01 Nov 2002
They only really produced the one proper album, and this album is really just the best tracks from that album plus some singles - but what an album. Look at all these great tracks - 'Three Minute Hero', 'Missing Words', 'On My Radio' - all on the radio during the ska revival of the late 70's/early 80's, and along with the Specials, the band that really made it happen.

The multi-racial nature of the band and the diverse influences made it flow smoothly from punk to ska without the punks even caring where it went, or the rude boys (and girls) caring where it came from.

On My Stereo, 01 May 2008
Like all cut price compilations they are most telling for their omissions rather than what they include. This one has only one glaring omission debut side `The Selecter' the instrumental on the b-side of The Specials 45 `Gangsters' which created the initial excitement to start the band in the first place. Also absent is the classic version of the cover of `Train to Skaville' which with its 12" dub version was definitely a high point of the bands career.

However gripes aside it manages to include the non album singles `On My Radio' and my personal favourite `The Whisper' along with the best eight cuts from the debut LP `Too Much Pressure'. The remaining six songs are drawn from the bands disappointing second LP `Celebrate the Bullet' which is perhaps too many. Still at least it doesn't contain anything from the bands reformation.

The best Selecter compilation available and at a price so low it would be rude not to buy it.


Select this!, 01 Nov 2002
They only really produced the one proper album, and this album is really just the best tracks from that album plus some singles - but what an album. Look at all these great tracks - 'Three Minute Hero', 'Missing Words', 'On My Radio' - all on the radio during the ska revival of the late 70's/early 80's, and along with the Specials, the band that really made it happen.

The multi-racial nature of the band and the diverse influences made it flow smoothly from punk to ska without the punks even caring where it went, or the rude boys (and girls) caring where it came from.

Too Little Selecter, 01 May 2008
The Selecter happened very much by accident. When The Specials recorded `Gangsters' to release on their own independent impression Two-Tone they had gone over budget and had no money to record a b-side. They asked local musician Neol Davis if he would like to contribute and he duly delivered `The Selecter' a trombone driven reggae swagger.

When The Specials and Two-Tone hit the big time interest grew in the band who recorded the b-side and Neol set out assembling a band to capitalise on his fortune. Five musicians from local Coventry band Hard Top 22 where assembled and, on the recommendation of Specials guitarist Lynval Golding, singer Pauline Vickers performing as Pauline Black to avoid her employers discovering her moonlighting.

Neol Davis composed the initial 45 `On My Radio' b/w `Too Much Pressure' and after this charted work started on this their debut LP. As well as the title track Neol contributed a further for songs, two of which `Three Minute Hero' and `Missing Words' also became hit singles. Miss Black contributed a further two originals and the band jointly composed `Danger'. The album also contained four Ska classics the most immediate of which would be The Pioneers `Time Hard' before closing on a brilliant take of Monty Norman's James Bond Theme which was composed by John Barry but credited to Norman for legal purposes. All in all a confident debut from the band that never was.


BAD REMASTER, 15 Mar 2008
I don't know what they were trying to achieve but this sounds awful compared to the original version, avoid this re"master" look for the originals this is really distorted.

Essential 2 Tone, 26 May 2007
A classic 2 Tone ska album, with some killer tunes. Pauline Black's vocals seem to move effortlessly from the caustic & angry to the melodic & back again. Kicking off with the classic "Three Minute Hero" this album just doesn't stop producing the goods.Great songs such as "Missing Words" & "My Collie" are just a couple of the high quality tracks on this record.
If you like a bit of up tempo ska with a hint of punk, then this album will be for you. Very raw at times,it's a belter from start to finish.

It's about time, 20 Dec 2002
As an American who just discovered the magic of the Specials, I needed a fix. It was really frustrating to find out that Too Much Pressure was out of print, so I looked for about 6 months to find it at some American online store. Then, a friend suggested that I go to the UK Amazon page and I found it instantly. As for the music itself, I don't think it measures up to the Specials' debut LP, but it's still great and it belongs in the collection of any ska fan. It's a shame that no American company seems to want to release this, but you Brits have always had better musical taste anyway. (Well, except for hip-hop.) Anyway, it's a good album. The label that reissued it sounds shady (Captain Mod?), but the liner notes and sound quality are quite a bit better than I expected. If you've waited for this album as I have, this version will satisfy.

And if you're an American who's been searching for this album just as I was, don't worry -- it ships fast, even from the UK.

Finally a CD release of the greatest 2-Tone l.p., 04 Nov 2001
At last an official CD release for this classic debut l.p from 2-Tone's finest The Selecter. A somewhat more pleasing debut than there label mates The Specials, brilliantly combining the vocal talents of Pauline Black and 'Gaps'Hendrickson, the killer guitars of Neol Davies and Compton Amanor, Desmond Brown's funky Hammond organ and the sturdy rhythm section of the two Charleys, Anderson (bass) and Bembridge (drums). The album contains the top 30 hits 'Three Minute Hero'and 'Missing Words'along with 'The Selecter'(flipside of The Specials''Gangsters')and 'On My Radio' and the original single version of 'Too Much Pressure'as bonus tracks. An excellent blend of classic ska and reggae covers ('Everyday', 'Carry Go Bring Come', 'James Bond') and superb original material ('Black and Blue', 'Out On the Streets', 'Street Feeling'). A must for SKA fans everywhere as is their second lp 'Celebrate The Bullet'. Thank you Captain Mod for releasing these 2 lost classics on CD at long last - well worth the wait!!

On My Stereo, 01 May 2008
Like all cut price compilations they are most telling for their omissions rather than what they include. This one has only one glaring omission debut side `The Selecter' the instrumental on the b-side of The Specials 45 `Gangsters' which created the initial excitement to start the band in the first place. Also absent is the classic version of the cover of `Train to Skaville' which with its 12" dub version was definitely a high point of the bands career.

However gripes aside it manages to include the non album singles `On My Radio' and my personal favourite `The Whisper' along with the best eight cuts from the debut LP `Too Much Pressure'. The remaining six songs are drawn from the bands disappointing second LP `Celebrate the Bullet' which is perhaps too many. Still at least it doesn't contain anything from the bands reformation.

The best Selecter compilation available and at a price so low it would be rude not to buy it.


Select this!, 01 Nov 2002
They only really produced the one proper album, and this album is really just the best tracks from that album plus some singles - but what an album. Look at all these great tracks - 'Three Minute Hero', 'Missing Words', 'On My Radio' - all on the radio during the ska revival of the late 70's/early 80's, and along with the Specials, the band that really made it happen.

The multi-racial nature of the band and the diverse influences made it flow smoothly from punk to ska without the punks even caring where it went, or the rude boys (and girls) caring where it came from.

Too Little Selecter, 01 May 2008
The Selecter happened very much by accident. When The Specials recorded `Gangsters' to release on their own independent impression Two-Tone they had gone over budget and had no money to record a b-side. They asked local musician Neol Davis if he would like to contribute and he duly delivered `The Selecter' a trombone driven reggae swagger.

When The Specials and Two-Tone hit the big time interest grew in the band who recorded the b-side and Neol set out assembling a band to capitalise on his fortune. Five musicians from local Coventry band Hard Top 22 where assembled and, on the recommendation of Specials guitarist Lynval Golding, singer Pauline Vickers performing as Pauline Black to avoid her employers discovering her moonlighting.

Neol Davis composed the initial 45 `On My Radio' b/w `Too Much Pressure' and after this charted work started on this their debut LP. As well as the title track Neol contributed a further for songs, two of which `Three Minute Hero' and `Missing Words' also became hit singles. Miss Black contributed a further two originals and the band jointly composed `Danger'. The album also contained four Ska classics the most immediate of which would be The Pioneers `Time Hard' before closing on a brilliant take of Monty Norman's James Bond Theme which was composed by John Barry but credited to Norman for legal purposes. All in all a confident debut from the band that never was.


BAD REMASTER, 15 Mar 2008
I don't know what they were trying to achieve but this sounds awful compared to the original version, avoid this re"master" look for the originals this is really distorted.

Essential 2 Tone, 26 May 2007
A classic 2 Tone ska album, with some killer tunes. Pauline Black's vocals seem to move effortlessly from the caustic & angry to the melodic & back again. Kicking off with the classic "Three Minute Hero" this album just doesn't stop producing the goods.Great songs such as "Missing Words" & "My Collie" are just a couple of the high quality tracks on this record.
If you like a bit of up tempo ska with a hint of punk, then this album will be for you. Very raw at times,it's a belter from start to finish.

It's about time, 20 Dec 2002
As an American who just discovered the magic of the Specials, I needed a fix. It was really frustrating to find out that Too Much Pressure was out of print, so I looked for about 6 months to find it at some American online store. Then, a friend suggested that I go to the UK Amazon page and I found it instantly. As for the music itself, I don't think it measures up to the Specials' debut LP, but it's still great and it belongs in the collection of any ska fan. It's a shame that no American company seems to want to release this, but you Brits have always had better musical taste anyway. (Well, except for hip-hop.) Anyway, it's a good album. The label that reissued it sounds shady (Captain Mod?), but the liner notes and sound quality are quite a bit better than I expected. If you've waited for this album as I have, this version will satisfy.

And if you're an American who's been searching for this album just as I was, don't worry -- it ships fast, even from the UK.

Finally a CD release of the greatest 2-Tone l.p., 04 Nov 2001
At last an official CD release for this classic debut l.p from 2-Tone's finest The Selecter. A somewhat more pleasing debut than there label mates The Specials, brilliantly combining the vocal talents of Pauline Black and 'Gaps'Hendrickson, the killer guitars of Neol Davies and Compton Amanor, Desmond Brown's funky Hammond organ and the sturdy rhythm section of the two Charleys, Anderson (bass) and Bembridge (drums). The album contains the top 30 hits 'Three Minute Hero'and 'Missing Words'along with 'The Selecter'(flipside of The Specials''Gangsters')and 'On My Radio' and the original single version of 'Too Much Pressure'as bonus tracks. An excellent blend of classic ska and reggae covers ('Everyday', 'Carry Go Bring Come', 'James Bond') and superb original material ('Black and Blue', 'Out On the Streets', 'Street Feeling'). A must for SKA fans everywhere as is their second lp 'Celebrate The Bullet'. Thank you Captain Mod for releasing these 2 lost classics on CD at long last - well worth the wait!!

More a Dirge Than a Celebration, 01 May 2008
The Selecter tired of playing second fiddle to The Specials on the Two-Tone label and signed directly to the distributer, Chrysalis, shortly after promoting the `Missing Words' 45 from debut long player `Too Much Pressure'. The first single for their new label was `The Whisper' b/w `Train to Skaville' and it was the brightest and best 45 they had recorded however without the patronage of Walt Jabsco's imprint it failed to make much of an impact in the charts leading to the bassist and organist quitting the band. This their second LP was started with initial bass duties being taken by Norman Watt-Roy, from Ian Dury's backing band The Blockheads.

Replacement were eventually found and this recording assembled from compositions from throughout the band rather than rely on Ska standard like the `Too Much Pressure'. The Principle songwriter from the previous LP without completion for attention amongst the covers has produced some fairly turgid songs of which only the title track is up to the heights he achieved previously. Pauline Black and Comi Amador's compositions also bring nothing to this LP and Gaps Hendrickson's `Tell me What's Wrong' is the surprise hit of the sessions.

After the Album and its singles failed to make an impact in the charts the band split up. This album is has not improved over time and anyone looking for The Selecter at their best are advised to check out `Too Much Pressure'.


Top Album, 24 Dec 2003
The Selecter are cool!
I bought this album on vinyl when it first came out and I still have it (God, I'm showing my age!).
All the ska revival was good, but this album was different, more experimental, less punky!
Celebrate The Bullet and Sellng Out Your Future are 2 of my favourite songs of all time.
However, Too Much Pressure is also a classic album, buy them if you don't already have them cos' they reek of good tunage!!!
I've just ordered both albums on CD cos' I no longer have a deck, I can't wait till they come.

The Selecter's 1981 lost classic!!, 03 Nov 2001
'Celebrate The Bullet' saw The Selecter cutting their ties with 2-Tone and moving away from that labels trademark sound. Gone are the clasic ska and reggae covers of their debut 'Too Much Pressure', gone too are original bassist (Charley Anderson) and keyboardist (Desmond Brown). However, new recruits James Mackie (Keyboards) and Adam Williams (bass) seem to add an exciting new dimension to the 'Selecter'sound. More band members are involved with the songwriting this time round with chief songwriter Neol Davies providing just 5 of the albums original 11 tracks.
The music seems somewhat more atmospheric than their previous lp and singles. Davies''Washed Up and Left For Dead'is particularly haunting. Other classic tracks include Pauline Black's 'Deepwater' and Compton Amanor's 'Bombscare'. All of this plus lavish artwork including full lyrics, extensive sleevenotes and 4 bonus tracks including the minor hit single 'The Whisper' and the rare 'B'-sides 'Last Tango In Dub'and 'Train To Skaville'. All in all a great testament to what a great band The Selecter were in their prime.