Three Minute Heroes...The Selecter Story and Show # 223

The Selector's first single was an instrumental B-Side released with a song from the 2 Tone Ska revival band, The Specials. The song "Selecter" was featured on Gangsters Vs. The Selector single in 1979. It was also the first 2 Tone records single to be released. Coming from Coventry, England The Selector formed originally with Neol Davies (guitar) and John Bradbury (drums); Bradbury would leave and become the drummer for The Specials. The band stood out from the rest of the Ska revival bands due to their female lead singer Pauline Black, the band also had numerous other members. Compton Amanor would provide additional guitar, Arthur Hendrickson (additional vocals), Charley Anderson (bass),Charley Bembridge (drums), and Desmond Brown on keyboards.

Too Much Pressure, the bands first album was released in 1980 on 2 Tone and Chrysalis Records. The bands next four singles were the songs "Three Minute Hero", "The Whisper", "Missing Words", and "On My Radio". Some of these songs were featured on Too Much Pressure. The album also featured several cover songs "Everyday" (Buddy Holly), Owan Gray, Justin Hinds, and a cover of the James Bond theme song. It went to #4 on the UK album charts when it was originally released in February of 1980. Celebrate The Bullet was The Selecter's second full length album. The band would not be on the 2 Tone label, they left releasing it only on Chrysalis Records. "The Whisper" was the last single to feature drummer Charley Anderson and Desmond Brown, they would leave after this single and were replaced by Adam Williams (bass), and James Mackie (keyboards). The album went to # 41 on the UK album charts. The band would break up in 1982.

Although The Selector did not chart in the US, they were an interesting Ska revival band. Pauline Black went on to pursue a career in acting. They would reform in 1991 and record several more albums with a slightly different line up. The Selecter toured and recorded up to 2006. Neol Davies also recorded two solo albums Box of Blues (1998) and Future Swamp in 2003.


Play List:

1. Brian Wilson - Heroes and Villains
2. Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet - Shadowy Countdown
3. Models - Freeze
4. The Damned - Neat, Neat, Neat
5. Brian James - Why Why Why
6. Captain Sensible - (What'd Ya Give) The Man Whos Gotten Everything?
7. The Crabs - Lullabies Lie (Live At The Roxy)
8. The Flesh Columns - Time's Up
9. The Spys - Underground
10. The Red Squares - Ottawa Today
11. New York Dolls - Pills
12. The Lurkers - Ain't Got A Clue
13. The Adverts - Gary Gilmore's Eyes
14. The Specials - Too Much Too Young
15. The Selecter - James Bond
16. Madness - One Step Beyond
17. A Block of Yellow - Are You Sure?
18. Hot Nasties - I Am A Confused Teenager
19. Rock and Roll Bitches - Broad Daylight
20. Bureaucrats - The Game
21. The Scabs - Amory Building
22. Richard Hell & The Voidoids - Down At The Rock and Roll Club
23. Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers - Get Off The Phone
24. The Saints - Champagne Misery

To download this week's show visit the CJAM archives and select the files 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM on November 18th, 2008.