Customer Reviews

Celebrate the Bullet

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2 star:		(1)
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'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.

By the end of 1980 The Selecter were trying to distance themselves from 2 Tone by releasing this on the Chrysalis label (Two Tone were managed under Chrysalis). They responded by releasing a very mature, rock based lp. The production is very good, and some great playing, fretless bass on Cool Blue Lady, Noel Davies guitar sound fills out the recored with a brilliant lead solo on Selling Out Your Future, the best track. No filler at all, every track is very strong, Pauline Blacks vocals are so brilliant I am surprised she never went on to have a big solo career. Pauline also writes some great songs, Bristol and Miami, and Deepwater. It still has the ska feel but much more of a rock sound than 2 Tone. The single Celebrate the Bullet was released in Dec 80 (just as John Lennon was shot) it got banned and the record bombed. A shame as I still play it 30 years later, just love the 80s guitar effects Noel Davies used. Washed up and left for Dead is also a key track to close the LP. After poor sales the band split up, but its well worth buying if you like great songs with meaning and a band all playing excellent music, in a 80s new wavish sound.

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 item was as described and was well packaged when it arrived. I expected a slightly longer wait for the CD but was pleasantly surprised to receive it within 2 days.
I would definitely use this seller again and recommend them to others.

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'.