Too Much Pressure [IMPORT]

Selecter

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 1, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Captain Mod
• ASIN: B00005KK45
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #27,901 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > Alternative Rock > British Alternative > British Ska

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
First time on CD for this legendary Ska album, originally issued by Two Tone Records in 1980 and which reached No.5 in the UK National Charts. Features the Top 30 singles ''On My Radio'', ''Three Minute Hero'' and ''Missing Words'' plus ''The Selecter'' which was the double A-side to the very first Two Tone release, The Specials ''Gangsters''. In-depth deluxe booklet comes complete with liner notes by Ska authority George Marshall and pictures of loads of rare overseas singles by the band. A must for any serious Ska fan.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A lost classic - one of the best albums I own!, April 20, 2003

By	Jason Robey "horakhti" (Silver Spring, MD USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The Selecter's "Too Much Pressure" is the single most overlooked album of the U.K. ska revival, and in my opinion, the most overlooked album of the late-70s/early-80s.

Fans of the short-lived U.K. ska revival are probably familiar with The Selecter, but unfortunately most don't own "Too Much Pressure". It was out of print until 2002, and then only released on a small indie label in the U.K.

The album was originally released in 1980, following a few key singles, on the then fledgling 2-Tone label. Those early singles - "The Selecter", "On My Radio" and "Too Much Pressure" - are included as bonus tracks on this reissue.

Like other 2-Tone bands, The Selecter is indebted to early Jamaican ska, specifically Duke Reid and Prince Buster productions, as well as late seventies U.K. punk. The Selecter is rooted in rock steady and reggae rhythms as well, which aligns them more closely with The English Beat than The Specials or Madness (all label-mates.)

What makes The Selecter completely unique is lead vocalist Pauline Black. Black was born to belt out infectious, punk-inspired ska tunes. Without her, The Selecter would sound too much like The English Beat - not a bad thing, just that Black really makes the band something special. She can back a social statement like "Danger" with fierce intensity and then bounce along playfully to some of the most infectious songs in existence. (Is "On My Radio" pure bliss or what?)

This is truly one of the best albums that I own, and I highly recommend it to fans of this type of music. Even if you already own a Selecter compilation, you shouldn't hesitate to pick this up. Seriously, no slapdash compilation can ever replace the original album, especially when every track is a killer.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars get up and dance; you can take your mind with you, March 16, 2007

By	John Deaderick "jdead" (Camptonville, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Maybe the greatest ska album ever: and you don't have to sacrifice your intellect. It's in turns fun, silly, irreverent, political, honest, raw, and the level of musicianship is very high (pun intended) with rich female vocals. A landmark. Get their next album: Celebrate the Bullet and also the other great Tutone band's releases Specials and More Specials

1 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars That Missing Sound In Your Mind (you knew it was there!), March 14, 2007

By	C. Woltman "GrooveHead" (Tampa Florida) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

W/o getting too technical, this is the shizzy natty nit.
I love Rock n' Roll. In all it's many incarnations!
That said...to me, ska was always associated with horrible twittering things like The Mighty Mighty Bosstones pudgey horn section or No Doubt or (god forbid) Sublime, where some dead suburban rednex goes in a faux Jamacain accent for drunk frat sing along meltdowns. It was always a inconsequencial wonder where Reggae could've gone so wrong in it's rock baby. -Until I stumbled across this revalation of place and time and rythm and scene. I never thought about it, because I never cared about that "style" of music, but it really makes perfect sense. Bob Marley, Toots and the Maytails, all that big Jamacain sounds folks love. Ramones/Sex Pistols, the growl of Patti Smith's "Redondo Beach" or some New York New Wave Blondie/Talking Heads badfun stuff. It's London, It's the late 70's, some black Jamacain Brit kids are making the music for the times and damn it's as good as sound can sound, believe that!!
If you like Wire, or Bad Brains...
Every Single Song on this album is easily brilliant. This is the kind of rock that is so rare that people should staple it to thier bodies and wear it instead of gold and diamonds. We live in a sick world where a guy like me who's damn near heard it all hadn't heard this until just recently. I'm not trying to deduct cool points from myself, I'm just trying to give you some- if you cant make up your mind wether to get a copy of this or not, you'd better just get it and jive out.