The Selecter

Emerging as a standout ensemble amid the British ska resurgence spanning the late 1970s into the early 1980s, the Selecter stood apart as one of the scene's rare mixed-race and mixed-gender outfits, with frontwoman Pauline Black addressing issues of gender discrimination alongside racial prejudice and additional societal concerns central to 2-Tone acts. Their sound drew primarily from energetic ska traditions while weaving in substantial elements of roots reggae, evident particularly through prominent bass foundations and the deliberate pacing created by the rhythm players. Among their catalog, the standout and most lasting effort remains the initial long-player from 1980 titled Too Much Pressure, though post-reformation in 2010 they proved ongoing vitality as top-tier British ska performers via dynamic and reflective works such as Subculture in 2015 and Human Algebra from 2023.

The group first took shape as a studio endeavor when the Specials issued their opening single "Gangsters" in 1979 and required a B-side track, selecting an earlier recording from 1977 by Specials drummer John Bradbury alongside guitarist Neol Davies and trombone player Barry Jones; that number, "Kingston Affair," appeared under the Selecter name. As "Gangsters" achieved hit status and "Kingston Affair" drew parallel notice, Davies chose to form an actual band under the moniker. He brought in friends Charley Anderson on bass and Desmond Brown on keyboards, then completed the roster with guitarist Compton Amanor, Charley "H" Bembridge on drums, and vocalist Arthur "Gaps" Hendrickson; upon encountering Pauline Black, Davies arranged an audition that secured her place as lead singer.

The Selecter quickly joined the 2-Tone Records roster and climbed the U.K. singles charts via "Three Minute Hero," "On My Radio," and "Missing Words." Their debut album Too Much Pressure arrived in early 1980, reaching number five on the U.K. album chart and later attaining gold status. At the height of their popularity, the band appeared in the 2-Tone documentary Dance Craze chronicling the British ska revival, yet the original configuration began to fracture after Charley Anderson and Desmond Brown departed to establish their own group, the People. Adding keyboard player James Mackie and Adam Williams on bass, the Selecter prepared their follow-up, but 1981's Celebrate the Bullet met with lukewarm critical response and weak sales; Black subsequently exited for a solo path, and the band dissolved once a replacement vocalist proved unsuccessful.

Black pursued work in music and acting until the lasting appeal of the 2-Tone sound prompted her to reconvene a new Selecter lineup with Davies in 1991. That iteration issued an album, 1992's Out on the Streets, yet Davies soon exited, after which "Gaps" Hendrickson rejoined in 1993 to contribute to 1994's The Happy Album. In 1997 No Doubt, dedicated admirers of the 2-Tone period, enlisted the Selecter as openers for their American tour, leading to a consistent flow of live and studio releases featuring Black alongside shifting personnel. Black stepped away in 2006, allowing Davies to tour with his own version of the group for a time. Black and Hendrickson resumed performing as the Selecter in 2010, issuing Subculture in 2015, a potent blend of reggae and ska that reached number five on the U.K. indie album chart. The band returned in October 2017 with Daylight, again centered on Black and Hendrickson, and backed the release through extensive touring across the U.K., Europe, and Australia. Their stage command surfaced on the 2018 concert recording Live at the Roundhouse, while 2021 brought a deluxe reissue of the classic debut Too Much Pressure on both CD and LP, the CD format adding two bonus discs of singles, rarities, and a 1979 live performance.

Pauline Black received appointment as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2022 for her contributions to British entertainment, followed later that year by her designation as a Deputy Lieutenant of the West Midlands. The Selecter delivered a new studio album, Human Algebra, in 2023, merging tracks of political and social weight with reflections on personal relationships and featuring a tribute to their late friend and fellow ska artist Ranking Roger titled "Parade the Crown." The lineup comprised Black, original members Arthur "Gaps" Hendrickson and Charley "H" Bembridge, guitarist John Robertson, bassist Andy Pearson, keyboardist Lee Horsley, and producer Neil Pyzer handling saxophone, keyboards, and guitar. It marked one of Hendrickson's final efforts; he passed away on June 11, 2024, at age 73.