Chrysalis
SELECTER - Celebrate The Bullet LP (colour vinyl)
180 gram clear vinyl.
The Selecters's second album was released in February 1981 as the follow up to the successful 2Tone debut Too Much Pressure, along with the hit singles On My Radio, Three Minute Hero and Missing Words.
Switching labels to Chrysalis, the band returned to On My Radio producer Roger Lomas, moving into a more melodic slower pace, whilst keeping their lyrical commentary on racial and social issues. Original members Desmond Brown and Charley Anderson departed before the recording began, with Lomas and Norman Watt-Ray (Ian Dury) helping on bass before new members James Mackie and Adam Williams joined to complete the recording.
Due to unfortunate timing, upon release the title of this album was misunderstood due to the recent murder of John Lennon and an assassination attempt on Ronald Regan meant radio stations didn't support the single or album and the release was largely ignored.
This forgotten classic from the 2Tone era is a timely reissue and will give time for a re- evaluation in the same way the 2021's reissue of Too Much Pressure showed the band as relevant.