Earlier this year, two-tone ska legends The Selecter released their latest full length record, “Subculture.” “Walk The Walk” is the second video featuring a song from that album.
Today is the 35th anniversary of the release of “Gangsters,” the first single by two-tone era ska band The Specials
First off, sorry I fell off the planet the end of February. I got sick which meant going to bed at normal hours, not staying up late or waking up early to blog. (It’d be so great if I had some help, hint hint.)
Meanwhile, the bands we love have big things going on!
I was first introduced to The Selecter in a sort of happenstance way. The closest record store to me was The Exile on Main Street in Hamden, CT. They had a good selection of used CDs and in particular an unorganized box labeled “$5 Ska.” I used to pop in every now and again and dig through that box. I stumbled across The Selecter’s 1999 record Cruel Britannia. I knew the band’s name and I knew they were often cited as by other bands as an influence. I bought it on the spot and was hooked after one listen. It was from there I found my way to their more well-known releases such as 1980’s Too Much Pressure. Of all bands of the Two-Tone era, The Selecter grabbed me first. Much of it was thanks to singer Pauline Black’s distinctive voice (you’ll have to excuse me if I didn’t fall in love with Terry Hall’s voice the first time I heard it).