I recently caught The Beat (known in the U.S. as The English Beat) live at a festival in The Hague. These free festivals are held on 5/5 in many cities in commemoration of the country's liberation from Nazi occupation. They feature a number of local and international bands who are playing for an audience usually more interested in the beer and fries than the music. When The Beat (led by a super-fit Ranking Roger but missing vocalist/guitarist Dave Wakeling) went on stage, it was obvious that the crowd didn't know their songs or even who they were. So it's a testament to their prowess that they engaged the young crowd in non-stop dancing and hopping for the whole duration of their show. Well, if any of them was convinced to buy one of their albums, he could hardly do better than this budget compilation here. It manages to cram almost everything the band recorded in 2 CD's, starting with their debut 7' single from 1979, Tears Of A Clown b/w Ranking Full Stop. Smokey Robinson's soul ballad is unrecognisable played as a fast soul/ska party anthem. Perverse idea, to sing of broken hearts in such a happy manner. "Ranking Full Stop" though, was the perfect dance number: fast beat, infectious chorus and enthousiastic vocals describing dance steps in a Jamaican accent by the (British-born) Jamaican Roger. It still is a highlight of their live set. The single was released by the Two Tone label and reached No.6 in the charts.  |
| (Rankin Rogers') Beat live at The Hague 5/5/2016 |
It was followed by 1980 by the I Just Can't Stop It***** LP, which is included here in its entirety. "Hands Off...She's Mine", "Twist And Crawl", "Mirror In The Bathroom" are ska classics full of manic energy and fun. There are some mid-tempo reggae and rocksteady tracks like "Jackpot", the politically charged "Stand Down Margaret" (Thatcher, obviously), Prince Buster cover "Rough Rider" and soul ballad "Can't Get Used To Losing You". Then there's a third bunch of songs that veer close to The Buzzcock's punk-pop: "Two Swords", "Click Click" and "Noise In This World". "Big Shot" reminds me of the Stranglers and "Best Friend" has a 60s garage/ Undertones feel. It's a fantastic debut, not a bad or average song in it. Unsurprisingly, it still forms the backbone of their live set.
***** for Ranking Full Stop, Mirror In The Bathroom, Twist And Crawl, Stand Down Margaret
**** for Tears Of A Clown. Hands Off...She's Mine, Two Swords, Click Click, Big Shot , Can't Get Used To Losing You, Best Friend, Jackpot
*** for Rough Rider, Noise In This World
Their second LP entitled Wha'ppen?**** (1981) was as lyrically sharp and furious as their debut, albeit musically less aggressive, eschewing punk angst for more exotic musical landscapes. This compilation omits only the anti-nationalist "I Am Your Flag" but more than makes up for it by including the fantastic "Too Nice to Talk To" single with its funky bass and sax and sped-up dance rhythm. The album opened with "Doors of Your Heart", a feel-good call for love, peace and unity featuring some prime Ranking Roger toasting. Unlike other 2-Tone bands, The Beat were not content with being Ska revivalists: for example, "All Out to Get You", "The Limits We Set" and "Over and Over" are an edgy marriage of New Wave and World music similar to what the Talking Heads would try a few years later. "French Toast (Soleil Trop Chaud)" is a francophone salsa piece, "Monkey Murders" is Latin ska introduced with a Spanish guitar part, "Drowning" and "Cheated" are sinister dub reggae, "Get-A-Job" a manic ska number, "Walk Away" sounds like Elvis Costello doing reggae and "Dream Home In N.Z." reminds me of Gang Of 4's punk/funk style. In their sophomore album, The Beat certainly displayed a wider palette than ever. The only thing I miss here is a bit of "Click Click" aggressiveness.
***** for Too Nice To Talk To
**** for Doors of Your Heart, All Out to Get You, French Toast (Soleil Trop Chaud), Dream Home In N.Z., Get A Job
*** for Monkey Murders, Drowning, Over and Over, Walk Away, Cheated, The Limits We Set
1982's Special Beat Service**** was The Beat's last LP. Ironically, their most overtly pop record had the lowest UK chart placing. "I Confess" and "End Of The Party" are pure pop, with stylish piano and hints of Brian Ferry at the vocal - presaging the direction that guitarist Andy Cox and bassist Dave Steele would go with their next group, the Fine Young Cannibals. "Jeanette" keeps on the adventurous path of the previous album, mixing ska and zydeco. "Sorry" and "Sole Salvation" are closer to soul, while "Spar Wid Me" and "Pato And Roger A Go Talk" provide the indispensable reggae vibes and "Save It For Later" is jangly guitar pop with another Brian Ferry-like vocal. "She's Going" and "Ackee 1 2 3" are party dance songs set to an African beat and "Sugar & Stress" a fast ska/New Wave number. Once more a song ("Rotating Head") from the album is omitted in favor of a single, this time a saccharine cover of 60's crooner Andy Williams' "Can't Get Used To Losing You". It was to be The Beat's last one. Dave Wakeling and Ranking Roger continued as General Public and today lead different versions of The (English) Beat. The more political and pop-minded Wakeling is based in the U.S. while the band's party animal Rankin' Roger is leading the U.K. version which I saw last week in The Hague. Based on my experience of the one and youtube clips of the other, both are great. Don't miss them if they come your way...
**** for I Confess, Jeanette, Save It For Later, She's Going, Ackee 1 2 3
*** for Sorry, Sole Salvation, Spar Wid Me, Pato And Roger A Go Talk, Sugar & Stress, End Of The Party, Can't Get Used To Losing You
*** for Sorry, Sole Salvation, Spar Wid Me, Pato And Roger A Go Talk, Sugar & Stress, End Of The Party, Can't Get Used To Losing You
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