Beat This! The Best Of The English Beat (CD)

The Beat (dubbed English Beat in the US due to conflict with an American band) began as part of Britain's early-1980s second-wave ska movement, which was also influenced by punk. Eventually, the band expanded to include pop, R&B, and other influences. Too short-lived, the Beat eventually splintered off into General Public and Fine Young Cannibals.

• Category:  Music  »  Reggae  »  2 Tone Ska
• Format: CD   Learn more about the CD format using Tower WIKI.
• Release Date: September 11, 2001
• Label: London/Sire
• UPC: 809274073525
• WAPI (Tower ID): 105897506
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• Tower.com Sales Rank: #5015 in Music (See Top 100 Music Bestsellers)
• #14 in Reggae (See Top 100 Reggae Bestsellers)
• #3 in 2 Tone Ska (See Top 100 2 Tone Ska Bestsellers)

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This is a Hyper CD, which contains regular audio tracks and also provides a

link to the artist's website with the help of a web browser.

English Beat: Dave Wakeling (vocals, guitar); Rankin' Roger (vocals); Andy Cox (guitar); Saxa (saxophone); Dave Steele (bass); Everett Morton (drums).

Includes liner notes by Malu Halasa.

All tracks have been digitally remastered.

A key element of the late-1970s/early-'80s UK ska revival, the English Beat nevertheless always had more pop smarts and a wider stylistic palette than compatriots like the Specials and the Selecter. As BEAT THIS! THE BEST OF THE ENGLISH BEAT makes clear, ska wound up being just one color in the band's musical paint box.

Early on, the Beat showed a knack for re-imagining '60s pop tunes in patented two-tone style (Smokey Robinson's "Tears of a Clown," Andy Williams's "Can't Get Used to Losing You"). "Click Click" reveals the influence of punk, while "Doors of Your Heart" shows the group's skill with a straight reggae groove. The Motown-flavored chug of "Sole Salvation" and the jangly pop of "Save It for Later" show how the band was maturing towards the end of their tether, Dave Wakeling's lyrics growing ever more literate and Elvis Costello-esque as the music expanded. Unfortunately, though, the Beat eventually had to die so that offshoots General Public and Fine Young Cannibals might live. Lucky for us, we have BEAT THIS! as a memento of the English Beat's glory days.

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