English Beat in General (not Public)

sweetness: http://www.shoutfactorystore.com/prod.aspx?pfid=5257717

This collection features all three studio albums from The English Beat with added non-album bonus tracks and two full CD's containing 12" mixes, dub versions and live tracks, including three never-before-released John Peel sessions!

Hailing from working-class Birmingham, England, The English Beat entered the music scene in the 1979 in a time of social, political and musical upheaval. Into this storm came they came, trying to calm the waters with their simple message of love and unity set to a great dance Beat. The six member band consisted of singer/songwriter Dave Wakeling (vocals & guitar), Andy Cox (guitar), David Steele (bass), Everett Morton (drums), Saxa (saxophone) and Ranking Roger (toasting). The band managed to fuse all of their respective musical influences - soul, reggae, pop and punk - into a unique sound that was highly danceable. Along with contemporaries such as The Specials, The Selecter and Madness, The English Beat became one of the most popular and influential bands of the British Ska movement. Over the course of the three albums, The English Beat achieved great success in their home country, charting several singles into the top 10.

This 5-CD set includes:
I Just Can't Stop It (1980) - Plus Bonus Tracks
Wha'ppen? (1981) - Plus Bonus Tracks
Special Beat Service (1982) - Plus Bonus Tracks
BONUS BEAT: Disc 1 - 12" & Dub Versions
BONUS BEAT: Disc 2 - Peel Sessions & Live in Boston

― flesh, the devil, and a wolf (wolf) (amateurist), Tuesday, 17 April 2012 09:01 (1 year ago) Permalink

seriously i think this is one of the best pop bands of all time.

― flesh, the devil, and a wolf (wolf) (amateurist), Tuesday, 17 April 2012 09:01 (1 year ago) Permalink

Excellent! Looks like there are going to be some UK reissues too in June but as individual albums with extra tracks and DVDs.

http://theseconddisc.com/2012/04/16/beat-crazy-legendary-ska-group-to-receive-catalogue-overhaul-in-two-countries/

― French Cricket in the USA (NickB), Tuesday, 17 April 2012 09:13 (1 year ago) Permalink

^ So great

― French Cricket in the USA (NickB), Tuesday, 17 April 2012 09:17 (1 year ago) Permalink

Cedric Mytton's harmonies take that track right into orbit

― French Cricket in the USA (NickB), Tuesday, 17 April 2012 09:20 (1 year ago) Permalink

In anticipation of these reissues, it looks like all their albums have just been taken off Spotify :(

― French Cricket in the USA (NickB), Tuesday, 17 April 2012 09:24 (1 year ago) Permalink

"Soul Salvation" has been the one that's crept into my brain in recent years.

― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 17 April 2012 14:39 (1 year ago) Permalink

"Door of Your Heart" all-time.

― caro's johnson (Eazy), Tuesday, 17 April 2012 14:48 (1 year ago) Permalink

Doors
Odors

― caro's johnson (Eazy), Tuesday, 17 April 2012 14:48 (1 year ago) Permalink

SPECIAL OFFER: Order The Complete Beat directly from ShoutFactory.com and receive two exciting extras: a signed booklet and the never-before-released The English Beat: Live At The US Festival, '82 & '83 CD/DVD! Available while supplies last.

― Mark G, Tuesday, 17 April 2012 14:52 (1 year ago) Permalink

This band is so good. Or was, at least. Man, the rhythm section...

― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 17 April 2012 15:59 (1 year ago) Permalink

ranking roger swinging out of the frame on a rope is video triumph

― a single goddamn marshmallow fucked me for LIFE (Hunt3r), Tuesday, 17 April 2012 16:22 (1 year ago) Permalink

I still maintain The Beat in their early 80s prime was one of the best concerts I've ever seen; not a still body in the place. I've seen them numerous times since, and they're actually still really good.

― Advanced Uncle Meat recovery system (Dan Peterson), Tuesday, 17 April 2012 17:40 (1 year ago) Permalink

Track listings for the UK reissues due out at the end of June:

I Just Can't Stop It

Disc One (I Just Cant Stop It)
1. Mirror In The Bathroom
2. Hands Off...She's Mine
3. Two Swords
4. Twist & Crawl
5. Rough Rider
6. Click Click
7. Big Shot
8. Whine & Grine / Stand Down Margaret
9. Noise In This World
10. Can't Get Used To Losing You
11. Best Friend
12. Jackpot

Disc Two (Bonus Tracks)
1. Tears Of A Clown
2. Ranking Full Stop
3. Twist & Crawl [extended]
4. Hands Off...She s Mine [extended]
5. Stand Down Margaret [Dub]
6. Mirror In The Bathroom [Sure Is Pure Mix]
7. Mirror In The Bathroom [Tic Tac Toe Mix]
8. Mirror In The Bathroom [Spike Stent Mix]
9. Dub In The Bathroom [Simon & Diamond Mix]
10. Just Can t Stop The Dub [Adelphi Mix]
11. Tears Of A Clown (BBC Radio Sessions, John Peel Show, broadcast 5th November 1979)
12. Ranking Full Stop (BBC Radio Sessions, John Peel Show, broadcast 5th November 1979)
13. Click Click (BBC Radio Sessions, John Peel Show, broadcast 5th November 1979)
14. Mirror In The Bathroom (BBC Radio Sessions, John Peel Show, broadcast 5th November 1979)
15. Big Shot (BBC Radio Sessions, John Peel Show, broadcast 5th November 1979)
MIKE READ SHOW, broadcast 11th February 1980
16. Hands Off...She s Mine (Mike Read Show, broadcast 11th February 1980)
17. Mirror In The Bathroom (Mike Read Show, broadcast 11th February 1980)
18. Rough Rider (Mike Read Show, broadcast 11th February 1980)
19. Twist & Crawl (Mike Read Show, broadcast 11th February 1980)

Disc 3 - DVD
1. Hands Off...She s Mine (Video Promo)
2. Mirror In The Bathroom (Video Promo)
3. Best Friend (Video Promo)
4. Tears Of A Clown [Top Of The Pops, Broadcast On 13th December 1979]
5. Tears Of A Clown [Top Of The Pops, Broadcast On 3rd January 1980]
6. Hands Off...She s Mine [Top Of The Pops, Broadcast On 22nd February 1980]
7. Mirror In The Bathroom [Top Of The Pops, Broadcast On 1st May 1980]
8. Best Friend [Top Of The Pops, Broadcast On 4th September 1980]
9. Bonus DVD Feature "Alright Now", Broadcast on 12th December 1980
Film from a live performance at Top Rank Suite, Birmingham
Hands Off...She s Mine

Format: 2 CD + DVD in digipak

― btw didn't i braek ur heart (NickB), Tuesday, 8 May 2012 16:40 (1 year ago) Permalink

Wha'ppen

Disc One ("Wha'ppen")
1. Doors Of Your Heart
2. All Out To Get You
3. Monkey Murders
4. I Am Your Flag
5. French Toast (Soleil Trop Chaud)
6. Drowning
7. Dream Home In N.Z.
8. Walk Away
9. Over And Over
10. Cheated
11. Get-A-Job
12. The Limits We Set

Disc Two ("Bonus Tracks")
1. Too Nice To Talk To
2. Psychedelic Rockers
3. Too Nice To Talk To [Dubweiser]
4. Psychedelic Rockers [Dubweiser]
5. Doors Of Your Heart [dub]
6. Drowning [dub]
7. Hit It
8. Which Side Of The Bed...?
9. Hit It [12 mix]
10. Which Side Of The Bed...? [12 mix]
11. Too Nice To Talk To (BBC Radio Sessions, John Peel Show, Boadcast 22nd September 1980)
12. New Psychedelic Rockers (BBC Radio Sessions, John Peel Show, Boadcast 22nd September 1980)
13. Monkey Murders (BBC Radio Sessions, John Peel Show, Boadcast 22nd September 1980)
14. Walk Away (BBC Radio Sessions, John Peel Show, Boadcast 22nd September 1980)

Disc 3 "DVD"
1. Too Nice To Talk To (Promo Video)
2. All Out To Get You (Promo Video)
3. Doors To Your Heart (Promo Video)
4. Drowning (Promo Video)
5. Hit It (Promo Video)
6. Too Nice To Talk To [Top Of The Pops, Broadcast On 18th December 1980]
7. Drowning [Top Of The Pops, Broadcast On 16th April 1981]
8. All Out To Get You [Top Of The Pops, Broadcast On 30th April 1981]
9. Too Nice To Talk To [Top Of The Pops, Broadcast On 25th December 1981]
10. Bonus DVD Feature: From the WORLD IN ACTION documentary A Statistic, A Reminder , broadcast on 14th December 1981. A documentary about unemployed youth in the Midlands, includes two songs recorded at a concert at Bingley Hall
1. Get-A-Job
2. Interview with Dave Wakeling
3. Stand Down Margaret
4. Interview with Dave, Roger and Andy

Format: 2 CD + DVD in digipak

― btw didn't i braek ur heart (NickB), Tuesday, 8 May 2012 16:40 (1 year ago) Permalink

Special Beat Service

Disc One "Special Beat Service"
1. I Confess
2. Jeanette
3. Sorry
4. Sole Salvation
5. Spar Wid Me
6. Rotating Head
7. Save It For Later
8. She s Going
9. Pato And Roger A Go Talk
10. Sugar And Stress
11. End Of The Party
12. Ackee 1-2-3
13. What s Your Best Thing (Bonus Track)
14. Save It For Later [extended] (Bonus Track)
15. What s Your Best Thing [dub style] (Bonus Track)
16. Cool Entertainer [by Ranking Roger] (Bonus Track)
17. A Go Talk (Tappy Luppy Dub) [by Pato & Roger] (Bonus Track)
18. Cool Entertainer [extended] [by Ranking Roger] (Bonus Track)
19. March Of The Swivel Heads (Bonus Track)

Disc 2 "Bonus Tracks"
1. Jeanette [extended]
2. March Of The Swivel Heads [extended]
3. I Confess [Dave Allen remix]
4. It Makes Me Rock [previously unreleased]
5. Doors Of Your Heart [live at Hammersmith Palais]
6. I Confess [live at Hammersmith Palais]
7. Spar Wid Me [live at Hammersmith Palais]
8. Save It For Later [live at Hammersmith Palais]
9. Mirror In The Bathroom [live at Hammersmith Palais]
10. Can't Get Used To Losing You [1983 remix]
11. Ackee 1-2-3 [ Jellybean Benitez Nike Mix]
12. Can't Get Used To Losing You [extended 1983 remix]
13. I Confess [United States of America remix]
14. Spar Wid Me (BBC Radio Sessions, John Peel Show, Broadcast 29th March 1982)
15. She s Going (BBC Radio Sessions, John Peel Show, Broadcast 29th March 1982)
16. Save It For Later (BBC Radio Sessions, John Peel Show, Broadcast 29th March 1982)
17. Sole Salvation (BBC Radio Sessions, John Peel Show, Broadcast 29th March 1982)
18. Pato And Roger A Go Talk (BBC Radio Sessions, John Peel Show, Broadcast 29th March 1982)
19. End Of The Party (BBC Radio Sessions, John Peel Show, Broadcast 29th March 1982)
DAVID JENSEN SHOW, broadcast 22nd April 1982
20. Night And Day (Dave "The Kid" Jenson Show, Broadcast 22nd April 1982)

Disc 3 "DVD"
1. Save It For Later (Promo Video)
2. I Confess (Promo Video)
3. Can't Get Used To Losing You [Top Of The Pops, Broadcast On 5th May 1983]
4. Can't Get Used To Losing You [Top Of The Pops, Broadcast On 19h May 1983]
5. Save It For Later (OTT Broadcast On 27h March 1982]
6. Stand Down Margaret (OTT Broadcast On 27h March 1982]
7.Bonus DVD Feature "The Tube", Broadcast On 14th January 1983
Recorded at The Police concert at Gateshead International Stadium on 31st July 1982
1. Save It For Later
2. Mirror In The Bathroom
3. Too Nice To Talk To
4. Jools Holland interview with Dave Wakeling and Ranking Roger

Format: 2 CD + DVD in digipak

― btw didn't i braek ur heart (NickB), Tuesday, 8 May 2012 16:41 (1 year ago) Permalink

All for about a tenner each.

― btw didn't i braek ur heart (NickB), Tuesday, 8 May 2012 16:41 (1 year ago) Permalink

Still the best thing ever btw:

― btw didn't i braek ur heart (NickB), Tuesday, 8 May 2012 16:45 (1 year ago) Permalink

i pre-ordered the shit out of that box set.

― flesh, the devil, and a wolf (wolf) (amateurist), Tuesday, 8 May 2012 16:46 (1 year ago) Permalink

still one of the great pop bands ever.

― flesh, the devil, and a wolf (wolf) (amateurist), Tuesday, 8 May 2012 16:46 (1 year ago) Permalink

by which i mean http://www.shoutfactorystore.com/prod.aspx?pfid=5257717

― flesh, the devil, and a wolf (wolf) (amateurist), Tuesday, 8 May 2012 16:47 (1 year ago) Permalink

Haven't had Wha'ppen since I dumped all my cassettes so I'm looking forward to owning that again. Didn't get the previous CD version of it, cos the cover was so ugly, but it has some of my favourite songs on it: Doors of Your Heart, Walk Away, Dream Home in NZ. Also, I don't think I even knew about the song Hit It, which was a single that wikiparently came out between Wha'ppen and SBS and got to #70 in the UK.

― btw didn't i braek ur heart (NickB), Tuesday, 8 May 2012 17:08 (1 year ago) Permalink

^ Sounds alright, but all the 80's extended mix fannydangle spoils it a bit

― btw didn't i braek ur heart (NickB), Tuesday, 8 May 2012 17:11 (1 year ago) Permalink

yes

― flesh, the devil, and a wolf (wolf) (amateurist), Wednesday, 9 May 2012 23:40 (1 year ago) Permalink

#!

lady at 3:04 FTW

― flesh, the devil, and a wolf (wolf) (amateurist), Wednesday, 9 May 2012 23:58 (1 year ago) Permalink

reissues available on Amazon US!

― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 10 May 2012 00:06 (1 year ago) Permalink

i can't find them, unless you mean the box set.

― flesh, the devil, and a wolf (wolf) (amateurist), Thursday, 10 May 2012 01:22 (1 year ago) Permalink

do it now, you know there's never a next time

― btw didn't i braek ur heart (NickB), Thursday, 10 May 2012 06:57 (1 year ago) Permalink

there are posters up all around town here at the moment advertising something called the brighton ska testival and the headliners are "the beat"

will almost definitely be giving this a miss, but getting hardcore nostalgia pangs seeing that name around the whole time

don't even know who the beat are anymore - roger plus some random baldy ska heads?

― btw didn't i braek ur heart (NickB), Thursday, 10 May 2012 07:06 (1 year ago) Permalink

seriously i think this is one of the best pop bands of all time.

― flesh, the devil, and a wolf (wolf) (amateurist), Tuesday, April 17, 2012 2:01 AM (3 weeks ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

― 10. “Pour Some Sugar On Me” – Tom Cruise (contenderizer), Thursday, 10 May 2012 07:52 (1 year ago) Permalink

playing tonight for free in hyde park. it's 18:40...

http://www.visitlondon.com/events/detail/26311363-beat-at-hyde-park

― koogs, Wednesday, 1 August 2012 11:45 (9 months ago) Permalink

i have no idea who those people are (apart from roger obv)

― mod night at the oasis (NickB), Wednesday, 1 August 2012 12:00 (9 months ago) Permalink

it's 18:40...

So that's, what, 50 hours? 120 hours?

― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 1 August 2012 12:20 (9 months ago) Permalink

Just missed their gigs in my part of the world in July. Next time

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 1 August 2012 14:32 (9 months ago) Permalink

Listened through the lp discs of the box set over last week and thinki've been missing something by not having listened to this lot for the last few decades.
Think I'll probably buy at least the 1st Deluxe cd.

― Stevolende, Wednesday, 1 August 2012 14:43 (9 months ago) Permalink

I can't attest to the bonus stuff's necessity, but the three albums are all pretty much perfect in their own way, so I recommend getting them all. It's just three, you know?

― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 1 August 2012 14:53 (9 months ago) Permalink

well, i went. but the speed of the queue meant i wouldn't get into the arena until they'd finished. and the levellers were on afterwards. run away!

― koogs, Wednesday, 1 August 2012 19:16 (9 months ago) Permalink

Still digging through the various extras on the reissues and wow, this John Peel session from September 1980 is so sick. Never really appreciated Monkey Murders much before but it sounds so fabulous with the *monstrous* bass sound on this version. Too lazy to check who engineered it right now, but these tracks sound so physical compared to the albums. The separation between this instruments is so nice too, nice echo on the drums as well. Made me hanker for more bass-heavy ska.

― DJ Mooncup (NickB), Thursday, 4 October 2012 07:50 (7 months ago) Permalink

Cool version of Walk Away too, still a heartbreaking song :(

― DJ Mooncup (NickB), Thursday, 4 October 2012 07:58 (7 months ago) Permalink

I saw them tonight - or at least the "Dave Wakeling and some dudes I don't know" version. I went in without the highest of expectations but they completely floored me. The current lineup is really, really tight, and the 100-odd minute set was astounding. It might not be the band we grew up with but seriously think about catching them if they come through your area.

Heck, I would have got my moneys worth just with the nearly 10 minute version of "Mirror In The Bathroom". If that groove went on forever I'd be pretty okay with it.

― EZ Snappin, Sunday, 20 January 2013 07:14 (4 months ago) Permalink

Good to hear. I spent most of the holiday break listening to the remastered Wha'ppen.

― the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 20 January 2013 13:19 (4 months ago) Permalink

I will likely pick up the Complete Beat box next weekend. I love love love the debut but have been lukewarm about the rest, but immersion is the best way to upgrade that feeling.

― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Sunday, 20 January 2013 16:41 (4 months ago) Permalink

I wanted more when I woke up this morning so am listening to the recently released Live at the US Festival, '82 & '83 live disc on Spotify. Pretty amazing.

― EZ Snappin, Sunday, 20 January 2013 16:59 (4 months ago) Permalink

I've been enjoying this cover of "Save It for Later" by the Who's Pete Townshend. He makes it sound like he wrote it, by focusing on elements that resemble his own work, especially the percussive vocal. It could be a missing track off his White City album.

― Disquiet (disquiet), Monday, 21 January 2013 03:34 (4 months ago) Permalink

EZ, would you say that live disc is critical, with some superior versions?

― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Monday, 21 January 2013 18:54 (4 months ago) Permalink

It was a fun listen, but not better than any of the albums. It's on Spotify.

― EZ Snappin, Monday, 21 January 2013 19:11 (4 months ago) Permalink

Aww man, Wednesday night Annapolis, MD show (between W. DC and Baltimore) is sold out

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 23 January 2013 05:27 (4 months ago) Permalink