David Stubbs interviews Ranking Roger and Dave Wakeling of The Beat
― Ima Pay Close Attention To Your Post (Doran), Tuesday, 12 June 2012 10:43 (11 months ago) Permalink
Thanks Doran! Had never heard Psychedelic Rockers before, it's great:
Another one of those tracks like Too Nice To Talk To where there seems to be quite an afropop influence - or is all that rhythmic bustle just stuff they're picking from reggae?
― Zaireeka Badu (NickB), Tuesday, 12 June 2012 13:14 (11 months ago) Permalink
I think it's fair enough to say there's an Afropop influence. It's probably their most far out track?
I had no idea how much older their sax player was...
― Ima Pay Close Attention To Your Post (Doran), Tuesday, 12 June 2012 13:21 (11 months ago) Permalink
Think he was about 25-30 years older than the rest of them. Remember reading a piece on them in Smash Hits or No 1 or somewhere where it said that he was 50 and I remember thinking 'fuck me, that's ancient!'
― Zaireeka Badu (NickB), Tuesday, 12 June 2012 13:26 (11 months ago) Permalink
So good to hear that he's still around though!
― Zaireeka Badu (NickB), Tuesday, 12 June 2012 13:27 (11 months ago) Permalink
― Zaireeka Badu (NickB), Tuesday, 12 June 2012 13:32 (11 months ago) Permalink
otm.
― flesh, the devil, and a wolf (wolf) (amateurist), Tuesday, 12 June 2012 20:52 (11 months ago) Permalink
how are Dave Wakeling's fake Beat live?
― akm, Wednesday, 13 June 2012 03:53 (11 months ago) Permalink
a 3rd rep for "two swords"
might be my favorite beat song.
― nicky lo-fi, Wednesday, 13 June 2012 19:11 (11 months ago) Permalink
So the 2CD/DVD reissues are out in the UK. Anyone have a quick review?
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Thursday, 28 June 2012 01:01 (10 months ago) Permalink
amateurist?
― a regina spektor is haunting europe (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 28 June 2012 01:16 (10 months ago) Permalink
Are they different from the US versions? Because I have everything but the DVD and they seem pretty good to me. I mean, it's the English Beat, a band so good that adding "English" to their name somehow made them even better!
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 28 June 2012 01:20 (10 months ago) Permalink
Would be curious to this as well, as I passed on them in town a few months ago.
― Austin, Thursday, 28 June 2012 01:42 (10 months ago) Permalink
My understanding is that the Fake Beat is pretty good. I almost saw them last week, but given that the Romantics were also on the bill, I was wary of what the crowd would be like.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 28 June 2012 01:49 (10 months ago) Permalink
Hmmph. They were headlining here.
I probably should have gone.
― Austin, Thursday, 28 June 2012 01:51 (10 months ago) Permalink
The Edsel versions are better than the US versions.
The US box set has four live tracks which are exclusive to it, plus an exclusive live CD. The live CD will be available later on its own.
The UK releases (collectively) have an exclusive four-song Mike Read session from 1980, an exclusive five-song live set from 1982, an exclusive outtake called "It Makes Me Rock", an exclusive song from a David Jensen radio session, and nine exclusive remixes.
So the UK releases have 20 songs not on the US box - some of them crucial. The US box has four songs not on the UK releases - none of them crucial. (Disregarding the US live CD you can buy on its own, if you like, and disregarding the 3 DVDs on the UK releases.)
The US box set is cheaper - you save about $15 and gain four tracks . . . but lose three DVDs and twenty other songs. I''ve already bought the UK ones.
― crustaceanrebel, Thursday, 28 June 2012 01:56 (10 months ago) Permalink
I saw the Fake Beat in a tiny club outside of Boston last year and they SLAYED. Really! They played everything you could possibly want to hear with verve, sweat and presence. Dave was really approachable and cool and they all looked like they were having fun. If you get the chance, see them.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Thursday, 28 June 2012 02:42 (10 months ago) Permalink
do they have some other guy doing all the toasting?
i pre-ordered the USA box before i knew of the UK reissues. maybe i'll turn the USA box around and get the UK reissues. who knows.
― flesh, the devil, and a wolf (wolf) (amateurist), Thursday, 28 June 2012 08:56 (10 months ago) Permalink
― gonna send him to outer space, to hug another face (NickB), Friday, 29 June 2012 23:26 (10 months ago) Permalink
saxa's appearance in that video is so great
― gonna send him to outer space, to hug another face (NickB), Friday, 29 June 2012 23:29 (10 months ago) Permalink
Yeah, they do.
I saw the Fake Beat in a tiny club outside of Boston last year and they SLAYED.
I haven't seen them that recently, but twice in the last 5 or 6 years and yes indeed, they were great both times. Would go see them again in a heartbeat. Wakeling's definitely still got it, and the band/arrangements are as tight and grooving as you could want thirty years on.
― Mafia-owned bar for transvestites (Dan Peterson), Monday, 2 July 2012 14:35 (10 months ago) Permalink
I played this at the last Devon Record Club get together. Just packed with great songs, played by a band with a beautiful, compact sound. They don't get anything like the credit they deserve.
http://devonrecordclub.wordpress.com/2012/12/14/the-beat-i-just-cant-stop-it-round-41-robs-choice/
― J-Lo Biafra (Rob Mitchell), Friday, 14 December 2012 12:02 (5 months ago) Permalink
So the Fake Beat did a tour last year with The Paul Collins Beat called, wait for it, "The Two Beats Hearting As One Tour."
― Leopard Skin POLL-Box Hat (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 26 January 2013 16:00 (3 months ago) Permalink
That sounds awesome. I've seen Paul Collins live but never the English Beat. I want to put this record on now but my wife is taking a nap so I'm stuck with listening to mp3s on headphones instead.
― Just noise and screaming and no musical value at all. (Colonel Poo), Saturday, 26 January 2013 16:18 (3 months ago) Permalink
I want to put it on now but my turntable finally broke a while back and my records are being improperly stored
― Leopard Skin POLL-Box Hat (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 26 January 2013 16:29 (3 months ago) Permalink
That sounds like a fun tour, especially considering how great Dave & co. were when I saw them last week.
― EZ Snappin, Saturday, 26 January 2013 16:30 (3 months ago) Permalink