Customer Reviews

You Just Can't Beat It: The Best of The Beat

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is probably the best compilation of The (English) Beat available. Well worth the $19.99, it contains all of the songs from the 3 Beat releases minus two songs ("I Am Your Flag" and "Rotating Heads"). For the collector, "Tears Of A Clown" and "Ranking Full Stop" are the original 1979 2Tone single versions. The compilation was put together by Dave Wakeling and Rhoda Dakar. The remastering of this compilation is far superior to any of the earlier re-issues.

I really like this collection and the sound quality is good. The only way to make this better would be to make it comprehensive i.e I wish they had included everything the Beat did.

Two Tone records,and it's sister labels Stiff Records [Elvis Costello],
and Go Feet!; spawned a whole garage full of "ska" bands.The Beat,or
English Beat in the USA, for legal purposes..were undoubtedly the best
due to a step up in musicianship; when compared to other ska acts.

From 1979-1984 Tone Tone were big business in England. Bands such as
Madness, The Selector, General Public, Bad Manners, and last but not
least The Specials -["Too much too young", and "Concretejungle"].They
were all touring and having tons of fun.If you are able, find the boxed
CD set of live recordings..called "Ska Wars", for the real deal.

The double CD.[being reviewed?]here has all their well known hits on
it.Fast and furious music. Danceable, if you are 100 percent fit!
Unfortunately they do not feature the great 'dubbed bass' as found on
the high priced collector's CD - "B.P.M. and M.B.P.M. rarities and dubs"
which has increased $20 in the last month. Instead the listener is treated
to the studio bass lines, that do not have the wonderful dubbed hollowness
with reverb : Also found on early UB40 work.

The English Beat, are still touring. Split into 2 touring combinations,
one for Europe, the other for the USA,[or America's]. After their fame
and fortune in the late 1970's - this great band from the West Midlands
of England [Birmingham], went forward to be the driving force behind
"The Fine Young Cannibals" with Roland Gift; and "General Public" with
a few members from "Dexy's Midnight Runners". Yes it was quite a time folks..
ska, pop, mod and all...Dancing was much easier 30 years ago!

I can't imagine there will be many more Beat compilations (English or otherwise) compiled and, sadly, this one missed the chance (as most of the previous have) to be nearly perfect. By leaving out the rare B-side track "Which Side Of The Bed", this new greatest hits collection deprives us yet again of one of the Beat's greatest songs. So, with this omission, what might have been an exceptional release is immediately only average. Maybe next time.