The Beat formed in 1978 in Birmingham, UK during a period of high unemployment. Another band was founded at this time also in Birmingham which was UB40 who named themselves after an attendance card issued to individuals claiming unemployment benefits from the UK government's Department of Employment. When Astro was still a roadie for UB40 Ranking Roger was their toaster. By the time UB40 released their first album Ranking Roger left to be replaced by Astro.
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| The (English) Beat logo with the Beat Girl by Hunt Emerson |
The Beat existed of very mixed people. Ranking Roger with his Jamaican toasting style was one of the lead singers besides Dave Wakeling who also played guitar, Jaimaican saxophonist Saxa (Lionel Augustus Martin) who played with many famous Jaimaican ska artists including Prince Buster and Desmond Dekker. He was the oldest member of the band who was part of both the Jamaican and British ska wave. Guitarist Andy Cox and bass player David Steel would later become the Fine Young Canibals. And last but not least drummer Everett Morton.
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| Doors Of Your Heart - single cover |
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| Hit It - Single cover |
In 1980 their debut album "I Just Can't Stop It" was released and reached #3 in the UK. The band was an immediate success in the 80's ska revival besides bands like The Specials, Madness, The Selecter, Bad Manners and many more. In the Netherlands we had the ska band What Fun! and their hit "The Right Side Won". The first album focused mainly on ska and reggae. The band briefly signed to 2 Tone Records (founded by Jerry Dammers of the Specials) for their debut single: "Tears Of A Clown". Then they signed to BMG to release their work under their own Go-Feet Records label. They toured with the Pretenders after the release of their debut album. During the tour they developed their ideas for the next album.
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| 1999 CD album cover |
The second album "Wha'ppen?" was released in 1981 and included the hits: "Drowning" (UK #22) and "Doors of Your Heart/All Out to Get You" (UK #33). They changed their musical style on this album to African, steel band and dub music but also ska and reggae. The idea was not to keep the same, but to keep changing and the second album was a lot more relaxed but the melodies and the catchy hook lines were still there. The band was famous in the UK but also in Australia. They also had fans in the US and Canada where they had to change their name to English Beat due to legal reasons concerning an American band called The Beat. The album reached #3 in the UK. In 1981 the albums "Wha'ppen" by The Beat and "Sandinista!" by The Clash were rewarded for having the most street credibility in their mixing of rock music with direct social and political comment. Personally this is my favourite album by The Beat. Two exclusive singles were also released "Hit It" (UK #70) and "Too Nice To Talk To" (UK #7).
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| The Beat in 1981 |
ALBUM COVER
It was designed by cartoonist Hunt Emerson who also created The Beat Girl for the first album. He released many comics with political protest themes. As well as cartoons for the BBC Spitting Image puppet show.
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| Maggie Tatcher with cartoons by Hunt Emerson |
After the third album "Special Beat Service" that reached #21 in the UK the band broke up. Dave Wakeling and Ranking Roger went on to form General Public and had a hit in the US and Canada with "Tenderness". Andy Cox and David Steele founded the Fine Young Cannibals with vocalist Roland Gift from the ska band Akrylykz. In the Akrylykz Roland used to be the saxophonist but wanted to sing and later he wanted to become an actor. To make his move to the acting business in the 90's was the reason for the break-up of the Fine Young Cannibals. Drummer Everett Morton and Saxa formed the International Beat along with the Birmingham-based singer, Tony Beet. "March of the Swivelheads" which was an instrumental version of "Rotating Head" from the Beat's last album was used for the movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" from 1986. In 2024 Eddy Vedder covered "Save It For Later" and had a minor hit with the song. Also a song form the Beat's last album.
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| The first and last albums: "I Just Can't Stop It" / "Special Beat Service" |
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| Original album cover |
(Too Nice To Talk To) / Doors of Your Heart / All Out to Get You / Monkey Murders / I Am Your Flag / French Toast (Soleil Trop Chaud) / Drowning / Dream Home in NZ / Walk Away / Over and Over / Cheated / Get-a-Job / The Limits We Set
Doors Of Your Heart
Too Nice To Talk To
I Am Your Flag