The Beat, or The English Beat, as they were known in the
United States, only released three albums. While they may not have enjoyed a
long career together, their impact on popular music is still being felt to this day. The
English Beat’s music was a perfect blend of Ska and Reggae-influenced dance
music that was intelligent, infectious, exciting, and fun.
If you missed the fantastic music of The English Beat the
first time around, or if you have finally worn your old cassettes and vinyl out
by repeated listens, today is your day because the Shout! Factory has finally
released a 5-disc boxed set entitled The Complete Beat,
available today.
The box set contains re-mastered and expanded versions of
all three original albums-I Just Can't Stop It, Wh'appen,
and Special Beat Service. The fourth disc includes all of the
extended remixes, twelve inch singles, and dub versions of songs that were
released during The Beat’s short and amazing career. The fifth disc is
mostly made up live cuts from the BBC’s influential ‘John Peel Show’ and
additional live performances culled from their 1982 North American tour.
The Beat may not have been as political as the Clash or as
ground-breaking as the Talking Heads, but their music is just as important.
It’s about time The Beat/English Beat’s music has been given proper treatment.
-Will Fisher, The Showbiz Kids
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