Review
The English Beat
The Complete Beat

For fans of The English Beat this one was a long time coming. Coming in at a whopping 80 tracks of pure gold, this one has something for everyone. The English Beat’s place in music history is solid, topping the charts in the early eighties with hit after hit and mixing political lyrics with their brand of up tempo music.

The Complete Beat consists of re-mastered versions of their first three studio albums. First 1980’s I Just Can’t Stop It which is loaded with hits like “Mirror In The Bathroom”, “Hands Off She’s Mine”, “Twist And Crawl”, and “Can’t Get Used To Losing You,” to name a few. When this album was first released it shot to the top of the charts and solidified The English Beat as a driving force in the ska/2 tone scene.

The second album is 1981’s Wha’ppen, with danceable classics like “Too Nice To Talk To”, “Monkey Murders”, “Get A Job”, and “Which Side Of The Bed.” It’s generally another classic album that has the deep cuts that you don't hear all of the time. While this album wasn't a chart topper, that wasn't what the band cared about: they cared about making music and getting people to, at the very least, discuss their divisions. On this one they get socially conscious with almost all the songs—check "Dream Home in NZ", "Get a Job", and "I am Your Flag" for proof.

The third album is 1982’s Special Beat Service, which is my personal favorite of the three albums and doesn't run short of classics, with tunes like “I Confess”, “Jeanette”, “Save It For Later”, and “Spar Wid Me”. Listen to the soulful "I Confess" and the ballad "End of the Party" which show a newfound maturity that didn't exist on their previous releases. Dave Wakeling's vocals were more compassionate than ever, if that is possible, and their songs were their strongest overall. However, internal dissention would ultimately break up The English Beat.

The final two discs contain rarities and 12” & dub versions of all of the classics, such as “Twist And Crawl” and a remix version of “Stand Down Margaret,” as well as songs recorded during their visits for the John Peel Sessions. An added bonus disc, number five in the set, also has some songs recorded during a live show at the Opera House in Boston, a memorable show that I attended and remember well.

Overall, this is a great package for the serious and casual fan alike. If you don’t want the entire catalog and are just looking for some of the hits, then I recommend you buy Keep The Beat – The Very Best Of The English Beat. This comes out the same time and is a jam-packed Best Of album loaded with the dance hits “Mirror In The Bathroom”, “Save It For Later”, and all the other big hits they to their credit.