The Beat, known in the United States as The English Beat in order to avoid confusion with Paul Collins' band of the same name, was a popular Two Tone ska and pop music group. Formed in the English city of Birmingham in 1978, The Beat disbanded in 1983, but has reformed in the early 2000s with some of the original line-up. One of the more popular and enduring groups of a short-lived trend, The Beat released three albums: "I Just Can't Stop It" (1980), "Wha'ppen" (1981) and "Special Beat Service" (1982), and a string of excellent singles including "Mirror in the Bathroom", the politically-charged "Stand Down Margaret" (which refers to controversial British PM Margaret Thatcher), "Save It For Later" and "I Confess". Although the group's main fan-base was in the UK, they were also popular in Australia thanks to regular exposure on the government-owned rock radio station Triple J and the nationally-broadcast TV pop show Countdown. They had a sizeable following in the U.S., and a strong presence on that country's college radio. After the break-up of The Beat, Dave Wakeling (guitar, lead vocals) and Ranking Roger (vocals) went on to form General Public, while Andy Cox (guitar) and David Steele (bass guitar) formed Fine Young Cannibals with vocalist Roland Gift. Members of the band often collaborated on stage with The Spec
1 | Sole Salvation | Special Beat Service |
2 | Sorry | Special Beat Service |
3 | Can't Get Used To Losing You | What Is Beat? |
4 | Ackee 1 2 3 | Special Beat Service |
5 | Too Nice To Talk To | What Is Beat? |
6 | Hit It | What Is Beat? |
7 | Doors Of Your Heart | What Is Beat? |
8 | Doors Of Your Heart (12" Mix) | Beat Goes On |
9 | I Confess | Beat Goes On |
10 | Ranking Full Stop | The 2 Tone Collection: A Checkered Past |
11 | Mirror In The Bathroom | What Is Beat? |
12 | Rotating Head | Special Beat Service |
13 | Save It For Later | What Is Beat? |
14 | Jeanette | Special Beat Service |
15 | Best Friend | What Is Beat? |
16 | Whine and Grine/Stand Down Margaret | These People Are Nuts |
17 | Sugar & Stress | Special Beat Service |
18 | Spar Wid Me | Special Beat Service |
19 | Pato And Roger A Go Talk | Special Beat Service |
20 | Get A Job / Stand Down Margaret | What Is Beat? |