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Wha'ppen
''Wha'ppen?'' is the second Album#Studio, studio album by British ska band The Beat (British band), the Beat (credited on the US release as the English Beat), released in 1981 via Go-Feet Records in the United Kingdom and Sire Records in the United States. After the critical and commercial success of ''I Just Can't Stop It'' (1980), which mixed ska, reggae and punk rock with social lyrics, the band changed direction on ''Wha'ppen?'', taking influence from many other musical styles which were intriguing the band, including Music of Africa, African, steel band and dub music, dub music, while keeping reggae at its core. The fast pace of the band's previous work is also exchanged for a slower, mid-tempo pace. Accompanying the music is the Social consciousness, socially conscious and political lyrics. The band recorded at The Roundhouse, Roundhouse Studios with producer Bob Sargeant. Released in May 1981, ''Wha'ppen?'' was a commercial success, peaking at No. 3 on the UK Albums Chart, t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Beat (British Band)
The Beat (known in the United States and Canada as the English Beat and in Australia as the British Beat) are an English band formed in Birmingham, England, in 1978. Their music fuses Latin, ska, Pop music, pop, Soul music, soul, reggae and punk rock. The Beat, consisting of Dave Wakeling (vocals, guitar), Ranking Roger (vocals), Andy Cox (guitar), David Steele (musician), David Steele (bass), Everett Morton (drums), and Saxa a.k.a. Lionel Augustus Martin (saxophone), released three studio albums in the early 1980s: ''I Just Can't Stop It'' (1980), ''Wha'ppen?'' (1981) and ''Special Beat Service'' (1982), and a string of singles, including "Mirror in the Bathroom", "Save It for Later", "I Confess (The Beat song), I Confess", "Too Nice to Talk To", "Can't Get Used to Losing You#The Beat version, Can't Get Used to Losing You", "Hands Off...She's Mine", and "All Out to Get You". Career 1978–1983 The Beat formed in Birmingham, England, in 1978 in the United Kingdom, 1978, duri ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Drowning (The Beat Song)
"Drowning" is a song by British ska/ new wave band the Beat, released in April 1981 as the first single from their second album '' Wha'ppen?''. It was released as a double A-sided single with "All Out to Get You" and peaked at number 22 on the UK Singles Chart. Reception Milo Miles for ''Rolling Stone'' described "Drowning" as a "suicide-is-sensuous fable about a harried organization man's death fantasy" and "All Out to Get You" as " potlightingthe tensions of adolescence raised to the breaking point by a society in unquiet desperation". Mark Cooper reviewing for ''Record Mirror'' wrote "Drowning has always been a fair enough description of the Beat sensation at its best and their best this is. Sometimes its a pleasure to go under. An utterly original melody, a lazy but taut feel, Saxa's sexy sax, Roger's toasting interlude and a treated riff that surprises and then brings smiles and you realise how preferable 'Drowning' is to sailing". However, he described "All Out to Get Yo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bob Sargeant
Robert Sargeant (20 November 1947 – 13 July 2021) was a British musician and record producer. Life and career Born in North Shields, Sargeant played keyboards in various local bands before joining regional R&B band the Junco Partners in 1966. He left in 1970 to become a studio musician in London, and in the early 1970s played live with Mick Abrahams, Al Stewart, and the band Curved Air, appearing on the band's album '' Airborne'' (1976). In the summer of 1974, Sargeant began working on a solo album, ''First Starring Role'', and met Mick Ronson who "was immediately impressed with Bob as both a songwriter and a performer". The soft rock album was recorded at Trident Studios, with Ronson co-producing it with Sargeant and Dennis Mackay. It features a number of well-known musicians such as Herbie Flowers, Walt Monaghan, Mike Garson and Cozy Powell. All the songs were written, arranged and sung by Sargeant, who also played electric guitars, keyboards and various percussion. It ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ranking Roger
Roger Charlery (22 February 1963 – 26 March 2019), known professionally as Ranking Roger, was an English musician. He was a vocalist in the 1980s ska band the Beat (known in North America as the English Beat) and later new wave band General Public. He subsequently was the frontman for a reformed Beat lineup. The "Ranking" moniker is short for "top-ranking" or "high-ranking", and was a titular boast common amongst reggae music MCs. Early life Roger Charlery was born in Birmingham and grew up in the Small Heath area of the city. The son of Jean Baptiste Charlery and his wife Anne Marie, he was of West Indian descent; his mother and father were from Saint Lucia. He attended Archbishop Williams school, and while still at school began deejaying with reggae sound systems before becoming a drummer with the Dum Dum Boys in 1978. [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dave Wakeling
David Wakeling (born 19 February 1956) is an English singer, songwriter and musician, best known for his work with the band the Beat (known in North America as the English Beat) and General Public. Career Wakeling began his professional career when he formed the band the Beat. The band's debut studio album, '' I Just Can't Stop It'' (1980), included the title song as well as "Mirror in the Bathroom", " Hands Off...She's Mine", and "Can't Get Used to Losing You", all of which charted within the Top 10 on the UK Singles Chart. The band also had UK hits from the studio albums '' Wha'ppen?'' (1981) and ''Special Beat Service'' (1982). Wakeling then formed General Public with Ranking Roger in 1983, and they released their debut studio album, '' All the Rage'', the next year. He also recorded two other studio albums with General Public, '' Hand to Mouth'' (1986) and ''Rub It Better'' (1995), shortly after which the band disbanded. In 1984, Wakeling, along with Ranking Roger, sang ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
I Just Can't Stop It
''I Just Can't Stop It'' is the debut studio album by the British two-tone band the Beat, released on 23 May 1980 by Go-Feet Records in the United Kingdom. It was released the same year in the United States on Sire Records, with the band credited as "The English Beat"; in Australia, it was released on Go-Feet under the band name "The British Beat". The album was well-received; ''Rolling Stone'' raved that the music was "wild and threatening, sexy and sharp," while AllMusic later wrote it "was a stunning achievement" which had not been diminished by time. The album was reissued on CD in 1990 by I.R.S. Records in the U.S, and in 2012 by Edsel Records in the UK and Shout! Factory in the U.S. Artwork The "Beat Girl" icon seen on the cover and used on the band's merchandising was designed by Birmingham-based cartoonist Hunt Emerson. Critical reception At the end of 1980, ''I Just Can't Stop It'' appeared in numerous lists of the best albums of the year: ''NME'' ranked it thi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Special Beat Service
''Special Beat Service'' is the third studio album by the British ska band the Beat, released on 1 October 1982 by Go-Feet Records. Like the rest of their material, it was released in the US under the name "the English Beat". It peaked at No. 39 on the ''Billboard'' 200 album chart in 1983 on the strength of two singles, " I Confess" and " Save It for Later," the music videos for which received modest airplay on the fledgling MTV video network. Critical reception The ''Spin Alternative Record Guide'' wrote that "'Save It for Later' and 'End of the Party' are romantic, piano-driven pop gems." ''Rolling Stone'' said that "'Special Beat Service' sparkles with surprising touches" Track listing Personnel Credits are adapted from the ''Special Beat Service'' liner notes. The Beat * Ranking Roger – toasting; vocals; percussion * Dave Wakeling – vocals; guitar * David Steele – bass; banjo * Andy Cox – guitar; mandolin * Everett Morton – drums * Saxa – saxo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
More Specials
''More Specials'' is the second album by English ska band the Specials, released by 2 Tone Records in September 1980. After the success of the band's debut album, band member Jerry Dammers assumed the role as the band's leader and stirred them into expanding their 2 Tone sound into other genres of music, most prominently a lounge music and easy listening style inspired by Muzak. Several band members disagreed with Dammers' vision and brought their own influences to the album, including from northern soul and rockabilly, contributing to an eclectic sound palette. The relations between band members continued to sour into the album's accompanying tour and most of the band departed in 1981. The album features collaborations with the Go-Go's members Belinda Carlisle, Charlotte Caffey, and Jane Wiedlin; Rhoda Dakar from the Bodysnatchers; and Lee Thompson from Madness. The lyrics on the album, as with the band's debut album, are often intensely political. Upon its release, the alb ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Go-Feet Records
Go-Feet Records was an English record label founded by, and predominantly used to release recordings by, the ska revival band the Beat (known as the English Beat in North America). The band had some chart success in the United Kingdom in the 1980s. The label also released a few recordings by other bands. The Beat's first release was on 2 Tone Records, but when Madness struck a deal with Stiff Records, the Beat left to form their own label. As of 2025, The Beat's catalogue now operates under Warner Music Group's Rhino Entertainment. The label was distributed over the years by labels such as Arista, London, Edsel, and BMG Rights Management. Albums *The Beat: ''I Just Can't Stop It'' (BEAT 1, 1980) * The Congos: '' Heart of the Congos'' (BEAT 2, 1980 reissue) *The Beat: '' Wha'ppen?'' (BEAT 3, 1981) *Cedric Myton & The Congos: ''Face the Music'' (BEAT 4, 1981) *The Beat: ''Special Beat Service'' (BEAT 5, 1982) *The Beat: '' What Is Beat?'' (BEAT 6, 1983 compilation) 7 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Tears Of A Clown
"The Tears of a Clown" is a song written by Hank Cosby, Smokey Robinson, and Stevie Wonder and originally recorded by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles for the Tamla Records label subsidiary of Motown, first appearing on the 1967 album '' Make It Happen''. The track was re-released in the United Kingdom as a single in July 1970, and it became a number-one hit on the UK Singles Chart for the week ending September 12, 1970. Subsequently, Motown released a partially re-recorded and completely remixed version as a single in the United States as well, where it quickly became a number-one hit on both the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and R&B Singles charts. This song is an international multi-million seller and a 2002 Grammy Hall of Fame inductee. Its success led Miracles lead singer, songwriter, and producer Smokey Robinson, who had announced plans to leave the act, to stay until 1972. In 2021, it was listed at No. 313 on ''Rolling Stone''s "Top 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". History Ori ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Social Consciousness
Social consciousness (or social awareness) is collective consciousness shared by individuals within a society.Social Consciousness , 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2014. Social consciousness is linked to the collective self-awareness and experience of collectively shared social identity. From this viewpoint, social consciousness denotes conscious awareness of being part of an interrelated community of others. The “we feeling” or the “sense of us” may be experienced in members of various cultures and social groups. By the experience of collectively shared social identity, individuals may experience social unity. Social consciousness may also stimulate working to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rocksteady
Rocksteady is a music genre that originated in Jamaica around 1966. A successor of ska and a precursor to reggae, rocksteady was the dominant style of music in Jamaica for nearly two years, performed by many of the artists who helped establish reggae, including harmony groups such as the Techniques, the Paragons, the Heptones and the Gaylads; soulful singers such as Alton Ellis, Delroy Wilson, Bob Andy, Ken Boothe and Phyllis Dillon; musicians such as Jackie Mittoo, Lynn Taitt and Tommy McCook. The term ''rocksteady'' comes from a popular (slower) dance style mentioned in the Alton Ellis song "Rocksteady", that matched the new sound. Some rocksteady songs became hits outside Jamaica, as with ska, helping to secure the international base reggae music has today. Characteristics The Jamaican musicians and producers who developed rocksteady had grown up learning and playing jazz and had played through ska. In a similar way to what happened at Motown, the musicians respons ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
