The Complete Beat

Last updated

The Complete Beat
The Complete Beat The English Beat.png
Box set by
Released10 July 2012 (2012-07-10)
Recorded1979–1982
Genre
Length294:14
Label Shout! Factory
Producer
The English Beat chronology
Keep The Beat: The Very Best of The English Beat
(2012)
The Complete Beat
(2012)
The Complete Studio Recordings
(2014)

The Complete Beat is a 5-CD box set by British ska/new wave band The Beat (known as The English Beat in the US) released on 10 July 2012 only in the US and Canada. [1] The box set contains The Beat's three studio albums remastered and two CDs of bonus content: the first contains extended and dub versions, and the second contains all the tracks from their three Peel Sessions and several tracks live from the Boston Opera House. [2]

Contents

The studio albums are the US release versions, as "Tears of a Clown", "Ranking Full Stop", "Too Nice to Talk To" and "Hit It" weren't included on the original UK releases of their respective albums. Also, both Wha'ppen and Special Beat Service CDs include bonus tracks.

On the same day of release, Shout! Factory also released the single-CD compilation album Keep The Beat: The Very Best of The English Beat and a live album, Live at the US Festival, '82 & '83. [3] [4]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 90/100 [5]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [2]
The Austin Chronicle Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [6]
Blurt 8/10 [7]
Goldmine Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [9]
Paste 9.1/10 [10]
PunknewsStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [11]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [12]

AllMusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave the box set a rating of 4.5 out of 5 and said "as always, the extended mixes and dubs are something that appeals to a particular taste -- those who prefer the pop end of the Beat's equation won't find them compelling -- but their rangy, elastic reworkings underline the adventure and excitement at the core of the Beat. They grew up strong and they grew up fast, so fast that their recordings retain a visceral force that makes The Complete Beat something more than a dream come true for fans: it is a convincing argument for their greatness." [2]

The review aggregator Metacritic has it at a score of 90/100 based on 8 critic reviews. [5] Ray Sidman for Goldmine gave it a 4/5, saying that "there are a few songs in the bunch that are subpar or worse, as would be expected of any performer, but overall, The English Beat built a solid New Wave oeuvre". "The set’s packaging is simple but attractive and sturdy" with a "well-written, 24-page booklet by Alex Ogg that provides a history of band"and "though there are no previously unreleased songs here, many of the rarities are receiving a CD release for the first time with this set". [8]

Reviewing for Rolling Stone magazine, Jody Rosen gave the box set 4.5/5 and said that it "features the band's three great studio albums, plus terrific bonus tracks and dub versions, and a slew of live recordings in which the Beat unleash their dance-floor fury and their Thatcher-era protest politics." [12] Stephen Deusner for Paste magazine gave the box set 9.1/10 and concluded that the live tracks are the "most compelling, if only because it takes them out of the relatively hermetic environment of the studio and puts them in front of an audience. The Complete Beat argues that the band made solid albums as full statements, but this handful of tracks—especially “Tears of a Clown” and “Get-A-Job/Stand Down Margaret”—show them in their natural setting." [10]

Track listing

All tracks are written by The English Beat, except where noted

Disc 1: I Just Can't Stop It
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Mirror in the Bathroom" 3:08
2."Hands Off...She's Mine" 2:59
3."Two Swords" 2:18
4."Twist & Crawl"The English Beat, Les Bradsell2:34
5."Tears of a Clown" Hank Cosby, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder 2:39
6."Rough Rider" Eddy Grant, Patrick Grant, Dervan Gordon, Lincoln Gordon4:52
7."Click Click" 1:27
8."Ranking Full Stop" 2:47
9."Big Shot" 2:32
10."Whine & Grine/Stand Down Margaret" Prince Buster, The English Beat3:46
11."Noise in This World" 2:15
12."Can't Get Used to Losing You" Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman 3:05
13."Best Friend" 3:03
14."Jackpot"George Agard, Sydney Crooks, Jackie Robinson 4:17
Disc 2: Wha'ppen?
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Too Nice to Talk To" 3:07
2."Doors of Your Heart"The English Beat, Colin Osborne3:46
3."All Out to Get You" 2:45
4."Monkey Murders" 3:09
5."I Am Your Flag" 2:53
6."French Toast (Soleil Trop Chaud)"Joseph Jefferson3:28
7."Drowning" 3:52
8."Dream House in NZ" 3:11
9."Walk Away" 3:11
10."Over and Over" 2:40
11."Cheated" 3:28
12."Get-a-Job" 3:10
13."The Limits We Set" 4:15
14."Psychedelic Rockers" 3:52
15."Hit It" 3:02
16."Which Side of the Bed?" 4:11
Disc 3: Special Beat Service
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I Confess" 4:30
2."Jeanette" 2:47
3."Sorry" 2:32
4."Sole Salvation" 3:05
5."Spar Wid Me" 4:30
6."Rotating Head" 3:24
7."Save It for Later" 3:33
8."She's Going" 2:09
9."Pato and Roger a Go Talk" (sung by Pato and Roger)The English Beat, Pato Benson3:19
10."Sugar & Stress" 2:55
11."End of the Party" 3:29
12."Ackee 1 2 3" 3:11
13."What's Your Best Thing" 3:47
14."March of the Swivel Heads" 3:31
15."Cool Entertainer" (sung by Roger Wakeling) 3:32
16."A Go Talk" (Tappy Luppy Dub) (sung by Pato and Roger)The English Beat, Pato Benson8:38
Disc 4: Bonus Beat – 12" & Dub Versions
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Hands Off...She's Mine" (Extended) 4:35
2."Twist & Crawl" (Extended)The English Beat, Les Bradsell5:00
3."Stand Down Margaret" (Dub) 3:32
4."Too Nice to Talk To" (Dubweiser) 4:58
5."Psychedelic Rockers" (Dubweiser) 5:30
6."Doors of Your Heart" (Extended)The English Beat, Colin Osborne5:50
7."Drowning" (Dub) 5:13
8."Hit It" (Extended) 6:29
9."Which Side of the Bed?" (Extended) 7:27
10."Save It for Later" (Extended) 4:53
11."What's Your Best Thing" (Dub) 3:49
12."Cool Entertainer" (Extended) (sung by Ranking Roger) 5:50
13."Jeanette" 4:08
14."March of the Swivel Heads" (Extended) 5:14
15."I Confess" (Dave Allen Remix) 5:45
Disc 5: Bonus Beat – Peel Sessions & Live in Boston
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Tears of a Clown" (Peel Session – November 5, 1979)Cosby, Robinson, Wonder2:53
2."Ranking Full Stop" (Peel Session – November 5, 1979) 3:02
3."Click Click" (Peel Session – November 5, 1979) 1:30
4."Mirror in the Bathroom" (Peel Session – November 5, 1979) 2:24
5."Big Shot" (Peel Session – November 5, 1979) 1:53
6."Too Nice to Talk To" (Peel Session – September 22, 1980) 4:10
7."Psychedelic Rockers" (Peel Session – September 22, 1980) 4:19
8."Monkey Murders" (Peel Session – September 22, 1980) 3:12
9."Walk Away" (Peel Session – September 22, 1980) 3:13
10."Spar Wid Me" (Peel Session – March 29, 1982) 3:47
11."End of the Party" (Peel Session – March 29, 1982) 3:01
12."She's Going" (Peel Session – March 29, 1982) 2:06
13."Save It for Later" (Peel Session – March 29, 1982) 3:09
14."Sole Salvation" (Peel Session – March 29, 1982) 2:43
15."Pato and Roger a Go Talk" (Peel Session – March 29, 1982)The English Beat, Pato Benson4:03
16."Best Friend" (Opera House, Boston – November 19, 1982) 2:59
17."Tears of a Clown" (Opera House, Boston – November 19, 1982)Cosby, Robinson, Wonder3:34
18."Twist & Crawl" (Opera House, Boston – November 19, 1982)The English Beat, Les Bradsell2:44
19."Get-a-Job/Stand Down Margaret" (Opera House, Boston – November 19, 1982) 6:45

Related Research Articles

<i>Coda</i> (Led Zeppelin album) 1982 compilation album by Led Zeppelin

Coda is the ninth and final studio album by the English rock band Led Zeppelin. The album is a compilation album of rejected tracks from various sessions during Led Zeppelin's twelve-year career. It was released on 26 November 1982, almost two years after the group had officially disbanded following the death of drummer John Bonham. The word coda, meaning a passage that ends a musical piece following the main body, was therefore chosen as the title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Album</span> Collection of audio recordings

An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), vinyl (record), audio tape, or digital. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early 20th century as individual 78 rpm records collected in a bound book resembling a photo album; this format evolved after 1948 into single vinyl long-playing (LP) records played at 33+13 rpm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jon Spencer Blues Explosion</span> American rock and roll band

The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion was an American three-piece rock band from New York City, formed in 1991. The group consisted of Judah Bauer on guitar, backing vocals, harmonica and occasional lead vocals, Russell Simins on drums and Jon Spencer on vocals, guitar and theremin. Their musical style is largely rooted in rock and roll although it draws influences from punk, blues, garage, rockabilly, soul, noise rock, rhythm and blues and hip hop.

<i>Lifes Rich Pageant</i> 1986 album by REM

Lifes Rich Pageant is the fourth studio album by the American alternative rock band R.E.M., released on July 28, 1986. R.E.M. chose Don Gehman to produce the album, which was recorded at John Mellencamp's Belmont Mall Studio in Belmont, Indiana. This was the only album the band recorded with Gehman, who moved them from the more obscure and dense sound of their earlier albums to an accessible, hard rock-influenced quality. The album was well-received critically.

<i>Cloud Nine</i> (George Harrison album) 1987 studio album by George Harrison

Cloud Nine is the eleventh studio album by the English rock musician George Harrison. The album was recorded and released in 1987 after Harrison had taken a five-year hiatus from his career as a solo artist. The hit single "Got My Mind Set on You" from this album re-established Harrison as a critically acclaimed and commercially significant recording artist. Cloud Nine was Harrison's final solo studio album to be released during his lifetime; his next album Brainwashed was released in 2002, almost a year after his death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pennyroyal Tea</span> Song by Nirvana

"Pennyroyal Tea" is a song by the American rock band Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist Kurt Cobain. It is the ninth track on the band's third and final studio album, In Utero, released in September 1993.

"Love Buzz" is a song by Dutch rock band Shocking Blue. It was written by Robbie van Leeuwen and first released on the group's 1969 album At Home. The original song is notable for its psychedelic rock style and its extensive use of the sitar, played by Leeuwen.

Section 25 are an English post-punk and electronic band, best known for the 1984 single "Looking from a Hilltop", associated with Manchester record label Factory Records.

<i>Dub Side of the Moon</i> 2003 studio album by Easy Star All-Stars

Dub Side of the Moon is a dub reggae tribute to the 1973 Pink Floyd album, The Dark Side of the Moon, co-produced by Easy Star All-Stars founders Michael G and Ticklah. Easy Star All Stars released Dub Side of the Moon: Special Anniversary Edition, on CD and vinyl, on September 16, 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shout! Studios</span> American home video and music company

Shout! Studios is an American home video and music distributor founded in 2002 as Retropolis Entertainment. Its video releases, issued in DVD or Blu-ray format, include previously released feature films, classic and contemporary television series, animation, live music, and comedy specials. Considered a boutique Blu-ray label, Shout! Studios, in addition to its mainline home video releases, also releases films under the sublabels Scream Factory, Shout! Select, and Shout! Kids.

<i>The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators</i> 1966 album by the 13th Floor Elevators

The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators is the debut studio album by the 13th Floor Elevators. The album's sound, featuring elements of psychedelia, hard rock, garage rock, folk, and blues, is notable for its use of the electric jug, as featured on the band's only hit, "You're Gonna Miss Me", which reached number 55 on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Tried to Hide" as a B-side. Another single from the album, "Reverberation (Doubt)", reached number 129 on the Billboard's Bubbling Under chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Velvet Goldmine (song)</span> 1975 song by David Bowie

"Velvet Goldmine" is a song by the English singer-songwriter David Bowie. A glam rock number with lyrical references to oral sex, it was originally recorded on 11 November 1971 at Trident Studios in London during the sessions for his 1972 album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. It was ultimately left off the album and subsequently released as a B-side of the UK re-release of "Space Oddity" in 1975. Praised by biographers as an undervalued classic, it later appeared on compilation albums, including on Re:Call 1, part of the Five Years (1969–1973) boxed set, in 2015. Its namesake was used for Todd Haynes's 1998 film of the same name.

<i>Live at the Fillmore East</i> (Neil Young album) 2006 live album by Neil Young and Crazy Horse

Live at the Fillmore East is a live album by Neil Young and Crazy Horse featuring guitarist Danny Whitten, released in 2006. It also has the distinction of being the first album released as part of the Neil Young Archives series of archival recordings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doctors of Madness</span> British punk rock band active 1975-1978

Doctors of Madness were a British protopunk art rock band active as a recording and touring band from 1975 until late 1978. They found cult level acclaim and recognition in the 70s, but had little commercial success. Since then they have come to be regarded as prime movers who were forerunners of the later punk movement.

<i>Dreamboat Annie Live</i>

Dreamboat Annie Live is a live DVD released by the American rock band Heart in October 2007, which features Heart performing all ten songs from their 1976 debut album, Dreamboat Annie, plus five extra performances. The concert was also broadcast on DirecTV. The concert soundtrack was released as a live album, with the UK edition containing two bonus live tracks.

<i>Milwaukee at Last!!!</i> 2009 live album by Rufus Wainwright

Milwaukee at Last!!! is the seventh album by Canadian-American singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, released in the United States on September 22, 2009. The album consists of live recordings from his August 27, 2007, performance at the Pabst Theater in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in support of his previous studio album, Release the Stars (2007). Documentary film director Albert Maysles recorded a film of the same name for DVD, also released on September 22 in the US.

<i>Transformers: Rescue Bots</i> Childrens animated television series

Transformers: Rescue Bots is an animated series airing on The Hub and aimed at a younger generation of Transformers fans based on toy manufacturer Hasbro's Transformers franchise. Rescue Bots is the successor of Transformers: Robot Heroes and is based on the same concept as the Marvel Superhero Adventures and Star Wars Jedi Force franchises. Rescue Bots mainly focuses on educating children regarding hazards and safety.

<i>Brussels Affair (Live 1973)</i> 2011 live album by the Rolling Stones

Brussels Affair is a live album by the Rolling Stones, released in 2011. It is compiled from two shows recorded in Brussels at the Forest National Arena on Wednesday 17 October 1973, during their European Tour. At the time, the band was unable to enter France, as guitarist Keith Richards had been temporarily banned from visiting the country after being charged with drug possession by a French court. The album was released exclusively as a digital download through Google Play Music on 18 October 2011 in the US and through the Rolling Stones Archive website for the rest of the world in both lossy MP3 and lossless FLAC format. The 2011 digital edition has been bootlegged on physical CD. On 29 August 2012, an official announcement was made, stating its physical release as a high-priced boxset. All three releases include a triple LP and double CD.

<i>The Henry Cow Box Redux: The Complete Henry Cow</i> 2019 box set by Henry Cow

The Henry Cow Box Redux: The Complete Henry Cow is a seventeen-CD plus one-DVD box set by English avant-rock group Henry Cow; it was released by RēR Megacorp in November 2019. The box set comprises the previously released 2006 Henry Cow Box and the 2009 40th Anniversary Henry Cow Box Set, totalling over sixteen hours. A bonus CD: Ex Box – Collected Fragments 1971–1978 was given to advance subscribers of the 2019 Box Redux, and contains newly recovered and previously unreleased recordings, plus the contents of the 2006 box set bonus CD-single: "Unreleased Orckestra Extract". The 2019 Box Redux plus the Ex Box bonus CD contains all the officially released studio and live recordings of Henry Cow, excluding "Bellycan" as released on the 1991 East Side Digital version of Legend, and the complete version of "The Glove" from the 1991 East Side Digital version of Unrest.

<i>Feel Flows</i> (album) 2021 compilation album and box set by the Beach Boys

Feel Flows: The Sunflower & Surf's Up Sessions 1969–1971 is an expanded reissue of the albums Sunflower (1970) and Surf's Up (1971) by American rock band the Beach Boys. It was released by Capitol/UME on August 27, 2021 and was produced by Mark Linett and Alan Boyd. Feel Flows is the band's first major archival release since Wake the World and I Can Hear Music in 2018, and the first issued on physical media since Sunshine Tomorrow in 2017. The title is taken from the Surf's Up track "Feel Flows".

References

  1. "The Complete Beat - The English Beat - CD | Shout! Factory". www.shoutfactory.com. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Complete Beat - The English Beat". AllMusic . Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  3. "Keep The Beat: The Very Best Of The English Beat - CD | Shout! Factory". www.shoutfactory.com. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  4. "Live At The US Festival, '82 & '83 - The English Beat - CD/DVD | Shout! Factory". www.shoutfactory.com. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  5. 1 2 "The Complete Beat by The English Beat". Metacritic . Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  6. Caligiuri, Jim (27 July 2012). "English Beat: The Complete Beat Album Review". www.austinchronicle.com. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  7. Zimmerman, Lee (20 July 2012). "The Complete Beat + Keep the Beat: The Very Best of the English Beat". Blurt . Archived from the original on 21 August 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  8. 1 2 Sidman, Ray (9 February 2013). "Box set review of The English Beat's 'The Complete Beat'". Goldmine . Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  9. Hardy, Ernest (9 July 2012). "Review: English Beat, "The Complete Beat" box set". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  10. 1 2 Deusner, Stephen (12 July 2012). "The English Beat: The Complete Beat/Keep the Beat". pastemagazine.com. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  11. Pelone, Joe (10 July 2012). "The English Beat - The Complete Beat [box set]". www.punknews.org. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  12. 1 2 Rosen, Jody (10 July 2012). "The Complete Beat". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 28 September 2020.