| Biography
Formed in Birmingham, England, in 1978, the
multiracial act was led by the dual vocal attack of Wakeling and toaster/rapper Ranking
Roger, who joined the group after he jumped onstage at a 1979 Beat gig opened by his punk
band. Signed to fellow ska revivalists the Specials' 2-Tone record label, the Beat scored
a hit with their cover of Smokey Robinson's "Tears of a Clown" in late 1979.
They were joined on that recording by then-50-year-old saxophonist Saxa, who had played
with the Beatles and with such first-wave ska stars as Prince Buster and Desmond Dekker.
In 1980, the band formed their own label, Go-Feet, and released a pair of hit singles,
"Hands Off ... She's Mine" and "Mirror in the Bathroom" . They
followed up with a debut album, I Just Can't Stop It, that featured such classic ska-pop
songs as "Stand Down Margaret" , a slap at then British Prime Minister Margaret
Thatcher. Later releases included 1981's reggae-influenced Wha'ppen and 1982's Special
Beat Service, which included the hits "Save It for Later" and "I
Confess."
Shortly after the latter album's release, Saxa
decided to stop touring, and the group eventually split, with Wakeling and Ranking Roger
forming the new wave act General Public and Cox and Steele joining singer Roland Gift in
the pop group Fine Young Cannibals. Wakeling said he's been singing the band's most
popular songs in his solo club shows for years. The beat
Singles |
 |
Tears of a
clown/Ranking full stop (1979) |
 |
Too nice to talk
to/Psychadelic rockers (1980) |
 |
Best
friend/Stand down Margaret (dub) (1980) |
 |
Mirror in the
bathroom/Jackpot (1980) |
 |
Hands off she's mine/Twist and crawl (1980) |
 |
Doors of your
heart/Drowning (1981) |
 |
Hit it/Which
side of the bed...? (1981) |
 |
I confess/Sole
Salvation
(Double Single):
I confess/Sole Salvation/Doors of your heart(live)/Save it for
later(live)/Mirror in the bathroom(live) (1982) |
 |
Save it for
later/Jeanette (1982) |
 |
Can't get used
to losing you (1983 remix version)/Spar wid me (1983) |
Albums |
|
|
|
I
Just Cant Stop It
(1980/1999 Go Feet) |
WHA'PPEN
(1981/1999 Go Feet) |
Special
Beat Service
(1982/1999 Go Feet) |
Mirror In
The Bathroom
Hands Off...She's Mine MP3
Two Swords
Twist & Crawl
Rough Rider
Click Click
Big Shot
Whine & Grine/Stand Down Margaret
Noise In This World
Can't Get Used To Losing You
Best Friend
Jackpot |
Too
Nice To Talk To (on 1999 re-mastered CD)
Doors Of Your Heart
All Out To Get You
Monkey Murders
I Am Your Flag MP3
French Toast (Soleil Troup Chaud)
Drowning
Dream Home In Nz
Walk Away
Over And Over
Cheated
Get-A-Job
The Limits We Set |
I Confess
Jeanette
Sorry
Sole Salvation
Spar Wid Me
Rotating Head MP3
Save It For Later
She's Going
Pat And Roger A Go Talk
Sugar And Stress
End Of The Party
Ackee 1-2-3 |
 |
|
|
What is beat ?
(1983 Go Feet) |
B.P.M. the very
best of
(1996 BMG-Ariola) |
B.P.M. the very
best of
(Double CD)
(1996 BMG-Ariola) |
Mirror In The Bathroom
Twist & Crawl
Tears Of A Clown
Can't Get Used To Losing You
Doors Of Your Heart
What's Your Best Thing?
Save It For Later
Best Friend
I Confess
Too Nice To Talk To
Get A Job
Stand Down Margaret |
Mirror In The Bathroom
Hands Off She's Mine
Twist & Crawl
Jackpot
Tears Of A Clown
Ranking Fullstop
Rough Rider
Best Friend
Stand Down Margaret
Too Nice To Talk To
All Out To Get You
Doors Of Your Heart
Drowning
Can't Get Used To Losing You
I Confess
Save It For Later |
Mirror In The Bathroom
Hands Off She's Mine
Twist & Crawl
Jackpot
Tears Of A Clown
Ranking Fullstop
Rough Rider
Best Friend
Stand Down Margaret
Too Nice To Talk To
All Out To Get You
Doors Of Your Heart
Drowning
Can't Get Used To Losing You
I Confess
Save It For Later
Twist And Crawl
Too Nice To Talk To
Psychedelic Rockers
March Of The Swivelheads
Doors Of Your Heart
Drowning
I Confess
Can't Get Used To Losing You
Mirror In The Bathroom
(Mark 'Spike' Stent Remix)
Mirror In The Bathroom
(Tic Tac Toe Remix)
Dub In The Bathroom
Just Can't Stop The Dub |
The International Beat
|
 
|
|
The Hitting Line
(1991 Triple-X) |
Dance Hall Rockers (1994)/Their
Most Explosive Hits (1998) |
Classic Sessions (1999) |
Rock Steady
Making Plans
One More Chance
Danny Danny Boy
Silver Bullet
Taking The Pills
Head Man's Plans
Stand And be Counted
Are You Ready?
Hard World
Head Man's Dub |
I Fought The Law (Rizla
Club Mix)
Hands Off She's Mine
Over The Valley
Mirror In the Bathroom
Sign Of The Times
Hard World
The Fitz
Head Man's Plan
Takin' The Pills (Version)
Are You Ready
I Fought The Law (Radio Club Mix)
Rock Steady
Stand Down Margaret |
Yeah Yeah Yeah
Ska Beat Boogie
Ride a White Swan
Rocksteady
Making Plans
Head Mans Plans
I Fought the Law
Sign of the Times
Fitz
Rudy
Stand and Be Counted
What Are You
Yesterdays Clown
Step It Up
Magical Feeling
Hard World
Firing Line
Taking the Pills |
Special Beat
|
|
|
Special Beat Live! (1992) |
Gangsters - Live in Japan (1993) |
Live in Japan (1993) |
Concrete Jungle
Monkey Man
Tears of a Clown
Rough Rider
Too Much Too Young
Spar Wid Me
Rat Race
Too nice To Talk To
Get a Job
Nite Klub
Gangsters
Ranking Full Stop
Mirror in the Bathroom
Enjoy Yourself |
Concrete Jungle
Monkey Man
Tears of a Clown
Rough Rider
Too Much Too Young
Spar Wid Me
Rat Race
Too nice To Talk To
Get a Job
Nite Klub
Gangsters
Ranking Full Stop
Mirror in the Bathroom
Enjoy Yourself |
Concrete Jungle
Monkey Man
Tears Of A Clown
Rough Rider
Too Much Too Young
Get A Job
Rat Race
Spar Wid Me
Too Nice To Talk To
Too Hot
Do Nothing
Nite Klub
Noise In this World
Gangsters
Ranking Full Stop
Mirror In A Bathroom
Doesn't Make It Alright
Enjoy Yourself
Jackpot
A Message To You Rudi
Save It For Later
You're Wondering Now |
 |
 |
 |
The Best of Ska
Live
(1995 Emporio) |
The Best Of &
The Rest Of British Ska Live (1996) |
Two Tone Live!
(1996 Hallmark) |
Train to Skaville -
Selecter
Gangsters - Specials
On My Radio - Selecter
Nite Club - Specials
Mirror In The Bathroom - Special Beat
Missing Words - Selecter
Monkey Man - Specials
Ranking Full Stop - Special Beat
Too Much Pressure - The Selecter
Longshot Kick De Bucket - Specials
Rat Race - Special Beat
James Bond - Selecter
Skinhead Moonstomp - Specials
Enjoy Yourself - Special Beat
Get A Job - Special Beat |
Gangsters - Specials
On My Radio - Selecter
Skinhead Moonstomp - Specials
Missing Words - Selecter
Too Nice To Talk To - Special Beat
Nite Klub - Specials
Too Much Pressure - Selecter
Longshot Kick De Bucket - Specials
Celebrate The Bullet - Selecter
Too Much Too Young - Specials
Three Minute Hero - Selecter |
Gangsters - Specials
Train To Skaville - Selecter
Rat Race - Special Beat
You're Wandering Now - Specials
The Selecter - Selecterr
Concrete Jungle - Special Beat
Stupid Marriage - Specials
Street Feeling - Selecter
Mirror In The Bathroom - Special Beat
Do The Dog - Specials
Celebrate The Bullet - Selecter
Nite Klub - Specials |
Ranking Roger
Radical Departures (1988) |
Falling Down
One Minute Closer (To Death)
Time To Mek A Dime
In Love With You
Smashing Down Another Door
So Excited
Mono Gone To Stereo
Your Problems
I Told You
Point Of View
I'll Be There |
|
Dave Wakeling
No Warning (1991) |
I Want More
No Warning
Remember In The Dark
Everytime You Look At Me That Way
Sensation
Freedom Fighter
One + One + One
Sex With You
I'm Not Ready
She's Having A Baby |
Compilations
Dance Craze-The Best of British SKA
(1981)
The Specials: Concrete Jungle
The English Beat: Mirror In The Bathroom
Bad Manners: Lip Up Fatty
The Special A.K.A.: Too Much Too Young
The Selecter: Three Minute Hero
The Bodysnatchers: Easy Life
The English Beat: Big Shot
The Specials: Man At C&A
The Selecter: Missing Words
The English Beat: Ranking Full Stop
The Selecter: Carry Go Bring Come
Bad Manners: Inner London Violence
The Special A.K.A.: Guns of Navarone
The Selecter: Too Much Pressure
The Specials: Nite Club
Skinhead Symphony/The Special A.K.A.: Longshot Kick The Bucket/Liquidator/Skinhead
Moonstomp
This Are 2Tone (1981)
The Specials: Gangster Times
Madness: Madness
The Selecter: On My Radio
The English Beat: Tears Of A Clown
The Specials: A Message To You Rudy
The Selecter: Too Much Pressure
The English Beat: Ranking Full Stop
The Specials: Too Much Too Young
The Specials: Stereotype
The Specials: World Without Meaning
Various Artists: Jungle Beat
The Specials: Ghost Town
The Specials: Concrete Jungle
The Beat Goes On>> (1991)
English Beat: Mirror In The Bathroom
English Beat: Stand Down Margaret (Dub)
English Beat: Doors Of Your Heart (12" version)
English Beat: I Confess
English Beat: Save It For Later
General Public: Tenderness
General Public: Hot You're Cool
Fine Young Cannibals: Johnny Come Home
Fine Young Cannibals: Suspicious Minds
Ranking Roger: So Excited
Dave Wakeling: I Want More
International Beat: Head Man's Plan
Special Beat: Time Is Longer Than Rope
Checkered Past: The 2Tone Collection(1993)
Special AKA - Gangsters
Selecter - The Selecter
Madness - The Prince
Selecter - On My Radio
Specials - A Message to You Rudy
English Beat - Tears of a Clown
English Beat - Ranking Full Stop
Special AKA - Too Much Too Young
Special AKA - Guns of Navarone
Selecter - Three Minute Hero
Bodysnatchers - Let's Do Rocksteady
Bodysnatchers - Ruder than You
Selecter - Missing Words
Specials - Rat Race
Specials - Rude Boys Outta Jail
Bodysnatchers - Easy Life
Bodysnatchers - Too Experienced
Specials - Stereotype
Specials - International Jet Set
Swinging Cats - Away
Rico - Sea Cruise
Specials featuring Rico with the Ice Rick String Sounds - Do Nothing
Specials - Maggie's Farm
Specials - Ghost Town
Rhoda with the Special AKA - the Boiler
Rico and the Special AKA - Jungle Music
Apollinaires - The Feeling's Gone
Higsons - Tear The Whole Thing Down
Higsons - Ylang Ylang
Apollinaires - Envy the Love
Special AKA - War Crimes (The Crime Remains the Same)
Higsons - Run Me Down
Special AKA - Racist Friend
Special AKA - Bright Lights
Special AKA - Nelson Mandela
Special AKA - Break Down the Door
Special AKA - What I Like Most About You Is Your Girlfriend
Friday Club - Window Shopping
J.B.'s Allstars - The Alphabet Army
Specials - Raquel
Roddy Radiation and the Specials - Braggin' and Tryin' Not to Lie
Neville Staples AKA Judge Roughneck - Rude Boys Outta Jail
Ranking Skanking The Best of Punky Reggae(199?)
Dr. Alimantado - Born for a Purpose
Patti Smith - Redondo Beach
Graham Parker - Don't ask me Questions
Devo - (I can't get me no) Satisfaction
Pere Ubu - Heaven
The Plugz - Electrify Me
Blondie - The Tide is High
Althia & Donna - Uptown Top Ranking
Steel Pulse - Ku Klux Klan
Poet & the Roots - Five Nights of Bleeding
The Specials - Gangsters
Madness - The Prince
The Selector - Missing Words
The English Beat - Ranking Full Stop
UB40 - Burden of Shame
The Specials - Ghost town
Keith Levene - Taang! Ting (version 1)
RUDER THAN YOU - The Best Of British Ska (RRCD174)
Gangsters - The Specials
On my radio - The Selecter
Tears of a clown - Special Beat
Missing words - The Selecter
Mirror in a bathroom - Special Beat
Skinhead moonstomp - The Specials
Three minute hero - The Selecter
Longshot kick the bucket - The Specials
Celebrate the bullet - The Selecter
Too much too young - The Specials
Ranking full stop - Special Beat
Too much pressure - The Selecter
Rat race - Special Beat
Winamp
skin
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