The Complete Beat

Yesterday (as of this writing), I heard the sad news that Ranking Roger, founding member of the English Beat, had died at the (too young) age of 56. As often happens when a musician I like or respect passes, I went back and explored their back catalog. Upon listening to the English Beat again, I was reminded of how vital and fun they were.

 

Along with The Specials and Madness, The English Beat were the foremost ska revival band of the late '70s and early '80s. This box set contains all three of the band's studio albums and two discs of 12 inch remixes and dubs, a Peel session, and some live cuts.

 

The English Beat's lyrics range from critiques of Thatcher's Britain to affairs of the heart, but with music this danceable, it's easy to forget about the words. The entire box set is an embarrassment of musical riches and is guaranteed to have you "skanking" around your house for hours.