Beat Teenage Cancer a tribute to The Beat

Like its predecessor, this compilation has the full support of members of The Beat. Both Dave Wakeling and Ranking Roger appear on the album. Wakeling has re-recorded “Mirror In The Bathroom” and Ranking Roger appears with Hunt Emerson’s band The Spritely Allstars (Emerson is the designer of the Beat girl logo) on the track “Two Swords (Majestic Mix).” They have been joined by other 2-Tone era stars Neol Davies and Charley Anderson of The Selecter and Rhoda Dakar of The Bodysnatchers who have also contributed songs.

Always one of the stand out 2-Tone era bands, English Beat were truly the rhythm kings of the movement and they continued this after the demise of 2-Tone, such was their appeal. Wakeling’s songwriting saw many hits and they became the first 2-Tone act to really crack the USA, where their popularity is still huge. They have proved as popular at home too, of course, as their latest releases of their work on vinyl and CD have shown. The cool and efficient front men of Dave Wakeling and Ranking Roger were the perfect front for the band while the continual manic struts of superb guitarist Andy Cox and bassist Dave Steele were a sight to behold. Throw into that melting pot the slinking driving rhythms supplied by Everett Morton on drums, and the surprise element of Lionel Martin AKA “Saxa” (on what else, a saxophone) into the mix, the laid back, floppy hat wearing brass maestro who had played with the likes of Prince Buster and Laurel Aitken on the original first ska boom, and there you have it: a band that was crammed with musical greatness.

The 47 track album also highlights the best current ska, reggae and rock bands playing in the U.K., Australia, Czech Republic and the U.S. This album was originally released on Compact Disc and is also available for download and as part of our ‘Complete Collection’ available on USB flash drive.

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