It’s nice that the late Seventies Ska pioneers The Specials have reformed to stash some pension cash, but The Beat, strafing Two Tone’s punky reggae template with taut new wave twin guitars, afro-pop inflections, and dubwise excursions, delivered the movement’s best debut.
I Just Can’t Stop It’s sparkling originals still outshine the cover reliant sets of the Birmingham band’s contemporaries, and here, with two discs of extras, it emerges from oblivion as one of the great British albums, gilded by Bob Sargeant’s innovative digital production.
And in 1980, where Big Shot’s anti-capitalist rant seemed caricatured, now it reads as reportage.
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Brighton Argus
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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World Without End, Twitter
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Bosco239, youtube
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BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Stuart, Chortle
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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John Robins, Comedian