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.
Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
Foxfoxton, Youtube
Foxfoxton, Youtube
Wharto15, Twitter
Wharto15, Twitter
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Stuart, Chortle
Bosco239, youtube
Bosco239, youtube
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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98rosjon, Twitter
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
Gwaites, Digitalspy
Gwaites, Digitalspy
Richard Herring, Comedian
Richard Herring, Comedian
Stokeylitfest, Twitter
Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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John Robins, Comedian
Fowkes81, Twitter
Fowkes81, Twitter
Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
Peter Fears, Twitter
Peter Fears, Twitter
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
Emilyistrendy, Youtube
Emilyistrendy, Youtube
Mini-x2, readytogo.net
Mini-x2, readytogo.net
Contrapuntal, Twitter
Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Brighton Argus
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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World Without End, Twitter
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
Kozzy06, Youtube
Kozzy06, Youtube
Iain, eatenbymissionaries
Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Idrie, Youtube
Idrie, Youtube
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
Len Firewood, Twitter
Len Firewood, Twitter
Frankie Boyle, Comedian
Frankie Boyle, Comedian