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