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