Three for the Road: The English Beat

Maybe it's because I'm putting together my Christmas list and this is on it: A box set featuring 5 glorious CDs from the English Beat. There probably the only band featuring a saxophone that I'd actually want to listen to. In any case, here are the three English Beat songs I'd want to hear in the car:

1) "I Confess" -- "No it's not a joke, it's cards on the table time"

2) "Ackee 1 2 3" -- to get you in a happy mood

3) "Save it for Later" -- just a classic

And I realize that -- despite mention of the box set -- all three of my tracks come from the same album, 1983's Special Beat Service. I know I may be living in the past, but Dave Wakeling is still touring as the English Beat, and word is he puts on a great show. Meanwhile, Ranking Roger tours as the Beat in England and -- like most partnerships that have gone south -- you can't help but wish there would be a reconciliation that would bring both partners together.

Three for the Road

Ok, here's the game.  On the road, driving in the car. You get to hear three songs in a row from a specific artist.  What three do you choose?  It could be their best, or something that just resonates with you.  Seven days - seven artists - back and forth.  Feel free to comment on your three from "said" group.

Today, let's start easy - The Clash.

1. "Clampdown" - I love the workingman's anthem.  Gets me fired up!

2.  "Police on My Back" - a cover, I know, but such a great version.  The siren-like guitars, and the chours "What have I done?"  I always end up speeding when driving listening to this song.



3.  "Death or Glory" - We're gonna raise some hell...

Song In My Head

I'm going on the second day now with "Golden Brown" by The Stranglers stuck in my head. And while it's a great song, it's a highly unusual one. For starters, it's built around a harpsichord riff... AND it's in a really weird time signature: it's waltz-like, but with an extra beat so it ends up being 6/8 for one measure and then 7/8 for the next (which makes it impossible to dance to).

The song was released as a single in England in 1981, and it was a huge hit -- peaking at #2 (while The Jam's "A Town Called Malice" locked down the top spot.) It was tacked onto the Stranglers' 1982 album Feline in this country and I distinctly remember listening to it in my family's Cadillac Coupe De Ville (what a car) as we drove to look at colleges for my older brother. I'm quite sure we were the only ones on the entire length of Interstate 81 listening to Feline back in those days, or any days for that matter.

I went back and listened to some of the other tracks from Feline -- "Blue Sister" (which still holds up), "The European Female (In Celebration Of)" and "Midnight Summer Dream" (which don't). And I'm truly astounded at the change in direction the album represents for The Stranglers, who had a gritty edge with classic post-punk tracks like "No More Heroes" (which was later ripped off by Elastica's "Waking Up").