The Jukebox Rebel

At the time of their long-play debut in May ’80 the Birmingham sextet were: Dave Wakeling (24, vocals, guitar), ‘Ranking Roger’ Charlery (17, vocals), Andy Cox (24, guitar), David Steele (19, bass), Everett Morton (29, drums), and Lionel ‘Saxa’ Martin (50, saxophone). The six share the writing credits – they’ll never get rich but I greatly admire the brotherhood. To my ears, every royalty share seems entirely justified; at various times you can tune in to a performance from any individual and form a case for them as vital cogs in the Beat machine. And what a machine – razor sharp licks, intensely deep and rhythmic drum and basslines, bona-fide JA Sax cool and superb, immediately identifiable, 2-Tone vocals from Dave and Roger. The album begins memorably with “Mirror In The Bathroom”, the lead single which was making its ascent into the UK Top 10 at the time, an interesting song about those who would self-obsess. Said Dave: “It was thinking about how self-involvement turns into narcissism and how narcissism turns into isolation, and then how isolation turns into self-involvement again, and how what a vicious cycle that can become.” Interesting lyrics are the cherry-on-top of the special Beat mix – the whole experience stimulates. You’re never too far from a major classic on this set – side one has “Hands Off She’s Mine” – a contender for the tune of the year – as well as the amazing elasticity of “Twist And Crawl”, a song about the socially awkward: “not so much Twist and Shout more like Twist and Crawl” said Dave in a later interview. Displaying enormous talent for the pop jangle, “Best Friend” is a second-half monster in which Dave talks to his “best friend” in the mirror again. It must be love. Almost as if riding the last euphoric wave of the Ska revival, the album closes mightily as The Beat adapt the old Pioneers tune, “Jackpot” to awesome effect, ending the album in an upbeat style. Good gawsh. What a joyful sound.

The Jukebox Rebel
05–Dec–2005

A1	[03:10] The Beat - Mirror In The Bathroom (Dave Wakeling, Roger Charlery, Andy Cox, David Steele, Everett Morton, Lionel Martin) Ska / Rocksteady
A2	[03:01] The Beat - Hands Off She’s Mine (Dave Wakeling, Roger Charlery, Andy Cox, David Steele, Everett Morton, Lionel Martin) Ska / Rocksteady
A3	[02:19] The Beat - Two Swords (Dave Wakeling, Roger Charlery, Andy Cox, David Steele, Everett Morton, Lionel Martin) Ska / Rocksteady
A4	[02:35] The Beat - Twist And Crawl (Dave Wakeling, Roger Charlery, Andy Cox, David Steele, Everett Morton, Lionel Martin) Ska / Rocksteady
A5	[04:52] The Beat - Rough Rider (Cecil Campbell) Reggae
A6	[01:28] The Beat - Click Click (Dave Wakeling, Roger Charlery, Andy Cox, David Steele, Everett Morton, Lionel Martin) New Wave
B1	[02:34] The Beat - Big Shot (Dave Wakeling, Roger Charlery, Andy Cox, David Steele, Everett Morton, Lionel Martin) Ska / Rocksteady
B2	[03:51] The Beat - Whine And Grine / Stand Down Margaret (Cecil Campbell - Dave Wakeling, Roger Charlery, Andy Cox, David Steele, Everett Morton, Lionel Martin) Ska / Rocksteady
B3	[02:19] The Beat - Noise In This World (Dave Wakeling, Roger Charlery, Andy Cox, David Steele, Everett Morton, Lionel Martin) Ska / Rocksteady
B4	[03:04] The Beat - Can’t Get Used To Losing You (Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman) Reggae
B5	[03:01] The Beat - Best Friend (Dave Wakeling, Roger Charlery, Andy Cox, David Steele, Everett Morton, Lionel Martin) New Wave
B6	[04:19] The Beat - Jackpot (George Agard, Sydney Crooks, Jackie Robinson, Dave Wakeling, Roger Charlery, Andy Cox, David Steele, Everett Morton, Lionel Martin) Ska / Rocksteady

ratings by TJR