- Wha'ppen?

The Beat's third and final album, "Special Beat Service", is one of the greatest rock / ska albums ever recorded. This second album is nearly as good. It just never gets old. It sounds as fresh today as it did over twenty years ago.

I used to have this album on vinyl, and I was excited to get the cd and listen to it again. It's addictive music and it makes me happy when I listen to it.

I never got around to purchasing this in the 80's and now I wonder why! I saw them in the 80's (also General Public), but it was only until after seeing The Engish Beat recently at the Key Club, did I remember many of THESE songs... And I finally got the CD! The good thing about the long wait is really enjoying my "new" album! "Too Nice To Talk To" and "Doors Of Your Heart" got significant airplay, but there are a number of very catchy , mid-tempo Ska tunes here that will have you moving around, for sure! "Monkey Murders" has some very nice saxaphone work by Saxa (of course!) and "I Am Your Flag" (also a popular tune from this collection) had many people dancing. The next group of five songs are really well suited to follow each other in tempo, style, and melody. "Cheated" is one of my favorites and "Get A Job" will make you get up, or at least tap your feet! It is not the same song as the 50'/60's hit. The last song, "The Limits We Set" is a great example of Saxa's unique style, which is like taking a walk up and down the instrument, without blatant flash, but a melodic meandering style. This is prevalent throughout the album, but really noticeable on this final track as it fades out the set. His playing style is unique and he has a real knack for filling in spaces and using them to make brief, well placed musical additions. If you are a fan of other Beat albums, you will also enjoy this one!

outstanding cd, outstanding band, outstanding seller. product was early!

Easily their best album. Diverse, expert musicianship, political commentary and straight up fun make "Wha'ppen?" my favorite English Beat work ever.

This is the best English Beat, and a must have if you're even remotely into ska. Its a party! Recommended to everyone!

This is a completely original talented band. They are a high energy unit that can be quite uplifting. Their style is unique some try to pigeon hole them in a particular style, which may cause some not to experience some really enjoyable songs with such a flair for the feelings many have felt such as "Hands Off She's Mine". Each song is able to stand on its own merits, yet they have the ability to build on top of each other. What a great solid core of musicians. You should buy it.

Awesome Music,

quelques titres inédits avec d autres déjà connu super

I bought the cassette of this album when it were 1st released in the summer of 1981. At a time when the likes of Adam & The Ants, Bucks Fizz, Shakin' Stevens & The Human League were dominating the UK music scene, this excellent album went virtually unnoticed. There has been a number of re-issues, including a 3-disc version with everything including the kitchen sink on it, but I just wanted the original 12-track album on CD as it were originally released. Finally I came across this joint A & M/I.R.S release from America. Top marks must go to US mastering engineer Frank Deluna for preserving the original dynamic range & mix level as intended by producer Bob Sargent & original UK cutting engineer Ian Cooper. Considering this was a digital recording, I'm surprised it wasn't on the list of titles to be released on CD when then format was extended beyond Japan in early 1983. Still, better late than never

ska/2-tone music of the highest calibre with lots of echo chamber sound affects by the producer(B.Sargeant) + engineer(). NB: if you need a 12" vinyl record to test a record deck then grab this one to audition your selections in your quality local hifi shop. originally on vinyl, cassette and then in mid80's an early un-re-mastered CD from USA, then remastered in 2004 on CD in UK/row. this (2012) deluxe-edn-CD is 2CD+DVD long in a digipack sleeve plus extensive notes in a neat booklet now all on budget Edsel (sub-Demon) (sub-Warner) label. CD1 => original album CD2 => various 12" singles(dub+12"mix) As+Bs + 2 non-album 7" singles(A+B) + john peel radio2 session(4 tracks). DVD => Video singles + TOTP + ITV documentary(4 songs). overall ultra-high VFM reissue (long awaited) - will sell out very quickly i reckon.

Le deuxième LP de The Beat (1981) se voit réédité, avec d'une part un CD de bonus tracks comprenant les différentes versions de trois singles ainsi que la John Peel Session de l'époque et d'autre part des images du groupe. Après une année 1980 triomphale pour The Beat, 'Wha'ppen' l'album s'éloigne du mouvement deux tons et tire vers le dub (le groupe vient de s'occuper de rééditer sur son label ' Heart Of The Congos ') tout en maintenant par ailleurs ses nuances pop à guitares. Mais les compositions ne sont pas tout à fait à la même hauteur que l'album du début (' I Just Can't Stop It ') et, tandis que la Grande-Bretagne vit le big bang de la new wave, ce n'est pas un atout pour la suite... *** Les "bonus tracks" font figurer un exemple efficace de ska-disco avec 'Too Nice To Talk To' et de disco tout court avec 'Hit It'. 'Psychedelic Rockers' est une excellente B-side, particulièrement planante dans sa version "dubweiser". Le superbe single double face A 'Doors Of Your Heart' / 'Drowning' est présenté dans sa version 12''. La "Peel Session", qui précède l'album et assure la promotion du single 'Too Nice (...)'/'Psychedelic (...)' n'apporte pas d'élément inoubliable. *** et 1/2 Les vidéos des singles, très "cheap" et aux images non restaurées, montrent un groupe faisant des ronds en voiture sur un terrain goudronné, comme Jay-Z et Kanye West récemment pour 'Otis', sauf que ces derniers démolissent une limousine allemande de luxe quand The Beat s'entasse dans une Ford Taunus... Pour 'Drowning', on voit ce groupe de gros bébés nager dans une piscine dans laquelle flottent des billets d'un US dollar... 'Doors Of Your Heart' a été filmé lors d'un carnaval britannique. Les 4 séquences tournées en play-back de la célèbre émission de la BBC TV "Top Of The Tops" montrent une année d'évolution du groupe. Pour une des émissions, David Steele est remplacé par un type qui ressemble à un musicien des Specials. Pour clore le DVD, on a un extrait de documentaire d'époque (pas sous-titré en français) présentant l'aspect politique du groupe. "Mieux vaut ne pas aller travailler si c'est pour se faire à ce point exploiter" estime Dave Wakeling lors d'une interview dans un entrepôt industriel abandonné d'un Birmingham en déshérence économique. Ceci s'accompagne de trop courts extraits du groupe en concert, avec 'Stand Down Margaret' et avant ce hit un 'Get-A-Job' bien meilleur que sur le disque studio. *** et 1/2 Un remarquable livret, avec paroles des chansons, photographies diverses et très bon texte de Rhoda Dakar (j'apprends que Ranking Roger n'est pas d'origine jamaïquaine. Sa famille vient de Sainte-Lucie) complète ce mini-coffret.

This was the first Beat album I actually owned (I'd only taped 'I Just Can't Stop It' from a mate)and it still has a special place in my musical affections. 1981 - the Beat had been consistently in the Top Ten and been around the world on the back of that. This comes across on this album - their punk influences are less apparent, the reggae/dub now more to the fore. It seems the public weren't too enamoured by this shift, judging by the chart performances of 'Doors Of Your Heart' & 'Drowning/All Out To Get You' & no third single release from the album. However,there are very few weaknesses on 'Wha'ppen?'. 'I Am Your Flag', 'Walk Away' & 'Get-A-Job' would all have made excellent, more commercial singles than those released ('Get-A-Job' appeared as a Double-A-Side with'Doors Of Your Heart' but was largely ignored - apparently the band were keen to release it on it's own but thought the title would be misconstrued as some kind of Tory propaganda!) Other album tracks of real quality are 'Monkey Murders' & 'The Limits We Set' (boy/girl paranoia & shoplifting tackled respectively). That was one of the attractions of the Beat to me: great tunes coupled with thought-provoking lyrics. Highly Recommended - the CD also includes 'Too Nice To Talk To', a single released between the first two album; A real gem, and the first 7" single I ever bought!(Oh, take me back.....)