Special Beat Service
Special Beat Service is the third studio album by the English ska band the Beat, released on 1 October 1982 by Go-Feet Records. Like the rest of their material, it was released in the US under the name "the English Beat". It peaked at No. 39 on the Billboard 200 album chart in 1983 on the strength of two singles, "I Confess" and "Save It for Later," the music videos for which received modest airplay on the fledgling MTV video network.
Critical reception
The Spin Alternative Record Guide wrote that "'Save It for Later' and 'End of the Party' are romantic, piano-driven pop gems." Rolling Stone said that "'Special Beat Service' sparkles with surprising touches"Personnel
Credits are adapted from the Special Beat Service liner notes.The Beat
- Ranking Roger – toasting; vocals; percussion
- Dave Wakeling – vocals; guitar
- David Steele – bass; banjo
- Andy Cox – guitar; mandolin
- Everett Morton – drums
- Saxa – saxophone
- Wesley Magoogan – clarinet; lyricon; saxophone; sax FX unit
- Dave "Blockhead" Wright – keyboards; piano
- Bob Sargeant – telephone; marimba
- Marc Fox – percussion
- Jack Emblow – accordion
- Markandey Mishra – tabla
- Vince Sullivan – trombone
- Dave Lord – trumpet
- Steve Sidwell – trumpet
- Pato Banton – toasting
- Bob Sargeant – producer
- Trevor Hallesy – engineer
- Mark Dearnley – engineer
- Brian Gaylor – engineer
- Ian Cooper – cutting engineer
- Mike Hedges – producer
- Ranking Roger – producer
- Martyn Atkins – art direction
- Nick Rogers – supervisor