Wha'ppen

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!

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.

A wonderful followup to their first album, this one covers much wider range of styles. It can seem a disappointment when compared to their classic first album, but if you take it out of that context, it stands as a terrific album on its own. Each song has a totally different style to it. But why did they change the album art? The original lp art from 1981 was so much more charming. The US pressing also includes "Too Nice to Talk To", a terrific single which was not on the original vinyl lp.

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.

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

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.

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

The second album from the truly marvellous band that was (is) The Beat.This album has less of an out & out ska influence, compared to the first album but this doesn't mean it isn't worth getting a hold of.The Beat were adept at putting together collections of infectious, good time tunes & this record continues that trend.Some of the tracks are some what less frantic than the driving ska beats of "I Just Can't Stop It" but they still hit all the right places. As the previous reviewer so accurately states, no "difficult second album syndrome" here - just top quality music all the way through. My bias knows no ends though, I think they were one of the best bands to have ever walked the planet.

My favourite Beat album. Best tracks are Drowning, Walk Away and Cheated but in truth there isn't a dud track on the album. Brilliant album, a lot slower than I Just Can't Stop It and not as poppy as Special Beat Service. They got it perfect with this one

My favourite band of the late 70's and early 80's. Probably one of the most underrated bands of this time, although started of as a 2 tone band totally unique sound which developed over the time they were together. This CD took me back many years - totally fantastic! Now all be need is for the original line up to reform... oh well you can always dream! Nice that here are a few extra tracks etc, however if you have the original standard version you might have to be a Beat freak to justify!

Great value

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.....)