The Beat

20 Music Videos of the 1980s That Have Aged Well

20 Music Videos of the 1980s That Have Aged Well

In this installment of our retrospective of 1980s music videos, we focus on 20 promos that have, remarkably, stood the test of time.

2 Tone: Race, Music, and Pop Culture in Thatcher’s UK

2 Tone: Race, Music, and Pop Culture in Thatcher’s UK

2 Tone found a sweet spot between punk anger and pop sensibility that mirrored the myriad poles they were trying to bridge in their band members and audiences.

‘Too Much Too Young, the 2 Tone Records Story: The Beat. UB40. Tears of a Clown’ (excerpt)

‘Too Much Too Young, the 2 Tone Records Story: The Beat. UB40. Tears of a Clown’ (excerpt)

This excerpt from Daniel Rachel’s history of 2 Tone Records shows the formation of the Beat and the best version of the band-defining “Tears of a Clown” ever.

The Loud Warning of Ska Concert Film ‘Dance Craze’ Must Still Be Heard

The Loud Warning of Ska Concert Film ‘Dance Craze’ Must Still Be Heard

Dance Craze, the legendary concert film about the ska revival in Britain, brilliantly captures the performers’ sweaty, frantic, animated energy and the warning in their music’s message.

The English Beat: The Complete Beat / Keep the Beat: the Very Best of the English Beat