I have a playlist I listen listen to almost daily while I’m at the nursery. I’m going to share it with you….but first a little background. I know, you’re thrilled, right?
I had the good fortune to have spent 7 years living in Tokyo. I was shopping down in a district called Harajuku when I discovered I had a thing for 80"s style Ska music. In Harajuku every store blasts music and you can hear all kinds as you wander down a street. I heard a song playing from the front of a coffee shop and I went nutty trying to find out the name of the band. I wanted the record. Oh yeah, back then we had vinil, not CD’s and we used to argue constantly over which was the best cartridge for our turntables…..ceramic or magnetic. Ahhh, the good old days. Anyway, two doors down was a record store. I went in and asked one of the sales people to come to the coffee shop with me and tell me the name of the band. Only in Japan would a young person follow a foreigner to a coffee shop, listen for a bit, and then lead that silly foreigner back to the record store, to the appropriate bin…..and hand them the record.
The name of the band was The English Beat. The LP, Special Beat Service. The Song, "I Confess". I bought that LP and every other LP in their catalog that day. I’ve been hooked ever since and listen to it constantly.
Before I drop the playlist on you I have more background. The English Beat later became General Public, and still later morphed loosely into Fine Young Cannibals. And yes, she drives me crazy and I really can’t help myself. Wherewas I? Oh yeah…then around 2000 something The English Beat was reborn and they still tour around. I’d love to go see them.
My playlist is as follows. Most of these videos suck but the music is great.
The English Beat: "I Confess" Of the entire catalog this is my favorite.
"Save It For Later" I love this one….loud!
This is a great cover of, "Cant Get Used To Loosing You" I first heard this in the early 80′s. Loved it then. Still do.
That brings us to General Public, "Tenderness" This is the Canhamiana Theme Song. It has been for years.
And "Never You Done That"
Last one Kiddies….Fine Young Cannibals, "She Drives Me Crazy"
Ha! This video is, ummmmm, typical of music videos….it’s mostly stupid. There is one interesting part around the middle. One of the guys is playing a Reverse Firebird Guitar. Those were hot Gibson axes in the mid 70′s.
That’s my Beat playlist. Short, sweet and I’ve been listening to these songs since the early 80′s. My God! I’m getting old.
Canhamiana
