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"

Track listing

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

Additional musicians

• 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

Production and artwork

• Bob Sargeant – producer

• Trevor Hallesy – engineer

• Mark Dearnley – engineer

• Brian Gaylor – engineer

• Ian Cooper – cutting engineer

• Mike Hedges – producer ("Pato and Roger a Go Talk")

• Ranking Roger – producer ("Pato and Roger a Go Talk")

• Martyn Atkins – art direction

• Nick Rogers – supervisor

Charts

References

External links