Customer Reviews
3 Albums - By: H. D. Ottema, 03 Aug 2008 
They made 3 albums, 'I Just Can't Stop It', 'Wha'ppen' & 'Special Beat Service' & if you're an 'The (English) Beat' fan (like i am for years) this compilation does'nt ad anything to what you already own. I'm 56 & still bouncin' 'round!! (Ranking Fullstop)
Excellent value but be warned - By: Django, 29 Jun 2008 
This is an excellent value for money compilation as the other reviews can all vouch & I bought it based on their comments. Imagine my surprise however when I found that 'Stand down Margaret' is actually NOT the single version. Track 7 on my copy at least is actually 'Whine & Grine/Stand down Margaret' which is not the version I was expecting & specifically mentioned as missingin one of the reviews below ?? So if this fact is an issue then be warned, I have to admit personal disappointment as I had hoped this comp would have everything I wantedin the one place - but it was not to be.
You Can't Beat it For Value - By: Ian Wood, Author of 'Here's 2 Absent Fathers', 07 May 2008 `You Just Can't Beat it' is subtitle `The Best of The Beat' but with thirty seven tracks spread over two discs it would be possibly truer to call it `All of The Beat' with very few omissions stopping this been their entire back catalogue. It is definitely quicker to isolate what is not on this album rather than what is included.
The album opens with Two Tone debut single `Tears of a Clown' b/w `Ranking Full Stop' before moving through the three singles & various album tracks taken from debut album `I Just Can't Stop it',in fact only one track is omitted which is the Price Buster cover `Whine & Grine' which is no-doubt omitted due to it's been re-worked as the single `Stand Down Margaret'.
Between album single `Too Nice to Talk to' is here but not b-side `Psychedelic Rockers' before we get eleven of the twelve tracks from second album `Wha'ppen?', the only track missing being `I Am Your Flag'.
The next single was the Mike Hedge's produced `Hit It' b/w `Which Side of the Bed' which is not a surprise to be missing as all previous Beat compilations have tried to write this disappointing 45 out of the bands history.
Of the Twelve tracks on third album `Special Beat Service' again eleven are included here, the missing track is `Rotating Heads' which is a surprise omission as it was usedin the film `Ferris Bueller's Day Off'. The only other track missing here is the b-side of `Save it for Later' `What's Your Best Thing?'.
I Imagine the missing seven tracks could have fitted on the discs which would have made for a comprehensive anthology, anyway it's still good value for money as a anthology with a couple of omissions or a best of that goes a bit further. You Just Can't Beat it.
Nice Compilation, but a definite missed opportunity! - By: William Lynd, 12 Apr 2008 
Having been a fan for 25 years (oh my God I'm old!) I was really looking forward to this compilation - hoping that we would finally get a nice release of some of The Beat's great B-sides that have yet to be officially released on CD. After all, if you have 2 CD's to work with, wouldn't this have been a nice place for excellent songs like "Which Side of The Bed?", "Hit It", etc? Anyway, I will be kind & only deduct 1 star - these are some of the best songs ever released & a good set for someone that doesn't own the individual CD's.
Indispensable bargain - By: Don Juan, 09 Apr 2008 Even if you've only heard Mirror In The Bathroom or Best Friend, buy this compilation. It contains some of the catchiest, most danceable songs you are likely to hear. The Beat must one of the greatest pop bands ever without 'les' at the end of their name. Going to a party? Take this with you & the CDs will end up being played all night.
