Since I'm a little bit too young to have experienced the ska explosion of the 80's, the first I heard of Ranking Roger was when he provided guest vocals on the 1995 Pato Banton single 'Bubblin' Hot'. It took me a few years to learn that he was also a member of The Beat, whose hit single 'Mirror In The Bathroom' I had heard on many ska and reggae compilations. In their original incarnation, The Beat released three studio albums before splitting in 1983. The band reformed in 2003 minus a couple of members, but in 2006 two versions of the band formed: a US-based line-up known as The English Beat, featuring singer and songwriter Dave Wakeling, and the UK-based group The Beat feat. Ranking Roger, fronted by the legendary vocalist/toaster. After recording an unreleased album with producer Adrian Sherwood in 2006, the group recently released 'Bounce', their first album of new material in 30 years.
Loz Etheridge at God Is In The TV reviewed the album recently, writing that "For the most part, Bounce is a joyous party that works rather well, despite often focusing more on the “pop” side than the ska/reggae that previously made their name..." Read the rest of that review HERE. Topped with delicious horns and bursting with timeless social commentary, 'Walking On The Wrong Side' sounds like nobody else other than The Beat.
