Beats International

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Beats International
Beats International.jpg
Beats International, 1991
Background information
Origin United Kingdom
Genres Electronic
Years active 1989–1992
Labels Elektra Records
Telstar Records
Go! Beat
Members Norman Cook
Lindy Layton
Lester Noel
David John-Baptiste
MC Wildski
Andy Boucher

Beats International were a British electronic music band, formed in the late 1980s by Norman Cook (also known as Fatboy Slim), after his departure from The Housemartins.

Contents

Career [edit]

A loose confederation of musicians, the line-up also included vocalist Lindy Layton, former North of Cornwallis vocalist Lester Noel, rappers DJ Baptiste (The Crazy MC), MC Wildski and keyboardist Andy Boucher. Unusually, the band's live line-up also incorporated a graffiti artist, who would paint designs on a backdrop while the musicians played.

Their debut studio album, Let Them Eat Bingo spawned the UK number-one single "Dub Be Good to Me", a re-working of the The SOS Band's chart-topper "Just Be Good to Me", based around a sample of the bassline from The Clash's "Guns of Brixton" and featuring Layton on vocals.

The second Beats International album was 1991's Excursion on the Version, which featured a greater use of dub and reggae sounds, but failed to repeat the success of its predecessor. This was the final Beats International recording, with Cook next going on to form Freak Power.

Discography [edit]

Albums [edit]

Year Album UK Albums Chart[1]
1990 Let Them Eat Bingo
#17
1991 Excursion on the Version
-

Singles [edit]

Year Single UK Singles Chart[1] U.S.[2] U.S. Dance Album
1990 "Dub Be Good to Me"
#1
#76
#1
Let Them Eat Bingo
"Won't Talk About It"
#9
#76
#4
"Burundi Blues"
#51
-
-
1991 "Echo Chamber"
#60
-
-
Excursion on the Version
"The Sun Doesn't Shine"
#66
-
-
"In the Ghetto"
#44
-
-
1992 "Change Your Mind"
-
-
#28

Samples list [edit]

"Let Them Eat Bingo"
  • "Blame It On The Bassline"
    • "Get Into Something" by Isley Brothers / phrase "Come on now / give the drummer some"
  • "Won't Talk About It"
  • "Tribute to King Tubby"
"Excursion on the Version"

See also [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 50. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 
  2. ^ Beats International chart history