I Just Can't Stop It
Untitled | |
---|---|
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [1] |
Robert Christgau | A−[2] |
Rolling Stone | (positive)[3] |
Rolling Stone Album Guide | [4] |
Smash Hits | 9/10[5] |
I Just Can't Stop It is the debut album by UK 2 tone band The Beat. The album was released in 1980 via Go Feet Records in the UK. It was released the same year in the US on I.R.S. Records under the band name "The English Beat".
Well received from the start, publications such as Rolling Stone raved that the music was "wild and threatening, sexy and sharp."[3] AllMusic later said "[it] was a stunning achievement", which has been undiminished by time.[1]
The song "Mirror in the Bathroom" featured in the films Grosse Pointe Blank (1997) and in RocknRolla (2008), while the song "Hands Off...She's Mine" featured in the film 50 First Dates (2004).
Accolades
At the end of 1980, I Just Can't Stop It appeared in numerous lists of the greatest albums of the year: NME ranked it 3rd,[6] Sounds ranked it 13th, The Village Voice ranked it 21nd and OOR ranked it 41st.[7] In 1995, Spin ranked the album at number 94 in their list of the top "100 Alternative Albums".[7] Fast 'n' Bulbous ranked the album at number 283 in their list of "The 500 Best Albums Since 1965".[8] A 2002 poll of KCPR DJs ranked it at number 40 in their list of the "Top 100 Records of the 80s".[7] Les Inrockuptibles included it in their list of "50 Years of Rock 'n' Roll."[7]
"Mirror in the Bathroom" was ranked at number 3 in the NME "Singles of the Year" list and at number 24 in Sounds' "Singles of the Year" list.[9] In 2003, Q ranked the song at number 517 in their list of the "1001 Best Songs Ever".[10] In 2002, Gary Mulholland included the song in his list This is Uncool: The 500 Best Singles Since Punk Rock.[9] In 2001, Michaelangelo Matos included it in his list of "The Top 100 Singles of the 80s."[9] In 2006, 97x ranked it at number 186 in their list of "The 500 Best Modern Rock Songs of All Time."[9] In 1990, Robert Christgau ranked "Twist and Crawl" at number 10 in his list of the best songs of the 1980s.[11]
Track listing
All songs written by The Beat, unless otherwise noted.
LP Vinyl Release
- Side One
- "Mirror in the Bathroom" – 3:10
- "Hands Off...She's Mine" – 3:01
- "Two Swords" – 2:19
- "Twist & Crawl" – 2:35
- "Rough Rider" (Prince Buster; arranged and adapted by The Beat) – 4:52
- "Click Click" – 1:28
- Side Two
- "Big Shot" – 2:34
- "Whine and Grine/Stand Down Margaret" – 3:51 ("Whine and Grine" by Prince Buster, "Stand Down Margaret" by The Beat)
- "Noise in This World" – 2:19
- "Can't Get Used to Losing You" (Mort Shuman, Doc Pomus) – 3:04
- "Best Friend" – 3:01
- "Jackpot" (George Agard, Sydney Crooks, Jackie Robinson, The Beat) – 4:19
The song "Rough Rider" was written by Eddy Grant, Dervan Gordon, Lincoln Gordon and Patrick Gordon and first performed by Prince Buster & The All Stars on the 1968 single "Rough Rider".[citation needed]
CD Reissue (This order also on US Vinyl Release)
- "Mirror in the Bathroom" – 3:10
- "Hands Off...She's Mine" – 3:01
- "Two Swords" – 2:19
- "Twist & Crawl" – 2:35
- "Tears of a Clown" ♦ (Hank Cosby, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder) – 2:39
- "Rough Rider" (Prince Buster, arranged & adapted by The Beat) – 4:52
- "Click Click" – 1:28
- "Ranking Full Stop" ♦ – 2:44
- "Big Shot" – 2:34
- "Whine & Grine/Stand Down Margaret" – 3:51 ("Whine and Grine" by Prince Buster, "Stand Down Margaret" by The Beat)
- "Noise in This World" – 2:19
- "Can't Get Used to Losing You" (Shuman, Pomus) – 3:04
- "Best Friend" – 3:01
- "Jackpot" (Agard, Crooks, Robinson, The Beat) – 4:19
- Tracks marked ♦ were not included on the original UK release
Personnel
- The Beat
- Dave Wakeling – lead vocals, rhythm guitar,
- Ranking Roger – toasting, vocals
- Andy Cox – lead guitar
- David Steele – bass
- Everett Morton – drums
- Saxa – saxophone
- Technical personnel
- Bob Sargeant – Producer
- Mike Hedges – Engineer
Charts
Album
Year | Chart | Position |
---|---|---|
1980 | Billboard 200 | 142[12] |
1980 | UK Album Chart | 3[1] |
References
- ^ a b c Greene, Jo-Anne. I Just Can't Stop It at AllMusic. Retrieved 12 May 2004.
- ^ Christgau, Robert. "The English Beat > Consumer Guide Reviews". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 4 May 2009.
- ^ a b Rose, Frank (September 4, 1980). "The English Beat I Just Can't Stop It > Album Review". Rolling Stone. No. 325. Archived from the original on 22 April 2008. Retrieved 12 August 2007.
- ^ Considine, J.D. (2004). "English Beat". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. London: Fireside. pp. 277–278. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
- ^ Cranna, Ian. "Albums". Smash Hits (May 29 – June 11, 1980): 30.
- ^ "Albums and Tracks of the Year". NME. 2016. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
- ^ a b c d Acclaimed Music - I Just Can't Stop It
- ^ Best Albums Since 1965 | Fast 'n' Bulbous
- ^ a b c d Acclaimed Music - Mirror in the Bathroom
- ^ Q - 1001 best songs ever (2003)
- ^ Robert Christgau: Decade Personal Best: '80s
- ^ ((( I Just Can't Stop It > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums ))) at AllMusic. Retrieved 13 January 2010.