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Let Them Eat Bingo

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Let Them Eat Bingo is the debut album by British electronic music band Beats International, released in 1990 on the Go! Beat record label in the UK and Elektra in the US. It includes their UK number one single "Dub Be Good to Me" and the Top 10 hit "Won't Talk About It".

Let Them Eat Bingo spent 15 weeks on the UK Albums Chart, peaking at number 17.[1] It went on to receive gold certification.[2] The album peaked at number 63 in Australia on the ARIA chart, and spent 10 weeks in the top 100.[3]

The album features contributions from a host of guest artists including Lindy Layton, Billy Bragg, Double Trouble, and Captain Sensible, and samples many other works, including The Clash's "Guns of Brixton", the SOS Band's "Just Be Good To Me", and samples of Fela Kuti.[4][5]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[5]
Chicago Tribune[4]
Entertainment WeeklyA[6]
The New Rolling Stone Album Guide[7]

The album received a three-star review from the Chicago Tribune, with Robert Tanzilo calling "one of the more refreshing dance records of late" and "a wonderful mess".[4] Greg Sandow, reviewing for Entertainment Weekly, gave it an 'A' rating, saying "There’s nothing wrong with pure pleasure in music, and this album provides it."[6]

Nathaniel Wice, reviewing for Spin, commented on the mixture of styles, saying "Everything is imitation, from rap, house and funk, to blues, gospel, reggae and rock'n'roll: nothing means anything."[8] Melinda Rickelman, reviewing the album for The Crisis, also commented on the mixture of styles, but viewed the album more positively, calling them "fine young beats".[9] New York Magazine commented on the album: "Let Them Eat Bingo combines hip-hop, reggae, rap, punk, and even rebel-yelling to a dance-happy effect."[10] Trouser Press said "At its best, this is clever stuff that, beyond being enjoyable strictly on its own, provocatively recontextualizes its sources and creates an endlessly fascinating cross-cultural weave...At its worst...it's just boring and silly."[11]

In The New Rolling Stone Album Guide, the album was rated at four and a half stars out of five.[7] AllMusic rated it with four stars, Rick Anderson stating that Cook is "just showing how much fun you can have with a sampler and flawless taste in beats".[5]

Track listing

  1. "Burundi Blues" (Norman Cook)
  2. "Dub Be Good to Me" (Norman Cook, James Harris III, Terry Lewis)
  3. "Before I Grow Too Old" (Dave Bartholomew, Fats Domino, Robert Charles Guidry)
  4. "The Ragged Trousered Percussionists" (Norman Cook, Gabi Mutumbo)
  5. "For Spacious Lies" (Norman Cook, Steve Kidby)
  6. "Blame It on the Bassline" (Norman Cook, Dave Jackson, Elmar Krohn, Michael Jackson)
  7. "Won't Talk About It" (Norman Cook, Billy Bragg)
  8. "Dance to the Drummer's Beat" (Herman Kelly)
  9. "Babies Makin' Babies (Stoop Rap)" (Norman Cook, Kevin Smith, Rodney Stone)
  10. "The Whole World's Down on Me" (B.B. Seaton, Ken Boothe, Lloyd Charmers)
  11. "Tribute to King Tubby" (Norman Cook)
  12. "For Spacious Lies" (12" Version) (Norman Cook) [available on CD only]

Personnel

  • Producer: Norman Cook
  • Engineer: Simon Thornton
  • Keyboards: Andrew Boucher[12]
  • Vocals: Lindy Layton, Billy Bragg, Captain Sensible, Double Trouble, MC Wildski
  • Others: John Bourne, Luke Cresswell, Sam Illunga, Charles Kilenga, Jo Jo Kavund, Jeff Kumwarma, Oisin Little, Gabi Mutumbo, Lester Noel, Gilbert Sangana, DJ Streets Ahead, Robin Watt

References

  1. ^ "Beats International", Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 September 2015
  2. ^ Rock: The Rough Guide, Rough Guides, ISBN 978-1858284576, p. 362
  3. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  4. ^ a b c Tanzilo, Robert (1990) "Beats International Let Them Eat Bingo (Elektra...", Chicago Tribune, 31 May 1990. Retrieved 20 September 2015
  5. ^ a b c Anderson, Rick "Let Them Eat Bingo Review", AllMusic. Retrieved 20 September 2015
  6. ^ a b Sandow, Greg (1990) "Let Them Eat Bingo", Entertainment Weekly, 27 April 1990. Retrieved 20 September 2015
  7. ^ a b The New Rolling Stone Album Guide, Simon & Schuster Ltd; 4th edition, ISBN 978-0743201698, p. 55
  8. ^ Wice, Nathaniel (1990) "Beats International Let Them Eat Bingo", Spin, July 1990, p. 80. Retrieved 20 September 2015
  9. ^ Rickelman, Melinda (1990) "Young, Gifted and Hot", The Crisis, June-July 1991, pp. 8-12
  10. ^ Wurtzel, Elizabeth (1990) "Sounds", New York Magazine, 14 May 1990, p. 112. Retrieved 20 September 2015
  11. ^ Kenny, Glenn "Beats International", Trouser Press. Retrieved 20 September 2015
  12. ^ Whelan, Andy (2008) "On the beat - the pop star turned policeman", The Argus, 24 June 2008. Retrieved 20 September 2015
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