What Is Beat?

What Is Beat? – The Best of The Beat is a greatest hits album by the ska band The Beat released in 1983. The original vinyl release included an additional "free album" of extended remixes entitled Frebe.[4] Several songs had previously only been released as singles and B-sides. These include "Too Nice to Talk To", "March of the Swivelheads" and "Psychedelic Rockers". In the UK these also include the A-side "Tears of a Clown" and "Ranking Full Stop". "March of the Swivelheads" later appeared in the film Ferris Bueller's Day Off. The song accompanies the film's climax. The question of the album's title was answered on the back of the original sleeve, "This is Beat!!"

What Is Beat? – The Best of The Beat
Greatest hits album by The Beat
Released	1983
Genre	Ska, 2 Tone, rock, dance-rock
Length	44:54
Label	Go-Feet Records Arista
Producer	Bob Sargeant
The Beat chronology
Special Beat Service (1982) What Is Beat? – The Best of The Beat (1983) B.P.M.: The Very Best of the Beat (1996)
CD cover
US CD cover

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Robert Christgau	B+[2]
Omaha World Herald	[3]

Track listing

Side 1

1. "Tears of a Clown" - 2:38 from I Just Can't Stop It
2. "Hands Off...She's Mine" - 2:58 from I Just Can't Stop It
3. "Mirror in the Bathroom" - 3:07 from I Just Can't Stop It
4. "Stand Down Margaret" - 3:31 from I Just Can't Stop It
5. "Doors of Your Heart" - 2:59 from Wha'ppen?
6. "Twist and Crawl" - 2:33 from I Just Can't Stop It
7. "Save It for Later" - 3:35 from Special Beat Service

Side 2

1. "Too Nice to Talk To" - 3:05 (non-album single)
2. "I Confess" - 3:33 from Special Beat Service
3. "Best Friend" - 3:04 from I Just Can't Stop It
4. "Drowning" 3:33 from Wha'ppen?
5. "Ackee 1-2-3" - 3:07 Previously unreleased
6. "Can't Get Used to Losing You" - 3:23 Previously unreleased
7. "Ranking Full Stop" 2:46 from I Just Can't Stop It

Frebe Side 1

1. "Twist and Crawl" - 4:58
2. "Too Nice to Talk To" - 4:56
3. "Psychedelic Rockers" - 5:30
4. "March of the Swivelheads" - 5:12

Frebe Side 2

1. "Save It for Later" - 4:54
2. "Doors of Your Heart" - 5:52
3. "Drowning" 5:14
4. "I Confess" 5:50

U.S. CD

1. "Mirror in the Bathroom" - 3:07
2. "Twist and Crawl" - 2:33
3. "Tears of a Clown" - 2:39
4. "Can't Get Used To Losing You" (Remix) - 3:23
5. "Doors of Your Heart" - 2:59
6. "What's Your Best Thing" (UK single) - 3:47
7. "Hit It" (UK single) - 3:00
8. "Save It for Later" (12" version) 4:54
9. "Best Friend" - 3:02
10. "I Confess" (12" remix) - 5:45
11. "Too Nice to Talk To" (UK single) - 3:05
12. "Get a Job/Stand Down Margaret" (recorded live in Boston, November 19, 1982) - 6:40

References

1. Raggett, Ned. "The Beat: What Is Bear". allmusic.com. Allmusic.
2. Christgau, Robert. "The Beat". robertchristgau.com. Village Voice.
3. Catlin, Roger (December 18, 1983). "Latest English Beat Album Is Like a Collection of Hits". newsbank.com. Omaha World Herald. p. 14.
4. liner notes