The English Beat - "Best Friend"

[@joeski734]

Jesus Christ! This is one of the greatest singles ever!

[@mr.evasion]

Could Be!

[@stevedaycreative]

I was just thinking this, at 2am I just had to hear it …several times. Utterly brilliant!!!!

[@see6052]

I know I love it. Just makes me happy every time

[@paulsmith3194]

I was there, bought em all, everyone talks about the Specials and Madness, but it was The Beat that had all the best tunes. God bless ‘em all.

[@brianbale9511]

Thanks appreciated

[@alisonfritter6472]

What a great time to be a teenager in the very early 80s...we were blessed 🙌

[@carmenlottner297]

Oh,wasn't it!!

[@bacchuslax7967]

Oh the 80’s. The Beat, Untouchables, Madness, the Jam, Pretenders, Style C, and the list just keeps going.

[@yasserressay7755]

Joe Jackson, The Specials, Elvis Costello, Dexys Midnight Runners, The Housemartins, New Order...

[@therightrabbit]

I can not get enough of this for the last 40 something years...

[@seanmcnally4121]

R.I.P. Ranking Roger. Legendary voice silenced far too soon. Thanks for the memories and infectious songs.

[@geoffreyjonathanwilson5826]

Absolutely.

[@joekeithley1809]

Great Band .. Just Can’t stop it .. Killer Album.. takes me right back to 20 years old . Thx

[@WickedGravityVideo]

This song epitomizes the early 80s for me..... brilliant! Long live Dave Wakeling

[@dannyhudson2479]

Met up with Roger pre ska days.and he had this presence about him did know which part of brum he was frm ..I lived in Stechford. .....anyway about five yrs l8r saw him on top of the pops singing tears of a clown. .......i was in was at work when he passed and saw it on the news...😢😢 thank for the memories bro... R.I.P + AND UNCLE SAXA... .AND TERRY. AND J.BRADBURY RICO. ......

[@chrisedwards3883]

Been listening to this band for 34 years now and will die listening to them.Timeless.

[@lexij8069]

WELL SAID.ONE OF THE BEST!

[@SPENT71]

yup.. same here :)

[@denzil4]

Make that 40 and I'm still listening to them !!!

[@mirfieldcrew]

RANKING ROGER PASSED AWAY TODAY......

[@manxpuss]

Me too. I will love this band till the day I die.

[@nickharling4402]

Brilliant up beat single, sums up everything good about my teenage years! And I love it when Saxa does his little spin after the middle eight 😂

[@see6052]

Love saxa. Love em all. The very best of brum ❤

[@user-mx6rl2lk7g]

80’s music - best decade ever.

[@andrewwalker8557]

Heaven and when that horn begins it’s simple but effective tickle seventh heaven. Pure sunshine in a song. Classic.

[@allentwillie192]

So so glad that I got to see this lineup perform this song. It’s good to be old!

[@halcyon289]

Dave Wakelin - the voice of British ska. Period

[@ArtofFreeSpeech]

He and Terry Hall, even though Hall was an absolute asshole in his youth.

[@Fezzer5050]

How come? Genuine question.

[@imanihekima1659]

Fantastic song. Once heard, never forgotten.

[@FOXHOUNDMGS4]

RIP Ranking Roger, I grew up listening to The Best and I'm devastated that you're no longer with us. Your songs will remain immortal ❤️

[@arshk3612]

amen - he was the toaster extraordinare - saw the beat in Croydon .. awesome

[@michaelsewell6996]

Fabulous track 🎶 brilliantly written and performed by a class group 😊

[@frankgoodall6885]

R.I.P. Ranking Roger. "Sleep Easy Rude Boy". X

[@bruceansell89]

I can never decide if this is the best song or Save it for later.....god I loved them

[@243wull]

Same conundrum

[@arshk3612]

I know exactly what you mean. I fleet between the two each day on the drive to work.

[@andrewwalker8557]

Do what I do then and declare them both joint best keep smiling and dancing.

[@robbiekoko3721]

First thing I went to when I heard today Roger. He and this band brought beauty and happiness into my teenager years and for decades after.

[@rodhmu]

They were referred to as 'The British Beat' in here Australia. In the UK they were just The Beat.

[@autojam3615]

Brilliant tune, great memories of been 19 again, 1980 what a year!

[@simonbartlett9104]

First 45 single i bought with Stand down Margaret B side. Great band and loved all 80s ska bands. It was a time that you were identified by genre of music you were into. Heavy metal, punk, rockabily, ska , reggae etc. We all had our medley of songs at local disco and waited for that moment when ours were played. Rude boys and girls!!

[@printandpix]

Me too! I just when to a concert with them in it! They sang this and save it for later!!

[@RichardBooth-xv3bp]

One of my favourite Beat songs , I named my Scooter after this song ❤️

[@neilthewheelio]

remember playing this on 45 till my ears went numb. what a track.

[@notcomply]

What a great sound. Never to be bettered ❤️

[@andrewpollock4599]

Love the little turn Saxa does on 1.45. RIP Saxa and Ranking Roger.

[@diffdrum1]

They had such a great sound and fantastic songs!

[@georgeschlaline6057]

For friendship day And don't use the Lord in vain

[@Astrolaura]

Saw them last night. One of the best shows I've ever been to. This song will be stuck in my head forever now.

[@Normskiblue]

My absolute favourite song ever!

[@sea80vicvan]

One of the best power pop songs of that era, and it came from a ska/2-Tone band. Shows the wide range of styles the Beat could play.

[@gregdoerr1028]

Best Band EVER...I never tire of their music, EVER, it is an adrenaline rush for me of the best kind. Their music always reminds me of me and my best friend (no pun) zipping around in our Vespa's in our hometown of Boulder, Colorado in the early '80s, while listening to the "Just Can't Stop It" album, nonstop. The British '80s will NEVER be topped!! Ever. Period.

[@douglasmilne6713]

Best music ever

[@tonyrosales915]

Cant get enough of one of my all time favorite bands. L.A. loves the English Beat.

[@chelseafan65]

‘Best Friend’ and ‘Save it for Later’ are both in my top ten tracks of all time…I get kind of misty eyed whenever I hear them. 🥹

[@davidg.9932]

I as a teenager into rock, then this kinda oddball guy I knew said, "smoke some and listen to this". I was strangely drawn to this fusion of a few different musical, "scenes". Two Tone music.. The specials.. So forth.. Rodger was a pioneer.. Please don't forget Saxa.. died 3 May 2017 (aged 87)

[@trukxelf]

Simply a sonic delight on the headphones; so rich, amazing tighteness, layers of guitar, and the harmonies!!

[@nancy18901]

Saw them in 80 or 81 when they opened for the Pretenders. Seen then 8-10 times over the past 8 yrs. they still got it, and the gentleman in the yellow shirt is quite fine. mmmmm

[@rayquigley1327]

Terrific and bright! A band who sound great always. The songs never get old and always make a room into a party. Will be forever on the play list of all collage campus radios and mine as well!!

[@gman68137]

They are touring...catching their concert in Denver in a couple weeks!

[@drstevie]

A guitar riff to die for !

[@mr.evasion]

Might be in the all time top ten of vamps and riffs of all time, maybe. I like it

[@smudgsmith]

The beats best song and they are one of the best bands ever aahh good days as a 14 year old listening the the masters of ska and two tone sorry selected and specials the beat kicked your very cool ska butts

[@lexij8069]

AGREED!

[@bealfeirste2056]

The Beat were never a ska band.

[@joaomarques329]

Great song

[@billyoung6939]

Sax kills it in this hit.

[@ianmcgregorhart9354]

Yes Timeless music, Ranking Roger R.I.P & respect.

[@africaedge2961]

Early 80's awesome

[@Fuzzbrain61]

Fantastic groove and production on this top tune from the great Beat. Love the 12 string Ricky.

[@chrisedwards1333]

Happy Heavenly 60th Roger. The greatest.

[@larryvicino7134]

This song just runs...my favorite English Beat song.

[@robert1968ish]

WHAT.A.RHYTHM.SECTION.

[@jackmercer4244]

AHHHH I love this song! A great way to wake up in the morning. It's 8AM now here in Tokyo. Ohayo!

[@scandalousblue]

love daves music note earring!

[@davidg.9932]

Happy 65th Birthday Dave Wakeling. 19 February 1956 Birmingham, England. I always loved that Two Tone / Reggae playing style you have. ie.. The Specials / The Skatalites

[@arshk3612]

fantastic track never tire of since i was 12 or so now 40 years on just as timeless RIP Roger ..

[@nevetsgnil1962]

Awesome tune

[@Mikey_Heels]

never saw an ENGLISH BEAT concert but saw GENERAL PUBLIC do this track once... man did i GEEK!!!!!

[@simplyscrummy]

Not many could pull off the yellow polo shirt/light blue trou look like our Dave.

[@crashpalace4834]

First band I ever saw live. They opened for The Pretenders in March, 1980 at The Capitol Theatre in Passaic, NJ. One of my favorite albums of all time.

[@countrymusicbydode9280]

Ranking Roger... rip. Citrus club edinburgh one of the best gigs i've seen in 40 years !!!

[@crabstick250]

My very fave Beatsong. I miss Roger.

[@neonirvano6]

Salsa para vivir Salsa para ser feliz... 🎉

[@koppite68]

HIT IT. Dave still has it...in Dublin recently and 100% live...Ska on.

[@davidg.9932]

Saxa left us in May 3, 2017. Rankin' Rodger left two years later March 26, 2019. R.I.P. Reggae In Peace

[@TSChloeDelores]

absolutely adore this band.......a breath of fresh air.

[@davidroberts4806]

Thanks for making an old fella feel 17 again

[@justinx590]

I can't believe it's been nearly 3,000 years.

[@everydaypeopleandsoonandso5733]

Yeah! Never grows old!

[@mrmichaellinehan]

One of Birmingham`s Greatest bands, shame they split up. Saw the `Beat` with Rankin Roger at B`ham Town hall in December 2012 great gig.Want to go again in 2013.

[@paulwestlake1919]

such a good song

[@Ronno4691]

What a great song, so original and fresh and well playing and that Roger McGuinn-esque Byrdsian guitar lick that brings the song back in after the middle eight or bridge or whatever is sublime. The Beat were an amazing band.

[@cowsrmom]

This song's gonna be around in peoples head for a loooong time!

[@frankgoodall6885]

Absolutely love this song...Great band live too...X :)

[@rivernet62]

Chloe Delores we're seeing them tonight 😁

[@frankgoodall6885]

Enjoy the moment.X

[@ArtofFreeSpeech]

Really, this song is so fecking good, and a story about someone who's their own best friend is timeless. I can't get enough of it.

[@frankgoodall6885]

Agreed ...I am now your best friend . X :)

[@erasure43]

omg! just found this... I loved Mr DW more than life itself when I was 16, this is just brilliant! thank goodness for you tube xx

[@Doog1AV]

RIP Everett Morton.

[@hespheiden1]

Dave Wakeling is super-cool.

[@PaulA-ys3yr]

And a lefty!

[@robert1968ish]

This song makes my heart smile

[@taffyterrier8420]

Frank Spencer on lead vocals.... ooh Betty

[@Boviss1Bovis]

The Beat - what a blast they still are!

[@Nigelxman]

Saw them a couple times back in their heyday. Fantastic live band.

[@eckyfish]

Saw them in Melbourne, 30th August 2012 - still amazing!

[@juliocano6751]

After 10 years maybe i got hear it again. .. Great song

[@SmartrMelons]

Thanks to the band for the aural pleasure.

[@donaldtrump5219]

rip saxa

[@chets808]

Although this was not one of the biggest hits for TEB or GP for that matter, as a secondary or minor hit, it EASILY DESTROYS ANY #1 HIT ON THE RADIO THESE DAYS. And I dont really care if anyone disagrees with me...afterall, opinions are like....well, you know.....80s music allowed and encouraged creativity, while current musical trends emphasize sales and marketability. Cant wait for the remastered reissues.

[@markyp1965]

Still sounds as fresh as the first time I heard it, just a classic single and taken off of a classic album.

[@paulhinckley7506]

Wonderful memories!

[@greenlanes5140]

excellent track and band.

[@davespeed45]

Class act these lot. Equal favourite of theirs for me along with Mirror in the Bathroom

[@amymartin7272]

Best to verify the facts!

[@josephthebes]

Saw them Lincoln Park West early 80's - NONSTOPENERGY - I can hear SAXA playing ⛪

[@jackmercer4244]

Saw them in San Francisco with The Clash. I can die now lol

[@josephthebes4642]

Jack I'm listening to Best Friend now love it - Clash great band

[@jackmercer4244]

​@@josephthebes4642 Nice! I've been a DJ since 1980, I spin at the park here in Tokyo for fun and the kids love my 80's retro set. I will definitely put in more English Beat. Hi energy of 80's music is new to them.

[@nigelmitchell351]

The English Beat, my arse ! THE BEAT !

[@nickjaramillo9688]

nigel mitchell are they officially change their name to the English Beat It was the beat originally but then they went to the English Beat I've seen a behind the music thing on these guys

[@gavind9487]

Maybe in the US but always The Beat in the UK

[@nickjaramillo9688]

@@gavind9487 what they were originally known as the beat in the UK that was the original name even the UK then they had to change it they actually change it to the English Beat even in the UK they were still known as the English because they they officially took over that named after about the first or second maybe a third album they had to change the name even over there they did I watch their history documentary

[@artfuldodger3968]

The Beat in the UK. All 3 UK LPs and dozen or so singles as THE BEAT. Always was until they split in 1983. The English Beat in the US due to a band there already having the name 'The Beat'. The British Beat in Australia. Never officially changed there name to The English Beat in the UK.

[@chrisedwards1333]

Correct.

[@jamiefors1]

Hold tight !!! Dave's got his guitar upside down

[@Danpiper09]

Amazing

[@Zagatoian]

I saw the beat way back in '82 at the Rainbow Finsbury park. This vid is tops

[@arshk3612]

Rip Saxa Roger and Everett

[@arvilpogson1634]

Just to clarify with those who mentioned DW's guitar is upside down. It was deliberate! He's left handed so turned it upside down, quite a well known fact back in the day

[@Hububbfan]

Partly correct, he told me he is actually right handed but when he was younger he learnt it left handed.

[@TSChloeDelores]

wonderful nostalgia.

[@emmaemma6641]

❤️ I loved this song