The English Beat - "Best Friend"

[@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.

[@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. ......

[@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

[@therightrabbit]

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

[@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...

[@alisonfritter6472]

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

[@carmenlottner297]

Oh,wasn't it!!

[@joekeithley1809]

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

[@seanmcnally4121]

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

[@geoffreyjonathanwilson5826]

Absolutely.

[@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 ❤

[@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.

[@WickedGravityVideo]

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

[@user-mx6rl2lk7g]

80’s music - best decade ever.

[@rodhmu]

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

[@andrewwalker8557]

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

[@frankgoodall6885]

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

[@allentwillie192]

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

[@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.

[@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 😊

[@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!!

[@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.

[@neilthewheelio]

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

[@andrewpollock4599]

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

[@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)

[@imanihekima1659]

Fantastic song. Once heard, never forgotten.

[@autojam3615]

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

[@printandpix]

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

[@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.

[@diffdrum1]

They had such a great sound and fantastic songs!

[@georgeschlaline6057]

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

[@countrymusicbydode9280]

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

[@notcomply]

What a great sound. Never to be bettered ❤️

[@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.

[@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

[@trukxelf]

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

[@Fuzzbrain61]

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

[@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.

[@crabstick250]

My very fave Beatsong. I miss Roger.

[@everydaypeopleandsoonandso5733]

Yeah! Never grows old!

[@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!!

[@billyoung6939]

Sax kills it in this hit.

[@jackmercer4244]

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

[@tonyrosales915]

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

[@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

[@ianmcgregorhart9354]

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

[@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.

[@Mikey_Heels]

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

[@douglasmilne6713]

Best music ever

[@georgekellett2255]

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

[@Normskiblue]

My absolute favourite song ever!

[@joaomarques329]

Great song

[@gman68137]

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

[@simplyscrummy]

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

[@arshk3612]

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

[@hespheiden1]

Dave Wakeling is super-cool.

[@PaulA-ys3yr]

And a lefty!

[@nevetsgnil1962]

Awesome tune

[@larryvicino7134]

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

[@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

[@robert1968ish]

WHAT.A.RHYTHM.SECTION.

[@chrisedwards1333]

Happy Heavenly 60th Roger. The greatest.

[@africaedge2961]

Early 80's awesome

[@justinx590]

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

[@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.

[@paulhinckley7506]

Wonderful memories!

[@scandalousblue]

love daves music note earring!

[@emmaemma6641]

❤️ I loved this song

[@davidroberts4806]

Thanks for making an old fella feel 17 again

[@niklawrence8310]

Brilliant!

[@TSChloeDelores]

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

[@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

[@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. 🥹

[@eckyfish]

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

[@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.

[@supakidgalaxy]

So chill.

[@erasure43]

Massive dance here , love this so dam much xxxx

[@TSChloeDelores]

wonderful nostalgia.

[@Boviss1Bovis]

The Beat - what a blast they still are!

[@cowsrmom]

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

[@Nigelxman]

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

[@paulwestlake1919]

such a good song

[@greenlanes5140]

excellent track and band.

[@robert1968ish]

This song makes my heart smile

[@Danpiper09]

Amazing

[@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 :)

[@andrewburgess633]

Great stuff!

[@tonytuthill]

How awesome! Thank you for uploading.

[@juliocano6751]

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

[@bjorn2run]

Good sound and video quality. I forgot this song is a showcase for Rickenbacker! Thanks for the memories.

[@neonirvano6]

Salsa para vivir Salsa para ser feliz... 🎉

[@davespeed45]

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

[@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.

[@donaldtrump5219]

rip saxa

[@Doog1AV]

RIP Everett Morton.

[@Lichtenstein1961]

Great band.

[@ste52s]

absolutely agree on both points

[@Zagatoian]

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

[@drstevie]

FAB !

[@juliocano6751]

Excellent song

[@markyp1965]

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