Beats International biography
Beats International was a British electronic music band, formed in the late 1980s by Norman Cook (also known as Fatboy Slim), after his departure from The Housemartins.
Career
A loose confederation of musicians, the line-up also included vocalist Lindy Layton, former North Of Cornwallis vocalist Lester Noel, rappers D.J. Baptiste (The crazy MC), MC Wildski and keyboardist Andy Boucher. Unusually, the band's live line-up also incorporated a graffiti artist, who would paint designs on a backdrop while the musicians played.
Their first album, Let Them Eat Bingo spawned the UK number one single "Dub Be Good to Me", a re-working of the S.O.S. Band's hit "Just Be Good to Me", based around a sample of the bassline from The Clash's "Guns of Brixton" and featuring Layton on vocals.
The second Beats International album was 1991's Excursion on the Version, which featured a greater use of dub and reggae sounds, but failed to repeat the success of its predecessor. This was the final Beats International recording, with Cook next going on to form Freak Power.
Samples list
"Let Them Eat Bingo"
"Thank You for Talkin' to Me Africa" by Sly & The Family Stone / bassline
"Just Be Good to Me" by The SOS Band
"The Guns of Brixton" by The Clash / bassline
- "Blame It On The Bassline"
"Get Into Something" by Isley Brothers / phrase "Come on now / give the drummer some"
- "Dance to the Drummer's Beat"
"Dance to the Drummer's Beat" by Herman Kelly & Life
"Unwind Yourself" by Marva Whitney / saxophone in beginning
"Excursion on the Version"
"Could You Be Loved" by Bob Marley & The Wailers
See also
- List of Number 1 Dance Hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart
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