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After the 1988 demise of the superb British pop group <a href="spotify:artist:77D38RDgCtlYNLpayStftL">the Housemartins</a>, Brighton-born bassist <a href="spotify:artist:4OQG8ttceevCWluX1i2BdO">Norman Cook</a> returned to his first love, DJing, and became one of the English music scene's most successful remixers. In 1989 he launched a solo recording career with the single "Won't Talk About It," featuring the falsetto vocals of <a href="spotify:artist:5yXAFDZNUNyO92l5WTImkO">Billy Bragg</a>; the record became a major dance hit, and after a follow-up, "For Spacious Lies," <a href="spotify:artist:4OQG8ttceevCWluX1i2BdO">Cook</a> formed Beats International, a loose confederation of studio musicians including vocalists Linda Layton and Lester Noel, rapper MC Wildski, and keyboardist Andy Boucher.
Beats International's 1990 debut single, "Dub Be Good to Me" -- a cover of <a href="spotify:artist:6pXCjxMOBcWtvULYkFPVW6">the SOS Band's</a> "Just Be Good to Me" incorporating the bass line of <a href="spotify:artist:3RGLhK1IP9jnYFH4BRFJBS">the Clash's</a> "The Guns of Brixton" -- topped the UK charts, becoming an international club smash. After another hit, the soul/jazz/worldbeat cocktail "Burundi Blues," the group issued their sample-heavy debut LP Let Them Eat Bingo, which debuted in the Top 20 of the British charts. Although <a href="spotify:artist:4OQG8ttceevCWluX1i2BdO">Cook</a> had become even more highly sought-after as a remixer, teaming with artists ranging from <a href="spotify:artist:7sbwBqdkynNUDgiWU3TQ5J">Aztec Camera</a> to <a href="spotify:artist:2iclO3rlyF0YVNE46ctYRj">the Jungle Brothers</a>, he reconvened Beats International in 1991 for Excursion on the Version, an exploration of dub and reggae rhythms; when the album failed to repeat the success of its predecessor, <a href="spotify:artist:4OQG8ttceevCWluX1i2BdO">Cook</a> disbanded the group to focus on his new unit, <a href="spotify:artist:0uh9TDn4yP8gqCmrnIcOPJ">Freak Power</a>. [See Also: <a href="spotify:artist:4Y7tXHSEejGu1vQ9bwDdXW">Fatboy Slim</a>] ~ Jason Ankeny
Beats International's 1990 debut single, "Dub Be Good to Me" -- a cover of <a href="spotify:artist:6pXCjxMOBcWtvULYkFPVW6">the SOS Band's</a> "Just Be Good to Me" incorporating the bass line of <a href="spotify:artist:3RGLhK1IP9jnYFH4BRFJBS">the Clash's</a> "The Guns of Brixton" -- topped the UK charts, becoming an international club smash. After another hit, the soul/jazz/worldbeat cocktail "Burundi Blues," the group issued their sample-heavy debut LP Let Them Eat Bingo, which debuted in the Top 20 of the British charts. Although <a href="spotify:artist:4OQG8ttceevCWluX1i2BdO">Cook</a> had become even more highly sought-after as a remixer, teaming with artists ranging from <a href="spotify:artist:7sbwBqdkynNUDgiWU3TQ5J">Aztec Camera</a> to <a href="spotify:artist:2iclO3rlyF0YVNE46ctYRj">the Jungle Brothers</a>, he reconvened Beats International in 1991 for Excursion on the Version, an exploration of dub and reggae rhythms; when the album failed to repeat the success of its predecessor, <a href="spotify:artist:4OQG8ttceevCWluX1i2BdO">Cook</a> disbanded the group to focus on his new unit, <a href="spotify:artist:0uh9TDn4yP8gqCmrnIcOPJ">Freak Power</a>. [See Also: <a href="spotify:artist:4Y7tXHSEejGu1vQ9bwDdXW">Fatboy Slim</a>] ~ Jason Ankeny
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