Cover version of the month #124
Beats International cover The S.O.S. Band
Love is a game of chances
So I'll take my chance with you
Earlier this year I started a new night / club/ event / community called Uddingston Vinyl Lovers Club (find us on Facebook/Insta). The first night was held at The Rowantree Inn on a Saturday back in May, and then returned for a Sunday Social, afternoon into evening in August. September saw an incredible night of music and dancing in the Cricket Club with Gerard Love and Mark McAvoy as guest DJ's playing some incredible records. All three events wildly exceeded my expectations and we have already formed a friendly, supportive and passionate wee community which is amazing.
Towards the end of the first night I found myself flicking through my box of 7-inches in search of something to keep people dancing. I pulled out Dub Be Good To Me by Beats International, stuck it on and it went down a storm! Whether with people of a similar vintage to myself, or younger people in the crowd who may well have been hearing it for the first time. It sounded fresh, cool, fun and vital. I started this blog shortly afterwards and have finally finished it!
Speaking of fresh and fun, the opening section, a sample from the 1983 Johnny Dynell single Jam Hot, GRABS attention. When the Beats International single came out, everyone was mimicking/singing this in school playgrounds across the country. And people at Uddingston Vinyl Lovers Club (of a certain vintage) were singing it with glee.
Tank fly boss walk jam nitty gritty
You're listening to the boy from the big bad city
This is jam hot, this is jam hot
Beats International was formed by Norman Cook, fresh from The Housemartins and years before he became known worldwide as Fatboy Slim. Dub Be Good To Me was released as a single in February 1990. I had just turned 14 and I remember thinking it was super cool. The video was all over TV, with singer Lindy Layton looking and sounding incredible, delivering absolute street sass attitude.
Friends tell me I am crazy
That I'm wasting time with you
You'll never be mine
Cook's ear for riffs, hooks, groove and beats (that he took to the next level as Fatboy Slim) is all over Dub Be Good To Me. Cook samples and layers Paul Simonon's bassline from The Clash's Guns of Brixton over the break from God Make Me Funky by The Headhunters.
It's all very well to have an ear for cool sounds, but the imagination and skill to splice them together is extraordinary. Punk-dub basslines, spaghetti Western film scores, funk beats, 80's singles ... Cook would go on to do so much more with samples as Fatboy Slim.
Less than a decade earlier, S.O.S. Band released the original, titled Just Be Good To Me, written and produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. This is pure mid-80's electro soul, synth stabs and slick drum machine beats.
Over 9-minutes long, there is plenty of time for the S.O.S. Band to stretch out and enjoy the groove. Mary Davis is on lead vocals, in the spell of her lover, regardless of his reputation or if he is seeing other girls. The production is sublime - squelchy bass, crystal clear vocals, drum machine beats ... the song has a really cool groove and feel to it.
People always talking 'bout, reputation
I don't care about your other girls
Just be good to me
Friends are always telling me, you're a loser
I don't care what you do to them
Just be good to me
After the second verse and chorus, things break down, there is a classic 80's 'thumbed' elastic bass solo over the groove. That third verse when Davis sings and you, I won't try to change gets me every time. Davis follows it up with the incredible admission.
We've talked about it, and
I'd rather have a piece of you
Than to have all of nothing
The third chorus hits harder, it's just straight to the refrain just be good to me, with the added in the morning and in the afternoon and evening afterwards. Davis is off on one, I'll be good to you, you'll be good to me and her voice soars. Beautiful. What a song. What a groove.
The S.O.S. Band original and the Beats International cover version are added to my Everything Flows Cool Cover Versions playlist on Spotify which also features all of the songs listed below. Search for the title or CLICK HERE
Previous covers of the month blogs
40. Jumpin' Jack Flash
44. Witchi Tai To
45. Our Lips Are Sealed
46. Sunshine Of Your Love
47. Here Comes The Sun
48. I Think We're Alone Now
49. Don't Let Me Down
50. It's Oh So Quiet
51. Alcoholiday
52. Summer Holiday
53. Who Do You Think You Are?
54. Head On
55. Nothing Compares 2 U
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