Psychedelic Rockers

Yellow text around a swirly green and red background with an illustration of a head wearing a hat on a black background

Formed in March of 1979, The English Beat (or, The Beat as they were originally known as in the U.K.) had their first chart hit, a cover of the Smokey Robinson hit "Tears of a Clown" that same year. Known for inclusivity, their musical influences included soul, reggae, pop, and punk. During the 1980s, they toured with contemporaries like The Talking Heads, David Bowie, R.E.M., and The Clash. 

"Psychedelic Rockers," a song from their second studio album, 1981's Wha'ppen, was released as a single in 1980. The graphics seen here feature Ranking Roger, one of the band's vocalists and a pioneer of British Ska. Ranking Roger was known as a "toaster," a reggae DJ or musician who raps over instrumental music sections.