voluntary in nature: 2019

Well, we lost Ranking Roger today. It's safe to say that his voice hasn't been too far from my ears since the early 80s, initially on Saturday morning broadcasts of General Public's "Tenderness" video in 1984 and then later, in high school on my cassette walkman. Though they'd broken up years prior, the pre-General Public ska/reggae/pop group The Beat (or The English Beat in North America) were a steady favourite. Their What Is Beat compilation, featuring B-sides, dubs, extended versions, and hit singles like "Save It For Later" made me feel much cooler than I was as a gangly disaffected teenager. I kept the interest to myself, which eventually extended to other 2-Tone era bands like The Specials and Madness. I remember listening to The Beat's music on the back of the bus on a school field trip to Stratford, Ontario, and songs like "Psychedelic Rockers" and "Too Nice to Talk To," and "Hit It" literally tripped me out!@#$%!!! They gave me a feeling freedom and imagination in a world that I'd never inhabited before, propelled by rhythm and melody, a place where black and white people united, a far cry from the racial violence that I witnessed in the North York school system on the fringes of Toronto.

Just listen to Roger's toast on "Doors of Your Heart":

In time, I discovered Roger's solo album Radical Departure, originally released in 1988 on I.R.S. Records, also home of The Beat and General Public. While it didn't seem to hit the heights of his previous work with its dated sound, it became a personal favourite and still holds up very well. Roger's vocals and trademark energy always stand out.

I guess you could say that Roger and his musical friends have been good spars to me over the years. From my early university days at S.F.U. when I didn't have any pals to hang out w/ to mixing it up in the world of Vancouver nightclubs in the mid-1990s. In 1993, I was able to catch Roger live as part of the Special Beat on the legendary Skavoovee tour (also featuring The Selecter, Skatalites, and NYC's The Toasters). It was one of the top concerts I've ever attended. The Specials' John Bradbury (who passed on in 2015) was behind the kit along with Neville Staple on the mic. Needless to say, the Commodore's legendary dance floor, pre-renovation, bounced extra large that night.

Of course, the old Corolla bumped Beat, GP, and Ranking Roger tapes (including his little known skacid "We Play Ska" w/ Children of the Night and The International Beat) all the time. So The Beat were really my Beatles. I only wish that I'd have had the chance to hear them or General Public live in their prime. With high hopes, the latter's "I'll Take You There"/Rub It Better 1995 reunion was a bit of a let down though the poppy "Rainy Days" still had the necessary charm.

Recent years have seen Roger creating new music w/ a UK touring/recording version of The Beat. 2019 saw the release of Public Confidential... Unfortunately, a late 2018 concert stop in Vancouver w/ The Selecter was cancelled because of the gravity of Roger's health concerns.

I wanna send all of my love to Ranking Roger and his family. As we know, the beat goes on, but it certainly doesn't make it any easier... Far from the "End of the Party," a sound like Roger's is eternal... PEACE, LOVE, and UNITY

Here's a few deep cuts in celebration: