What Rocks Us: Beats International

Since Norman Cook has given up scootering, here’s a track from his sort-of-forgotten days between the Housemartins and Fatboy Slim: “Won’t Talk About It” from Beats International’s 1990 album “Let Them Eat Bingo.” The song features Billy Bragg, not only in a far-out-of-context sample from “Levi Stubbs’ Tears,” but also on falsetto lead vocals. Don’t ever say Billy is not versatile. The rest of the album’s a treat, too, if you can find it, notably the remix of “Dub Be Good to Me” with the bass part from “The Guns of Brixton.” Both these tracks were popular during the 1990 World Cup (note the “No Alla Violenza” slogan in the video, which sadly does not feature Billy Bragg or his guitar sample).
Won’t Talk About It (mp3)
Won’t Talk About It (Bragg-less video)