Beatmasters
Encyclopedia
The Beatmasters are a team of dance music
songwriters, musician
s and producer
s who were successful as artists in their own right in the UK
in the late 1980s and early 1990s and then went on to produce and remix
records
for many other groups. As artists, the team had a string of chart
hit single
s, including "Burn It Up", "Hey DJ! (I Can't Dance to that Music You're Playing)", "Who's in The House" and "Rok Da House", the latter, having been recorded in 1986, being one of the earliest examples of hip-house, a sub-genre of house music
which features rap vocals performed over a house rhythm track.
Their initial success brought comparisons with pop
record producers Stock Aitken Waterman
, but the Beatmasters cited rival producers Coldcut
as their major competitor.
club
scene) were working in the TV commercial jingle
industry when they were introduced to musician Richard Walmsley. Signing to the burgeoning record label
, Rhythm King, the trio joined labelmates Bomb the Bass
and S'Express
in regularly appearing in the Top 40 of the UK Singles Chart
during 1988 and 1989.
The group had seven UK chart singles, including the #14 hit "Burn It Up", which featured P. P. Arnold
and "Rok Da House", with the Cookie Crew
, which was their first and biggest hit, peaking at #5 in early 1988. Another notable single was "Hey DJ - I Can't Dance To That Music You're Playing" / "Ska Train", which introduced the rapper/singer Betty Boo
to the general public and gave the group a #7 chart hit in 1989.
They released two album
s under The Beatmasters moniker: Anywayawanna (1989) and Life and Soul (1990). These albums were later repackaged on BMG records under the title Anywayawanna - The Best of The Beatmasters (2000).
Following the departure of Walmsley in 1990, Carter and Glanfield forged a successful writing, remixing and production career. Their first success as a duo came in 1991 with a reworking of the re-released The Shamen
single "Move Any Mountain
/Progen91" which charted at #4. In 1992 production work commenced on the Shamen album, Boss Drum
, which included the singles "LSI (Love Sex Intelligence)
", "Phorever People
" and the highly controversial "Ebeneezer Goode
" - the latter spending a month at #1 in the UK Singles Chart.
They went on to write, produce and remix for many other artists including Marc Almond
, The Pet Shop Boys, Blur
, Roachford, Betty Boo, Moby
, Aswad, Eternal
, Tina Turner
, David Bowie
and Girls Aloud
. Still working, The Beatmasters continue to produce dance, pop and rock music.
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
songwriters, musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
s and producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
s who were successful as artists in their own right in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in the late 1980s and early 1990s and then went on to produce and remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
records
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
for many other groups. As artists, the team had a string of chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
hit single
Hit single
A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...
s, including "Burn It Up", "Hey DJ! (I Can't Dance to that Music You're Playing)", "Who's in The House" and "Rok Da House", the latter, having been recorded in 1986, being one of the earliest examples of hip-house, a sub-genre of house music
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
which features rap vocals performed over a house rhythm track.
Their initial success brought comparisons with pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
record producers Stock Aitken Waterman
Stock Aitken Waterman
Stock Aitken Waterman, sometimes known as SAW, were a UK songwriting and record producing trio consisting of Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman. They had great success during the mid to late 1980s and early 1990s...
, but the Beatmasters cited rival producers Coldcut
Coldcut
Coldcut are an English dance music duo, comprising Matt Black and Jonathan More. Their signature style is electronic dance music, featuring cut up samples of hip hop, breaks, jazz, spoken word and various other types of music, as well as video and multimedia.-1980s:In 1986, computer programmer Matt...
as their major competitor.
Formation
Manda Glanfield and Paul Carter (both regulars on the LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
club
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
scene) were working in the TV commercial jingle
Jingle
A jingle is a short tune used in advertising and for other commercial uses. The jingle contains one or more hooks and lyrics that explicitly promote the product being advertised, usually through the use of one or more advertising slogans. Ad buyers use jingles in radio and television...
industry when they were introduced to musician Richard Walmsley. Signing to the burgeoning record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, Rhythm King, the trio joined labelmates Bomb the Bass
Bomb the Bass
Bomb the Bass is the umbrella title for the output of British musician and producer, Tim Simenon. The band, which has evolved its style over the years, has been classed as electronic or dance....
and S'Express
S'Express
S'Express were a British dance music act from the late 1980s, who had one of the earliest commercial successes in the acid house genre."Theme from S'Express", based on Rose Royce's "Is It Love You're After", was also one of the earliest recordings to capitalize on a resurgence of sampling culture...
in regularly appearing in the Top 40 of the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
during 1988 and 1989.
The group had seven UK chart singles, including the #14 hit "Burn It Up", which featured P. P. Arnold
P. P. Arnold
P. P. Arnold is an American-born soul singer who enjoyed considerable success in the United Kingdom in the 1960s and beyond.-Early life:...
and "Rok Da House", with the Cookie Crew
Cookie Crew
Cookie Crew were a rap music duo formed in Clapham, South London in 1983.-Career:Their career took off after winning a national rap championship and recording two sessions for the John Peel BBC Radio 1 show...
, which was their first and biggest hit, peaking at #5 in early 1988. Another notable single was "Hey DJ - I Can't Dance To That Music You're Playing" / "Ska Train", which introduced the rapper/singer Betty Boo
Betty Boo
Alison Moira Clarkson better known as Betty Boo, is an English singer, songwriter and pop-rap artist...
to the general public and gave the group a #7 chart hit in 1989.
They released two album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s under The Beatmasters moniker: Anywayawanna (1989) and Life and Soul (1990). These albums were later repackaged on BMG records under the title Anywayawanna - The Best of The Beatmasters (2000).
Following the departure of Walmsley in 1990, Carter and Glanfield forged a successful writing, remixing and production career. Their first success as a duo came in 1991 with a reworking of the re-released The Shamen
The Shamen
The Shamen were an experimental electronic music band, from 1985–1999, initially formed in Aberdeen, Scotland, as a psychedelic-influenced indie rock act. The founding members are Colin Angus , Derek McKenzie and Keith McKenzie...
single "Move Any Mountain
Move Any Mountain
"Move Any Mountain" was a single performed by The Shamen. With a new radio remix by The Beatmasters, the song was released in the UK during the summer of 1991 and was their first top-ten single, reaching number 4 in the UK Singles Chart. It was the band's only top-40 hit in the U.S., where the song...
/Progen91" which charted at #4. In 1992 production work commenced on the Shamen album, Boss Drum
Boss Drum
Boss Drum was The Shamen's 1992 album which featured their hit "Ebeneezer Goode". Critics still gave their Boss Drum album positive feedback, despite the death of the member Will Sinnott, who was known to have helped Colin Angus transform The Shamen into a popular rave act.-LP :# "Boss Drum" –...
, which included the singles "LSI (Love Sex Intelligence)
LSI (Love Sex Intelligence)
"LSI " is a 1992 song recorded by the band The Shamen with vocals by Jhelisa Anderson. Having been remixed by the Beatmasters, it was the first single taken from their album Boss Drum...
", "Phorever People
Phorever People
"Phorever People" is a 1992 song recorded by The Shamen. The song was released in late 1992 as a single from the album Boss Drum. It topped the U.S...
" and the highly controversial "Ebeneezer Goode
Ebeneezer Goode
"Ebeneezer Goode" is a song by Scottish electronic music group The Shamen, which, after being heavily remixed by The Beatmasters, became their biggest hit when released as a single in September 1992. The band's original version also featured on the vinyl edition of their album Boss Drum...
" - the latter spending a month at #1 in the UK Singles Chart.
They went on to write, produce and remix for many other artists including Marc Almond
Marc Almond
Marc Almond is an English singer-songwriter and musician, who originally found fame as half of the seminal synthpop/New Wave duo Soft Cell...
, The Pet Shop Boys, Blur
Blur (band)
Blur is an English alternative rock band. Formed in London in 1989 as Seymour, the group consists of singer Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree. Blur's debut album Leisure incorporated the sounds of Madchester and shoegazing...
, Roachford, Betty Boo, Moby
Moby
Richard Melville Hall , better known by his stage name Moby, is an American musician, DJ, and photographer. He is known mainly for his sample-based electronic music and his outspoken liberal political views, including his support of veganism and animal rights.Moby gained attention in the early...
, Aswad, Eternal
Eternal (band)
Eternal were an English R&B girl group formed in 1992. The group featured two sisters Easther and Vernie Bennett, alongside Kelle Bryan and Louise Nurding...
, Tina Turner
Tina Turner
Tina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
, David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
and Girls Aloud
Girls Aloud
Girls Aloud are a British and Irish pop girl group based in London. They were created through the ITV1 talent show Popstars The Rivals in 2002. The group consists of Cheryl Cole , Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh. They are signed to Fascination Records, a Polydor...
. Still working, The Beatmasters continue to produce dance, pop and rock music.
Singles
- "Rok Da House" (featuring the Cookie CrewCookie CrewCookie Crew were a rap music duo formed in Clapham, South London in 1983.-Career:Their career took off after winning a national rap championship and recording two sessions for the John Peel BBC Radio 1 show...
) (UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#5 1988) - "Burn It Up" (featuring P. P. ArnoldP. P. ArnoldP. P. Arnold is an American-born soul singer who enjoyed considerable success in the United Kingdom in the 1960s and beyond.-Early life:...
) (UK #14 1988) - "Who's In The House" (featuring MC Merlin) (UK #8 1989)
- "Ska Train" (UK Dance ChartUK Dance ChartThe UK Dance Chart is a chart compiled by The Official Charts Company from sales in record stores and digital downloads. Although the chart does not currently receive any airplay on the radio or television, the chart can be viewed on the BBC Radio 1 and The Official Charts Company website.Digital...
#12) - "Hey DJ! (I Can't Dance to that Music You're Playing)" (featuring Betty BooBetty BooAlison Moira Clarkson better known as Betty Boo, is an English singer, songwriter and pop-rap artist...
) (UK #7) - "Warm Love" (UK Dance Chart #3)
- "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" (UK #62)
- "Dunno What it is About You" (UK Dance Chart #24; UK #43)
Albums
- Anywayawanna (1989) (UKUK Albums ChartThe UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
#30) - Life and Soul (1991)
- Anywayawanna - The Best of the Beatmasters (2004) (compilation albumCompilation albumA compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
)
Selected productions
- "Females" - Cookie Crew - 1987
- "Born Free" - MC Merlin - 1987
- "Stay Away" - Hotline - 1988
- "Stand Up For Your Love Rights" - YazzYazzYazz is a British pop singer, who remains best known for her successful 1988 dance track, "The Only Way Is Up". Some of her records were credited to Yazz & The Plastic Population...
(1989) - "Doin The Do" - Betty Boo - 1990
- "Could This Be Love?" - Kerry Shaw - 1993
- "Shine" - Aswad - 1994
- "Warriors' - Aswad - 1994
- "Danger in Your Eyes" - Aswad - 1995
- "Bubblin Hot" - Pato BantonPato BantonPato Banton is a reggae singer and toaster from Birmingham, England. He received the nickname 'Pato' from his stepfather, and 'Banton' from the disc jockey slang for a "heavyweight DJ".-Biography:Born in Birmingham, Banton first came to public attention in the early 1980s when he worked with The...
- 1995 - "Space" - BondBond (band)Bond is an Australian/British string quartet that specialises in classical crossover music...
- 2002 - "Kashmir" - Bond - 2002
- "Allegretto" - Bond - 2002
- "Gypsy rhapsody" - Bond - 2002
- "Boogie Down Love" - Girls Aloud - 2003
- "Love Bomb" - Girls Aloud - 2003
- "Marrs Attack" - Girls Aloud - 2003
- "Grease" - Girls Aloud - 2003
- "Wigwam" - Wigwam (Alex James/Betty Boo) - 2006
- "Blink" - Helicopter GirlHelicopter GirlHelicopter Girl is the stage name of Jackie Joyce, a musician from Perth, Scotland. Her first album was 2000's How to Steal the World, which was nominated for a Mercury Music Prize...
- 2008 - "Metropolitan" - Helicopter Girl - 2008
- "Hey DJ 2009" - The Beatmasters - 2009
Selected remixes
- "Behind The Wheel" - Depeche ModeDepeche ModeDepeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
- 1987 - "Route 66" - Depeche Mode -1987
- "These Things Happen" - Viola WillsViola WillsViola Wills was an American pop singer, best known for the 1979 UK Singles Chart #8 and U.S. Hot Dance Club Play #52 hit, "Gonna Get Along Without You Now". Other hits included further covers of the songs, "Both Sides Now" , and "If You Could Read My Mind" Viola Wills (December 30,...
- 1988 - "Move Any MountainMove Any Mountain"Move Any Mountain" was a single performed by The Shamen. With a new radio remix by The Beatmasters, the song was released in the UK during the summer of 1991 and was their first top-ten single, reaching number 4 in the UK Singles Chart. It was the band's only top-40 hit in the U.S., where the song...
/Progen" - The Shamen - 1991 - "L.S.I." - The Shamen - 1992
- "Phorever People" - The Shamen - 1992
- "Ebeneezer Goode" - The Shamen - 1992
- "Boss Drum" - The Shamen - 1992
- "Comin On Strong" - The Shamen - 1992
- "Lucy Can't Dance" - David Bowie - 1992
- "Destination Eschaton" - The Shamen - 1993
- "Transamazonia" - The Shamen - 1993
- "MK2A" - The Shamen - 1993
- "Fall from Grace" - Eskimos and Egypt - 1993
- "Disco Inferno" - Tina Turner - 1993
- "Everytime You Touch Me" - Moby - 1993
- "I Wouldn't Normally Do this Kind of Thing" - Pet Shop Boys - 1993
- "Adored and Explored" - Marc Almond - 1993
- "Jungle Warrior" - Aswad - 1994
- "I Love Saturday" - ErasureErasureErasure are an English synthpop duo, consisting of songwriter and keyboardist Vince Clarke and singer Andy Bell. Erasure entered the music scene in 1985 with their debut single "Who Needs Love Like That"...
- 1994 - "Run to the Sun" - Erasure - 1994
- "Into The Blue" - Moby - 1995
- "Boys and Girls" - BlurBlur (band)Blur is an English alternative rock band. Formed in London in 1989 as Seymour, the group consists of singer Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree. Blur's debut album Leisure incorporated the sounds of Madchester and shoegazing...
- 1994 - "Down" - Roachford - 1995
- "Still Be Lovin You" - DamageDamage (band)Damage was a New York hardcore band circa 1983 to 1988.-Members:*Original members, 1983-1985: Boot , Mike Kirkland, Steve McAllister, Denny Morrison, Ted Warner....
- 2000 - "So What If I.." - Damage - 2000
- "Sugar Baby" - Elizabeth Troy - 2000
- "Minus 10 Degrees" - Elizabeth Troy - 2000
- "I Got U " - Elizabeth Troy - 2000
- "Lover" - LMC - 2005
External links
- [ Allmusic.com entry]