The Beta Band

The Beta Band is the debut studio album of the Beta Band, released in June 1999 by Regal Records. The album followed the critically acclaimed compilation of their first three EPs titled The Three E.P.’s (1998). With high anticipation for The Beta Band, the band originally planned to record the album in four separate continents, but financial constraints slimmed the recording locations down; however, the album was still recorded in a variety of locations. The band approached creating the songs in a variety of ways, sometimes forming songs from single melodies, sometimes bringing together other strands of music, among other forms. The album builds upon the experimentation of their EPs, and is often seen as a particularly intricate, experimental and layered album, with a variety of different influences, sound effects, instrumentation and song structures. Based more around beat and rhythm than prior releases, the numerous different styles and influences incorporated into The Beta Band include psychedelia, hip hop and blues. Vocalist Steve Mason described his lyrics as fitting but without narrative interests. The band also recorded an ambient bonus disc of two long compositions, “Happiness and Colour” and “The Hut”, but decided not to include the disc in the final release. Upon its release, the band made their dissatisfaction with the album public, infamously calling it “fucking awful”, largely blaming time constraints. Upon its release, it reached number 18 on the UK Albums Chart. Critics were favourable towards the album, although many found the album particularly messy and disappointing after the EPs. In later years however, several critics have found the album to be underrated and have praised its ambitions. In 2018, as part of a reissue campaign of the band’s discography, Because Music re-released the album alongside the intended bonus disc.

Tracklisting

Position Title
The Beta Band
A1 The Beta Band Rap
A2 It’s Not Too Beautiful
A3 Simple Boy
B1 Round The Bend
B2 Dance-o’er-the-border
B3 Brokenupadingdong
C1 Number 15
C2 Smiling
D1 The Hard One
D2 The Cow’s Wrong
Happiness And Colour / The Hut
A1 Happiness And Colour
B1 The Hut
CD1
CD1 The Beta Band Rap
CD2 It’s Not Too Beautiful
CD3 Simple Boy
CD4 Round The Bend
CD5 Dance-o’er-the-border
CD6 Brokenupadingdong
CD7 Number 15
CD8 Smiling
CD9 The Hard One
CD10 The Cow’s Wrong
CD2
CD1 Happiness And Colour
CD2 The Hut

Apple Music


Release Images

Release Information

Key Value
Wikipedia URL https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beta_Band_(album)
Format 2× Vinyl LP, Album, Reissue
Label Because Music
Catalog Number BEC5543698
Notes Anniversary Edition Includes unreleased album ‘The Hut / Happiness & Colour’ + CDs
Discogs URL The Beta Band - The Beta Band