Workplace stress can lead to bigger problems such as accidents, injuries, and health issues. The Song of the Week takes an upbeat look at stress courtesy of The English Beat (or The Beat, as they’re known in the U.K.) with “Sugar and Stress.”
The Beat formed in Birmingham, England, in 1978 and combined pop, ska, reggae, and punk. They released three studio albums in the early 1980s and had several hits, including “Mirror in the Bathroom.”
“Sugar and Stress” is on the band’s third album, 1982’s Special Beat Service. “Save It for Later” and “I Confess” were two singles from the album that became hits, while “Sugar and Stress” became a fan favorite.
“The world is upside down/The rights and wrongs don’t get much wronger/Mistakes found in the past/Turn into rules protecting power/It’s falling down/It weighs a lot/So you should not depend on it.”
The band split up in 1983, with vocalists Dave Wakeling and Ranking Roger going on to form General Public while Andy Cox and David Steele formed Fine Young Cannibals. Both bands had some success in the ’80s. The Beat reunited in 2003 to play one show, and then two versions of the band (a U.S. and a U.K. version) were touring for a while in the early 2010s. The Beat featuring Ranking Roger released a new album in 2016. Sadly, Ranking Roger passed away after a battle with lung cancer in 2019.