Wha'ppen? by The Beat

Wha'ppen? is the second album by the British ska band the Beat (credited on the US release as The English Beat), released in 1981 via Go Feet Records in the United Kingdom and Sire Records in the United States. After the critical and commercial success of I Just Can't Stop It (1980), which mixed ska, reggae and punk rock with social lyrics, the band changed direction on Wha'ppen?, taking influence from many other musical styles which were intriguing the band, including African, steel band and dub music, while keeping reggae at its core. The fast pace of the band's previous work is also exchanged for a slower, mid-tempo pace. At odds with the music is the socially conscious and political lyrics. The band recorded the record at Roundhouse Studios with producer Bob Sargeant. Released in June 1981, Wha'ppen? was a commercial success, reaching number 3 on the UK Albums Chart, though its singles were the least commercially successful the band had released up to that point. Fans reaction to the album was mixed, with some finding the band to have "mellowed out," though the album gave the band a larger American audience than before. Critics were generally favourable towards the album, with praise given to the musicianship and lyricism. NME named it the 4th best album of 1981, while Robert Christgau named it the 5th best. It has been re-released and remastered several times.