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I've always thought the focus on the reggae, ska and jazzy, beatnik elements of "Beat Crazy" being the primary reason for the lack of its popularity to be a bit of an exaggeration. I mean, Christ, in 1980, if you had anything to do with new wave, punk or post-punk, it was practically a contractual obligation to release something adopting some aspect of black music. I could list a hundred examples here, but from the a-listers "Sandinista!", "Get Happy!!", "Zenyattà Mondatta" and "Remain in Light" were all released that year, not to mention the rise in popularity of Two-Tone bands like Madness or The Specials or bands copping funk like Gang Of Four or A Certain Ratio. If anything, "Beat Crazy" is as natural an expected progression as anything else that was released during that time, so looking at it as some sort of radical departure is nonsense.

And honestly, it's even nowhere near the stylistic departure that would come with its follow-ups "Jumpin' Jive" or "Night And Day". It still very much carries on the edgy power-pop vibe of his first two albums.

No, the reason why "Beat Crazy" is often either forgotten or dismissed is that it ain't got no single. No "I'm The Man", no "Sunday Papers" and definitely no "Is She Really Going Out With Him". As good as a lot of the songs on "Beat Crazy" are, there just wasn't anything to latch on to to sell the album. And this is how "Beat Crazy" ultimately is best consumed, as an album. If you can accept that there are no heady highs to go with its thankful lack of anything resembling a low, then there's no reason not to find "Beat Crazy" a solid listen.