This studio team of musicians was formed by Norman Cook (b. Quentin Cook, 31 July 1963, Bromley, Kent, England; ex-Housemartins) following the break-up of his former employers. Its basic composition was Cook (bass), Linda Layton (b. Belinda Kimberley Layton, 7 December 1970, Chiswick, London, England; vocals), Lester Noel (b. Lester John Noel, 3 September 1962, Paddington, London, England; vocals, ex-Grab Grab The Haddock; North Of Cornwallis), Andy Boucher (keyboards) and MC Wildski (rap). However, to these personnel could be added a range of occasional members ranging from Billy Bragg to Definition Of Sound to Captain Sensible. The first Beats International single, "For Spacious Lies", gathered numerous rave reviews, and was much closer to traditional pop fare than subsequent releases. It included a contribution from Noel, who had met Cook when North Of Cornwallis supported the Housemartins on tour. Beats International shot to prominence in the UK when "Dub Be Good To Me" hit number 1 in the UK charts in February 1990. Controversy followed it shortly afterwards, as the audience placed the bassline as a note-for-note lift from the Clash's "The Guns Of Brixton". In truth, the song also borrowed heavily from the S.O.S. Band's "Just Be Good To Me". This "creative theft" may have diminished royalty cheques, but the interpretation of various styles and even passages of music proved a deliberate strategy in Beats International's armoury. Although the subsequent "Burundi Blues" single, a delicate mix of soul, jazz and African music, failed to repeat the success, Cook was heavily in demand as a remixer for a variety of projects, ranging from Aztec Camera to the Jungle Brothers. The incredibly eclectic debut album charted at number 17, while the follow-up concentrated heavily on ska and reggae rhythms and included a disastrous version of "In The Ghetto". Cook disbanded Beats International in order to put together his new band, the acid jazz-styled Freak Power, and concentrate on further production work. He has also recorded as Pizzaman, and enjoyed major chart success in the late 90s as Fatboy Slim.

Listen to Beats International at Finetune.

• (2005)  Let Them Eat Bingo

• Dub Be Good to Me
• Dub Be Good To Me (Norman Cook's Excursion Of The Version)
• For Spacious Lies
• The Sun Doesn't Shine
• Won't Talk About It

• Massive Attack
• The Prodigy
• Fatboy Slim
• Chemical Brothers
• Basement Jaxx
• Moby
• Portishead
• Everything But The Girl
• Thievery Corporation
• De La Soul
• Future Sound Of London
• Technotronic
• Beck
• Orbital
• Grandmaster Flash
• Leftfield
• Missy Elliott
• The Outhere Brothers
• David Holmes
• Paul Oakenfold

• nordseemix
• talentines