This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s - The English Beat's "Save It For Later"

There's nothing like the utterly random playlist of a restaurant or a grocery store sound system to remind you of a song you love and don't get an opportunity to hear very often on the radio. It's even better when such a tune is sandwiched between a various selection of mostly lame, overplayed classic rock and pop tunes at a tourist-friendly vacation eatery. I lucked into this very welcome surprise this week when I heard "Save It For Later," and the relaxed smile already on my face as the result of my much-needed holiday deepened so much that I probably looked like quite the imbecile to my fellow diners.

Anyway, what a great, gentle jangle pop tune this is, a departure to be sure for the English Beat, one of the U.K.'s most important ska revivalist acts of the late '70s and early '80s. The mellow, repeated guitar pattern melts beautifully into some tasty Paul Weller-ish vocals from Dave Wakeling. The chorus imprints itself melodically into the long, wonderful pantheon of sublime pop moments, and while it's a shame the group splintered after it had a modest American hit with this tune, two equally unique groups resulted from the breakup. General Public and Fine Young Cannibals also did the '80s quite proud, after all.

• Sample or download "Save It For Later" here.
• Compare prices on English Beat CDs here.
• Compare prices on General Public CDs here.
• Compare prices on Fine Young Cannibals CDs here.