"Beat Box" is a song by English avant-garde synth-pop group Art of Noise. Originally appearing as the second track on the 12" EP Into Battle with the Art of Noise (1983), it was released as the group's first single in December 1983. "Beat Box" is an instrumental, experimental piece that implements sounds and noises (such as car key ignitions, falling drain water, and calliope music—most notably on the chorus) to ride the rhythm of the beat (a sample of drums played by Alan White of the progressive rock band Yes). As a single, the song reached the lower regions of the UK Singles Chart, where it peaked at no. 92. It was more popular with dance music and (particularly) hip hop audiences, and in February 1984 the song reached no. 1 on the American dance chart, where it remained for two weeks. "Beat Box" was a hit on the Black Singles chart, where it reached no. 10. The US 7" single spent 5 weeks on the Billboard Bubbling Under chart, starting 7 April 1984 and spending two weeks at no. 101, the chart's top position.

Legacy

In 2019, Stephen Dalton of Record Collector included "Beat Box" in his guide to Horn's work, describing it as "a mechanised blast of musique concrete which later evolved into ... 'Close (To The Edit)'." Simon Reynolds wrote that "Beat Box" was a popular song with breakdancers in the United States, where Art of Noise were frequently assumed to be a black group.

Formats and track listing

7": ZTT. / ZTIS 103 United Kingdom

7": ZTT. / ZTIS 108 United Kingdom

12": ZTT. / ZTIS 108 United Kingdom

7": ISL. / Island Records 7-99782 United States

7": ISL. / Island Records PR 595 United States

12": ISL. / Island Records 0-96859 United States

7": ISL. / Island Records 106.371 The Netherlands

Versions

Note:

Charts