RANKING ROGER, a/k/a Roger Charlery, the vocalist of the English Beat and General Public, has died aged 56. He had multiple serious health issues. His band fused traditional ska music with elements of pop, new wave, punk rock and latin, and became a pioneer in the two-tone music genre. As the tributes roll in, let's take a brief inventory of the English Beat's highlights. My personal fave may still be "Best Friend," but you might prefer more signature songs like "Mirror in the Bathroom,"  "Save It For Later,"  "I Confess" or "Doors of Your Heart." Or their adaptations of covers like Smokey's "Tears Of A Clown" and the Andy Williams number "Can't Get Used To Losing You." BONUS: more people probably know ROGER's other band with Dave Wakeling, General Public, which had a ht with "Tenderness."

PHIL COOK dropped a surprise LP, As Far As I Can See.

ALL SONGS CONSIDERED: Tracks from Lee "Scratch" Perry, Radiator Hospital, and Cate Le Bon highlight the latest episode.

EMILY KING visits World Cafe.

THE FLESHTONES return with "Layin' Pipe."

MIKAL CRONIN returns with "Undertow."

BAD RELIGION returns with "Do The Paranoid Style."

JON PRATT, Pate's frontman, does a Guitar of the Day video and amuses himself (and me) with some Buddy Holly and James Brown.

JACKSON BROWNE gets over two hours of discussion on this week's Political Beats, with guest Cameron Joseph of TPM.

SHIELA E. talks about recording "Erotic City" with Prince around this time in 1984.

MICHAEL JACKSON will remain in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, despite the Leaving Neverland controversy.

THE NUMBER ONES looks at Vicki Lawrence's twisty pop-country murder ballad "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia."

JUSSIE SMOLLET's hate crime hoaxes were suddenly dropped in exchange for forfeiture of his 10K bond and a few hours of community service. It brought swift condemnation from Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson and Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who called it a “whitewash of justice.” A week ago, The Chicago PD called for an investigation into Asst. State's Attorney Kim Foxx's handling of the Jussie Smollett case.

A FORMER PLAYBOY PLAYMATE reportedly claims that Alex Rodriguez sexted her, practically begging for a threesome - just weeks before his storybook proposal to Jennifer Lopez.

CARDI B defended herself against detractors after a video resurfaced that showed her recalling that she drugged and robbed men when she worked as a stripper.

GAME OF THRONES showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss explain why they created the Night King (who is not in the books).

ZACK SNYDER shared his original plans for Justice League..

ALBERT BROOKS: Looking Back at the Prophetic Genius of 1979’s Real Life.

A FAMILY RESCUED A DOG FOR CERTAIN DEATH. Years later, he died saving their lives in a shooting.

AMERICA'S REINDEER have quietly gone extinct in the Lower 48.

KINDNESS MATTERS. We Need More Men Like Him.

THIS CAR saves dogs’ lives.