F-Beat Records was a record label set up by Andrew Lauder and Jake Riviera in 1979. Its first release, "I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down" by Elvis Costello & the Attractions, reached number 4 in the UK charts, the highest singles chart position the label attained.[1] The first album released on the label was Costello's Get Happy!!, which peaked at number 2 on the UK Albums Chart.[2]
As well as releases from Costello, whom Riviera managed, he sought acts for the label via an advert in NME, and one of the bands who applied (and were given an audition, ultimately unsuccessfully) were Johnny Marr and Andy Rourke's band White Dice.[3] The roster was built up to include Nick Lowe, Carlene Carter, the Blasters, Blanket of Secrecy and Clive Langer and the Boxes. The album and single covers were mostly designed by Barney Bubbles and also Antoinette (Tony) Riviera.
F-Beat was distributed in the mid-1980s by RCA Records.