Excursion on the Version

The album was produced by Norman Cook.[5] It was recorded in Brighton, England, at Esselle, Dyke Road.[8] The production of Excursion was influenced by ska, reggae, and dub.[9][10]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[11]
Calgary Herald	C−[12]
Chicago Tribune	[4]
Robert Christgau	[13]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[9]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide	[14]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[15]

The Calgary Herald determined that "this is music for mall rats, for the beat(en) generation of feel-gooders who want reggae with none of the dirt of Trenchtown in its grooves, who want lines lifted from The Clash or MC5 with none of their nasty anger, who want a tribute tune to Al Green with none of that intrusive soul stuff."[12] Robert Christgau praised "Brand New Beat".[13]

The Times thought that "Cook indulges his latest passion for the dropped first and third beat ... The experience is pleasant enough, but his songs lack clout and the lyrics are too literal."[16]

AllMusic wrote that "the music on this album isn't as explicitly derivative as that on the group's debut, Let Them Eat Bingo, but it's all generally derivative, especially of all-purpose ska and reggae grooves."[11] The Rolling Stone Album Guide called the album "ephemeral but fun," and concluded that Excursion on the Version's "most affecting selection is a fairly straightforward reading of 'In the Ghetto'."[15]