General Public

  • United Kingdom
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  • Pop
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  • 1984
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About General Public


Considered by many as nothing more than an offshoot of the better-known '80s British outfit the English Beat, General Public still enjoyed several substantial hits on their own during their short career. Immediately after the split of the ska-pop outfit the English Beat in 1983, former members Dave Wakeling (vocals, born February 19, 1956) and Ranking Roger ("toaster," born February 21, 1961) formed General Public, which turned out to be more pop-based than its predecessor, with elements of classic Motown soul thrown in for good measure. Once former Dexy's Midnight Runners keyboardist Mickey Billingham, former Specials bassist Horace Panter, and a drummer known simply as Stoker were all enlisted, General Public was officially up and running. Signing on with the IRS label, General Public's debut album, 1984's All the Rage, was a commercial success back home, as it featured a guest appearance by former Clash guitarist Mick Jones and scored a Top 40 single with the track "Tenderness." 1986 saw the release of General Public's sophomore effort, Hand to Mouth, which failed to match expectations set by its predecessor despite spawning a pair of popular singles, "Too Much or Nothing" and "Come Again."

With both Wakeling and Roger unable to agree on a musical direction, General Public split up shortly thereafter. Roger issued a solo debut in 1988, the more ska-based Radical Departure, while Wakeling contributed the title track to John Hughes' 1988 film She's Having a Baby and issued a solo album as well, 1991's General Public-esque No Warning. Roger would go on to form another outfit, Special Beat, which included musicians from the late-'70s English ska scene, but in 1994, Roger and Wakeling were asked to reunite General Public for a track on the Threesome motion picture soundtrack. A UB40-like interpretation of the Staple Singers' "I'll Take You There" was offered and became a surprise Top 40 hit. The duo remained together for a third General Public studio album, 1995's Rub It Better (produced by former Talking Heads keyboardist/guitarist Jerry Harrison), but when it sunk from sight upon release, the band split up once more. 2002 saw the release of the duo's first best-of collection, the 12-track Classic Masters. ~ Greg Prato, Rovi

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Music

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  • Tenderness
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    Tenderness
  • Rainy Days
    general-public
    Video
    Rainy Days
  • I'll Take You There
    general-public
    Video
    I'll Take You There
  • 39661
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    • Tenderness
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g2/5/4/7/0/1/912710745.mp3
    • Tenderness
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g2/7/0/4/7/0/928207407.mp3
    • Never You Done That
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g2/6/4/7/0/1/912710746.mp3
    • Too Much Or Nothing
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g2/8/6/8/0/1/912710868.mp3
    • Never You Done That
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g2/5/0/4/7/0/928207405.mp3
    • Forward As One
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g2/2/1/3/1/1/912711312.mp3

News

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  • General Public
    Sweet Tweet: fun. Fights Homophobia + Transphobia With #IDAHO2013 Campaign
    MTV Act
    May 20, 2013
    You might have noticed #IDAHO2013 trending over the weekend, and, no, they weren’t talking about the state! May 17 was International Day Against Homo...
    Read More
  • General Public
    Randy Travis Sues to Prevent Release of DWI Arrest Video
    CMT News
    May 17, 2013
    Randy Travis has taken legal action to prevent the release of a patrol car video of his 2012 drunken-driving arrest near his home in Tioga, Texas. The...
    Read More
  • General Public
    How To Go To A Baseball Game Alone
    clutch.mtv.com
    May 16, 2013
    Credit: Hannah Foslien/Getty Images Most dudes have been going to baseball games since they were in short pants. When you were a kid, you went wit...
    Read More

Discography

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  • Rub It Better (1995)
    General Public
    Rub It Better (1995)
    Epic
  • Hand to Mouth (1986)
    General Public
    Hand to Mouth (1986)
    IRS
  • All the Rage (1984)
    General Public
    All the Rage (1984)
    A&M Records
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