“The Best of General Public” is worth it, if you are nostalgic of their music. Just prepare to turn that volume up.
Purchase “The Best of General Public” on Amazon
BAND: General Public
ALBUM TITLE: The Best of General Public (2012)
RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2014
The Beat was a popular British band from Birmingham (note: In the US, they were known as The English Beat, due to another band being known as The Beat) which began in 1978.
When the band broke up in 1983, vocalists Dave Wakeling and Ranking Roger would go on to form an English new wave band with former Dexys Midnight Runners keyboardist Mickey Billingham and drummer Stoker, The Specials bassist Horace Panter and the Clash guitarist Mick Jones (followed by Keven White).
And because I was a big listener to new wave and alternative rock radio station KROQ 106.7 (a legendary new wave radio station popular in the ’80s and ’90s), General Public was heavy in rotation.
In 1984 alone, General Public had the No.2 song of the year with “Tenderness”, edging about U2’s “Pride (In the Name of Love)” and Bronski Beat’s “Why?”, while Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s “Relax” took the No. 1 spot.
But “Tenderness” was not the only top song of that year, “Hot You’re Cool” was No. 51, their eponymous debut song “General Public” was No. 88.
While the following year, “Never You Done That” would make it in the top songs of KROQ 106.7 for 1985.
But after the band’s release of their second album “Hand to Mouth” which was released in 1986, the band would disband not long after the album’s release.
Eight years later, the band reunited and Wakeling and Roger would return with new musicians and the group had their first US hit “I’ll Take You There” (a cover of the popular song from Staple Singers) from the “Threesome” movie soundtrack. Released in 1994, the song made it into the top 40 (while in the UK, it was No. 73).
But despite their comeback, Wakeling and Ranking Roger both had a distaste of traveling especially overseas to the US and they disbanded once again.
While Dave Wakeling would continue on with the revival of the English beat in 2004 (performing songs from the Beat and General Public), Ranking Roger passed away in March 2019.
While many will have a special spot in their hearts for the Beat and General Public, for me, 1984 was a year that the band made the most impression to me and “Tenderness” and “Hot You’re Cool” are songs that I continue to listen to the most, even to this day. “Tenderness” is no doubt my favorite song from General Public.
While I had their debut album “All the Rage” in cassette format and wore it out, I wanted to get their music once again in digital format.
“The Best of General Public” is a digital release that has 12 tracks that are very good and showcasing various styles of their music.
From their popular and addictive dance song “Tenderness”, Ranking Roger’s reggae “Limited Balance”, their more rock driven “Too Much or Nothing” and instrumental “Taking the Day Off”, live tracks of “Tenderness” and “Hot You’re Cool”, their hip “I’ll Take You there” (used for the film “Threesome”), you’ll find a good balance of this best of album.
I do have some problems with this album.
For one, General Public needs a proper remaster. In fact, the songs on this album, I always have to increase the volume as the music is quite low and there could definitely be improvements if the songs were properly remastered.
And I would love to see a release which included the songs but instead of two live tracks, take the 1993 I.R.S. Records re-release of “Hand to Mouth” bonus tracks and add them to “The Best of General Public”.
In some ways giving a deluxe/super deluxe treatment if there are demos and the 12″ versions of the songs. And of course, adding the other live track of “Where’s the Line?” and any other live tracks that are available.
Granted, I don’t know if a remastering of General Public will happen in my lifetime but I would love to see “Tenderness” and the other songs really sound better than they do on this album. Sure, I’m a bit of an audiophile and nitpick when it comes to these things, but I do hope for a remaster of General Public music will someday happen.
“The Best of General Public” is worth it, if you are nostalgic of their music. Just prepare to turn that volume up.
