General Public

[paul]

Since seeing this group about 20 years ago in a movie called Head Office, I've been curious about their music. I think the only time I've heard them was in that movie. Are you guys farmiliar with this group?

[Bernie]

Always enjoyed General Public - Ranking Roger - English Beat (all related). Good stuff and worth a listen Paul.

[paul]

I'm gonna look into that right now Bernie, thanks 8)

[gunbuck]

I love the Jellybean remix for "Tenderness" and the Arthur Baker remix for "Never You Done That" by General Public myself. They're not really Hi-NRG but more pop-dance New Wave kind of stuff.

[buckaroo]

They were called The Beat, and had quite a few hits in England and Europe (Mirror in the bathroom, Tears of a Clown, etc) during 1979 and 1980 when there was a Ska revival in the UK. They toured the US, renaming themselves The English Beat in order to avoid confusion with an American band, but had a few personal probz. The guitarists left to join another group The Fine Young Cannibals who had success on their own, while the Beat renamed themselves General Public and went out on tour, but didn't complete it to my knowledge. They split up soon after in about 1983/84.

[BrunoRepublic]

"Tenderness" was a minor hit in Canada. I don't think GP were gay, but if they weren't then they fooled the world with that one. What camp.

[telmo]

I've been unable to find the rare 12" extended remix of "Tenderness" (I think it is the Jellybean one). Don't know what is exactly the reason but this brief semi-hit of the eighties comes back to my mind from time to time. I thinks it is because it is a great great song and in a very uptempo new wave beat. This song had to be mixed in a very fast set, along with Book Of Love's "You Meke Me Feel So Good" or The Suburbs' "Love Is The Law"