General Public - All The Rage (1984)

After the 1983 break-up of The Beat (known as The English Beat in North America), Wakeling and Roger decided to continue working together in a new venture. They joined up with keyboardist Mickey Billingham (ex-Dexys Midnight Runners), guitarist Mick Jones of The Clash, bassist Horace Panter (The Specials) and drummer Stoker (ex-Dexys Midnight Runners/The Bureau) to form a quasi-"supergroup" of the UK punk/ska/mod scene. The band was dubbed General Public, and was signed to Virgin Records in the UK and I.R.S. Records in North America.

The band recorded and released the album All the Rage in 1984. Jones left General Public part way through the recording process, but is listed in the album's inner sleeve credits as a group member (although he did not appear in any of the band photographs). Jones' replacement, guitarist Kevin White also played on the album, and was also listed an official group member. White's picture also appeared on the album's back cover.

In the UK, General Public had a minor hit with the eponymous track called "General Public", which reached # 60 in the UK Singles Chart in 1984. As well, the B-side "Dishwasher" (an instrumental mix of "Burning Bright" from All The Rage) became a surprise top 40 in the Netherlands, after its use as a theme tune to the then popular pop radio show Avondspits.

Later in the year, the band fared even better in North America, where their second single "Tenderness" was a Top 40 hit in Canada (#11), and the U.S. (#27). It was also featured in the movies Weird Science, Clueless, and Sixteen Candles.

For the follow-up album, White and Stoker were replaced by brothers Gianni and Mario Minardi on guitar and drums, respectively. Hand to Mouth was significantly less successful than their debut album, and the band split up.

Their song "Taking The Day Off" was featured in the 1986 comedy film, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, by film director John Hughes.

Roger and Wakeling worked on various solo projects for the next few years, before reuniting as General Public in 1994 to perform a cover version of The Staple Singers hit , "I'll Take You There" for the Threesome film soundtrack. The song was a Top 40 hit in the U.S. and Canada, and a minor hit in the UK (#73).

The duo (now the only members of General Public) stayed together to release the album Rub It Better in 1995, recorded with the aid of record producer Jerry Harrison. Sales were poor, and Roger was tired of travelling to America, and they soon broke up again.

Since 2004, Dave Wakeling has toured the U.S. as The English Beat, and he often performs General Public tracks in his set list with a full backing band

All The Rage 1984 GENERAL PUBLIC Dave Wakeling,Ranking Roger,Justine Carpenter,Micky Dillingham,Horace Panter,Andy "Stoker" Growcott,Kevin White,Mick Jones [Enjoy] Tracklist Mick Jones - guitar (on “Tenderness”, “Where’s the Line”, “Never You Done That", “Hot You’re Cool”, “As a Matter of Fact”) 1. "Hot You're Cool" - 3:47 2. "Tenderness" - 3:34 3. "Anxious" - 4:19 4. "Never You Done That" - 4:08 5. "Burning Bright" - 4:30 6. "As A Matter Of Fact" - 5:22 7. "Are You Leading Me On?" - 3:09 8. "Day-To-Day" - 3:28 9. "Where's The Line?" - 4:09 10. "General Public" - 4:22 nWu Bonus 1. "Tenderness" (Longer Version) 2. "Tenderness" (Remix) 3. "Never You Done That" (12" Extended Version) 4. "So Hot You're Cool" (Hot Dance Mix) 5. "Tenderness" (Live) 6. "Day-To-Day" (Live) 7. "Where's The Line?" (Live) GENERAL PUBLIC 12" (1984) 1. "General Public" 2. "Dishwasher" 3. "General Public" (12 Inch Version)

TENDERNESS (Long Version) i don't know where to start or when to stop my lucks like a button i can't stop pushing it my head feels light but i'm still in the dark seems like without tenderness there's something missing tenderness where is the tenderness where is it i don't know where i am but i know i don't like it open my mouth and out pops something spiteful words are so cheap but they can turn out expensive words like conviction can turn into a sentence (i held your hands) rings but none on that finger (we danced and danced) but i was scared to go much further with it (just half a chance) make sure that one night you're here but (next night you're not) it always leaves me searching for a little tenderness where is the tenderness tenderness where is the tenderness when you're sick to death of second best there's no morning find you unimpressed where's the tendereness don't cry hopeless without love and affection don't cry hopeless without love and affection it always leaves me searching for a little tenderness where is the tenderness tenderness with tenderness whistling in the graveyard calling up your girlfriend just trying to make her understand you're squeezing the telephone like it was her hand no question, (so many questions) shes going to catch you out boy it all seems so underhand now she's the only thing that ever made you feel like a man mad mad madman tenderness where is the tenderness tenderness tenderness where is it (i held your hands) rings but none on that finger (we danced and danced) but i was scared to go much further with it (just half a chance) make sure that one night you're here but (next night you're not)  it always leaves me searching for a little tenderness tenderness where is the tenderness tenderness when you're sick to death of second best pet why should the morning always find you unimpressed? is your love like a button? you can stop pushing it? oh this all night longing can be such a long time