I'll Take You There - General Public

Groovy!

General Public was a rock band, formed by The Beat vocalists Dave Wakeling and Ranking Roger.

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-"spergroup" 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.

Roger and Wakeling worked on various solo projects for several 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. (#34) and Canada (#14), 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 traveling 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.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• I'll
• Take
• You
• There
• General
• Public
• '80s
• 80s
• 80's
• '90s
• 90s
• 90's
• retro
• groovy
• dance
• ska
• English
• Beat

[diuga1]

The original by STAPLES SISTERS was a classic...as much as I usually hate temakes/reboots, etc...I have to say this one is up there with the original.

[diesel3981]

I remember BEGGING my parents to buy me the "Threesome" soundtrack just for this song. They wouldn't for the fact that the movie Threesome was about... Well, a threesome. LOL! The whole soundtrack was great. Thanks for the flashback to when music was fun!

[DaveWVideo]

Pop and Mavis would be proud.

[milesdigby]

One of the only times where a band's cover of an old song will be the only thing remembered about a film. This truly does stand up with the original.

I was so lucky to see The English Beat with Dave Wakeling in San Francisco. He hit it from the minute he started playing. I mean what song did I not love of English Beat/ General Public.

To be blunt I had a mix tape of mostly Prince/English Beat/General Public/Al Green, That tape saw me make a lot of love as a young boy. Thanks! Oh god thanks!

[mraiwa1000]

4 pepole couldn not been taken there...

[23kchorro]

buenissimo  gratos recuerdos

[mikestermkg]

2 fools can't be taken there.

[poweroutlet]

best ska band ever

[acitonj]

This is pretty awesome lol.. It's like.. Liquidator -- OH WAIT NEVERMIND IT ISN'T.