Rub It Better

Rub It Better
Studio album by General Public
Released	4 April 1995 (1995-04-04)
Recorded	1994–95
Genre	New wave reggae
Label	Epic [1]
Producer	Jerry Harrison
General Public chronology
Hand to Mouth (1986) Rub It Better (1995) Classic Masters (2002)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
Calgary Herald	C [3]
Chicago Tribune	[4]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[5]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide	[1]
Rolling Stone	[6]
Vancouver Sun	[7]

Rub It Better is the third studio album by the English new wave band General Public, released on 4 April 1995 by Epic Records. ^[8] The band had not recorded together in almost 10 years. ^[9]

Production

The album was produced by Jerry Harrison, former keyboardist and guitarist for Talking Heads. ^[5] The group chose to return to the ska and reggae sound of the Beat. ^[6]

Critical reception

The Los Angeles Times called the album "a tuneful collection that deftly combines an assortment of reggae, rock and dance-pop colors--the trademark of the Beat and the first edition of General Public." ^[10] The Kingston Whig-Standard wrote that "the closest comparison is to B.A.D. (Big Audio Dynamite), whose leader, Mick Jones, was an honorary member of General Public for its first album and appears here again." ^[11]

Track listing

1. "It Must Be Tough" – 5:34 (Dave Wakeling, Michael Railton, Roger Charlery)
2. "Rainy Days" – 4:06 (Charlery, Railton, Horace Panter)
3. "Hold It Deep" – 4:34 (Wakeling, Charlery, Railton, Andy "Stoker" Growcott)
4. "Big Bed" – 4:12 (Norman Jones, Wakeling, Charlery, Railton)
5. "Punk" – 3:05 (Charlery)
6. "Friends Again" – 5:41 (Wakeling, David Ricketts, Railton)
7. "It's Weird" – 5:50 (Charlery, Railton)
8. "Never Not Alone" – 4:21 (Wakeling, Charlery, Railton)
9. "Handgun" – 4:52 (Wakeling, Railton)
10. "Blowhard" – 4:38 (Wakeling, Railton)
11. "Warm Love" – 3:35 (Van Morrison)
12. "Rub It Better" – 5:32 (Charlery, Wakeling, Patrick Murray)

Personnel

General Public

• David Wakeling – vocals, guitar
• Ranking Roger – vocals, programming
• Michael Railton – keyboards, vocals
• Norman Jones – percussion, vocals
• Wayne Lothian – bass
• Dan Chase – drums

with:

• Jerry Harrison – guitars, keyboards, background vocals
• Mick Jones – guitars
• Chris Spedding – guitars
• Alex Weir – guitars
• Chris Karn – guitars
• Chris Manos – guitars
• Marc Antoine Vouilloux – guitars
• Saxa – saxophone
• Andrew Gayle – saxophone
• Tom Fabre – saxophone
• David Longoria – trumpet/ trumpet solo "Friends Again"
• Greg Smith – trombone
• Norton Buffalo – harmonica
• Pato Banton – toasting
• Arlene Newson – background vocals
• Andrea Gaines – background vocals
• Sharon Celani – background vocals

References

1. MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 389.
2. Rub It Better at AllMusic
3. Muretich, James (7 May 1995). "RECENT RELEASES". Calgary Herald. p. C2.
4. Goulding, Steve (4 May 1995). "Recordings". Chicago Tribune. Tempo. p. 8.
5. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 3. MUZE. p. 715.
6. Manning, Kara (18 May 1995). "Recordings -- Rub It Better by General Public". Rolling Stone (708): 92.
7. Monk, Katherine (27 April 1995). "Old dogs with new tricks". Vancouver Sun. p. C8.
8. "General Public | Biography & History". AllMusic.
9. Maples, Tina (2 July 1995). "General Public gets back together at just the right time Reunion leads to `Rub It Better' album". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. p. 8.
10. "PUBLIC PERSONA : Traditional Gig Kicks Off Shift in General Direction". Los Angeles Times. 18 May 1995.
11. "Still singing after all these years". The Kingston Whig-Standard. Companion. 29 April 1995. p. 5.