Hell yeah!!!

A classic New Jack Swing track from back in the day.

The intro to the 12inch samples the church organ from "If I Was Your Girlfriend."

I remeber these guys. They seemed like they would last from the sound of the first record. Never heard anything after this song. What happened?

I love this song. Takes me back to '92! I also liked the follow-up, "I Miss You."

AlexdeParis said:

Wow, when black people still played instruments.

Joe P. wrote Keith Sweat's hit "Keep It Comin" and songs for Tyrese also. I thought the had the goods for a long career as well... don't know what happen.

AlexdeParis said:

My usual comment...
"Back when RnB was still fun and positive"...
I still dig this stuff.

I tried to listen to this album a few weeks ago. I ended up skipping through ALL of the songs. I never thought they had decent voices and the singles were typical 90s throwaway.

HATED IT!!

^
Never heard their album. I understand your point.Sure, not The greatest stuff I've ever heard but I still like the sentiment. And that era however cheesy, holds a special place for me.

Bfunkthe1 said:

Agreed. I didn't even dream of buying the album (like I said, I only liked "I Miss You"), but I love "Live and Learn." It's a great song with a great message and a lot of nostalgia for me.

The best thing to come out of Joe Public era?

2pac's sample flip anthem for Hip Hop groups for Representing:

http://www.youtube.com/wa...u26rtKwtSw

"Just a couppple mf's that I knnnnnow! Strictly Representing Damn who did I forget"

That is ill how they stop the record and he comes back with 2pac Bob George

It was alright, but I didn't like these guys for some reason.

These guys are friends of mine. We're all from "funk punk" capitol, Buffalo,
N.Y. I actually worked for them when they were on tour for that first album. In the eighties they were a Minneapolis style funk band called Atension. They put out one album, cut two members and a couple of years later resurfaced as Joe Public.
As JP they actually released two albums. They were great writers. They wrote, produced and played on "keep It Comin", by Keith Sweat. Lack of any real record company support from Columbia and then MCA pretty much sealed the deal.

It sucks because I've heard tons of unreleased funk gems they recorded in their attic studio, some that were going to be on their next album. Stuff waaay better then what people know them for. Even a cover of " Mind Blowing Decisions", by Heatwave. One of those songs,"Baby Baby" is actually on www.myspace.com/officialjoepublic

sunlite said:

One thing that was interesting was the Ibanez endorsement. The reason I bring this up is because you didnt see Urban artists rocking Ibanez in the nineties. Did they really like Ibanez guitars? That's interesting that they weren't a industry concoction. I wondered about that. I always wondered if these guys had any harder edged stuff. When you say tons, how much material are we talking? Did these guys record LIKE that? Thanks for the info
[Edited 3/21/09 11:11am]

Trickology said:

Actually yes they did record like that. I know they've got at least a few hundred songs. They were a self contained band and played the top 40 chitlin' circuit in the north east like Montreal and Toronto in the early 80's. They were versatile. I remember them playing stuff by Prince and Mazarati(they even dressed like them at the time it was the 80's). Even a Bon Jovi tune during a rehearsal. Just another great live black band that's gone. Prince may be the last from the funk era that was nurtured by his record label and allowed to build a long term career. By the time they made it you had to be r-n-b crooners or a rapper. Name one major label all black band that still exists. The Roots don't count.
[Edited 3/21/09 11:47am]

AlexdeParis said:

I only bought it because it was on clearance for $1.

Reminds me of being a kid with no responsibilities.

I remember listening to one of their 12inch singles at a used record store that has since closed its doors. I don't recall what song it was...may've been the follow-up to this song. It didn't really appeal to me though, so the album may've done the same if I'd heard it. Can't say for sure though, cuz I never did hear it for myself.

I really love this song. It always takes me back to some happy memories. Love the "Peg" sample in it too.

sunlite said:

From what I heard, John P. always had potential to take it to the next level. Unfortunately groups/musicians aren't given the time to hone their craft, find their voice/chemistry/sound. Perfect example Earth, Wind & Fire ( by no means am I comparing them these two groups so, don't start. ) but before E,W, & F became the overnight sensations, they had been a group 15 years and had cut several albums before they "Blew Up". Mr. Maurice White kept at it until he found the right mix. I"ve would've like to have heard J.P.'s attic stuff.
[Edited 3/22/09 6:54am]

sunlite said:

Co-sign!!!!! Joe Public is/was THE BOMB!!!! Self-contained and self produced was RARE back then and even more rare today!!!! But Joe Public did it!!!! It's a shame that they weren't given more shine and publicity, cuz the music was funky, and there was a MESSAGE.....
Somewhere in my video library I have them on Arsenio backing up Kris Kross AND doing their hit song "Live N Learn"
B-Lo NY Baby!!!!!

Efan said:

Maybe some of us around here are feeling nostalgic including me but it was a different time back then. Was it not? And on certain levels, a simpler, happier time. Positive lyrics and messages were still ok back then.

JP....that brings back memories....they came out around the same time as Mint. I remember being in college and cats(like myself)who played instruments feeling like there hope. Funny 91/92 Jodeci had the buzz....now they can't sellout a 7/11! JP also killed it on as the house band on the mtv unplugged w/Shanice and Boys 2 Men!

Sunlite you should tell them to re-surface!

sunlite said:

Damn i didn't know that. I remember Attension. They had a song called Let me
push it to ya and a video that used to air on video soul. I remember buddies
of mine, we used to say they looked and reminded you every bit of da krash
whom later evolved into kool skool who kind of mixed that minneapolis
sound with the current 90's hip hop sound of that time. I guess attension
followed suit. I would have never guessed that joe public was formerly
attension. That was a hell of an about face. I liked joe public for a
couple of songs live and learn and i've been watchin you. I liked the video
for i miss you but the song was just too cheesy. The lead singer's voice wasn't
strong enough to carry a ballad. I think the problem with these guys when i
listened to their album was they were just all over the place. They were trying
to rap, mimick bobby brown's sound, and do ballads kind of like Z'Looke on
their second album.

sunlite said:

Unfortunately for them easy come, easy go flopped big time. I actually
kind of liked this song but when i heard the album it was not as good
as the first and it was mediocre. I listened to baby baby. It's cool and
it sounds a little like the song anything off JP's debut album.

AlexdeParis said:

co sign....the member Lionel job produced the track" keep it coming"- keith sweat

Well watchin' that live clip of "live & learn" reminded me how dope they were. However cross colours didn't help anybody's career...(remember the J&L group KRUSH..SEE MO' MONEY SDTK)

Anyway JP should go indie route...with all those unreleased tunes they have.

Time does NOT treat this material well.....

bboy87 said:

Joe Public must be THE last real all-black live band that ever jam on a mainstream level. They should have a reunion album/tour.

sunlite said:

Why not? Because they're marketed as a "rap band"?

Perhaps you've not seen them in concert or are not aware of the fact that they have played on numerous soul/R&B albums.

In concert, they do several covers of NON-hip hop songs, ie: Marvin Gaye's "Got To Give It Up" and even Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal."

These guys are just a band. Simple as that. Even Questlove says so.