Ranking Roger – Radical Departure (1988):  Ranking Roger (born Roger Charlery) is a Black man of West Indian descent who was born in Birmingham, England.  He became a punk rock fan as a teenager.  He was previously a member of the ska revival band called the Beat (known as the English Beat in the U.S. in order to distinguish them from Paul Collins' band the Beat) and the pop/soul band General Public that included members of the Specials and Dexy’s Midnight Runners.  In the early 1990’s, Ranking Roger started the band Special Beat that included members of the Beat and the Specials.  Radical Departure is his debut solo album for the American alternative rock label I.R.S. Records and is a reggae-influenced record that includes an MTV hit “So Excited”.