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Fine Young Cannibals | ||||
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![]() European cover. The North American release features the design behind the band's name colored blue. | ||||
Studio album by | ||||
Released | December 1985 | |||
Recorded | 1985 | |||
Studio | Power Plant Studios and Sound Suite Studios, London | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 34:21 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer |
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Fine Young Cannibals chronology | ||||
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Fine Young Cannibals is the debut studio album by the band of the same name, released in 1985.
The album features the band's debut hit single "Johnny Come Home", which reached number 8 on the UK Singles Chart. This success did not continue with the next single, "Blue", which peaked at number 41 in the UK. The version of "Blue" on the original US and Canadian vinyl LP and cassette was re-mixed and edited in an attempt to boost its commercial appeal. The re-mix version features additional electronically processed percussion overdubs, giving it a sound more typical of 1980s synthpop hits. Later CD pressings feature the re-mix version of "Blue" in place of the original US album version.[ citation needed ]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Classic Pop | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Mojo | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Record Collector | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Record Mirror | 4+1⁄2/5 [6] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Smash Hits | 5/10 [8] |
Sounds | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Uncut | 6/10 [10] |
The Village Voice | B+ [11] |
Record Mirror critic Stuart Bailie praised "the variety of emotional shades" in Roland Gift's singing on Fine Young Cannibals, adding that the group "are one of the few bands to realise the value of a sparse presentation" and "have an emotional charge that's sorely needed just now". [6] In Rolling Stone , Mark Coleman highlighted Gift's "casual authority" as a vocalist and said that the lyrics "strike a fine balance, noting the subtle and not so subtle toll politics and economics take on relationships. That forecast may be bleak, but Fine Young Cannibals displays a healthy optimism that's as irrepressible as the seamless beat beneath it." [12] Spin 's Annie Russo wrote, "The lyrical content on most cuts isn't terribly complicated, one thought turned around a few times; but the sparseness lays snug next to the inlays and wrap-arounds of Gift's voice, along with the more than competent instrumental work, forever keeping the vocals buoyed up." [13]
Stewart Mason, in an AllMusic retrospective review, commented that Fine Young Cannibals "is a powerful and satisfying debut" with "uniformly strong" songs. [2] Nigel Williamson called the album "an artful soul-pop concoction loaded with hooks and hits" in Uncut , [10] while in Classic Pop , John Earls said that it was a testament to the group's reputation as "the soul band even the indie kids love". [3]
Songs composed by Roland Gift and David Steele except where noted.
Additional tracks on 1986 edition
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Johnny Come Home" | 3:37 | |
2. | "Couldn't Care More" | 3:31 | |
3. | "Don't Ask Me to Choose" | Andy Cox, David Steele, Roland Gift | 3:12 |
4. | "Funny How Love Is" | Andy Cox, David Steele, Roland Gift | 3:28 |
5. | "Suspicious Minds" | Mark James | 3:59 |
6. | "Blue" | Andy Cox, David Steele, Roland Gift | 3:31 |
7. | "Move to Work" | 3:28 | |
8. | "On a Promise" | 3:08 | |
9. | "Time Isn't Kind" | Andy Cox, David Steele, Roland Gift | 3:25 |
10. | "Like a Stranger" | 3:28 | |
11. | "Wade in the Water" (B-side to "Blue") | Traditional; arranged by Andy Cox, David Steele, Roland Gift | 2:57 |
12. | "Love for Sale" (B-side to "Johnny Come Home") | Cole Porter | 2:51 |
13. | "Motherless Child" (B-side to "Funny How Love Is") | Traditional; arranged by Andy Cox, David Steele, Roland Gift/Joe the Squid | 2:37 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Johnny Come Home" (Mark Moore 12" remix) | 4:49 | |
2. | "Johnny Come Home" (extended mix; also included on the 1998 edition) | 5:40 | |
3. | "Johnny Come Home" (That Other mix) | 5:09 | |
4. | "Johnny Takes a Trip" (B-side to "Johnny Come Home", also found on The Raw & the Remix ) | 5:02 | |
5. | "Suspicious Minds" (extended mix) | Mark James | 4:39 |
6. | "Suspicious Minds" (Suspicious mix; also included on the 1998 edition) | Mark James | 7:55 |
7. | "Suspicious Minds" (US remix) | Mark James | 5:24 |
8. | "Suspicious Minds" (Caught in a Dub) | Mark James | 7:43 |
9. | "Suspicious Minds" (Shakedown mix) | Mark James | 3:48 |
Chart (1985–1986) | Peak position |
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Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) [14] | 2 |
Canada Top Albums/CDs ( RPM ) [15] | 21 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [16] | 21 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [17] | 42 |
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [18] | 11 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [19] | 17 |
UK Albums (OCC) [20] | 11 |
US Billboard 200 [21] | 49 |
Chart (1986) | Peak position |
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Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) [22] | 15 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Canada (Music Canada) [23] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [24] | Gold | 100,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |