First Of A Million Kisses - Fairground Attraction > Reviews > You'd have chapped lips after the other 999,999!

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Groundbreaking
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Good
Value for Money

Advantages:	Unique sound
Disadvantages:	The overplaying of 'Perfect'

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Rummaging through my cd collection the other day I stumbled across a disc I hadn't heard in ages. The cover was almost dusty enough to write my name in, but not quite. The disc in question was a little gem from the late 1980's, 'The First Of A Million Kisses' by Fairground Attraction. A few listens later, a bit of mousework on Ciao and here we go.

WHO ARE THEY?

Fairground Attraction started when Eddi Reader (singer / songwriter) who'd previously worked as a backing vocalist with The Eurythmics and Alison Moyet amongst others, hooked up with an old friend Mark E. Nevin (songwriter / guitar) with the intention of him writing some songs for her. With the arrival of Roy Dodds (drums / percussion) and Simon Edwards (guitaron (Mexican acoustic bass guitar)) on the scene the Reader / Nevin song writing collaboration suddenly became Fairground Attraction.

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

Initially playing in small clubs and pubs, the band started to gain a good reputation on the gig circuit, and were promptly signed up by RCA/BMG in 1987. In April the following year they released their debut single 'Perfect' (more of which later), which quickly climbed the charts to reach the number one spot, where it remained for two weeks.

The 'First Of A Million Kisses' album was released in May 1988, where it debuted at number three and eventually peaked at number two in the album charts. Three more singles followed from the album; 'Find My Love', A Smile In A Whisper' and 'Clare' . Success at the Brits came a year later where 'First Of A Million Kisses' scooped the Best Album award 'Perfect' was voted Best Single.

Less than a year after tasting Brits success the band split following much acrimony during the recording of their unreleased second album. An album (Any Fond Kiss) did follow, but this wasn't the intended one, instead it was a mish-mash of B-sides and other material, no doubt pushed out by RCA/BMG to cash in before the bands star waned.

ENOUGH HISTORY WHAT ABOUT THE ALBUM?

Weighing in at 14 tracks First Of A Million Kisses showcases Fairground Attraction's musical talents to the full. It's an eclectic mix of jazz, country and folk music which blends together very well to produce an acoustic, yet pop based sound. Nevin's romantic (but not slushy) lyrics and Eddi Readers wonderfully expressive vocals make this an album which is pleasing to the ear throughout.

THE SINGLES

PERFECT - Hands up if you haven't heard it? Used in adverts and on the playlist of many nostalgia based radio stations, it's almost omnipresent. Readers vocals get this song rolling and before you know it a Stray Cats style bassline has begun, accompanied by subtle percussion and gently strummed guitars, it's a well catchy tune. However, the 'hook' for this song has to be the chorus, sing along if you want

"It's got to be-e-e-e-e-e-e Perfect!
It's got to be-e-e-e-e-e-e worth it
Too many people take second best
But I won't take anything less
It's got to be-e-e-e-e-e-e Perfect!"

The true originality of this well crafted song made a deserving Brit winner and number one, it's certainly better than some of the sh*te that reaches the top spot nowardays (oops I'm beginning to sound like my father here). Saying that I can imagine that this song is also disliked by many, perhaps due to the fact that it was irritatingly overplayed by radio stations at the time.

FIND MY LOVE - Begins with a mandolin being strummed, a theme which continues throughout the song. Readers vocal range is showcased to a greater degree during this track which tells the tale of a lonely girl who's home alone, longing for someone to love. It's not a foot stomping track this one, more a finger tapping, head nodding one which even manages to blend in some subtle background accordian, now when did an accordian last feature on a pop song? This is probably my second favourite track on the album.

CLARE - A definite jazz style number with foot stomping bass interwoven with sublime clarinet, but with a bit of Wild West saloon bar piano thrown in. The story is told from the viewpoint of a scorned woman bemoaning her man's mistress Clare, and the treatment she receives from her.

"My baby's love is called Clare
Serpentine seductress I can't compare
My baby's love is merciless to me
Wailing like a hussy and laughing drunkenly"

It's my favourite track on the album. Smokin'.

A SMILE IN A WHISPER - Is the weakest of the four singles this album yielded. It's a folk style number with a slightly haunting, yet catchy tune. The lyrics deal with the common problem of a couple obviously still in love, yet unable to communicate verbally with each other. It's an ok song but not one I'd have chosen to release as a single. Readers vocals are it's saving grace, sang in sympathy with the haunting backing track.

SELECTED OTHER TRACKS

FAIRGROUND ATTRACTION - Probably a candidate for single release. It's a similarly crafted song to 'A Smile In A Whisper' with a strong folk influence. Gently strummed guitar with discreet bass and percussion, again give Eddi Reader the ideal vehicle to showcase her voice, which on this track is similar to Billie Holliday's It has the edge over the previous track in my opinion.

THE MOON IS MINE - Another foot and finger tapping jazz style number which also features a glockenspiel instrumental solo! Also rather unusually for the band electric guitar features, but not to the detriment of the song. Reader cranks her lyrics up another notch for this number, and the results are quite stunning. This track would have definitely cut it as a single, but I guess we'll never find out now.

WHISPERS - Is the only track on the album written by Eddi Reader (the rest are Mark E. Nevin's). The percussion and guitar backing is so quiet and subtle that Reader could have almost sung this unaccompanied and it wouldn't have lost a great deal. It's a kind of sad song, but still listenable.

TRACK LISTING

A Smile On A Whisper
Perfect
Moon On The Rain
Find My Love
Fairground Attraction
The Wind Knows My Name
Clare
Comedy Waltz
The Moon Is Mine
Station Street
Whispers
Allelujah
Falling Backwards
Mythology

OVERALL

As debut albums go there are very few faults to be picked with it. Moon On The Rain and Mythology could be considered weak links, but even my notoriously itchy 'skip button finger' stayed away from the remote control throughout the whole album. That's quite an achievement for me, as albums by more established artists (then and now) have nearly all got tracks on them I skip in an instant.

It's a shame that this was their only 'real' album as I'd have liked to have heard more from them, but then again they could have become one of the many victims of inferior second album syndrome. So at least the accusation of staleness could never be hurled at Fairground Attraction. To me The First Of A Million Kisses was one of the 'must own' albums of the 80's (although you're probably all gonna tell me you haven't got it) and still wouldn't look out of place in a current cd collection, for the tracks haven't really aged at all, unlike many from that golden era.

WHERE CAN I GET IT

The cd is available on Amazon for £5.97, or from the Amazon Marketplace starting at £4.92.