RCA Country Legends - Eddy Arnold

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

...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... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: 27 songs on one CD, with a good variety of styles for one band
Disadvantages: Not the heaviest thing out there

..., and hollered vocals. The songs are, however surprisingly well-written, with strong choruses, and large dollops of wit and tongue-in-cheek humour. Even singer Eddie Spaghetti’s limited vocal range never seems to detract from their immediate quality. At track 10, however, we get our first hint of true diversity. “Dead in the Water”, from their fourth album “Must’ve Been High” is a country and western tune, replete with acoustic & steel guitars, and that plodding country bassline. More tracks from this album, such as “Roadworn & Weary” and “Supersucker Drive-by Blues” continue to showcase the bands country-fied side without ever seeming forced or contrived. Tracks 15-27 represent the rarities side of this compilation. Highlights of this portion include “Hell City, Hell”... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Two bona fide Elvis classics
Disadvantages: A patchy album overall

...this release can best be described as patchy, and anyone who hates Elvis would probably have this kind of LP in mind when they describe why. Not that it isn't immaculately produced; not that the songs are beautifully crafted and played, not that The King couldn't still stand up as one of the finest singers around at the time, because it's all that and more; it's just that too many of the 10 cuts veer dangerously towards safe crowd-pleasing C&W when with a little imagination Elvis could have had a real balls-out rougher sound on this record. Keeping it in the can, label RCA didn't release it until January 1975. The good songs; the title track, a top 10 hit in Britain, is a cover of Chuck Berry's travelogue vis a vis from Virginia to Hollywood, a fast bouncing rocker with breakneck singing. It was featured in Men In Black... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful