Waiting (Fun Boy Three album)
Waiting is the second and final studio album by the Fun Boy Three. It was released in 1983 and featured the hit single "Our Lips Are Sealed", co-written by Terry Hall and previously recorded by The Go-Go's.
Waiting | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | February 1983 | |||
Recorded | October 1982–December 1982 | |||
Studio | Wessex Sound Studios, London | |||
Genre | Ska/pop, new wave, synth-pop | |||
Length | 31:19 | |||
Label | Chrysalis | |||
Producer | David Byrne | |||
Fun Boy Three chronology | ||||
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The album's lead track, "Murder She Said," is a cover of the theme from the four films in the British Miss Marple series, starring Margaret Rutherford, originally released from 1961 to 1964.[1]
Reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [2] |
Christgau's Record Guide | B+[3] |
Rolling Stone | [4] |
In a 1983 review, writer Robert Palmer called Waiting one of "the summer's worthier record releases... that shouldn't be overlooked", continuing:[5]
The songs are full of barbed political and social commentary with a decidedly English bias. The harmonies and melodic twists and turns are reminiscent of 1930's pop, and the odd but effective arrangements feature trombone, cello and other orchestral instruments in a kind of music hall mélange.
Music critic Robert Christgau found that "David Byrne's production suits songwriting that has advanced beyond the undernourishment of their breakaway debut."[3]
Track listing
All songs written by Fun Boy Three unless noted.
- Side A
- "Murder She Said" (Ron Goodwin) 1:57
- "The More I See (The Less I Believe)" 3:38
- "Going Home" 3:36
- "We're Having All The Fun" 2:50
- "The Farmyard Connection" 2:46
- Side B
- "The Tunnel of Love" 3:08
- "Our Lips Are Sealed" (Hall, Jane Wiedlin) 3:36
- "The Pressure of Life (Takes the Weight Off the Body)" 3:06
- "Things We Do" 3:36
- "Well Fancy That!" 3:06
The version available from many download services, including iTunes, substitutes the 2:52 single mix of "Our Lips Are Sealed".
Original U.S. vinyl release
The tracks were in a different order for the original U.S. vinyl release (B6V 41417):[6]
- Side A
- "Our Lips Are Sealed" (Hall, Jane Wiedlin) 3:36
- "The Tunnel of Love" 3:08
- "The Pressure of Life (Takes the Weight Off the Body)" 3:06
- "Things We Do" 3:36
- "The Farmyard Connection" 2:46
- Side B
- "Murder She Said" 1:57
- "The More I See (The Less I Believe)" 3:38
- "Going Home" 3:36
- "We're Having All The Fun" 2:50
- "Well Fancy That!" 3:06
Personnel
- Fun Boy Three
- Terry Hall - vocals
- Neville Staple - percussion, vocals
- Lynval Golding - guitar, vocals
with:
- David Byrne - guitar, producer, mixing
- Nicky Holland - keyboards, vocals, arranger
- Ingrid Schroeder - vocals
- Bethan Peters - bass guitar, vocals
- June Miles-Kingston - drums, vocals
- Dick Cuthell - cornet
- Annie Whitehead - trombone
- Caroline Lavelle - cello
- Geraldo d'Arbilly - percussion
- Jeremy Green - engineer, mixing
- David Storey - design
- Mike Owen - photography
Thanks to: "Rick Rogers, Jeanette Powell, Peter Barnes, David Jensen and Mike Hawkes."
References
- http://www.magnetmagazine.com/2013/10/05/from-the-desk-of-wesley-stace-miss-marple-theme-a-k-a-murder-she-says-by-ron-goodwin-his-orchestra/
- Cook, Stephen. "Waiting – Fun Boy Three". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
- Christgau, Robert (1990). "Fun Boy Three: Waiting". Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s. Pantheon Books. ISBN 0-679-73015-X. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
- Fricke, David (18 August 1983). "Fun Boy Three: Waiting". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 6 October 2008. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
- Palmer, Robert (10 August 1983). "The Pop Life". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
- The More I See (The Less I Believe) from Allmusic