Fairground Attraction

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 This article does not cite any references or sources. (June 2008)
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.
Fairground Attraction
Origin Scotland
Genre(s) Acoustic pop
Years active 1987 – 1990
Label(s) RCA
Former members
Eddi Reader
Mark E. Nevin
Simon Edwards
Roy Dodds

Fairground Attraction was a Scottish acoustic pop band, best-known for its hit single "Perfect", and for helping to launch the career of its lead singer, Eddi Reader.

Contents

[edit] Career

In 1987 Fairground Attraction were signed to RCA, and released their first single, "Perfect", in April 1988. It was an immediate success, reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart. Their album The First of a Million Kisses was a blend of folk, jazz, country, and cajun elements (all but one of its songs being written by Nevin). Released in May 1988, it followed the success of "Perfect" by entering the UK Albums Chart at number three, and rising to number two; it was eventually certified platinum. Three other singles were released from the same album: "Find My Love" (which reached number seven on the UK Singles Chart), "A Smile in a Whisper", and "Clare".

At the 1989 BRIT Awards "Perfect" won the award for best single, and The First of a Million Kisses won best album.

Although they were popular in European countries, and toured the United States, their main success outside the UK was in Japan, where they toured in 1989 (a tour that produced their only live album, Kawasaki Live in Japan 02.07.89).

In September 1989, however, during the recording of their second album, rumours of arguments circulated, apparently as a result of Reader seeking a greater writing role, and in January 1990 the band split up. An album Ay Fond Kiss was released in 1990, and one of its songs, "Walking after Midnight", became their last single. It was made up of B-sides and other material recorded alongside the first album (many being collaborations by just two band members). Material for the second album went on to be recorded with Brian Kennedy under the name Sweetmouth, although eight tracks have since appeared sung by Reader on the Kawasaki Live in Japan 02.07.89 album.

[edit] Personnel

[edit] Discography

[edit] Original albums

[edit] Compilation albums

  • 1994: The Collection: Fairground Attraction, featuring Eddi Reader
  • 1995: Perfect: The Best of Fairground Attraction
  • 1996: The Very Best of Fairground Attraction, featuring Eddi Reader
  • 1997: The Masters
  • 1998: 80s Eternal Best: Fairground Attraction Best
  • 2004: The Best of Fairground Attraction

[edit] Singles

  • 1988
    • "Perfect" (original release)
    • "Find My Love"
  • 1989
    • "A Smile in a Whisper"
    • "Clare"
  • 1990
    • "Walking after Midnight"
  • 1993
    • "Perfect" (Celtic Heart release)

[edit] Videos

  • 1990: The First of a Million Kisses
    Collection of music videos: "Perfect", "Find My Love", "A Smile in a Whisper", "Clare"
  • 1990: Live at Full House
    Live performances from German television show called Live at Full House:

[edit] External links