The Fun Boy Three is the debut album by English new wave pop band the Fun Boy Three, a band consisting of three ex-members of the UK ska band the Specials: Terry Hall, Neville Staples and Lynval Golding. It was released in 1982 by Chrysalis Records and was re-released in 1999 by EMI as Fame. Several songs on the album feature backing vocals by the female pop trio Bananarama. Three singles were released from the album: "The Lunatics (Have Taken Over the Asylum)", "It Aint What You Do (It's the Way That You Do It)", and a remix (with overdubbed horns) of "The Telephone Always Rings".
The Fun Boy Three | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | March 1982 | |||
Studio | The Bridge, London | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 32:53 | |||
Label | Chrysalis | |||
Producer |
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The Fun Boy Three chronology | ||||
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"The Lunatics (Have Taken Over the Asylum)" reached No. 20 in the UK Singles Chart in November 1981 and spent 12 weeks in the Top 100.[1] "It Aint What You Do (It's the Way That You Do It)" reached No. 4 and spent 7 weeks in the Top 40.[2]
Critical reception
editThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (November 2023) |
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [3] |
The Daily Telegraph | [4] |
Pitchfork | 8.4/10[5] |
Record Collector | [6] |
Record Mirror | [7] |
The Village Voice | B[8] |
Shaad D'Souza of Pitchfork described the album as having a "mysterious electro-pop sound haunted by the racist violence entrenched in British history" and commented that it "still sounds as mischievous and enigmatic as it likely did upon release. Its status as a relatively forgotten cultural artifact only adds to its mystique: This album of Gregorian-style chants and absurdist one-liners made for an entirely unexpected entrant to the UK Top 10".[5]
Track listing
editAll songs by Lynval Golding, Terry Hall and Neville Staples, except where noted.
Side one
- "Sanctuary" (with Bananarama) – 1:21
- "Way on Down" – 2:54
- "The Lunatics (Have Taken Over the Asylum)" – 3:14
- "Life in General (Lewe in Algemeen)" – 3:19
- "Faith, Hope and Charity" – 2:48
- "Funrama 2" (with Bananarama) – 3:08
Side two
- "Best of Luck Mate" – 3:19
- "T'aint What You Do (It's the Way That You Do It)" (with Bananarama; written by Melvin "Sy" Oliver and James "Trummy" Young) – 2:53
- "The Telephone Always Rings" – 3:39
- "I Don't Believe It" – 3:26
- "Alone" (with Bananarama) – 3:00
2009 extended version CD bonus tracks
- "Just Do It" (with Bananarama) – 2:59
- "The Funrama Theme" (extended version) – 6:03
- "Summertime" (extended version) – 6:26
- "Summer of '82" – 4:01
- "The Telephone Always Rings" (extended version) – 5:34
- "The Alibi (The Station's Full of Pipes)" – 2:49
Personnel
editCredits adapted from 2009 "extended version" liner notes.[9]
The Fun Boy Three – all instruments and vocals Bananarama – featured vocals (tracks 1, 6, 8, 11) |
Additional musicians
Technical
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Charts
editChart (1982) | Peak position |
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Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[10] | 84 |
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[11] | 10 |
New Zealand (RIANZ)[12] | 17 |
UK Albums (Official Charts Company)[13][14] | 7 |
Certifications
editRegion | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI)[15] | Gold | 100,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
References
edit- ^ https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/fun-boy-three-the-lunatics-have-taken-over-the-asylum/ [bare URL]
- ^ "IT AINT WHAT YOU DO IT'S THE WAY THAT YOU DO IT". Official Charts. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
- ^ Greene, Jo-Ann. "Fun Boy Three – Fun Boy Three". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
- ^ Green, Thomas H. (16 September 2009). "The Fun Boy Three, CD review". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
- ^ a b D'Souza, Shaad (26 November 2023). "Fun Boy Three: Fun Boy Three Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
- ^ Kennedy, Jake (December 2009). "The Fun Boy Three – The Fun Boy Three: Extended Version". Record Collector. No. 369. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
- ^ Nicholls, Mike (13 March 1982). "Fun Boys take over...". Record Mirror. p. 17.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (1 June 1982). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
- ^ The Fun Boy Three (2009). The Fun Boy Three (Extended Version) (CD liner notes). London: Cherry Pop. CRPOP27.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 119. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "charts.org.nz - Discografie Fun Boy Three". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
- ^ "charts.nz - Discography Fun Boy Three". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
- ^ "Fun Boy Three - Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 216. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ "British album certifications – Fun Boy Three – Fun Boy Three". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 26 November 2023.