I.R.S. Records releases the debut album by the British group Fine Young Cannibals, led by singer/actor Roland Gift. The single “Johnny Come Home” is featured, as well as a cover of Elvis’ “Suspicious Minds.” 
Talk about a brief reign as the king – these guys had it made in the chart-topping department in 1989, but now they’ve gone almost completely silent. Their self-titled first album has some of their best material on it, particularly the acoustic-guitar and sax driven Funny How Love Is and a wonderfully unpredictable song called “Couldn’t Care More” which also ranks as my favorite song by FYC. The early single “Johnny Come Home” is also here, along with a surprisingly well-executed cover of Elvis’ “Suspicious Minds”. I have to give this album higher marks than the later The Raw & The Cooked by a long shot. And whatever happened to these guys anyway, aside from lead singer Roland Gift’s occasional villainous guest appearances on the Highlander TV series?
- Johnny Come Home (3:35)
- Couldn’t Care More (3:30)
- Don’t Ask Me To Choose (3:05)
- Funny How Love Is (3:28)
- Suspicious Minds (3:56)
- Blue (3:35)
- Move To Work (3:26)
- On A Promise (3:06)
- Time Isn’t Kind (3:12)
- Like a Stranger (3:28)
- Johnny Come Home – extended mix (5:45)
- Suspicious Minds – suspicious mix (7:54)
Released by: I.R.S.
Release date: 1986
Total running time: 48:00
1992 music review by Earl Green