Waiting (Fun Boy Three album)

Waiting
Studio album by
Fun Boy Three
ReleasedFebruary 1983
RecordedOctober–December 1982
StudioWessex, London
GenreNew wave
Length31:19
LabelChrysalis
ProducerDavid Byrne
Fun Boy Three chronology
Fun Boy Three
(1982) 		Waiting
(1983) 		The Best of the Fun Boy Three
(1984)

Waiting is the second and final studio album by English new wave pop band Fun Boy Three, released in 1983 by Chrysalis Records. It featured the hit single "Our Lips Are Sealed", co-written by Terry Hall and previously recorded by the Go-Go's. It was produced by David Byrne.

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

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Christgau's Record GuideB+[3]
Rolling Stone[4]

In 1983, Robert Palmer of The New York Times called Waiting one of "the summer's worthier record releases... that shouldn't be overlooked". He added, "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."[5] Robert Christgau found that "David Byrne's production suits songwriting that has advanced beyond the undernourishment of their breakaway debut."[3] David Fricke of Rolling Stone observed that the album featured "clever twists of familiar musical themes and everyday situations into bitter accusations of social and sexual betrayal". He praised Byrne's "artful production", adding, "Without muting the dark irony of the group's eponymous debut album, Byrne discreetly amplifies the spare arrangements with a sly pop sparkle."[4]

In a retrospective review, Stephen Cook of AllMusic noted the album's "slicker production and decidedly more pop-flavored sound" than its predecessor, 1982's Fun Boy Three, and praised its "wry and spot-on lyrics" and Byrne's "fine production work".[2]

Track listing

All songs written by Fun Boy Three, unless otherwise noted.

UK version

Side one
  1. "Murder She Said" (Ron Goodwin) – 1:57
  2. "The More I See (The Less I Believe)" – 3:38
  3. "Going Home" – 3:36
  4. "We're Having All the Fun" – 2:51
  5. "The Farm Yard Connection" – 2:46
Side two
  1. "The Tunnel of Love" – 3:08
  2. "Our Lips Are Sealed" (Terry Hall, Jane Wiedlin) – 3:36
  3. "The Pressure of Life (Takes Weight Off the Body)" – 3:10
  4. "Things We Do" – 3:36
  5. "Well Fancy That!" – 3:06

The Japanese and Swedish versions of the album adhere to this track listing but add the 1982 single "Summertime" at the end of side two.[6][7][better source needed] Some digital services, including Apple Music, substitute the shorter single mix of "Our Lips Are Sealed".[8]

U.S. version

Side one
  1. "Our Lips Are Sealed" (Hall, Wiedlin) – 3:36
  2. "The Tunnel of Love" – 3:08
  3. "The Pressure of Life (Takes Weight Off the Body)" – 3:10
  4. "Things We Do" – 3:36
  5. "The Farm Yard Connection" – 2:46
Side two
  1. "Murder She Said" (Goodwin) – 1:57
  2. "The More I See (The Less I Believe)" – 3:38
  3. "Going Home" – 3:36
  4. "We're Having All the Fun" – 2:51
  5. "Well Fancy That!" – 3:06

Personnel

Fun Boy Three
Additional musicians
Technical
  • David Byrne – producer, mixing
  • Jeremy Green – mixing, engineer
  • Keith Fernly – assistant engineer
  • Fun Boy Three – arrangers
  • Nicky Holland – arrangers
  • Mike Owen – photography
  • David Storey – design

Charts

Chart (1983) Peak
position 		Certifications
(sales thresholds)
Australia (Kent Music Report) –[9]
Netherlands (MegaCharts) 47[10]
New Zealand (Recording Industry Association of New Zealand) 11[11]
UK (Official Charts Company) 7[12][13] British Phonographic Industry: Silver[14]
US (Billboard 200) 104

References

  1. ^ "From the Desk of Wesley Stace: "Miss Marple" Theme (A.K.A. "Murder She Says" by Ron Goodwin & His Orchestra)". Magnet. 5 October 2013.
  2. ^ a b Cook, Stephen. "Waiting – Fun Boy Three". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  3. ^ a b Christgau, Robert (1990). "Fun Boy Three: Waiting". Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s. Pantheon Books. p. 159. ISBN 0-679-73015-X. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  4. ^ a b Fricke, David (18 August 1983). "Fun Boy Three: Waiting". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 6 October 2008. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  5. ^ Palmer, Robert (10 August 1983). "The Pop Life". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
  6. ^ "Fun Boy Three - Waiting". Discogs. 1983.
  7. ^ "Fun Boy Three - Waiting". Discogs. 1983.
  8. ^ "Waiting by Fun Boy Three on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ "charts.org.nz - Discografie Fun Boy Three". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  11. ^ "charts.nz - Discography Fun Boy Three". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  12. ^ "Fun Boy Three - Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  13. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 216. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  14. ^ "British certificates: searchable database". bpi.co.uk. Archived from the original on 24 September 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2010.