Fine Young Cannibals (FYC) The Raw & The Cooked

Fine Young Cannibals? Fine Young Cannibals! What a strange name. I was a bit taken back by the name of the CD, Fine Young Cannibals - The Raw & The Cooked, until I started listening to the music. While the band name was not familiar to me, the music was.

I instantly recognized the first eight of ten songs on the track:

• She Drives Me Crazy
• Good Thing
• I'm Not The Man I Used To Be
• I'm Not Satisfied
• Tell Me What
• Don't Look Back
• It's OK (It's Alright)
• Don't Let It Get You Down

This is a good sign that Jim played the music often. The electric rock, pop style music has a good beat and catchy lyrics which I imagine caught the interest of many listeners. The final two songs:

• As Hard As It Is
• Ever Fallen In Love

escape my memory, but they are just as attention grabbing.  The CD/Album was the bands' second, released in 1988.

The Fine Young Cannibals were a British Band formed in Birmingham, England by bassist David Steele, guitarist Andy Cox, and singer Roland Gift in 1984. Steele and Cox, both formerly of The Beat, formed a trio with Gift that rocked the music scene from the mid to the late 1980s.  Gift is still performing old Cannibal tunes as well as his own pieces. 

The name, by the way, is taken from the 1960s film, All Fine Young Cannibals. I won't be forgetting the name soon, nor the music that goes with it.

Mike + The Mechanics - Living Years

Jim must have listened a lot to this CD,  M1ke + The Mechan1c5 - Living Years, when it came out in 1988.  The soft rock tunes are vaguely familiar, with the exception of The Living Years. That major hit was playing everywhere, and I still hear it now and then. Written by band members Michael Rutherford and B. A. Robertson, the song addresses a son's regret over unresolved conflict with his now-deceased father. I still hear the song occasionally, even recorded by other artists. You can listen to the song here or read about Rutherford and his dad here. 

Other notable favorites ( and surprisingly I do remember some - just not the names) include Nobody's Perfect, Seeing is Believing, Beautiful Day, and Why Me? The band is still touring and recording, with the latest album Let Me Fly.  Check it out here. Rutherford is a founding member of Genesis and one of the band's only two original members

"Muscle Music" - Featuring Terry Crews

Of course this is not from Jim's CD collection. But I know Terry Crews' unique style of playing the drums made him laugh, and I hope it makes you laugh too. Maybe you can compare the actor, artist, and former football player's talent with drummer extraordinaire Billy Cobham from the previous post.

Terry Crews

Billy Cobham

Billy Cobham Power Play

What a difference a day or two makes. At first I was ready to throw Billy Cobham Power Play out the window. I found the jazz tunes tiresome after a few minutes. Not the least bit relaxing. I was all set to give it a thumbs down.

However I played the CD again a few days later, and behold - I liked it!  Released in 1986, the jazz music is described as post bop and fusion, Cobham takes his drumming talent and drives a steady, interesting beat. So on the second time I listened to the CD, I enjoyed the beat and the music it wraps around. Who knows how I will feel about the music if I listen to it one more time. But I know Jim would have enjoyed this CD.

Titles on the album include:

• Times of My Life
• Zanzibar Breeze
• Radio Active
• A Light Shines in Your Eyes
• Summit Afrique
• The Foundation ("Isisekelo Zulu")
• Dance of The Blue Men / The Nomads
• The Debate ("Indaba")
• The Conflict ("Ingxabano")
• The Little One ("Omncane")
• The Promise... Unity ("Isithembiso... Umanyano")
• Desiccated Coconuts
• Tinseltown
• Schmagofatz

I almost wish there were some vocals to go with some of these wonderful names.  Listen to the master drummer here.

Running in the Family

Who knew? Probably everybody on the planet but me. The tunes on the CD Running in the family, released in 1987,  were written and performed by Level 42.  It was nice to hear long-ago, familiar, toe-tapping pieces like Children say, Running in the family, To be with you again, and Freedom someday.  But as I've said many times before, I can remember a tune, but titles and artists - forget it.

Somebody wrote that the contemporary pop / rock music was a step away from Level 42's original blues style music.  Even if it were true, I remember the songs continuously playing on the radio. So it must have been a successful move.

The English band formed in 1979 - 80, and gained popularity throughout the 80s, and disbanded in 1994. The band reunited in 2001 and continue to play today. Current members include Mark King, Mike Lindup, Nathan King, Sean Freeman, and Pete Ray Biggin.

I liked this CD, even though the music sounded a bit dated.  I might actually listen to it again.