"Fine Young Cannibals": Interesting Name, Fantastic Beats

"Fine Young Cannibals: Interesting Name, Fantastic Beats

Named after a 1960 film “All the Fine Young Cannibals,” starring Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood, this band topped the charts around the world, then simply vanished. Which makes them all the more memorable.

While the Fine Young Cannibals (FYC) had been around since 1985, I first heard/saw them on the comedy drama “Tin Men” (1987). Through the many soundtracks in the movie, for me FYC stood out for their performance. And I didn’t even know them by their name then!

It isn’t until 1989, with the release of their second album, The Raw the Cooked, I got to know FYC better. Let’s check out the band that played a small, yet incredibly memorable part of the soundtrack of our lives.

Origins

Fine Young Cannibals were founded 1984 in the English city of Birmingham. Consisting of Andy Cox, David Steele, and Roland Gift, who had cut their teeth in prior bands. Steele and Cox where both part of the English band “The Beat,” playing bass guitar/piano/synthesizer/percussion, and guitar, respectively. Roland Gift, on the other hand, was a saxophonist/vocalist in “Akrylykz.”

All three had background in mixture of ska, pop, soul, and punk rock. And so, the ingredients were in place for the new band they were to name “Fine Young Cannibals.” It was Steele and Cox who, after the dissolution of The Beat decided on forming the band, and brought Roland Gift on board.

Appearance on “Tin Men”

The combination of the Cox and Steele’s technical experimentation, and Roland Gifts exceptional vocals gives the band’s uniqueness. Roland’s unique voice, and style of singing got to me the first time I heard them. While I’m at loss to explain why, music gurus claim it’s because of Gift’s similarity to the cool soul artists of the past.

The band is chosen to contribute songs to the 1987 film “Tin Men” where they play a house band. One of the numbers from the movie included “Good Thing.”

YouTube/Trent Rannells Sr.

Other songs in the movie included “Social Security,” “Hard as It Is,” and ”Tell Me What.” They remained an interesting memory for me – until 1989, then when FYC released their second, and pivotal album.

The Raw and the Cooked (1989)

Early in 1989, Fine Young Cannibals released their second album. Entitled “The Raw and the Cooked,” which reverberated around the world. Fine Young Cannibals had arrived, and it also brought them back into my playlist. The Raw & the Cooked was full of hits. While their last self-titled album in 1985, which I never heard of, only reached among the top 10 in Australia, this one topped the charts worldwide. And for good reason. The music, the lyrics, and well, everything, seemed to come together. Good music is listened, not simply talked about. So the best way to appreciate is to play it. So, let’s listen to three of my favorites from FYC’s second album to appreciate their work.

“She Drives Me Crazy”

This was the first post-Tin Men song I heard from FYC. I still didn’t connect the band to the earlier movie. With the unique vocal style, interspersed with electric guitar and interesting tempo the song got big time play everywhere. The crazy music video helped too. As you see for yourself.

YouTube/London Records

But it still wasn’t until I saw their music video for “Good Thing,” also on the album, that I connected the band to Tin Men. It confirmed my belief in the sounds I heard then. The celebrated Jools Holland, who played piano in Good Thing, has said that this was the most fun album he had worked on.

“Don’t Look Back”

With a well-paced pulsating beat, along with Roland Gift’s exceptionally cool vocals takes this song over the top for me. With such an uplifting feel, it’s the perfect tonic for anyone who needs a kick in the pants. Cox, and Steeles’s brilliance shines through. The music video is fun on its own, using some of the effects that were pretty cutting edge for their time.

YouTube / London Records

“I’m Not the Man I Used to Be”

With Roland Gift’s old-style, almost Motown like vocals, “I’m not the man …” is mature beyond the years for such a young band. The almost raw emotional feel of the song accompanied by a very sophisticated beat is yet another fine example of the band’s talent. I’m no musical expert, so am not technically qualified describe the sounds, except it’s simply fabulous. The music video for the song is probably the only one that has an American feel to it.

YouTube / London Records

Then They Just Vanished

After this, FYC just disappeared. Maybe the band was just another experiment they had indulged in. It was definitely a success, as they left a legacy of wonderful timeless hits that sound just as good today. In fact, their music has been sampled extensively by other artists, TV/Movie/Ad soundtracks. Some holes in their contract apparently prevents them from seeking redress.

They did come together to create a song for a compilation album, but the short-lived era of FYC was pretty much over. Roland Gift earned a fan following for his looks, and dabbled in some movies, and TV shows in the UK and the US. He’s also involved in some lounge singing a la Tin Men – doing what I first noticed him do.

The Fine Young Cannibals – another unforgettable part of the soundtrack of our lives!