How about “I’ll Be There For You” by Bon Jovi, just to honor a former math teacher at my school who was born when this was the #1 song in America. Perfect song for a very nice lady.
Based on the 1989 YE.. I’d go with Good Thing , which is definitely my favourite song from that Year-End, but a close second would be So Alive by Love and Rockets..
I got this as a cassette tape back when it came out, it was a birthday gift from an uncle who just went to the record store and asked the clerk for a recommendation for an 11-year-old. I didn't know the band, it wasn't playing on the radio yet, none of my friends knew about it, so I thought it wasn't "cool" to listen to. I listened to it in secret (and loved it). Then they exploded in the charts and for the first time in my life, I felt that I was cooler than anybody I knew because I was ahead of the curve. In hindsight, you could say that was the moment that led me into a career in music journalism.
I still get goosebumps every time I hear Johnny Come Home. That descending progression during the chorus and that gorgeous muted trumpet throughout just fill me with such joy.
Roland Gift's voice is one of the best and most recognisable around. My favourite FYC song is 'Suspicious Minds'. It's a rare case of the cover being better than the original.
Another forgotten gem is Cult of Personality by Living Colour. They were huge in 88 and 89 but their 2nd album had to compete with the onslaught of the grunge era.
More like a forgotten piece of granite covered in dirt. Couldn't believe the Stones had them open for them in '89ish, the stadium booed them after every song...especially the blind man next to me smoking hash. They sucked, even with the big push they didn't deserve.,,,,,,,,,and they were far from 'huge', dreadlocks, neon spandex, and a loud sound doesn't make one a good band. I felt like I was paying good money to see the black version of KISS.
I met two of the guys from this band back in 2005 while I was an intern at a studio in New England. Doug and Will were doing session work and preparing to go on tour. They were very cool guys. I also worked with Death Cab For Cutie while I was there.
@@jeanglaze2021 I met two of the guys from the band back in 2005 when I was interning at a studio in New England. They two of the nicest guys, easy to work with.
Its almost as if fyc is only a 1989 band but what about johnny come home and suspicious minds? Already in 1985 they were succesful but he makes it look as if they were a one album band? Why?
How can you miss the most important benchmark of a group being a true hit. Weird Al parodied them. That is more important than any gold record or Grammy award.
This is so true. When you’re in the company of Madonna, Jackson, Queen… and everyone overwhelmingly loves their parodies, you know it’s something special when Al uses your tune.
Somebody asked me the song, then apparently deleted the comment as they found it. LOL But for those that do not know, it is called "She Drives Like Crazy", from the "UHF" soundtrack released in 1989.
"Not the man I used to be" is a track that still evokes a ton of emotion, all these years later. I also have to cast a vote for a Terence Trent D'Arby segment, please.
Love the whole album! I earned my 2nd college degree from 89' to 92' and this was very much the soundtrack. Fast forward 30 years and I was back in that same college town, feeling down, driving around reminiscing about those days. I walk into a fast food joint for some lunch, they're playing "Don't Look Back" and it hit me like a ton of bricks... "Baby, baby, don't look back, It won't do no good". It's all changed and gone, it's over, nothing left there for me but the memories... The poetry came full circle, thanks FYC.
“She Drives Me Crazy “ was my 7th biggest song of 1989, but it was my mother’s #1 song of that year. She recently passed away, so hearing it touched me…it’s been a while since I’ve heard it. Great show! ❤️👍🏽
We enjoyed FYC as a family. My young son used to sing She Drives Me Crazy all the time. I especially loved Suspicious Minds. My favorite Elvis song and they didn't mess it up.
FYC was great and their “Raw and the Cooked” album was a Pop masterpiece. Listened to it a ton & almost every song could’ve been a hit. On a sidenote: I still remember SNL Weekend Update showing a picture of singer Roland Gift, side by side, with the late General Colin Powell (who looked like his twin) and the joke was now that the Gulf War was over he could finally return to his day job as the lead singer of FYC.
On a whim, a couple of years ago, I decided to buy this album again. Listening to it for the first time in 30 years was like opening a time capsule of my teen years. It’s hard to overstate how ubiquitous this album was when it came out.
Love them of course... Roland Gift's voice is unique and timeless. I remember dancing to She Drives Me Crazy at a party at my art school soon after it was released. Every one loved it and the band. I also got to hang out with the English Beat in their dressing room at a gig in New Jersey, back in the day... fantastic band and Mirror in the Bathroom is still one of my favorites...
As it turned out, Roland Gift is a rather good actor. I don't know how his overall career in acting went, but his appearances on the Highlander series were fan favorites.
I played this tape constantly in '89. It takes me back every time I hear a clip of FYC. It also immediately makes me think of Trent D'Arby's Wishing Well/Sign Your Name. Great music.
TTD was fantastic. I actually have introducing the hardline according to on limited edition picture disc. He looked fantastic, sounded phenomenal and a great performer.
Wow! You just put me in a freaking time machine!!!! I liked FYC a lot and anytime "She drives me crazy" came on the radio it definitely got cranked to 10. The Hardline according to Terrence Trent D'arby was an obsession though, I must have played that cassette 1000 times. I remember having to buy it twice. Truly gifted singer who oozed charisma and confidence by the truckload!!
It's a shame that Fine Young Cannibals are mostly known for "She Drives Me Crazy" and "Good Thing". They were such an unique band with a funky sound, and deserved to have more hits.
Honeslty the 80s and 90s are my favorite decades for music and movies, among other things. Video games too, but i still love newer games of course. But i can probably name HUNDREDS of amazing 80s and 90s one hit wonders that i could endlessly listen too without ever getting tired of them. Hell, my favorite songs of all time comes from one hit wonders. People bash one hit wonders, but if you can leave just ONE lasting mark upon this world, thats a beautiful thing.
I'm glad you covered this. I remember back in the 90s waiting for the Fine Young Cannibals to come out with their next record. I thought it was odd that they just disappeared. And back then there was no internet to research these kinds of questions. As usual another great presentation from you.
I knew their two #1 hits in 1989, and was always curious about the rest of the album but I didn't actually buy a copy until 2019! I was so angry when I finally heard the whole record and discovered the entire thing was a masterpiece that I could have been enjoying these past 30 years.
He's got a great voice, but I've always thought Roland Gift was an even better actor. His villain role in the Highlander series was so memorable. His look and calm and cool confidence always made an impact.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 That was the movie, which is a great watch as well. But Roland Gift was only in the fantastic tv-series based on the original movie. He wasn't a main cast member, but he was one of the most important and frequently seen villains.
About 20 years ago I worked as David Z's assistant engineer on a few projects. At one point, he was working with an MPC piecing together a percussion track for a song, and as he was scrolling through a DAT of samples, pulling the sounds he wanted into the MPC, that VERY distinctive snare sound popped up... "She Drives Me Crazy?," I asked. He replied, "Yep." Nice guy! I enjoyed working those sessions.
I remember the release of their version of "Suspicious Minds" on MTV. I thought they were exciting and new sounding at the time. Yeah they got HUGE for a minute -My girlfriend love them...
This was wonderful! I have a video somewhere of me making my Wire Fox Terrier do a dance together to, "She Drives Me Crazy." Fond memories. Thanks for all the insight you brought to FYC!
I was a teenager when this came out. The two songs "She drives me Crazy" and "Good thing" were playing on the radio constantly. This brings back so many memories of my youth. I used to lip sync to these songs. Great stuff. Thank you.
Thank you so much for doing an episode on one of my favourite albums from my teenage years. I read an interview many years ago where Cox & Steele admitted that they simply lost interest in FYC amidst the onslaught of attention and pressure from the studio to follow up TRATC. It's such a tragedy, because I think their style would have segued prefectly into the 1990s. Also, Don't Look Back should have been at least a Top 5 hit.
Thanks for this awesome video. Love FYC and always wondered what happened to the group. Man I used to Be is my favourite and I think most underrated song on the album.
Cox and Steele are very interesting characters. Both are reclusive and you never see them do interviews or anything in public. When Bands Reunited on MTV about 20 years ago tried to get the English Beat together for one show, neither one of them responded to any outreach. They pretty much left music (especially Cox) and don't want anything to do with media. Mark Holllis (RIP) of Talk Talk was similar. Left music in 1993 and pretty much completely kept to himself till his passing 4 years ago even though the interest in what he created had grown significantly.
Definitely a ray of light in the music of '89. That was also about the time I totally lost interest in pop music and went metalhead (with a side of more traditional but somehow still progressive music, like Mike Oldfield and J.M. Jarre). That lasted quite a few years, and my musical preferences were definitely defined during that time. I do listen to pop music again nowadays, take note of things I like, but also do not hesitate to switch to a CD with some old music when I can't stand what's on the radio.
I was in the Army stationed in Germany when this album came out. I think I bought this CD about three times because it either had beer spilled on it or it would get scratched. The one thing I remember though was it was always on the top of my CD stack and I played it over and over. I wanted this band to last forever.
Yes!!! Finally some FYC, I remember asking for this a long while ago. Thanks for fulfilling it Adam. 😀 I love these guys and still give them a regular listen. Roland Gift has such a wonderful and unique voice. Ever Fallen In Love is my favourite but it's a close call with many others. Always wondered who'd win in a 'falsetto off' between Gift, Mike Lindup and Jimmy Somerville - probably Jimmy.
One of my favorite albums! I am from Honduras and went to Miami in summer of 1989 and the first thing I asked my parents to do was to go to a music store to buy “the raw and the cooked” and then I heard it over and over again!
The Raw & The Cooked is an excellent album from beginning to the end. Definitely ranks in my top ten albums. I remember dancing to "She Drives Me Crazy" during spring break. It is part of the soundtrack of my life.
Thanks for the memory reboot dude! I always wondered what happened to them FYC is so imprinted in my happy memories playlist along with some of the other pop stars you mentioned. Thanks man you took me back to a happy place for twenty minutes.
Fine Young Cannibals were like early Faith No More. One of those bridge bands between the 80's and 90's. A bit of each sound and image, but something wholly unique at the same time.
I graduated high school the Spring and these songs came out right as I was getting ready to go to college. Fantastic music, and it really did make the summer magicaly.
Prof...I'm with you... "I'm not the man I used to be" is one of the best on the album...puzzling that it didn't chart higher...Great album..one of my go to's...I pretty much wore that tape out in my car.....BTW thanks for all the content .. stellar as always!
The Raw and the Cooked is (IMO) a perfect album. There is not a bad song from beginning to end. She Drives Me Crazy was the IT song of the summer of 1989. Just FYI, Roland Gift released a solo album in 2001 and it is also fantastic start to finish. It's darker than FYC, but oh so good. (And also impossible to find unless you bought it at the time, it seems -- but worth seeking out.)
FYC were a major part of the soundtrack of my life just out of college and into the real world. Hearing their music also takes me back to that magic time.
great video, always wondered what happened to those guys. they where very good i mean their songs really brought something new to the table back in the 80s.
FYC were “tha bomb”, as we used to say back then! Wish they would have done more. Please cover one of my favorites from the 80s: “Heart and Soul” by T’Pau…amazing song!
I always described that snare sound as a stomped-on upside down paper cup in an empty arena. Because when I was a kid I sold cokes in the stands at the Bayfront Center in St Petersburg, FL and after the crowd left we’d go stomp on upside-down empty cups and I swear it’s the same sound.
It's still such a shame that the (English) Beat dissolved, but we got some great music from FYC and General Public because of it. Great information Professor - now I can picture Roland Gift playing the saxophone. And it's fun watching clips of the Beat performing and seeing David Steele's unique movements as he plays the bass. Never seen anything like it.
Great piece....Andy Cox is a unique and brilliant guitarist I had admired since English Beat...very underrated. Cox and Steele compliment each other perfectly...as you pointed out "each note had purpose" You can see parallels in flow and style with Cakes Xan McCurdy & Greg Brown ...just without the fancy leg work....but thank you Andy for the inspiration. True artist.
I heard the instrumental of "Good thing" on a commercial. I watched Highlander the series with Adrian Paul and had Roland Gift played a character and reoccurring part in another episode.
I remember being really excited when I heard Roland Gift singing "Say It Ain't So" over the credits in Stealing Beauty. I recognized his voice immediately and thought it was FYC.
I'd love for you to do a segment on Hope Sandoval, of Mazzy Star. Opal roots. She never gets any press, and yet, 99 percent of people know her main hit, "fade into you". Unfortunately, no one knows that she has hundreds of songs better than that.
I still love that song. It was overplayed for a while, but it always brings me back to my high school days. I love singing along with Roland when it pops up again.
In 1989 I had spent the last 6 weeks in India practicing Urology. I was missing home in Boston. We landed in Heathrow for an extended layover.We had a room with a TV and mini bar. I turned on the TV and there was the video to this song on MTV.Made me realize I was almost home. This song will remain in my heart untill I leave this earth.
Would really like for you to do a segment on “Wall of Voodoo”. From their origins with Stan Ridgeway to their end with Andy Prieboy. I thought a very distinctive sound. If you’ve never heard their cover of “Ring of Fire” take a listen.
I loved this album. Played it over and over. Recently I listened to it again and it still stands up. A bit underrated in my opinion. It’s solid from start to finish. I’d love you to do Alexander O’Neil’s Hearsay album. Another album that is totally solid. Great production from Jam & Lewis.
This was the first video I watched on MTV when my father got cable for the family as a kid. Now everytime I see or think of MTV this song comes to mind. That's timeless.
You’ve hit my Sweet Spot. I Love everything by the English Beat, General Public and FYC. Though I’ve got to admit I didn’t know the backstory on recruiting Roland Gift or the Prince connection. Every track on the Raw and the Cooked is iconic. One of the Best Albums ever!!! Far from a one-hit wonder or Bottled Lightning Act. I saw FYC in concert that year with Tom Tom Club opening. It was one of the Top 5 concerts of All Time. I always heard that FYC broke up because Roland Gift was more interested in acting. But I’ve always believed that The Raw and the Cooked was too much, too soon and FYC took their money and retired to the English Countryside never to be heard from again. So Sad for Us
I graduated high school in 1989, and She Drives me Crazy was a staple song during our final months of high school. It is too bad they did not record additional albums, their sound would definitely have fit into the early 90s modern rock era.
Same! Graduated in ‘89 and that song reminds me of growing sense of freedom, driving around with friends blaring the radio, hanging out… Such a good year for me.
@@michelleb7399 yeah, I have great memories of 1989 too. Finally finishing school, getting ready to go to college and getting my freedom! So much hope for the future and such great fun!
@@michelleb7399 well said Michelle, that sense of freedom, having a car, having a girl, what was ahead after high school…what a wonderful time in life.
This video showed up in my recommends and I have to say what a delightful channel and (from reading the comments) community. Like just the pop of celebration I need to cut through all the drama nonsense of YT. Engagement for the algorithm. Best of luck.
I remember the FYC very well. I worked on the air in 89 at Top 40 station in Michigan. At one point in time, you could get both "She drives me crazy" and "good thing" played a few times a day in some kind of rotation. One being the current hit, the other was the recurrent hit. Great music, especially since we had the constant drudge of Debbie Gibson, Tiffany, NKOTB, The Jets ... and on and on. We did have some really good music though, and the FYC was a joy to listen to. I actually thought "I'm not satisfied" was their next hit. But Richard Marx "Satisfied " made it big! I enjoy your channel a lot, keep it up professor.
My family had just moved to a new job location. Three months after arriving I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and started on insulin. The break room at my new job had a tv that ran MTV 24/7. Heard FVCs She drives me Crazy and instantly thought of my wife. She was on me constantly checking to see if I was low or high, making sure I was eating right and exercising (she was a PE teacher with long blonde hair). Every time I hear this song I think of her - she passed away just before the technology came out that makes living with this disease so much easier. This song is one of my all time favorites - great sound great song.
Roland Gift was not only a great singer, but also a pretty good actor as well. Especially when he played Xavier St. Cloud in Highlander: The Series. One of my favorite "Roll N' Roll" immortals on the show, alongside Roger Daltrey, Joan Jett, Sheena Easton, and many others.
Ahh indeed a great 80's album, pop yet not throw away bubblegum pop of Debbie Gibson, New Kids etc. No, this was pop with real credibility, That ingenuity of sound production tied to some great characterful and soulful vocals This is finely honed pop full of soul and character. I had the 12" of Not the man I used to be, if I remember correctly it also had a nice stripped back more soulful version of this song that showed the more fargile side of Roland's vocals. A true 80's classic act/album 👌
Poll: What is your pick for the greatest song of 1989?
How about “I’ll Be There For You” by Bon Jovi, just to honor a former math teacher at my school who was born when this was the #1 song in America. Perfect song for a very nice lady.
Based on the 1989 YE.. I’d go with Good Thing , which is definitely my favourite song from that Year-End, but a close second would be So Alive by Love and Rockets..
@@positivitymaster4855 agreed, So Alive & Love N Rockets in general, fuckin ruled!!! (Definitely an upgrade from Bauhus)
Don Henley - Heart Of The Matter and
The B-52's - Love Shack
Once bitten, twice shy
Living on a prayer
I got this as a cassette tape back when it came out, it was a birthday gift from an uncle who just went to the record store and asked the clerk for a recommendation for an 11-year-old. I didn't know the band, it wasn't playing on the radio yet, none of my friends knew about it, so I thought it wasn't "cool" to listen to. I listened to it in secret (and loved it). Then they exploded in the charts and for the first time in my life, I felt that I was cooler than anybody I knew because I was ahead of the curve. In hindsight, you could say that was the moment that led me into a career in music journalism.
You owe a lot to that Clerk and your Uncle then. 😊
The FYC 1990 live concert on UA-cam is one of my favorites. Simply awesome.
Oh man, to think what we lost musically by not having another FYC album is mind blowing. The Raw and the Cooked was such a great album.
I still get goosebumps every time I hear Johnny Come Home. That descending progression during the chorus and that gorgeous muted trumpet throughout just fill me with such joy.
Roland Gift's voice is one of the best and most recognisable around. My favourite FYC song is 'Suspicious Minds'. It's a rare case of the cover being better than the original.
Another forgotten gem is Cult of Personality by Living Colour. They were huge in 88 and 89 but their 2nd album had to compete with the onslaught of the grunge era.
More like a forgotten piece of granite covered in dirt. Couldn't believe the Stones had them open for them in '89ish, the stadium booed them after every song...especially the blind man next to me smoking hash. They sucked, even with the big push they didn't deserve.,,,,,,,,,and they were far from 'huge', dreadlocks, neon spandex, and a loud sound doesn't make one a good band. I felt like I was paying good money to see the black version of KISS.
I met two of the guys from this band back in 2005 while I was an intern at a studio in New England. Doug and Will were doing session work and preparing to go on tour. They were very cool guys. I also worked with Death Cab For Cutie while I was there.
I loved In Living Color! I always wished they had done more.
@@jeanglaze2021 I met two of the guys from the band back in 2005 when I was interning at a studio in New England. They two of the nicest guys, easy to work with.
I saw them open for the Stones on the Steel Wheels tour in ‘89, gotta say I kinda enjoyed them. Not my favorite, but not terrible.
Whether it is as a singer or as an actor (Highlander the series), I absolutely adore Roland Gift. I wish I could see him one day.
Having seen Roland Gift live in recent years he only offers to confirm the talent from then still holds up now.
So many decent hits.
“Blue” was the best song they ever released followed closely by “Johnny Come Home” and their cover of “Suspicious Minds” was positively sublime.
i loved blue as well ,fantastic band
I've always thought that FYC's cover of "Suspicious Minds" was one of the best versions ever.
I agree
It is the best version by a long shot. i like elvis`s version second but the FYC blew me away with theirs
100% agree
Just about every playlist I put together, this classic is on it, a perfect version.
Its almost as if fyc is only a 1989 band but what about johnny come home and suspicious minds? Already in 1985 they were succesful but he makes it look as if they were a one album band? Why?
The Raw & the Cooked is one of those albums that you can listen to all the way through without skipping anything.
How can you miss the most important benchmark of a group being a true hit.
Weird Al parodied them. That is more important than any gold record or Grammy award.
Remember when Al was just some guy who had his satire songs get played on Dr. Demento.
This is so true. When you’re in the company of Madonna, Jackson, Queen… and everyone overwhelmingly loves their parodies, you know it’s something special when Al uses your tune.
I kept waiting for him to mention this.
Somebody asked me the song, then apparently deleted the comment as they found it. LOL
But for those that do not know, it is called "She Drives Like Crazy", from the "UHF" soundtrack released in 1989.
Weird Al is a worthless parasite.
"Not the man I used to be" is a track that still evokes a ton of emotion, all these years later. I also have to cast a vote for a Terence Trent D'Arby segment, please.
Such a great song. Terence Trent D’Arby’s Wishing Well or Sign Your Name would make a great episode!
This is a Great song!
"Sign your name across my heart...."
I also shed a tear. Today.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 darbys holding on to you
Love the whole album! I earned my 2nd college degree from 89' to 92' and this was very much the soundtrack. Fast forward 30 years and I was back in that same college town, feeling down, driving around reminiscing about those days. I walk into a fast food joint for some lunch, they're playing "Don't Look Back" and it hit me like a ton of bricks... "Baby, baby, don't look back, It won't do no good". It's all changed and gone, it's over, nothing left there for me but the memories... The poetry came full circle, thanks FYC.
My mom was in college when this album came out! What great memories, Ted.
And KFC?
“She Drives Me Crazy “ was my 7th biggest song of 1989, but it was my mother’s #1 song of that year. She recently passed away, so hearing it touched me…it’s been a while since I’ve heard it. Great show! ❤️👍🏽
We enjoyed FYC as a family. My young son used to sing She Drives Me Crazy all the time. I especially loved Suspicious Minds. My favorite Elvis song and they didn't mess it up.
FYC was great and their “Raw and the Cooked” album was a Pop masterpiece. Listened to it a ton & almost every song could’ve been a hit. On a sidenote: I still remember SNL Weekend Update showing a picture of singer Roland Gift, side by side, with the late General Colin Powell (who looked like his twin) and the joke was now that the Gulf War was over he could finally return to his day job as the lead singer of FYC.
So many songs on that album sound like hits!
lol...i remember!
FYC were the musical guest when Wayne Gretzky hosted.
Thought I was the only one who saw the likeness .
Lol. Great story
On a whim, a couple of years ago, I decided to buy this album again. Listening to it for the first time in 30 years was like opening a time capsule of my teen years. It’s hard to overstate how ubiquitous this album was when it came out.
Love them of course... Roland Gift's voice is unique and timeless. I remember dancing to She Drives Me Crazy at a party at my art school soon after it was released. Every one loved it and the band.
I also got to hang out with the English Beat in their dressing room at a gig in New Jersey, back in the day... fantastic band and Mirror in the Bathroom is still one of my favorites...
I love Dave Wakeling. He's the best!
As it turned out, Roland Gift is a rather good actor. I don't know how his overall career in acting went, but his appearances on the Highlander series were fan favorites.
Mirror in the bathroom from 1980 was the first digitally remastered record
Saw Roland Gift live a few years ago. His voice is absolutely phenomenal
I played this tape constantly in '89. It takes me back every time I hear a clip of FYC. It also immediately makes me think of Trent D'Arby's Wishing Well/Sign Your Name. Great music.
I know, right? Roland Gift looks like the distant cousin of Terence Trent D’Arby.
I was shocked to discover D`Arby wasn`t 70 years old.
TTD was fantastic. I actually have introducing the hardline according to on limited edition picture disc. He looked fantastic, sounded phenomenal and a great performer.
Wow! You just put me in a freaking time machine!!!! I liked FYC a lot and anytime "She drives me crazy" came on the radio it definitely got cranked to 10. The Hardline according to Terrence Trent D'arby was an obsession though, I must have played that cassette 1000 times. I remember having to buy it twice. Truly gifted singer who oozed charisma and confidence by the truckload!!
OMG I loved TTD he had a unique amazing voice,another guy that seemed to have a brief time in the spotlight
"Johnny Come Home" is such a great song by them from their first album. "Good Thing" (from their second) is amazing, too.
Love Johnny! Such a fun song!
That's my jam.
"Johnny Come Home" is amazing.
He completely denies the existence and success of their first album. Why?
Yes!!! Great song, fantastic album.
It's a shame that Fine Young Cannibals are mostly known for "She Drives Me Crazy" and "Good Thing". They were such an unique band with a funky sound, and deserved to have more hits.
I agree. I'm not the Man I Used To Be is one of my favorites from them. Such a great, emotional vocal from Roland.
I love both songs but neither is in my top 5 from them.
The first time I saw the band on MTV it was actually for the Elvis cover, suspicious minds and they did a great job
For sure. They had so many great songs and should have been much bigger than they were. I honestly have a crush on Roland Gift.
Their first album is great.
I've never heard a falsetto like Roland Gift's. So smooth.
Honeslty the 80s and 90s are my favorite decades for music and movies, among other things. Video games too, but i still love newer games of course. But i can probably name HUNDREDS of amazing 80s and 90s one hit wonders that i could endlessly listen too without ever getting tired of them. Hell, my favorite songs of all time comes from one hit wonders. People bash one hit wonders, but if you can leave just ONE lasting mark upon this world, thats a beautiful thing.
I'm glad you covered this. I remember back in the 90s waiting for the Fine Young Cannibals to come out with their next record. I thought it was odd that they just disappeared. And back then there was no internet to research these kinds of questions.
As usual another great presentation from you.
There's a few others with similar channels, but you've got the soul and personality to stands alone. Professor you're second to none!
I knew their two #1 hits in 1989, and was always curious about the rest of the album but I didn't actually buy a copy until 2019! I was so angry when I finally heard the whole record and discovered the entire thing was a masterpiece that I could have been enjoying these past 30 years.
He's got a great voice, but I've always thought Roland Gift was an even better actor. His villain role in the Highlander series was so memorable. His look and calm and cool confidence always made an impact.
Came here for this comment. Xavier St. Cloud was an incredible character. Roland did an amazing job!
I heard about that! It was directed by Russell Mulcahy, who we can thank for so many great 80s music videos.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 That was the movie, which is a great watch as well. But Roland Gift was only in the fantastic tv-series based on the original movie. He wasn't a main cast member, but he was one of the most important and frequently seen villains.
@@jeffnogo I’ve seen! He’s fantastic!
I still think it's weird whenever I see Roland Gift without a prosthetic hook-hand.
About 20 years ago I worked as David Z's assistant engineer on a few projects. At one point, he was working with an MPC piecing together a percussion track for a song, and as he was scrolling through a DAT of samples, pulling the sounds he wanted into the MPC, that VERY distinctive snare sound popped up...
"She Drives Me Crazy?," I asked.
He replied, "Yep."
Nice guy! I enjoyed working those sessions.
OMG... so glad you covered FYC! I was hooked on them from the beginning with heavy rotation on KROQ. Such an amazing 2 LPs... great band
I wish I experienced KROQ!
Roland Gift is a gem.
I remember the release of their version of "Suspicious Minds" on MTV. I thought they were exciting and new sounding at the time. Yeah they got HUGE for a minute -My girlfriend love them...
I know, right? It was pretty cool.
No kidding , great band . 1989 ? A very ??? Never mind , not good times for me
Great show. Thank you. I loved FYC
Simply one of the best albums ever, the Raw and the Cooked; is a real classic for car journeys loved by all including the children and grandchildren.
This was wonderful! I have a video somewhere of me making my Wire Fox Terrier do a dance together to, "She Drives Me Crazy." Fond memories. Thanks for all the insight you brought to FYC!
I was a teenager when this came out. The two songs "She drives me Crazy" and "Good thing" were playing on the radio constantly. This brings back so many memories of my youth. I used to lip sync to these songs. Great stuff. Thank you.
Thank you so much for doing an episode on one of my favourite albums from my teenage years. I read an interview many years ago where Cox & Steele admitted that they simply lost interest in FYC amidst the onslaught of attention and pressure from the studio to follow up TRATC. It's such a tragedy, because I think their style would have segued prefectly into the 1990s. Also, Don't Look Back should have been at least a Top 5 hit.
So crazy! I was just literally wondering what happened to FYC yesterday!! Thank you so much, Adam! 😄
Thanks for this awesome video. Love FYC and always wondered what happened to the group. Man I used to Be is my favourite and I think most underrated song on the album.
Cox and Steele are very interesting characters. Both are reclusive and you never see them do interviews or anything in public. When Bands Reunited on MTV about 20 years ago tried to get the English Beat together for one show, neither one of them responded to any outreach. They pretty much left music (especially Cox) and don't want anything to do with media. Mark Holllis (RIP) of Talk Talk was similar. Left music in 1993 and pretty much completely kept to himself till his passing 4 years ago even though the interest in what he created had grown significantly.
So what's Gift doing nowadays?
My Dad, who's 80 now, loves this band and pulls up their stuff on UA-cam quite a bit. 💚
Definitely a ray of light in the music of '89. That was also about the time I totally lost interest in pop music and went metalhead (with a side of more traditional but somehow still progressive music, like Mike Oldfield and J.M. Jarre). That lasted quite a few years, and my musical preferences were definitely defined during that time. I do listen to pop music again nowadays, take note of things I like, but also do not hesitate to switch to a CD with some old music when I can't stand what's on the radio.
FYC had such a unique sound, and as the Professor says, during a time of such great music output. That was a really tough time to stand out.
Roland Gift was truly a gift to the band with his awesome lead vocals especially in their 1989 hit She Drives Me Crazy - what a voice !
He had a wonderfully unique voice and definitely helped set them apart from other acts.
I agree. Love it.
In a sea of Madonna wannabes and teen pop they stuck out.
His vocal on that song immediately made me become infatuated with him.
Agree, and he was my favorite villain in Highlander: The Series
I was in the Army stationed in Germany when this album came out. I think I bought this CD about three times because it either had beer spilled on it or it would get scratched. The one thing I remember though was it was always on the top of my CD stack and I played it over and over. I wanted this band to last forever.
I was in Germany in the AF when came out...Awesome album...Thank you for ur service Sam
I enlisted in the Army in ‘89, yep this got plenty of play in the barracks too 👍🏼
This band is another notch in the belt as to why the 80s were so dang terrific!
Don’t Look Back is my second favorite song on the album. The whole album really is great and fun to listen to front to back.
Yes!!! Finally some FYC, I remember asking for this a long while ago. Thanks for fulfilling it Adam. 😀
I love these guys and still give them a regular listen. Roland Gift has such a wonderful and unique voice. Ever Fallen In Love is my favourite but it's a close call with many others.
Always wondered who'd win in a 'falsetto off' between Gift, Mike Lindup and Jimmy Somerville - probably Jimmy.
What a great trio. I'm going to do my damndest to get an interview with Roland!
@@ProfessorofRock Fingers crossed.
@14:37 wow
Hey, what if Roland Gift, Mike Lindup, and Jimmy Somerville got together and started a supergroup together! I would have LOVED that!
Ever Fallin in Love those guitarists were really FYC 'in it up in that video
One of my favorite albums! I am from Honduras and went to Miami in summer of 1989 and the first thing I asked my parents to do was to go to a music store to buy “the raw and the cooked” and then I heard it over and over again!
That "English Beat" spawned two incredible successor bands . . . It's hard to fathom how great they were and they recorded for only a short while.
Quality not quantity
One of my favorite songs to this day!
FYC
She Drives Me Crazy
The Raw & The Cooked is an excellent album from beginning to the end. Definitely ranks in my top ten albums. I remember dancing to "She Drives Me Crazy" during spring break. It is part of the soundtrack of my life.
I remember becoming hooked on that song from first listen.
89 was my first year at university. That CD was on high rotation at all the parties we went to that whole year.
Loved The Raw & The Cooked, it was just amazing when it was released. I still listen to it on old-fashioned CD.
Thanks for the memory reboot dude! I always wondered what happened to them FYC is so imprinted in my happy memories playlist along with some of the other pop stars you mentioned. Thanks man you took me back to a happy place for twenty minutes.
Loved this album growing up. Bought the CD a few months ago and rediscovered 'Don't look back' and have been playing the hell out of it ever since.
You got that right Professor! Every man has said, "She drives me crazy..." at least once in their life. Great video, thanks!
Fine Young Cannibals were like early Faith No More. One of those bridge bands between the 80's and 90's. A bit of each sound and image, but something wholly unique at the same time.
I graduated high school the Spring and these songs came out right as I was getting ready to go to college. Fantastic music, and it really did make the summer magicaly.
Prof...I'm with you... "I'm not the man I used to be" is one of the best on the album...puzzling that it didn't chart higher...Great album..one of my go to's...I pretty much wore that tape out in my car.....BTW thanks for all the content .. stellar as always!
Such an amazing song.
Loved the Music Video for Don't look Back. Watched it until my VHS tape wore out.
The Raw and the Cooked is (IMO) a perfect album. There is not a bad song from beginning to end. She Drives Me Crazy was the IT song of the summer of 1989. Just FYI, Roland Gift released a solo album in 2001 and it is also fantastic start to finish. It's darker than FYC, but oh so good. (And also impossible to find unless you bought it at the time, it seems -- but worth seeking out.)
My sister and I still sing this to each other...now my niece gets involved and we are teaching it to her daughter...love She Drives Me Crazy!
OMG Prof FYC’s best song turned up LOUD is Blue. It was big here in Australia… I can’t believe you didn’t give it a mention. “I’m mad about that…”
Thank you… Im from England born in 71 so the 80’s played a big part in my life, finding this with FYC was awesome ❤
FYC were a major part of the soundtrack of my life just out of college and into the real world. Hearing their music also takes me back to that magic time.
great video, always wondered what happened to those guys. they where very good i mean their songs really brought something new to the table back in the 80s.
"She Drives Me Crazy" and "Good Thing" in particular are two of my favorite '80's hits!
Favorite track of theirs for me was “The Flame” off their Greatest Hits, still have in rotation today.
FYC were “tha bomb”, as we used to say back then! Wish they would have done more. Please cover one of my favorites from the 80s: “Heart and Soul” by T’Pau…amazing song!
I just saw Roland Gift perform at an '80s festival here in the U.K. His voice is still amazing.
I love their cover of "Suspicious Minds."
So good!
Me too. Although I love Elvis’ original the best, FYC did a great cover.
She Drives Me Crazy has that super funky guitar. That caught my attention.
I always described that snare sound as a stomped-on upside down paper cup in an empty arena.
Because when I was a kid I sold cokes in the stands at the Bayfront Center in St Petersburg, FL and after the crowd left we’d go stomp on upside-down empty cups and I swear it’s the same sound.
Saw FYC in 1989 at Brixton Academy, London , wow what a gig it was too
It's still such a shame that the (English) Beat dissolved, but we got some great music from FYC and General Public because of it. Great information Professor - now I can picture Roland Gift playing the saxophone. And it's fun watching clips of the Beat performing and seeing David Steele's unique movements as he plays the bass. Never seen anything like it.
I bought this album in early 1989 and then saw them live promoting it.
Absolutely amazing concert, one of the best I've seen.
Don’t look back is an underrated song that many people forget.
Great piece....Andy Cox is a unique and brilliant guitarist I had admired since English Beat...very underrated. Cox and Steele compliment each other perfectly...as you pointed out "each note had purpose" You can see parallels in flow and style with Cakes Xan McCurdy & Greg Brown ...just without the fancy leg work....but thank you Andy for the inspiration. True artist.
I heard the instrumental of "Good thing" on a commercial. I watched Highlander the series with Adrian Paul and had Roland Gift played a character and reoccurring part in another episode.
He was so great as Xavier St Cloud.
I remember being really excited when I heard Roland Gift singing "Say It Ain't So" over the credits in Stealing Beauty. I recognized his voice immediately and thought it was FYC.
I'd love for you to do a segment on Hope Sandoval, of Mazzy Star. Opal roots. She never gets any press, and yet, 99 percent of people know her main hit, "fade into you". Unfortunately, no one knows that she has hundreds of songs better than that.
Yes, please! News on Hope Sandoval.
I still love that song. It was overplayed for a while, but it always brings me back to my high school days. I love singing along with Roland when it pops up again.
Love this band, love Roland, really love Johnny Come Home!!
In 1989 I had spent the last 6 weeks in India practicing Urology. I was missing home in Boston. We landed in Heathrow for an extended layover.We had a room with a TV and mini bar. I turned on the TV and there was the video to this song on MTV.Made me realize I was almost home. This song will remain in my heart untill I leave this earth.
Would really like for you to do a segment on “Wall of Voodoo”. From their origins with Stan Ridgeway to their end with Andy Prieboy.
I thought a very distinctive sound. If you’ve never heard their cover of “Ring of Fire” take a listen.
stan played ata small l.a. club long ago.
I heard it on a Mexican radio with a big Marine
Once again you make another great choice to transport me back to my teenage years ... Drives Me Crazy is definitely one of those timeless tracks... 😎
I loved this album. Played it over and over. Recently I listened to it again and it still stands up. A bit underrated in my opinion. It’s solid from start to finish.
I’d love you to do Alexander O’Neil’s Hearsay album. Another album that is totally solid. Great production from Jam & Lewis.
Yesss. Great songs on that album.
So solid all the way through. I’d request Adam do Alexander O’Neal’s Innocent.
This was the first video I watched on MTV when my father got cable for the family as a kid. Now everytime I see or think of MTV this song comes to mind.
That's timeless.
You’ve hit my Sweet Spot. I Love everything by the English Beat, General Public and FYC. Though I’ve got to admit I didn’t know the backstory on recruiting Roland Gift or the Prince connection. Every track on the Raw and the Cooked is iconic. One of the Best Albums ever!!! Far from a one-hit wonder or Bottled Lightning Act. I saw FYC in concert that year with Tom Tom Club opening. It was one of the Top 5 concerts of All Time. I always heard that FYC broke up because Roland Gift was more interested in acting. But I’ve always believed that The Raw and the Cooked was too much, too soon and FYC took their money and retired to the English Countryside never to be heard from again. So Sad for Us
As a student in hull uk we rented Roland’s mums house. It was very unique. She had a second hand shop in the city.
I graduated high school in 1989, and She Drives me Crazy was a staple song during our final months of high school. It is too bad they did not record additional albums, their sound would definitely have fit into the early 90s modern rock era.
Same! Graduated in ‘89 and that song reminds me of growing sense of freedom, driving around with friends blaring the radio, hanging out… Such a good year for me.
@@michelleb7399 yeah, I have great memories of 1989 too. Finally finishing school, getting ready to go to college and getting my freedom! So much hope for the future and such great fun!
Me too Baron, this band was all over the radio that summer. Amazing how fast time has passed.
@@michelleb7399 well said Michelle, that sense of freedom, having a car, having a girl, what was ahead after high school…what a wonderful time in life.
This video showed up in my recommends and I have to say what a delightful channel and (from reading the comments) community. Like just the pop of celebration I need to cut through all the drama nonsense of YT. Engagement for the algorithm. Best of luck.
I remember the FYC very well. I worked on the air in 89 at Top 40 station in Michigan. At one point in time, you could get both "She drives me crazy" and "good thing" played a few times a day in some kind of rotation. One being the current hit, the other was the recurrent hit. Great music, especially since we had the constant drudge of Debbie Gibson, Tiffany, NKOTB, The Jets ... and on and on. We did have some really good music though, and the FYC was a joy to listen to. I actually thought "I'm not satisfied" was their next hit. But Richard Marx "Satisfied " made it big! I enjoy your channel a lot, keep it up professor.
The Jets are an awesome family band
My family had just moved to a new job location. Three months after arriving I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and started on insulin. The break room at my new job had a tv that ran MTV 24/7. Heard FVCs She drives me Crazy and instantly thought of my wife. She was on me constantly checking to see if I was low or high, making sure I was eating right and exercising (she was a PE teacher with long blonde hair). Every time I hear this song I think of her - she passed away just before the technology came out that makes living with this disease so much easier. This song is one of my all time favorites - great sound great song.
Roland Gift was not only a great singer, but also a pretty good actor as well. Especially when he played Xavier St. Cloud in Highlander: The Series. One of my favorite "Roll N' Roll" immortals on the show, alongside Roger Daltrey, Joan Jett, Sheena Easton, and many others.
Fellow Highlander fan here, excellent comment, especially including other musical greats featured in the show!
I just made a similar comment. Glad I’m not the only one.
I was hoping someone would bring this up
I saw FYC at Garden State Art Center in 1989. They sounded great in person. Looked great in person. Yes, I think they hold up. Still very listenable.
Ahh indeed a great 80's album, pop yet not throw away bubblegum pop of Debbie Gibson, New Kids etc.
No, this was pop with real credibility,
That ingenuity of sound production tied to some great characterful and soulful vocals
This is finely honed pop full of soul and character.
I had the 12" of Not the man I used to be, if I remember correctly it also had a nice stripped back more soulful version of this song that showed the more fargile side of Roland's vocals.
A true 80's classic act/album 👌