Fine Young Cannibals “The Raw & The Cooked” 1989. FYC’s second and final LP, a mix of new wave, pop, soul and dance music was a huge hit, going to #1 in the US, UK and Australia and hailed by critics as one of the most exciting records of the 80′s, winning the title of Best British Album at the Brit Awards in 1990 and was nominated for the Album of the Year at the Grammy’s. I think there’s a lot of other albums from the 80′s that would better fit for best album of the 80′s but this is a great record. Roland Gift’s voice gives the album a truly unique sound and the reggae/ska/new wave mash-up background of former The (English) Beat members Andy Cox on guitar and David Steele on keyboards and bass lends an appealing dance flavor throughout. With the exception of the first single, a cover of the Buzzcock’s “Ever Fallen in Love” (that track by the Buzzcocks is one of the best songs ever; FYC’s version went to #11 in the UK and to #11 on the US Hot Dance Club chart), all tracks were written by FYC. The second single, “She Drives Me Crazy,” was a massive smash, going to #5 in the UK and to #1 in the spring of ‘89 in the US and is considered one of the best songs of the 80′s – I remember it being everywhere that spring/summer. Their third single from The Raw & The Cooked was “Good Thing,” which is almost as good as “She Drives Me Crazy.” It went to #7 in the UK and once again topped the charts in the US during the summer of ‘89. “Don’t Look Back” was the fourth single, hitting #11 in the US but just #34 in the UK. For some reason I don’t remember that single at all but in August of ‘89 I was busy getting ready to go to my first year of college so was a bit preoccupied I guess but it’s a great rocker with a bit of jangle-pop guitar. “I’m Not the Man I Used to Be” was the next single: it did a bit better in the UK, going to #20 but just #54 in the US. “I’m Not Satisfied” was the final UK/US released single and it faired a bit worse, #45 UK and #90 US, though I’m not sure why because it’s a great, soulful dance number. FYC released the track “It’s OK (It’s Alright)” – a great funky new wave dance number – as a single in Germany and “Tell Me What” was released in France. FYC disbanded in 1992 (getting back together briefly in ‘96 to record the single “The Flame”).