'The farm yard connection' is the last single by the Fun Boy Three, released in 1983. While all their previous singles ended up in the UK singles chart (and, bar one, all in the top 20), this single did not chart.
The single was taken from the band's second album 'Waiting', which was produced by Jeremy Green and David Byrne. That album fared pretty well, peaking on number 14 in the UK albums chart and achieving the silver status.
My collection: 7" single no. 5396 Found: unknown Tracks: 'The farm yard connection' / 'We're having all the fun'
Fun Boy Three released 'The tunnel of love' in 1983. It was a rather cynical song, bemoaning life and the twists and turns it takes. Despite this rather dark subject, the single made number 10 in the UK and peaked a number 25 in the Netherlands.
The single would be the trio's penultimate success in the UK, the rather more poppy 'Our lips are sealed' being the last.
My collection: 7" single no. 3834 Found: Zeeheldenfestival, Den Haag, July 4, 2009 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'The tunnel of love' / 'The lunacy legacy'
'It ain't what you do (It's the way that you do it)' was originally written by jazz musicians Melvin 'Sy' Oliver and James 'Trummy' Young. It was first recorded in 1939 by both Jimmie Lunceford and Ella Fitzgerald.
It was transformed to a ska/pop song in 1982, when Fun Boy Three recorded their debut album. Terry Hall of the trio owned a copy of Bananarama's previous single 'Aie a mwana' and after reading an article about them he decided he wanted them to sing background vocals on this song, solely based on the fact that he liked their look. It became the first chart success for Bananarama and the start of their long and fruitful career. In the Netherlands, both bands debuted in the chart with this song, reaching number 3.
My collection: 7" single no. 3831 Found: Zeeheldenfestival, Den Haag, July 4, 2009 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'It ain't what you do it's the way that you do it' / 'The 'Funrama' theme'
'Our lips are sealed' was written by Gogo's guitarist Jane Wiedlin and Fun Boy Three's Terry Hall. It was released as the Gogo's debut single in 1981, and reached number 47 in the UK. A year later, Fun Boy Three recorded their own versiono the single, which was released in1983. This version was more successful, peaking at number 7 in the UK singles chart.
This limited edition features a second single with two live tracks, recorded at the Regal Theatre in Hitchin (UK).
My collection: 7" single no. 3248
Found: London, 2000
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Our lips are sealed' / 'Our lips are sealed (Urdu version)' // 'We're having all the fun (live)' / 'Going home (live)'
Terry Hall, Neville Staple and Lynval Golding formed Fun Boy Three in 1981 after they left the Specials. They decided to make happier music than the often gloomy sound of their old band. 'Summertime' was released in the summer of 1982 and was a cover of an aria composed by George Gerschwin for the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess. The song became a popular jazz standard, and in the version of Fun Boy Three it even became a pop song, which reached number 18 in the UK singles chart.
I bought the picture disc single during a holiday in London. The disc is partly clear vinyl, which makes the design very attractive.
Fun Boy Three released 'The tunnel of love' in 1983. It was a rather cynical song, bemoaning life and the twists and turns it takes. Despite this rather dark subject, the single made number 10 in the UK and peaked a number 25 in the Netherlands.
'It ain't what you do (It's the way that you do it)' was originally written by jazz musicians Melvin 'Sy' Oliver and James 'Trummy' Young. It was first recorded in 1939 by both Jimmie Lunceford and Ella Fitzgerald.
'Our lips are sealed' was written by Gogo's guitarist Jane Wiedlin and Fun Boy Three's Terry Hall. It was released as the Gogo's debut single in 1981, and reached number 47 in the UK. A year later, Fun Boy Three recorded their own versiono the single, which was released in1983. This version was more successful, peaking at number 7 in the UK singles chart.
Terry Hall, Neville Staple and Lynval Golding formed Fun Boy Three in 1981 after they left the Specials. They decided to make happier music than the often gloomy sound of their old band. 'Summertime' was released in the summer of 1982 and was a cover of an aria composed by George Gerschwin for the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess. The song became a popular jazz standard, and in the version of Fun Boy Three it even became a pop song, which reached number 18 in the UK singles chart.
