Fun Boy Three – Waiting

Fun Boy Three – Waiting

Waiting is the second and final studio album by Fun Boy Three, released by Chrysalis Records in February 1983. Formed by former Specials members Terry Hall, Neville Staple and Lynval Golding, Fun Boy Three had already moved away from the straightforward ska of their previous band, and Waiting pushed that progression further with a more sophisticated and pop-oriented sound. The album was produced by David Byrne of Talking Heads and recorded at Wessex Studios in London between October and December 1982.

The album opens with "Murder She Said", an instrumental adaptation of Ron Goodwin's theme from the British Miss Marple films starring Margaret Rutherford. From there, Waiting moves through the sharply observed "The More I See (The Less I Believe)", the playful "We're Having All The Fun", and the atmospheric "The Tunnel Of Love". The production gives the trio's stripped-back vocals and rhythms a broader palette, incorporating keyboards, percussion, brass and other additional musicians.

The best-known track is "Our Lips Are Sealed", co-written by Terry Hall and Jane Wiedlin of The Go-Go's. Fun Boy Three's version became a UK Top 10 single in 1983, while the album also produced the singles "The More I See (The Less I Believe)" and "The Tunnel Of Love". The record's mixture of dry humour, unusual arrangements and darker lyrical themes makes it an intriguing example of the more experimental side of early-1980s British new wave.

For fans of Fun Boy Three, The Specials, Terry Hall, new wave, post-punk and early-1980s British pop, Waiting is an essential part of the band's short catalogue. It was the group's final studio album before they disbanded in 1983, making this a fitting conclusion to the brief but distinctive recording career of the trio.

Tracklist

Side A

1. Murder She Said – 1:57
2. The More I See (The Less I Believe) – 3:38
3. Going Home – 3:36
4. We're Having All The Fun – 2:51
5. The Farm Yard Connection – 2:46

Side B

1. The Tunnel Of Love – 3:08
2. Our Lips Are Sealed – 3:36
3. The Pressure Of Life (Takes Weight Off The Body) – 3:10
4. Things We Do – 3:36
5. Well Fancy That! – 3:06