The First of a Million Kisses

The First of a Million Kisses
Studio album by Fairground Attraction
Released	16 May 1988
Recorded	1988
Genre	Skiffle
Length	47:53
Label	RCA
Producer	Fairground Attraction and Kevin Moloney
Fairground Attraction chronology
The First of a Million Kisses (1988) Ay Fond Kiss (1990)
Singles from Fairground Attraction
"Perfect" Released: 28 March 1988 "Find My Love" Released: 18 July 1988 "A Smile in a Whisper" Released: 31 October 1988 "Clare" Released: 16 January 1989

Professional ratings

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AllMusic

The First of a Million Kisses is the debut album by Fairground Attraction, released in 1988. The album features the number-one single "Perfect".

Composition

The album is a characteristic blend of folk, jazz, country, and Cajun elements (all but one of its songs being written by band member Mark E. Nevin). Released on 16 May 1988, it followed the success of the band's first single, "Perfect", by entering the UK Albums Chart at number seven, and peaking at number two. It was the only album released by the band before their break-up in 1990.

Three other singles were released from the album: "Find My Love" (which reached number seven in the UK Singles Chart), "A Smile in a Whisper" (UK No. 75), and "Clare" (UK No. 49).

The First of a Million Kisses won the award for British Album of the Year at the 1989 Brit Awards, and was certified double platinum in the UK.

Cover

The photo on the album cover is from Magnum photographer Elliot Erwitt and was taken in 1955.

Track listing

All tracks written by Mark E. Nevin, except track 11 by Eddi Reader

1. "A Smile in a Whisper" – 3:30
2. "Perfect" – 3:36
3. "Moon on the Rain" – 3:53
4. "Find My Love" – 3:45
5. "Fairground Attraction" – 2:17
6. "The Wind Knows My Name" – 4:12
7. "Clare" – 3:15
8. "Comedy Waltz" – 3:29
9. "The Moon Is Mine" – 2:40
10. "Station Street" – 3:01
11. "Whispers" – 3:50
12. "Allelujah" – 3:25

CD edition tracks

13. "Falling Backwards" – 2:28
14. "Mythology" – 4:38

2CD edition

The following tracks have been added to the new expanded 2CD edition and come from the Ay Fond Kiss release, the Live in Japan release or are (*) previously unreleased:

15. "Trying Times"
16. "Winter Rose"
17. "Ay Fond Kiss"
18. "You Send Me"
19. "Watching the Party"
20. "Jock O'Hazeldean"
21. "The Game of Love"

Disc two

1. "Mystery Train"
2. "Do You Want to Know a Secret?"
3. "The Waltz Continues" (live in Japan)
4. "Don't Be a Stranger" (live in Japan)
5. "Dangerous" (live in Japan)
6. "I Know Why the Willow Weeps" (live in Japan)
7. "Home to Heartache" (live in Japan)
8. "Fear Is the Enemy of Love" (live in Japan)
9. "Broken by a Breeze" (live in Japan)
10. "Goodbye to Songtown" (live in Japan)
11. "I May Never Be Queen"*
12. "Prayer for St Valentine"*
13. "Swing Trumpet" (demo)*
14. "Red Ribbon" (demo)*
15. "Find My Love" (demo)*
16. "Mythology" (demo)*
17. "Station Street" (demo)*
18. "The Moon Is Mine" (demo)*
19. "Walking After Midnight" (version)*

Personnel

Musicians

• Eddi Reader – lead vocals
• Mark E. Nevin – guitars
• Simon Edwards – guitarrón
• Ray Dodds – drums and percussion

Guests

• Kim Burton – accordion, tiny harp, piano
• Roger Beaujolais – vibes, glockenspiel
• Anthony Thistlethwaite – mandolin
• Steve Forster – mandolin
• Ian Shaw – backing vocals
• Will Hasty – clarinet

Chart positions

Chart performance for The First of a Million Kisses

Chart (1988)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)	9
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)	17
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)	29
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)	38
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)	19
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)	6
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)	18
UK Albums (OCC)	2