Fairground Attraction were a London based folk and soft rock band. They were put together in London by guitarist and songwriter Mark Nevin, who had previously played with Kirsty McColl. After meeting Scottish singer Eddi Reader they played small venues in London with band members Simon Edward and Roy Dodds. In 1987, RCA Records signed Fairground Attraction, and in April 1988 released their first single, “Perfect”, an immediate success, reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart.
In May 1988, RCA released their album The First of a Million Kisses, a blend of folk, jazz, country, and cajun elements (with all but one of its songs written by guitarist Mark Nevin). The album duplicated the success of “Perfect”. After entering the UK Album Chart at number three, and rising to number two, it was eventually certified platinum. RCA released three other singles from the album: “Find My Love” (which reached number seven on the UK Singles Chart), “A Smile in a Whisper”, and “Clare”.
At the 1989 BRIT Awards, “Perfect” won the award for Best British Single, and The First of a Million Kisses won the award for Best British Album. Although they were popular in European countries, and toured the United States, they found their main success outside the UK in Japan, where they toured in 1989.
In September 1989, during the recording of a second album, rumours of arguments circulated, and in January 1990 the band split up. Reader and Nevin have both been interviewed about the break up but do not agree on what actually prompted it. RCA later released a second album “Ay Fond Kiss.
The album and one of its songs, a cover of Patsy Cline’s “Walking After Midnight”, was their last single and a minor hit. This album though was made up of B Sides and other material recorded alongside their first album (many being collaborations by just two band members). Mark Nevin recorded material intended for the second album with Brian Kennedy, released under the name Sweetmouth in 1991.
A live recording of Fairground Attraction from 1989 was later released and as well as hits and tracks from their first album it included eight tracks intended for the aborted second album. This release came in 2003 and documents a show from their Japanese tour, Kawasaki Live in Japan 02.07.89.
After the band’s break-up, Eddi Reader continued to perform as a solo artist. Mark Nevin worked with Morrissey, co-writing most of the Kill Uncle album, and with Kirsty Nevin again, before embarking on his own solo career. Although Reader and Nevin have occasionally worked together over the years, they seem uninterested in reforming the band.
