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, Kevin Maloney
Fairground Attraction chronology
The First of a Million Kisses (1988) Ay Fond Kiss (1990)
Singles from Fairground Attraction
"Perfect" Released: 28 March 1988[1] "Find My Love" Released: 18 July 1988 "A Smile in a Whisper" Released: 31 October 1988 "Clare" Released: 16 January 1989

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]

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.^[3] 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^[3]), "A Smile in a Whisper" (UK #75^[3]), and "Clare" (UK #49^[3]).

The First of a Million Kisses won the award for best album at the 1989 BRIT Awards, and was certified double platinum in the UK.^[1]

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"
2. "Perfect"
3. "Moon on the Rain"
4. "Find My Love"
5. "Fairground Attraction"
6. "The Wind Knows My Name"
7. "Clare"
8. "Comedy Waltz"
9. "The Moon Is Mine"
10. "Station Street"
11. "Whispers"
12. "Allelujah"

The following two tracks are available only on CD issues of the album:

• 13. "Falling Backwards"
• 14. "Mythology"

Personnel

Musicians

• Eddi Reader – lead vocals
• Mark E. Nevin – guitars
• Simon Edwards – guitarrón
• Ray Dodds – drums & 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 (1988)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[4]	9
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[5]	17
Germany (Media Control Charts)[6]	38
Netherlands (MegaCharts)[7]	29
New Zealand (RMNZ)[8]	19
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[9]	6
Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade)[10]	18
UK (CIN)[3]	2

References

1. "BPI > Certified Awards > Search results for Fairground Attraction (from bpi.co.uk)". Imgur.com (original source published by British Phonographic Industry). Retrieved 2016-11-23. N.B. The incorrect release date is listed for the album.
2. The First of a Million Kisses at AllMusic
3. "Official Charts > Fairground Attraction". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 2016-11-23.
4. "australian-charts.com > Fairground Attraction in Australian Charts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2016-11-23.
5. "austriancharts.at > Fairground Attraction in der Österreichischen Hitparade" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2016-11-23.
6. "Offizielle Deutsche Charts > Fairground Attraction – The First of a Million Kisses (album)" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 2016-11-23.
7. "dutchcharts.nl > Fairground Attraction in Dutch Charts" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2016-11-23.
8. "charts.org.nz > Fairground Attraction in New Zealand Charts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2016-11-23.
9. "swedishcharts.com > Fairground Attraction in Swedish Charts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2016-11-23.
10. "hitparade.ch > Fairground Attraction in der Schweizer Hitparade" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2016-11-23.