Hard to believe it’s been 20 years since we heard the dulcet tones of Dah dah dah Fun Lovin’ Criminals and the album Come Find Yourself. First released on 20th February 1996 and incorporating an array of genres with its cheeky mix of hip hop beats, punk and blues to name a few it cut a path for others to follow. The band are now celebrating its 20 years by releasing on February 19th a 3CD Collector’s Expanded edition of the album as well as a collectors’ Deluxe Edition box set, featuring rarities, live recordings and alternate mixes and a whole lot more bringing this rare collection together for the first time.
Speaking about the new edition, Fun Lovin’ Criminal singer Huey Morgan says of its release, “It’s a very unique record for the times, and remains so today – it’s not dated. It burned a path for crossing genres that we now take for granted. Who could ever forget the stories of New York, bank heists and drug scores? With the suave The Grave and the Constant (I’m up to no good with no place to go) and that introduction of Scooby Snacks with its dialogue from Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction. It was destined to be a hit with the catchy hook of “Running around robbing banks all whacked on the Scooby Snacks” you could hear this coming out of many windows in 96. Then there was the Deep Purple sample on Bombin the L and the cover of Louis Armstrong’s We Have all the Time in the World. Come Find Yourself was an immediate hit in the UK remaining in the album charts for a more than 100 weeks becoming a multi-platinum album.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHDYfoRYcqQ
The album at the time had three Top UK 30 hits: The Fun Lovin Criminal, King of New York and Scooby Snacks, all of which defined their career. Hearing these songs again immediately, like a time machine, transport you back to that era. As Huey says now: “There’s still a lot of love out there for ‘Come Find Yourself’.” This album still sounds as fresh and irreverent as it did back then.
On the additional material there are rarities including BBC sessions from the Come Find Yourself era, including recordings at the famous Astoria venue in London as well as alternate versions of the songs from the original album, a TOTP performance and one from Jools Holland’s Hootenanny. It also includes the original music videos. This is great for fans from that era and a new generation too.
Dedicated to Karen Sweeney.
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