Fine Young Cannibals – Suspicious Minds (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1986

“Suspicious Minds” is a song written and first recorded by American songwriter Mark James. After James’ recording failed commercially, the song was handed to Elvis Presley by producer Chips Moman, becoming a number one song in 1969.

In 1986, the band Fine Young Cannibals’ cover version of the song, which featured backing vocals by Jimmy Somerville, reached No. 8 on the UK Singles chart. Singer Roland Gift said that Elvis had come to him in a dream and told him he would record the greatest version of Suspicious Minds ever.

The Fine Young Cannibals’ music video for the song was filmed in black & white and remains so for the majority of the song. However, the video is noted for its innovative use of colorization, following the bridge section of the song. The video pays its homage to Elvis, both in its use of the monochrome filming (common during Elvis’ early career) and the shiny spangled suits that the band wear in the second half of the video.

In the United States, the single reached No. 23 on the Billboard Dance chart on June 28, 1986.

SIDE A:
Suspicious Minds (Suspicious Mix) 7:51
Backing Vocals [Uncredited] – Jimmy Somerville
Engineer – Gary Hellman
Producer – Robin Millar
Remix, Edited By – John Luongo
Written-By – James*

Prick Up Your Ears 2:53
Producer, Written-By – Cox*, Steele*

SIDE B:
Suspicious Minds (Caught In A Dub) 7:40
Backing Vocals [Uncredited] – Jimmy Somerville
Engineer – Gary Hellman
Producer – Robin Millar
Remix, Edited By – John Luongo
Written-By – James*

Johnny Come Home (That Other Mix) 5:08
Producer – Cox*, Steele*, Gift
Remix – Herbie

Written-By – Steele*, Gift*

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1986 Suspicious Minds U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play #28

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: I.R.S. Records ‎– IRS-23626
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic
Style: New Wave, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Artwork [Serigraph By] – Laura Marie Benson
Cover – Grasso*, Scarselli* *, Scarselli*
Mastered By – Frank Deluna

NOTES:
From the LP “FINE YOUNG CANNIBALS”

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon 2M Bronze
Isolation: Auralex Acoustics ISO-Tone Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck 
Phono Pre-amp:
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube:
Tung-Sol 12AX7 TubeGold Pins
Soundcard:
Novation Audiohub 2×4 Audio Interface
Record Cleaning:
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans:
Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner

SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2, ocenaudio
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

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Muff Diver
Muff Diver
September 26, 2020 5:16 pm

This is before my time, but I’ll take my chances since I’ve never heard anything I didn’t like from BTG.
Cheers!

qat
qat
July 5, 2018 1:50 am

ty

Daniel
Daniel
July 3, 2018 5:38 pm

Thank you so much Paul for this great post. I love this song and FYC’s cover version is just brilliant. John Luongo also made a great work on these remixes. Happy 4th to you and to all the US people here on BTG.

DJ Veteran
DJ Veteran
July 3, 2018 1:22 pm

While I don’t remember this track, I do have the 12″ singles of “Good Thing” and “She Drive’s Me Crazy.”

Based on those remixes and the fact that this was released before their two more popular tracks, you can see the musical talent in this cover and the remixes of this song does it justice. Elvis would have been proud.

Thanks for this post and this I’ll be adding to my ever growing 12″ singles collection.

Song And Dance
Song And Dance
July 3, 2018 12:48 pm

Such a great song and such a great remake by the FYC and Jimmy Somerville whose voice is far more than just in the background. I have the US remix 12inch of this song which features a stripped down version with Jimmy being more present.

I just love the FYC. My all-time favourite is “I´m Not The Man I Used To Be” withs brilliant Jazzy B and Nellee Hooper remix. HINT HINT! 🙂

Fred
Fred
Reply to  Song And Dance
July 3, 2018 5:01 pm

Do you know if The Justin Strauss Remix of She Drives Me Crazy was ever released somehow on cd? Such a great remix and I’ve never seen it on cd. I haven’t spent hours scouring Discogs, however. 🙂 The Dub he created was great, too. https://www.discogs.com/Fine-Young-Cannibals-She-Drives-Me-Crazy/release/194959 The dub has this great sample at 3:30-3:42 that I swear I have heard at the end of some other song such as a Janet Jackson song. The sample is just the “I” from “I can’t stop” of the song’s lyrics but in a lower octave with some reverb and other effects. This same… Read more »

Jeff
Jeff
July 3, 2018 12:39 pm

You are just uncanny with your posts Paul!! Today, at work, I was playing an Elvis CD I made for a friend and within the megamix, was the song, “Suspicious Minds.” And here you go posting Fine Young Cannibals’ version of the song!! AND!!! To make matters even more spooky, I was thinking about John Luongo today and was going to send you an e-mail concerning one of John’s mixes!! Too exciting for words!! Gosh Paul, you dazzle me!! Thanks for making available so many songs (and versions) that have escaped our ears. Your generosity is boundless. I am so… Read more »

Fred
Fred
July 3, 2018 12:38 pm

Wow! Look at all the names on the credits! I have never heard this version but am eagerly awaiting my drive home from vacation!!

Thanks for the great post, Paul!

Have a great Fourth of July to all the US people here and a great overall day for everyone else!

-Fred

Jeff
Jeff
Reply to  Fred
July 3, 2018 12:42 pm

You too Fred!! I love that you’re here to comment on Paul’s posts and all. You’re like our own music industry professional adding flavor and passion to Paul’s selections.

Jeff

ana
ana
July 3, 2018 12:22 pm

Thank you! Adm. Could u promise to post Naked Eyes – Promises Promises (12″ Mix) https://www.discogs.com/Naked-Eyes-Promises-Promises-12-Mix/release/230483

Thank You, regards..

Rafael Cova
Rafael Cova
July 3, 2018 12:21 pm

Hi Paul, deeply grateful for this post, I love this song with madness, both, the original and this excellent version, what a joy you give me every day with your publications!

THANKS.

Rafa