Fearless (Eighth Wonder album)

Fearless is the 1988 debut album by British pop group Eighth Wonder. It is the group's only UK album release, and contains six UK-issued singles (the earliest, "Stay with Me", dating back to 1985) including their highest-selling track, the Pet Shop Boys-produced and written "I'm Not Scared" (a No. 7 hit). Other singles included "Cross My Heart" which peaked at No. 13 in the UK. Fearless peaked at No. 47 on the UK Albums Chart. The album was dedicated to James Henry Kensit, the father of Patsy and Jamie. Eighth Wonder split up in 1989, with lead singer Patsy Kensit going on to devote herself to her acting career.

Fearless
Studio album by
Released24 June 1988
Recorded1985–1988
StudioPWL Studios, London
Swanyard Studios, London
The Workhouse Studios, London
GenrePop
Length42:32 (original release)
71:52 (2010 reissue)
LabelCBS (1988)
Cherry Red Records (2010)
Producer
Singles from Fearless
  1. "Stay with Me"
    Released: October 1985
  2. "Will You Remember?"
    Released: February 1987
  3. "When the Phone Stops Ringing"
    Released: 5 October 1987[1]
  4. "I'm Not Scared"
    Released: February 1988
  5. "Cross My Heart"
    Released: June 1988
  6. "Baby Baby"
    Released: 19 September 1988[2]
  7. "Use Me (Japan only)"
    Released: 1989
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
NME1/10[4]
Number One[5]
Smash Hits4/10[6]

Fearless was reissued in the UK by Cherry Red Records in January 2010, with the addition of five bonus tracks.

Track listing

edit
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Cross My Heart"Michael JayPete Hammond3:27
2."When the Phone Stops Ringing"Holly Knight, Bernie TaupinMike Chapman3:48
3."Baby Baby"Sam Dominges, John ForteHammond4:00
4."Will You Remember?"Chris McDaniels, London McDaniels, Phil RoyChapman4:31
5."Wild Love"David Paul Bryant, Franne GoldeHammond3:55
6."I'm Not Scared"Neil Tennant, Chris LowePhil Harding, Pet Shop Boys4:30
7."Use Me"Billy Steinberg, Tom KellyRichard James Burgess3:34
8."Anything At All"Marc Tanner, Esther TerryBurgess3:57
9."My Baby's Heartbeat"Steinberg, KellyBurgess3:43
10."The Dress"James House, Debrah NealBurgess3:51
11."Stay with Me" (bonus track)Geoff Beauchamp, Patsy KensitAlan Shacklock3:16
Total length:42:32

2010 reissue bonus tracks

edit
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Cross My Heart" (Dance mix)Jay7:08
13."Let Me In"Beauchamp, Alexander Richard Godson, Kensit4:36
14."Baby Baby" (Dance mix)Domingo, Forte7:01
15."I'm Not Scared" (Disco mix)Tennant, Lowe7:45
16."J'Ai Pas Peur" (French version of "I'm Not Scared")Tennant, Lowe5:51

Singles

edit

UK Singles Chart positions

  • 1985: "Stay with Me" (No. 65)
  • 1987: "Will You Remember?" (No. 83)
  • 1987: "When the Phone Stops Ringing" (No.106)
  • 1988: "I'm Not Scared" (No. 7)
  • 1988: "Cross My Heart" (No. 13)
  • 1988: "Baby Baby" (No. 65)
  • 1989: "Use Me" (–)

Personnel

edit
Eighth Wonder
  • Patsy Kensit - vocals
  • Geoff Beauchamp - lead and acoustic guitar, drum programming
  • Steve Grantley - drums, drum programming
  • Jamie Kensit - rhythm guitar, additional keyboards

with:

  • Alex Godson - keyboards, keyboard programming
  • Graham Edwards - additional bass
  • Mike Collins - programming (tracks 7–10) - uncredited

Sales and certifications

edit
Certifications for Fearless
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[7] Platinum 100,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

edit
  1. ^ "Index". Record Mirror. 3 October 1987. p. 3. ISSN 0144-5804.
  2. ^ Smith, Robin (17 September 1988). "News: Releases". Record Mirror. p. 6. ISSN 0144-5804.
  3. ^ "AllMusic Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  4. ^ Kelly, Danny (23 July 1988). "Long Play". NME.
  5. ^ "Review: Eighth Wonder — Fearless (CBS)". Number One. No. 287. London: IPC Magazines Ltd. 14 December 1988. p. 37.
  6. ^ Collins, Josephine (27 July – 9 August 1988). "Albums" (PDF). Smash Hits. Vol. 10, no. 15. p. 60. ISSN 0260-3004. Retrieved 16 November 2023 – via World Radio History.
  7. ^ Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (PDF) (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. p. 925. ISBN 84-8048-639-2. Retrieved 22 July 2022.