Aggressive Sunbathing

Description

Aggressive Sunbathing is the sophomore full-length album by the British alternative pop band Fat and Frantic, released on ICY Records (I’ll Call You Records) in 1987. The album was recorded and mixed by Nigel “Chopper” Palmer at East End Studios.

Between the mid ’80s and early ’90s this zany bunch from Cheltenham were mainstays of the live circuit and Greenbelt festivals. They played a startling mixture of gospel and skiffle which could be called goffle or was it punk and skiffle? Hmmm. that might be piffle! Their live shows were packed with fun songs about teenage werewolves, wives hovering heads or red telephone boxes as well as more serious songs about injustice and faith. It was a lethal combination and they were well loved. The comic songs helped the band connect with an audience and then they skilfully communicated their more serious side. This long-deleted album from 1987 is an absolute classic and captures everything that made the band great. From entertaining crowd-pleasers like «Born To Be A Brownie», «Dirtville Werewolf» and «Trainspotters» to more pointed message songs like «Proud», «Dictator» and «Freedom Is A Sweet Word», Fat And Frantic still sound a lot of fun hearing this album almost 25 years later. [Mike Rimmer, Cross Rhythms, March 2010]

This is the follow-up to 1986’s Waxing a Hottie. Fat and Frantic continue to expand their punk skiffle alternative folk rock sound with a few other sounds. I believe this one was also released on vinyl where as their debut was cassette only. The first 8 songs and then the last track were all recorded live on their next tape Live at the Wonky Donkey Bar and Grill 1988. Each Fat and Frantic release has an acapella song, and on this release, it is «Freedom is a Sweet Word». So that means it is also on Sing the Very Best of Wendy Craig in 1991. Interestingly enough, there is not a song on this tape called «Aggressive Sunbathing», but there is one on their 1990 release Quirk. [Christian Tape Underground, May 26, 2025]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/aggressive-sunbathing-remastered/265093265)

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Proud” – 2:13
A2. “Trainspotters” – 3:15
A3. “Snog A Toff” – 1:52
A4. “Uncle David” – 2:08
A5. “It’s That Man Jesus” – 2:36
A6. “Freedom Is A Sweet Word” – 2:51
A7. “The Dirtville Werewolf” – 2:45
A8. “Uganda’s Children” – 3:30

Side Two
B1. “Born To Be A Brownie” – 2:45
B2. “Rachel & Jim” – 1:53
B3. “Idiot Religion” – 2:20
B4. “Sweating In The Urban Clearway” – 2:08
B5. “Waiting To Get Married” – 1:46
B6. “Dictator (Song For Swinging Facists)” – 1:35
B7. “Chairman Of The National Trust” – 2:19
B8. “Take Me Home” – 2:17