Fairground Attraction - Ay Fond Kiss (1990)

"Ay Fond Kiss" (1990) is the second and final studio album (a compilation of rare and unreleased tracks) by the Scottish acoustic indie pop/folk band Fairground Attraction, released by RCA Records after the band's split.

Following the resounding success of their debut album, "The First of a Few Cycles" (1988), featuring the hit "Perfect," the band disbanded while working on their second album in 1990 due to creative differences between singer Eddi Reader and primary songwriter Mark Nevin.

"Ay Fond Kiss" was assembled from leftover recordings: single B-sides, cover versions, and unreleased studio demos. Despite its composite nature, the album sounds remarkably cohesive. It's built on the same signature Fairground Attraction sound: Eddi Reader's rich, soulful vocals, acoustic guitars, acoustic bass (guitarron), and light jazz-folk intonations.

The title track, "Ae Fond Kiss," is a well-known musical adaptation of the classic poem by Scottish poet Robert Burns, performed by Eddi Reader with incredible sincerity and tenderness.