"The Raw & the Cooked" is the second and final studio album by British band Fine Young Cannibals, released in 1989. The album includes some of their most well-known hits including "She Drives Me Crazy" and "Good Thing," both of which reached number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
The album is titled after a book by anthropologist Claude Lévi-Strauss and demonstrates a blend of several music styles, showcasing a unique hybrid of rock, pop, soul, and dance. Despite the band's British origin, it took elements from the American music scene, blending Motown steels and horns along with rock 'n' roll guitar, and urban soul.
It was extremely well received and became the band's most successful work. It topped the UK Albums Chart, and climbed its way to number 1 on the Billboard 200 in the United States, largely due to the success of the band’s single hits and airplay.
The band members involved in the album were Roland Gift (vocals), Andy Cox (guitar and bass guitar), and David Steele (keyboards, bass guitar, and percussion). In terms of production, the album was produced by Cox, Steele, and multi-platinum British music producer, David Z.
Though the band only created two albums, with "The Raw & the Cooked" as their final, they went on to achieve international success, becoming one of the definitive and influential bands of the 80s. Despite their short stint, the impact of "The Raw & the Cooked" lives on, making it an iconic masterpiece that prominently stands out in the history of pop music.
