Johnny Come Home

"Johnny Come Home" is a song by British band Fine Young Cannibals, released as the first single from their debut album, Fine Young Cannibals (1985). It is similar to the style of many other of the band's hits, a mixture of rock and ska with Roland Gift's distinctive vocals, as well as a jazz-type trumpet solo. It was released in 1985 and was one of the group's most popular hits. The song tells the gritty realistic story of a runaway youth, and alternates from the first-person narrative, explaining how his arrival in the big city has not turned out as he expected, to the view of the parents in the chorus, expressing their wish that he would come home.

"Johnny Come Home"
Single by Fine Young Cannibals
from the album Fine Young Cannibals
B-side"Good Times and Bad"[1]
Released29 May 1985
Recorded1984
GenreNew wave, ska
LabelLondon Records[1]
Songwriter(s)David Steele, Roland Gift[1]
Producer(s)Andy Cox, David Steele, Roland Gift[1]
Fine Young Cannibals singles chronology
"Johnny Come Home"
(1985)		 "Blue"
(1985)

Chart performance

Although it failed to reach the top 40 in the United States, stalling at No. 76,[2] along with the track, "Blue", "Johnny Come Home" reached No. 9 on the dance chart.[3] The track was a good start for the group in their native United Kingdom, peaking at No. 8 on the UK Singles Chart in July 1985.[4]

Reception

John Leland at Spin called it, "dark, eerie dance music. "Johnny" puts a little Suicide creepiness, some fake opera, muted trumpet, and spare, pumping piano into a groove that moves on its keyboard bass."[5]

Charts
Chart (1985) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[6] 14
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[7] 8
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[8] 26
Ireland (IRMA) 10
Israel (IBA)[9] 6
Italy (Musica e dischi)[10] 5
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[11] 21
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[12] 10
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[13] 13
UK Singles (OCC) 8
US Billboard Hot 100 76
West Germany (Official German Charts) 16
  • In later years the song's title would serve as the title for a Jake Arnott novel published in 2006 whose plot line is reminiscent of the themes discussed in the song.[14]

References
  1. "Fine Young Cannibals – Johnny Come Home (Vinyl)". Discogs. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  2. Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn’s Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 296.
  3. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974–2003. Record Research. p. 98.
  4. "officialcharts.com". officialcharts.com. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  5. John Leland (October 1985). "Singles". Spin. No. 6. p. 38.
  6. "Fine Young Cannibals – Johnny Come Home". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  7. "Fine Young Cannibals – Johnny Come Home" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  8. Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Fine Young Cannibals". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 80. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  9. "Israeli chart (Reshet Gimel, IBA)". pizmonet. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  10. "Classifiche". Musica e Dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 4 June 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Fine Young Cannibals".
  11. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Fine Young Cannibals" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  12. "Fine Young Cannibals – Johnny Come Home" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  13. "Fine Young Cannibals – Johnny Come Home". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  14. "Johnny come home". TheLondonNobodySings.BlogSpot.co.uk. Retrieved 19 January 2013.


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