Friendly Fire (Shara Nelson album) explained

Friendly Fire
Type:	Album
Artist:	Shara Nelson
Cover:	Shara_nelson_-_friendly_fire_(1995).jpg
Border:	yes
Released:	25 September 1995
Length:	49:08
Label:	Cooltempo
Producer:	Michael Peden
Prev Title:	What Silence Knows
Prev Year:	1993

Friendly Fire is the second album by the British singer/songwriter Shara Nelson.^{[1] [2]} It was released in 1995 on Cooltempo Records.^[3]

The album contains Nelson's UK Top 30 hit, "Rough with the Smooth".^[4]

Critical reception

The Irish Times wrote that "Shara Nelson's voice in itself would seduce any listener but when accompanied by superior song writing and pristine production, the results are even more tantalising."^[5] The Independent noted that "anyone admiring of Portishead's sparse tripped-out soundscapes, but left thirsty by their lack of genuine soul or authenticity, will be quenched by these sumptuous songs, which make as much sense at three in the afternoon as three in the morning."^[6]

Track listing

Lyrics by Shara Nelson

1. "Rough with the Smooth" (Nelson, Ashley Beedle, Marc Woodford)
2. "Moving On" (Nelson, Doug Wimbish, Skip McDonald)
3. "Poetry" (Nelson, Lucas Secon)
4. "I Fell (So You Could Catch Me)" (Nelson, David Arnold)
5. "Footprint" (Nelson, Dave Henley, Justin Langlands)
6. "Between the Lines" (Nelson, David Arnold)
7. "After You" (Nelson, Jah Wobble)
8. "Exit One" (Nelson, Lucas Secon)
9. "Friendly Fire" (Nelson, Doug Wimbish, Skip McDonald)
10. "Keeping Out the Cold/Segabeat" (Nelson, Bob Stanley, Pete Wiggs/Nelson)

Personnel

• Shara Nelson – lead vocals
• The London Session Orchestra – strings
• Gavyn Wright – orchestra leader
• Martin Virgo – programming
• Nick Ingman – string arrangements
• Wil Malone – string arrangement on "Footprint"
• Jah Wobble – bass on "After You"
• DJ Crystl – scratches on "Friendly Fire"
• Steven Dante – backing vocals on "Rough with the Smooth"
• Lain Gray, Tee Green – backing vocals on "Moving On" and "Poetry"

Charts

Chart (1995)	Peak position
Australian Albums Chart^[7]	222
UK Albums Chart	44

Notes and References

1. Web site: Companion to Contemporary Black British Culture. Alison. Donnell. 11 September 2002. Routledge. Google Books.
2. Nelson riddled — Friendly Fire by Shara Nelson . Melody Maker . Oct 14, 1995 . 72 . 41 . 40.
3. Pride . Dominic . Chrysalis act Shara Nelson captures spirit of U.K. R&B . Billboard . Sep 23, 1995 . 107 . 38 . 13.
4. Web site: Official Charts > Shara Nelson. The Official UK Charts Company. 17 July 2017.
5. News: Carroll . Jim . Dance . The Irish Times . 6 Oct 1995 . SOUND & VISION . 12.
6. News: Gilbey . Ryan . Shara Nelson Friendly Fire . The Independent . 22 Sep 1995 . Pop Album Reviews . 12.
7. Web site: Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 19 July 2017. Imgur.com. 19 July 2017.