My Affair

"My Affair" is a song by British singer and songwriter Kirsty MacColl, released in 1991 as the second single from her third studio album Electric Landlady. It was written by MacColl and Mark E. Nevin, and produced by Steve Lillywhite.[2] "My Affair" reached No. 56 in the UK and remained in the charts for two weeks.[3] A music video was filmed to promote the single.[4]

"My Affair"
Single by Kirsty MacColl
from the album Electric Landlady
B-side"All the Tears That I Cried"
Released29 July 1991[1]
Length3:35 (single version)
5:23 (album version)
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)Kirsty MacColl, Mark E. Nevin
Producer(s)Steve Lillywhite
Kirsty MacColl singles chronology
"Walking Down Madison"
(1991)		 "My Affair"
(1991)		 "All I Ever Wanted"
(1991)

Speaking of the song, MacColl told The Desert Sun in 1991: "We recorded "My Affair" live. We were all in the same room, looking at each other. You've got this song going and it's like, 'Wow, this is so good. I've never played like this before'. It was enormous excitement. That track I think was the most exciting, the happiest experience in my life, really."[5]

"My Affair" was one of a number of collaborations between MacColl and Nevin. Aware of her desire to produce a Latin-influenced song, Nevin presented MacColl with an instrumental demo he had. After MacColl had completed the lyrics, the pair recorded a demo version prior to the proper recording session at New York. When personal commitments prevented Nevin from traveling to the States, guitarist Pete Glenister replaced him. In a 2012 interview with The A.V. Club, Nevin recalled the phone call he had from MacColl shortly after the song had been recorded: "She was so excited, playing the whole song down the phone to me. She considered it to be the best thing she had ever done at that point."[6]

Critical reception

Upon release, Adam Sweeting of The Guardian wrote: "The surprise success of the bunch is "My Affair", where an army of Hispanic musicians under the direction of Angel Hernandez go salsa-crazy behind La MacColl's cool vocals."[7] Barbara Jaeger of The Record said of the song: "A Latin jazz feel permeates the tune, and MacColl handles the supple phrasing with elegance if not ease."[8]

Stewart Mason of AllMusic described the song as a "brilliant track" and a "sublime single", adding that it was "MacColl's first full-fledged foray into Latin music".[2] Will Harris of The A.V. Club noted the song was "irrepressibly catchy and unabashedly flirtatious".[6] In a retrospective overview of MacColl's career, Robin Denselow of The Guardian felt the song was "defiant and personal".[9] Gary Graff, in his 1996 book MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide, noted the song's "suave Latin arrangement".[10]

Track listing
7" single
  1. "My Affair" - 3:35
  2. "All the Tears That I Cried" - 3:31
12" single
  1. "My Affair (Ladbroke Groove Mix)" - 6:03
  2. "My Affair (Bass Sexy Mix)" - 7:02
  3. "My Affair (Olive Groove Mix)" - 6:25
Cassette single
  1. "My Affair" - 3:35
  2. "All the Tears That I Cried" - 3:31
CD single
  1. "My Affair" - 3:35
  2. "Don't Go Near the Water" - 2:35
  3. "All the Tears That I Cried" - 3:34
  4. "My Affair (Olive Groove Mix)" - 6:26

Chart performance
Chart (1991) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart[3] 56

Personnel
Production
  • Steve Lillywhite - producer
  • Alan Douglas, John Brough, Jon Fausty - engineers
  • Michael White, Noel Haris, Pete Lewis - assistant engineers
  • Howard Gray - remixer on "Ladbroke Groove Mix" and "Olive Groove Mix"
  • Trevor Gray - additional programming and keyboards on "Ladbroke Groove Mix"
  • Chad Jackson - remixer on "Bass Sexy Mix"
Other
  • Bill Smith Studio, Kirsty MacColl - sleeve design
  • Charles Dickins - photography
  • XL Talent - management

References
  1. "Kirsty MacColl - My Affair / All The Tears That I Cried - Virgin - UK - VS 1354". 45cat. Retrieved 2018-07-03.
  2. AllMusic Review by Stewart Mason (1991-06-25). "Electric Landlady - Kirsty MacColl | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-07-03.
  3. "KIRSTY MACCOLL | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. 2012-12-31. Retrieved 2018-07-03.
  4. "Kirsty MacColl - My Affair". YouTube. 2012-06-20. Retrieved 2018-07-03.
  5. Italie, Hillel (10 September 1991). "Kirsty MacColl finds happiness in 'Electric Ladyland'". The Desert Sun.
  6. https://music.avclub.com/the-single-file-kirsty-maccoll-my-affair-1798229887
  7. Sweeting, Adam (20 June 1991). "Lust and treacle". The Guardian.
  8. Jaeger, Barbara (8 August 1991). "MacColl's signs of progression". The Record.
  9. "Kirsty MacColl: A no-nonsense, bitter-sweet performer | Music". The Guardian. 2009-12-11. Retrieved 2018-07-03.
  10. Graff, Gary (1996). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide - Google Books. ISBN 9780787610371. Retrieved 2018-07-03.
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