I'm Not Afraid (Black song)

"I'm Not Afraid" is a song by English singer-songwriter Black, which was released in 1987 as the fourth single from his debut studio album Wonderful Life. The song was written by Black and Dave "Dix" Dickie, and produced by Robin Millar. "I'm Not Afraid" reached number 78 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for three weeks.[2]

"I'm Not Afraid"
Single by Black
from the album Wonderful Life
B-side"Have It Your Own Way"
Released16 October 1987[1]
Length
  • 5:02 (album version)
  • 3:57 (single version)
LabelA&M
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Robin Millar
Black singles chronology
"Wonderful Life"
(1987)		 "I'm Not Afraid"
(1987)		 "Paradise"
(1988)
Official audio
"I'm Not Afraid" on YouTube

Critical reception

On its release, Jerry Smith of Music Week commented, "With Vearncombe's current run of success, this Robin Millar produced track can't fail."[3] Steve Thomson of the Reading Evening Post noted that "as a dance track this is a belter".[4] Vincent O'Keeffe of The Kerryman anticipated the song would be Black's third hit. He wrote, "Black is no overnight success and, with personal problems, he has made it the hard way. Listen to the message and Black can breathe easy just for now at least."[5]

Robert Smith, as guest reviewer for Smash Hits, stated, "This reminds me of a badly produced Billy Mackenzie or Hall & Oates record. But having said that I like the brass in it and the sound of it."[6] As a guest reviewer for Record Mirror, Steve Mack of That Petrol Emotion described the song as "wistful, English and wimpy" and drew comparisons to the Associates. He commented, "He can't really sing, his falsetto is really false and it's not a very good song."[7]

Formats
7-inch single[8]
No.TitleLength
1."I'm Not Afraid"3:57
2."Have It Your Own Way"3:12
12-inch single[9]
No.TitleLength
1."I'm Not Afraid"5:48
2."Have It Your Own Way"3:12
3."My Lover"4:06

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the UK 12-inch single liner notes and the Wonderful Life CD booklet.[9][10]

Production

  • Robin Millar – producer ("I'm Not Afraid")
  • Dave Dix – producer ("Have It Your Own Way", "My Lover"), mixing ("I'm Not Afraid")
  • Dave Anderson – mixing ("I'm Not Afraid")
  • Pete Brown – engineer ("I'm Not Afraid")

Other

  • Perry Ogden – photography
  • John Warwicker – art direction, design
  • Jeremy Pearce – design

Charts
Chart (1987) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[11] 78

References
  1. "Index: Black". Record Mirror. 17 October 1987. p. 6. ISSN 0144-5804.
  2. "BLACK - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  3. Smith, Jerry (17 October 1987). "A&R: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 22. Retrieved 28 December 2021 – via World Radio History.
  4. Thomson, Steve (17 October 1987). "45 - Singles". Reading Evening Post. p. 15.
  5. O'Keeffe, Vincent (13 November 1987). "Record Review". The Kerryman. p. 22.
  6. Smith, Robert (21 October 1987). "Review: Singles". Smash Hits. p. 83.
  7. Mack, Steve (24 October 1987). "Singles". Record Mirror. p. 16. ISSN 0144-5804.
  8. I'm Not Afraid (UK 7-inch single sleeve notes). Black. A&M Records. 1987. AM 414.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. I'm Not Afraid (UK 12-inch single sleeve notes). Black. A&M Records. 1987. AMY 414.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. Wonderful Life (UK CD album booklet). Black. A&M Records. 1987. CD 5165.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. "Black: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
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