"There's Too Many Irons in the Fire" is the second single by the English rock band Cardiacs

Cardiacs

Cardiacs are an English alternative rock/psychedelic pop band formed in 1977 and led by Tim Smith. Noted for their complex, varied and intense compositional style and for their eccentric, theatrical stage shows, they have been hailed as an influence by bands as diverse as Blur, Faith No More and...

, released in September 1987.

Critical reception

In the week of its release, There's Too Many Irons in the Fire was awarded "Single of the Week" in Sounds

Sounds (magazine)

Sounds was a long-term British music paper, published weekly from 10 October 1970 – 6 April 1991. It was produced by Spotlight Publications , which was set up by Jack Hutton and Peter Wilkinson, who left "Melody Maker" to start their own company...

magazine. Reviewer Andy Hurt noted the band's apparent desire to rework 1970s influences for the 1980s, and commented that they were "well qualified for the task, being formed just after the eruption of punk, and representing the marriage between Van Der Graaf Generator

Van der Graaf Generator

Van der Graaf Generator are an English progressive rock band, formed in 1967 in Manchester. They were the first act signed to Charisma Records. The band achieved considerable success in Italy during the 1970s...

 and the Albertos

Alberto y Lost Trios Paranoias

Alberto y Lost Trios Paranoias were a comedy rock band, formed in Manchester, England in 1973. Their story is told in the book When We Were Thin...

." He went on to praise the band, asserting that "Cardiacs can write, Cardiacs can play, and by God Cardiacs can perform. The public are way ahead of the press in recognising this... Clever rock music that is not patronising and which has a sturdy backbone. Pretty damn fantastic actually."

Availability and reissuing

There's Too Many Irons in the Fire has been deleted. All of the tracks on the single were later re-issued as part of the Songs for Ships and Irons

Songs for Ships and Irons

-Source material:Songs for Ships and Irons combines the whole of the Big Ship mini-album, the whole of the "There's Too Many Irons In The Fire" 12-inch single and the B-side of the "Susannah's Still Alive" 12-inch single. It also includes a bonus song called "Everything is Easy," a longstanding...

compilation (originally released in 1991 and reissued on CD in 1995).

Track listing

1. "There's Too Many Irons in the Fire"
2. "All Spectacular"
3. "Loosefish Scapegrace"

Lineup

• Tim Smith - Guitar and Vocals
• Jim Smith - Bass
• Sarah Smith - Sax
• William.D.Drake - Keyboards
• Dominic Luckman - Drums
• Tim Quy - Percussion