Worth Another Listen - 90s Paul Young

As I mentioned in a earlier post (see here), Englishman Paul Young had a career that spanned the decades, with hits in both the 80s and the 90s. He also managed to leave the unfortunate hair choices we all made behind, although there will always be pictures around to remind us.



Unlike many of his colleagues from the 80s, his career continued forward as he adapted to the new sound, and a new audience. Or really just the new age of the old audience, as he moved into a softer, more gentler music. In 1990, Oh Girl went to #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart. It was off the Other Voices album.



In 1992 Young decided to do another cover, What Becomes of the Brokenhearted. And, once again, the song went to #1 on the US Adult Contemporary chart, stalling at #22 on the Hot 100 chart. It was part of the soundtrack for the movie Fried Green Tomatoes.



In 2006, he made the intriguing Rock Swings album, which included this cover of Soft Cell's Tainted Love, complete with the Big Band sound and feel. It oddly works, or it could just be he sells it so darned well. Check it out here, from a 2009 television appearance in Croatia.

Worth Another Listen - 80s Paul Young

Looking at those pictures, whodda thunk Paul Young would have been the hottest UK import in the 80s? But the moment his music touched our shores, the hearts of little New Wave boys and girls went aflutter. The first time I remember hearing his music was with the 1983 release, Come Back And Stay. #22 on the US Billboard Hot 100 from the album No Parlez. I think it is still my favorite of all his songs.



Things really started to break big for him with the 1985 release of Everytime You Go Away. It was #1 on the Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts. It was off The Secret of Association album. The song was written by Daryl Hall of the great duo, Hall and Oates. The stars all aligned, and produced a hit for the perfect combination of great song and strong voice.



I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down reached #13 on the Hot 100. It was also from the The Secret of Association album. The song, written by Earl Randle and recorded in 1974 by Ann Peebles. The song made it to #31 on the Billboard R&B chart, but did not make any noise on the Pop chart. The little-known song was covered by Young, and became a hit.



Young had more hits in the 90s, which I will discuss sometime next week. For more information about Paul Young, check in with his official website here. Listen to his music, as it was most definitely part of the sound of the 80s.