Paul Young's "Everytime You Go Away" is a definitive 80s blue-eyed soul anthem, known for its heartfelt vocals and iconic video.
The Song
"Everytime You Go Away" is a powerful pop-soul ballad performed by British singer Paul Young, released in February 1985 as the lead single from his second studio album, The Secret of Association. While Young's rendition became a global phenomenon, the song was originally written by Daryl Hall and recorded by Hall & Oates for their 1980 album, Voices, though it was never released as a single by the duo.
Young's cover transformed the track into a lush, emotive masterpiece, largely credited to the distinctive fretless bass of Pino Palladino, echoed piano, and the use of a Coral electric sitar and Ovation Spanish acoustic guitar played by John Turnbull. Produced by Laurie Latham, the arrangement skillfully blends pop sensibility with profound soulful depth, perfectly showcasing Young's distinctive voice as he laments the pain of repeated goodbyes.
The Artist
Paul Antony Young, born on January 17, 1956, is an English musician, singer, and songwriter who rose to international fame in the 1980s as a purveyor of "blue-eyed soul." Prior to his solo success, Young honed his craft as the frontman for several short-lived bands, including Kat Kool & the Kool Kats, Streetband, and Q-Tips.
His smooth yet soulful vocal style captivated audiences, earning him a Brit Award for Best British Male in 1985. Beyond "Everytime You Go Away," Young charted with other notable hits such as "Love of the Common People," "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)," and "Come Back and Stay," solidifying his status as a prominent figure in 80s pop. He also famously sang the opening lines of the 1984 Band Aid charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" and performed at Live Aid in 1985.
Chart Performance
Paul Young's rendition of "Everytime You Go Away" was a massive international hit, marking the peak of his global commercial success. It soared to the number one position on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart on July 27, 1985, where it remained for one week, becoming his only chart-topper in the United States. The song also dominated the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart for two weeks.
In his home country, the UK, the single achieved a respectable peak position of number 4 on the UK Singles Chart in March 1985. The song also reached number one in Canada, further cementing its worldwide appeal. Its commercial success was recognized with certifications, including Gold in the US for 500,000 sales, Silver in the UK for 250,000 sales, and Gold in Canada for 50,000 sales.
Cultural Impact
The music video for "Everytime You Go Away" was highly influential, winning British Video of the Year at the 1986 Brit Awards. Its distinctive style, characterized by slow-motion, desaturated colors, and candid backstage footage capturing Young's "live, sweaty, rock and roll" energy, was widely imitated by other artists, most notably Bon Jovi for their "Wanted Dead Or Alive" video. This visual approach helped establish a new aesthetic for music videos of the era.
Beyond the video, Young's cover brought significant attention to Daryl Hall's original composition, which Hall & Oates had never released as a single. Daryl Hall himself acknowledged Young's version for tapping into the commercial potential he hadn't initially seen, praising its pop production. The song's enduring popularity is also evident from its inclusion in the soundtrack for the 1987 John Hughes film Planes, Trains & Automobiles, albeit a cover version by Blue Room. Young's performance of the song at the iconic Live Aid concert in 1985 further cemented its place in pop culture history.
Fun Facts
- Daryl Hall stated that he initially considered "Everytime You Go Away" merely an album track for Hall & Oates' 1980 release and was "surprised" by the commercial production Paul Young's team applied to it.
- The music video was one of the early works directed by Nick Morris, who would later become renowned for helming the iconic video for Europe's "The Final Countdown."
- Pino Palladino's distinctive fretless bass work is a standout feature of Paul Young's recording, contributing significantly to its unique sound.
- In 1986, George Michael joined Paul Young for an impromptu, yet seamless, duet of the song at the Prince's Trust Rock Gala at Wembley with only ten minutes of rehearsal.
- Paul Young almost didn't record the song, as he was leaning towards "relatively darker material" for his album The Secret of Association, but his manager encouraged him to "lighten up a little."