Songoftheday 4/5/14 - If we can solve any problem then why do we lose so many tears, Oh and so you go again when the leading man appears...

Paul Young - "Everytime You Go Away"
from the album The Secret Of Association (1985)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1 (one week)
Weeks in the Top-40: 15

Today's Song of the Day comes from English vocalist Paul Young, who's solo debut album No Parlez had brought his first taste of American fame with the top-40 single "Come Back And Stay", with a follow-up remake of "Love Of The Common People" that just missed the US Top-40.

The following year, Paul returned with his next album, The Secret Of Association, which honed his soulful tendencies and added a great backing vocal section including Squeeze members Difford and Tilbrook. He released a cover of an album track from Philadelphia blue-eyed soul duo Hall & Oates as his third single in the UK that would lead off the promotion of the album in the States. On their disc Voices, Daryl & John took the song to a more subdued place with church organ and gospel pacing in the arrangement...

Young's version, produced by Laurie Latham (Squeeze, Echo & The Bunnyman), shifted the musical backdrop to an adult-contemporary version of new wave complete with those soulful backing vocals the sole reminder of the song's reverent beginnings...

"Everytime You Go Away" went to the top of the American pop chart in July of 1985, while also making it to #1 on the adult contemporary and #14 on the rock radio list in Billboard magazine. It would be his sole chart-topping record in the States. Internationally, the record went to #2 in both Ireland and Norway, top-40 in both France and Germany, and #4 in his native Britain.

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Paul performed "Everytime You Go Away" at the massive Live Aid charity show in 1985...

When Hall & Oates released their Live At The Apollo album with two of the Temptations, they included the song in the show...

 ...and here Paul is again with George Michael and Elton John the following year...

 In 2006, jazz-soul legends George Benson and Al Jarreau interpreted the song...

I'll leave off with an version from the song's writer, Daryl Hall, from his Live At Daryls House with Elle King...

Up tomorrow: a voyeur with the features of an actress goes nuts in the evening over aviation.