Classic Pop Magazine March-April 2024
English | 100 pages | pdf | 41.61 MB
How many artists can say that they’ve introduced pop fans to the work of both Marvin Gaye and Joy Division within the space of the same album? Well, Paul Young’s 1983 classic No Parlez manages to do just that – and then some…
It’s a remarkable record – and let’s not forget it was the second biggest-selling album of that year. Only Thriller shifted more copies in the UK. No Parlez’s producer Laurie Latham and the album’s bass player extraordinaire Pino Palladino both make similar points in our latest cover feature. When discussions turn to the most influential artists of the 80s, why is Paul Young’s name rarely in the mix?
Well, we can’t account for those decade overview TV shows that overlook Paul but we’ve always been on Team Young here at Classic Pop Magazine. Hopefully, this latest deep dive into his work will put him front and centre in the conversation once again.
You could argue that No Parlez perfectly encapsulates the ‘come one, come all’ open door policy that made 80s pop so diverse, inclusive and exploratory. Young hits all the right spots, of course, with his soulful covers, most notably Come Back And
Stay, Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home) and Love Of The Common People, but you’ve also got to admire the ballsiness of taking on the iconic Love Will Tear Us Apart. And let’s not overlook the quality of the album’s originals, including the Bowiesque art-pop of Ku Ku Kurama and slick funk of the title track.
Elsewhere, let me point you in the direction of two brilliant new Mancunian offerings. I’ve been wearing out the advance streams of the latest James album (spoiler alert: they’re still ace at anthemic choruses), and the debut joint LP – by all accounts there will be more – from Liam Gallagher and John Squire. We’re all used to taking Liam’s tweets with a pinch of salt so when the singer posted on social media that he’d just finished up a new record with the former Stone Roses axe hero which was “the best album since Revolver”, I raised at least one eyebrow. Well, Liam’s overstating it a tad, but his Squire hook-up is pretty sensational and more than lives up to all reasonable expectations. Ian Brown and Noel, look away now. You’re surplus to requirements.
Add in a soupçon of 80s hip-hop, a deep dive into The Waterboys’ seminal album This Is The Sea and the remarkable comeback of Dee C. Lee and you’ll see we cover a whole lot of bases in our latest offering. Paul Young will no doubt approve. Enjoy the issue!
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