Disco de Paul Young: “No Parlez”

"~I bought Young's lp "No Parlez" in the mid-80s for his originals "Come Back & Stay" (written by Jack Lee) and "Tender Trap", as well as his impassioned version of Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart". This cd does not have the same contents as the original "No Parlez". originals, including "Come Back And Stay", "Love Will Tear Us Apart", "Sex", "Iron Out The Rough Spots", "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home" and "Love Of The Common People". I'm happy to have these alternate versions, but I would have preferred them as 'bonus tracks', in addition to the remastered original tracks. Failing that, some forewarning that this release was not a replication but a mutation of the original album should have been part of the essential release information. Shame on those who altered the contents without advising the consumer!

Before George Michael went solo,there was Paul Young.In the early 80's Britain was undergoing a massive infusion of 'white' R&B acts,the most notable of which turned out to be Wham!,Culture Club,Spandau Ballet,ABC,Level 42 and The Style Council.Each band had it's own particular music flavor but there weren't any popular soloists,until Paul Young came along and changed all that.His trademark was great vocal individuality and confidance-his soulful crooning and his raspy falsetto made him second to none and his 1983 debut 'No Parlez' is a true cornerstone of a legend who should've been.Musically he had his niche too:instead of relying on original songs Young prefered hot adaptations from other songwriters and by having his band blend new romantic pop with modern,horn driven R&B he became innovative from a very musical perspective."Come Back And Stay" and "Love Will Tear Us Apart" are both very poppy but introduce the album well wheras young utterly reinvents Marvin Gaye's "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)" for the Paul Weller/Style Council generation.Relying heavily on synthesizers and drum pads to accent his voice Young certainly does his but to give up the funk here too such as on the quirky "Ku Ku Kurama",the Minneapolis sounding "Sex" and the deep bass driven groove of the title track of three of the funkiest songs to come out of Young's whol catalog.Some of the songs take on a far more electic R&B approch such as the lyrically intruiging "Love Of The Common People",the almost comic "Iron Out The Rough Spots" (with it's whisle sound effect) and two more Hall & Oates type songs in "Oh Woman" and "Tender Trap" (that American duo would later pen one of Young's biggest hits) and Young's original "Broken Man",the only ballad on the album with a very dramatic presentation.Paul Young never recorded another album like 'No Parlez'.Even as his next couple releases had some similarities they each further polished his sound into something much more commercial and radio friendly.And where 'No Parlez' has tons of radio potential it focuses more on being artful and musical and showcases the singer.George Michael would later begin crafting more individual albums in his own brand of British R&B and that and changing tastes would take some of the wind out of Paul Young's career.But on 'No Parlez' Paul Young,singer and artist is presented at his best and if you enjoy British R&B in the 80's this is a must have CD.

The last reviewer is very obviously angry at the state of commercial music today. However, I feel his anger towards Paul Young is very misplaced. If you are the type of person who complains that all those old Motown songs sound like they were recorded in a Detroit basement, then don't buy this very eighties-sounding pop/soul collection. Personally, I think Paul Young is up there with Rod Stewart and Chris Robinson as one of the premier white soul shouters.

Back in the eighties heyday of MTV, the video of Paul Young's COME BACK AND STAY was one of my favorites. I can still see the ghostly woman and the crashing waves. I loved that song!

NO PARLEZ has that song and other tunes common in those technopop years.

Young is a good vocalist, enamored of earlier R&B artists and songs as evidenced in his soulful version of Marvin Gaye's WHEREVER I HANG MY HAT and his spritely remake of LOVE OF THE COMMON PEOPLE. Other highlights include NO PARLEZ, TENDER TRAP, IRON OUT THE ROUGH SPOTS and LOVE WILL TEAR US APART.

What I like most are the musical flourishes, the great bass work and those delightful background vocals by the Fabulous Wealthy Tarts. Fun stuff!

NO PARLEZ takes me back to those synth-pop days and makes me smile. This is a great example of those days.

This is the first album I bought released by Mr. Young. Although at times the women backing him up can seem screechy, it was the backup choice of that time. His voice is unequivocal. There is a great strength in his voice. The only reason I didn't give him 5 stars is because of the female backup. Come back and stay earned him great US recognition, Wherever I Lay My Hat is a greater cover than the original in my opinion. Broken Man is so very soulful. One truly believes he has been a broken man.

My only reservation in recommending this cd, is the female backup on a couple songs. But there is a wonderful option of not playing those tracks and just loving the groove you find yourself in.

Great stuff!!!