No Parlez is the debut solo studio album by English singer-songwriterPaul Young, released on 18 July 1983 by CBS Records.[1] Recorded primarily at Workhouse Studios in London, it features a blend of contemporary pop/rock, new wave, and soul influences, including eight cover versions such as Marvin Gaye's "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)" and Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart," alongside original tracks penned by Young and collaborators like Jack Lee.[2][3]The album propelled Young to international stardom following his time in the short-lived band Q-Tips, with four singles charting in the UK Top 10: "Come Back and Stay" (peaking at #4), "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)" (#1 for three weeks), "Love of the Common People" (#2 for three weeks), and "I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down" (#9).[4][3] Commercially, No Parlez topped the UK Albums Chart in September 1983, spending a total of 120 weeks in the Top 100 and earning quadruple platinum certification from the BPI for over 1.2 million units sold in the UK.[5][3]Critically, the album received positive reviews for Young's soulful vocals and the production by Laurie Latham, establishing him as a key figure in the 1980sBritish pop scene.[2] It has been reissued multiple times, including expanded editions in 2008 and a 40th anniversary set in 2024 featuring bonus tracks and remixes, underscoring its enduring legacy.[3]
Background
Paul Young's Pre-Solo Career
Paul Antony Young was born on 17 January 1956 in Luton, Bedfordshire, England, the middle child of three siblings, with an older brother named Mark and a younger sister named Joanne. Growing up in a working-class family, where his father and brother worked at the local Vauxhall Motors factory, Young developed an early passion for music, teaching himself to play piano and guitar. His influences were rooted in blues and soul, particularly drawn to artists like Bill Withers and Albert King, which shaped his affinity for R&B and Motown sounds.[6]In the mid-1970s, Young began his musical journey in the pub rock scene, initially playing bass and providing backing vocals in local bands around Luton. He joined his first notable group, Kat Kool & the Kool Kats, a pub rock outfit that performed covers and original songs in small venues, giving him initial live performance experience. By 1976, he transitioned to lead vocals with Streetband, a rock band that blended pop and novelty elements; the group achieved a minor hit in 1978 with their quirky single "Toast," which peaked at number 18 on the UK Singles Chart and became known for its humorous, spoken-word style.[7]Seeking a shift toward soul music, Young co-formed Q-Tips in 1979 from remnants of Streetband, establishing the band as a blue-eyed soul covers group specializing in Motown and R&B classics. Q-Tips secured a regular club residency at Dingwalls in Camden, London, where they built a dedicated following through energetic performances of songs by artists like Marvin Gaye and Al Green, honing Young's distinctive vocal style through close imitation of these soul icons' emotive phrasing and timbre. Despite releasing two albums and several singles, commercial success eluded them, leading to the band's disbandment in early 1982 as members, including Young, pursued individual paths.[8][9]
Album Development
Following the disbandment of his band Q-Tips in 1982, Paul Young signed a solo recording contract with CBS Records, motivated by creative differences and a desire to explore original material beyond the group's reliance on cover versions and retro soul styles.[10][11][12] This transition was prompted by Young's songwriting partnership with former Q-Tips keyboardist Ian Kewley, whose compositions the band had rejected, pushing Young toward a more modern, adventurous sound.[12]The album title No Parlez was derived from an experimental track by songwriter Anthony Moore, with the French phrase roughly translating to "no speech" or "no chit-chat," symbolizing Young's direct, no-nonsense vision for his solo debut.[13]Song selection for No Parlez balanced reinterpretations of soul classics with original compositions, including covers such as "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)"—originally recorded by Marvin Gaye in 1962 for his debut album That Stubborn Kinda Fellow that spontaneously came to Young—and "Love of the Common People," originally written by John Hurley and Ronnie Wilkins but popularized by The Winstons and Nicky Thomas in the late 1960s.[13][14] Original tracks included "Broken Man" (written by Young), and co-written with Kewley "Stealin'" and "Behind Your Smile," providing a platform for Young's personal songwriting.[13][15]Early demos of these originals, recorded with Kewley, were instrumental in convincing CBS of Young's solo potential, showcasing a blue-eyed soul aesthetic that fused soulful vocals with New Wave and pop elements for a contemporary edge.[13] Initial collaboration ideas focused on producers who could enhance this hybrid style, emphasizing live instrumentation alongside emerging technology to create a timeless yet innovative debut.[13]
Production
Recording Sessions
The recording of No Parlez took place primarily at The Workhouse Studios in London, spanning from late 1982 into early 1983, with core tracking completed during the winter months and mixing handled in the spring ahead of the album's July release.[16][2]Producer Laurie Latham oversaw the sessions, which proceeded in batches of two to three tracks initially due to label constraints, allowing for a focused creative buildup after Paul Young secured a full albumdeal following promising demos.[17][18] Additional sessions occurred at Park Gate Studios in Sussex and Pathé Marconi Studios in Paris, contributing to the album's polished sound through extended mixes and refinements.[17]Latham's approach emphasized innovative layering of soulful arrangements, blending live instrumentation such as piano, guitar, and marimbas with synthesizers like the OB-X and KorgVocoder to create a distinctive blue-eyed soul texture that unified the diverse tracklist.[17] The process incorporated experimental elements, including tape loops, prepared pianos with pencils for damped effects, and unconventional percussion like steel sheets, reflecting a hands-on, indie-inspired ethos that encouraged the band's "Royal Family" dynamic.[18] Backing vocalists Kim Leslie and Maz Roberts, known as The Fabulous Wealthy Tarts, added scat and R&B harmonies via overdubs, enhancing the album's emotional depth without overpowering Young's lead.[13]A key challenge arose in Young's vocal experimentation on cover tracks, where he sought to reinterpret songs like Marvin Gaye's "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)" and Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart" in a personal style to avoid direct imitation of originals, sparking debates with CBS executives over stylistic risks.[13] Overdubbing sessions proved intensive for certain cuts, such as building layered bass lines with Pino Palladino on tracks like "Come Back and Stay," while label pushback temporarily halted work on additions like "Love of the Common People" until resolved, marking a breakthrough in asserting artistic control.[18] These hurdles ultimately fostered a cohesive album, with Young's soulful delivery serving as the threading element amid the production's creative breakthroughs.[17]
Key Contributors
Paul Young provided the lead vocals for No Parlez, bringing his soulful baritone to the forefront of the album's eclectic mix of pop, rock, and soul influences, while also contributing occasional percussion to enhance the rhythmic texture.[19]The core backing band, known as The Royal Family, formed the foundation of the album's sound, with Steve Bolton handling guitars to deliver sharp riffs and melodic lines across most tracks, Pino Palladino on bass guitar offering his signature fretless style that defined grooves like the iconic opening of "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)," Mark Pinder on drums providing steady, dynamic propulsion, and Ian Kewley on keyboards adding atmospheric layers and co-arranging the material alongside Young and producer Laurie Latham. Matt Irving supplemented the instrumentation with additional guitars, bass, ARP synthesizer, and Roland MC-4 Microcomposer on select tracks, contributing to the album's experimental edges.[19][13]Guest musicians enriched specific songs, including the South African vocal group Eyethu, who delivered distinctive chants on the title track "No Parlez," infusing it with global flair, and the backing vocal ensemble The Fabulous Wealthy Tarts—comprising Kim Lesley and Maz Roberts—who provided harmonious support on tracks such as "Come Back and Stay," "Love of the Common People," and "Oh Girl," amplifying the album's soulful choruses. Rico Rodriguez provided trombone on "Love of the Common People," lending a brassy, upbeat energy that highlighted the song's Motown-inspired cover roots.[19]The production team was led by Laurie Latham, who served as producer and handled some percussion, shaping the album's polished yet raw aesthetic through meticulous oversight of arrangements and performances; he worked alongside engineer teams at Workhouse Studios in London, where the bulk of the recording took place.[20][16]
Content and Style
Musical Elements
_No Parlez exemplifies the blue-eyed soul genre, fusing pop and R&B elements with stylistic nods to the Motown and Stax Records eras of the 1960s and 1970s. This classification stems from Young's interpretation of soul traditions through a contemporary lens, emphasizing smooth, groove-oriented arrangements that echo the rhythmic drive and emotional depth of classic soul labels.[21][22][23]Central to the album's sonic identity are Young's emotive baritone vocals, which convey raw feeling over mid-tempo grooves centered on romance and heartbreak. These elements create a cohesive soundscape, with the baritone range providing a deep, resonant foundation that aligns with soul's expressive heritage. Young's vocal approach, refined through his earlier work with bands like Q-Tips, adds a layer of authenticity to the performances.[24][25][23]The original vinyl release comprises 11 tracks, mixing original compositions—including two co-written by Young ("Tender Trap" and "Broken Man")—with cover versions, each averaging 4 to 5 minutes to allow for developed builds and emotional arcs. This structure balances reinterpretations of soul standards with fresh material, maintaining a runtime that prioritizes immersion over brevity.[13][26][19]Production highlights include reverb applied to vocals for a spacious, intimate quality and the use of live instrumentation from Young's backing band, the Royal Family, to capture genuine soul authenticity. These choices, handled by producer Laurie Latham, enhance the album's organic feel, drawing on real-time band dynamics rather than heavy synthesis.[27][28][13]
Track Listing
The original UK vinyl edition of No Parlez, released in July 1983, features 11 tracks spread across two sides, blending original compositions with covers of soul, rock, and new wave influences.[19]
Original composition written by Paul Young and Ian Kewley.[19]
B6
"Sex"
Jack Lee
4:49
Original composition by Jack Lee.[19]
The initial 1983 CD edition features 12 tracks, incorporating extended mixes of several singles—including "Come Back and Stay" (7:55), "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)" (6:00), "Love of the Common People" (5:51), "Iron Out the Rough Spots" (7:27), and "Sex" (6:50)—and adds the bonus track "Behind Your Smile" (written by Ian Kewley and Paul Young, duration 4:08) as track 6.[29][30]
Release and Promotion
Initial Release Details
_No Parlez was released on July 22, 1983, by CBS Records in the United Kingdom.[1] In the United States, the album was issued later that year by Columbia Records.[16]The original edition was available in multiple formats, including vinyl LP, cassette, and CD.[29] The UK vinyl pressing, cataloged as CBS 25521, featured the standard 11-track configuration recorded during sessions that concluded earlier in 1983.[16]International editions exhibited variations to suit regional markets; for instance, the US vinyl release on Columbia (BFC 38976) included altered mixes of select tracks, such as a shorter version of "Come Back and Stay" compared to the UK counterpart.[31] These adaptations reflected Columbia's approach to tailoring content for American audiences while maintaining the album's core soul and pop elements.[2]
Singles and Videos
The lead single from No Parlez, "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)", was released in June 1983 and became Paul Young's first number-one hit on the UK Singles Chart, topping it for three weeks starting 23 July 1983. The B-side was "Broken Man".[32] Its music video, directed by Storm Thorgerson, depicts Young navigating a narrative of infidelity involving two women.[33]"Love of the Common People" followed as the third single in November 1983, reaching number two on the UK Singles Chart.[34] The B-side featured a live version of "Behind Your Smile". The accompanying video, directed by Storm Thorgerson in one version, incorporates imagery of street performers to evoke the song's themes of everyday life.[35]"Come Back and Stay" was issued as the second single in September 1983, peaking at number four on the UK Singles Chart.[36] The B-side was "Yours".[32] A singleremix version was prepared for international markets, including the US release on Columbia Records in January 1984, where it reached number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100.[37] The video, directed by Storm Thorgerson, features Young performing alongside his backing vocalists.[38]"I'm Only Foolin' Myself", an original track associated with the album's expanded editions, saw a limited single release in early 1991 for continental Europe, with a B-side of "Thinking About".[39] It did not chart in the UK but supported re-promotion of Young's early material.[4]
Commercial Performance
Chart Positions
No Parlez entered the UK Albums Chart on 30 July 1983, initially charting outside the Top 40 before climbing into the Top 40 the following week in early August. It reached the number one position for the first time on 17 September 1983 and held the top spot for a total of five non-consecutive weeks, spending 120 weeks on the chart overall. The album's strong performance was bolstered by the success of its lead single "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)", which peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart for three weeks starting 23 July 1983 and charted for 16 weeks in total.[5][40]In year-end rankings, No Parlez placed second on the UK Albums Chart for 1983, behind only Michael Jackson's Thriller, and 24th for 1984 as it continued to chart amid sustained popularity. Internationally, the album peaked at number 12 on the Australian Kent Music Report chart, number 8 on Canada's RPM 100 Albums chart, and number 79 on the USBillboard 200, where it spent 20 weeks. It also reached number 1 in the Netherlands and New Zealand. Compared to contemporaries, No Parlez outperformed Culture Club's debut album Kissing to Be Clever, which peaked at number five on the UK Albums Chart, highlighting Young's breakthrough amid the era's British pop wave.[41][42][43][44][45]
Chart (1983–1984)
Peak Position
Weeks on Chart
UK Albums (OCC)
1
120
Australia (Kent Music Report)
12
—
Canada (RPM 100 Albums)
8
—
US Billboard 200
79
20
Netherlands (Album Top 100)
1
—
Sales and Certifications
No Parlez achieved substantial commercial success, particularly in the United Kingdom, where it has been certified 4× Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for sales exceeding 1.2 million units, reflecting a certification threshold of 300,000 units per platinum level.[46][47] Its enduring popularity was sustained through long-tail sales driven by consistent radio airplay.[13]Globally, No Parlez has sold approximately 1.8 million copies.[44] The album attained Platinum status in Australia (70,000 units) and Gold in Canada (50,000 units, certified in 1986), underscoring its broad international appeal. It also received Platinum certification in Germany for over 300,000 units.[44]
Regional performance further highlighted its reach, with over 300,000 copies sold in Germany, contributing to the album's overall international recognition across multiple markets.[44] These figures illustrate the album's role in propelling Paul Young's career amid the 1980s pop landscape.
Reception
Initial Critical Response
Upon its release in July 1983, No Parlez received positive attention in the UK music press, establishing Paul Young as a promising talent in the pop-soul genre. The album was listed among NME's albums of 1983, reflecting its impact on the contemporary scene.[48]In the United States, the album achieved moderate success but lacked the immediate critical buzz it garnered in the UK. Later assessments, such as the Rolling Stone Album Guide, rated it three out of five stars.[49]These early opinions positioned No Parlez as a strong debut blending accessible pop with soul influences.
Later Assessments
In the years following its release, No Parlez has received retrospective acclaim for its bold fusion of soul covers and experimental elements, positioning it as a key artifact of early 1980sBritish pop innovation. The 2008 25th anniversary edition prompted a review in Record Collector magazine, where critic David Harvey highlighted Young's "supple voice" as a standout, infusing "classy polished 80s pop" with genuine soul through quirky reinterpretations of tracks by Marvin Gaye and Joy Division, though he noted some tracks felt like "synthy filler" that occasionally wasted the vocal talent.[50]Subsequent evaluations have emphasized the album's enduring vocal authenticity amid production choices that now appear period-specific. A 2010 retrospective on Martin Leedham's music blog described it as a "classic pop/soul album" warranting greater recognition as one of the finest debut solo efforts of the era, praising Young's throaty delivery on covers like "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)" for transcending dated synth elements. Similarly, a 2014 Pop Rescuevinyl review rated it four stars, lauding the "huge hits" and overall debut strength while acknowledging the 1980s production's occasional "warped" quality on lesser tracks, yet affirming the core soulful appeal holds up.[51][30]By the 2020s, reassessments have underscored No Parlez's role in the UK's blue-eyed soul landscape and its underappreciated influence on later genre revivals. In a March 2024 Super Deluxe Edition feature tied to the 40th anniversary reissue, Guardian critic Alexis Petridis argued the album merits reevaluation beyond its mocked reputation, calling it a "product of the adventurous early 80s" with innovative production by Laurie Latham, distinctive bass from Pino Palladino, and timeless soul covers that blend punk, prog, and R&B influences—elements rarely highlighted in broader 1980s retrospectives but pivotal to the British soul revival of subsequent decades. Petridis noted its commercial longevity (119 weeks on the UK chart) reflects an "enduring appeal" in Young's authentic phrasing, even as some drum sounds now evoke the era's trends.[52][5]
Reissues
2008 Expanded Edition
The 2008 expanded edition of No Parlez was released in Europe on July 25, 2008, by Sony BMG Music Entertainment as a two-disc remastered set commemorating the album's 25th anniversary.[53] This deluxe edition features the original 11-track album on the first disc, digitally remastered for improved audio quality, preserving the core content that defined Paul Young's breakthrough solo debut.[54] The second disc compiles bonus material, including extended 12-inch mixes of key singles such as "Come Back and Stay" (7:31), "Iron Out the Rough Spots" (7:29), and "Love of the Common People" (5:51), alongside B-sides like "Behind Your Smile" (4:11) and "I've Been Lonely For So Long" (3:38).[54]Further enhancing the collection, the bonus disc incorporates previously unreleased demos, including early versions of "Sex" (3:50) and a cover of Tears for Fears' "Pale Shelter" (3:51), offering insight into Young's creative process during the album's development.[54] It also includes live recordings from 1983, capturing performances of "Better to Have and Don't Need" (5:57) and "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)" (5:59), which highlight the early energy of his solo career.[54] These additions provide fans with rare archival material not available on the original 1983 release, emphasizing the edition's archival value.[54]The packaging consists of a slimline two-CD jewel case with an eight-page booklet, featuring updated artwork and a front cover sticker promoting the remastered audio and the hit single "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)."[54] This reissue format was designed to celebrate the album's enduring legacy, making expanded content accessible in a compact, collector-friendly presentation.[54]
2024 40th Anniversary Edition
To commemorate the 40th anniversary of Paul Young's debut album, a deluxe reissue of No Parlez was released on March 15, 2024, through Edsel Records in collaboration with Super Deluxe Edition.[55] This edition introduced multiple formats, including a standard 2CD set with UK sleeve artwork, an SDE-exclusive 2CD variant limited to 1,000 copies featuring US sleeve artwork in seven-inch deluxe gatefold packaging, a 2LP expanded edition on 180-gram clear vinyl, and an SDE-exclusive Blu-ray Audio disc as part of the SDE Surround Series (issue #17).[55][3][56]The 2CD sets feature a remastered version of the original 11-track UK LP on the first disc, including songs such as "Come Back and Stay," "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)," and "Love of the Common People."[3] The second disc compiles rarities and alternate versions, highlighting 1982 mixes like the seven-inch version of "Love of the Common People," 12-inch extended club mixes of tracks including "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)" and "Come Back and Stay," a single remix of "Come Back and Stay," and three non-album tracks: "Behind Your Smile," "I’ve Been Lonely for So Long," and "Yours."[3] Additionally, it includes a "Scratch Mix" of "Come Back and Stay" and other B-sides and remixes from the era.[3]The Blu-ray Audio edition offers exclusive high-resolution audio content, providing eight streams: a new Dolby Atmos immersive mix, a 5.1 surround mix, a new stereo mix, instrumental versions of the new mixes, the original 1983 stereo mix, and masters from the vinyl record.[55] It also includes the 11-track vinyl version of the album plus the three bonus tracks from the 2CD's second disc.[55] These immersive and remixed audio elements were produced under the supervision of engineer David Kosten, with endorsement from Paul Young himself.[55]Accompanying the audio content, the reissue includes an eight-page booklet with new liner notes featuring interviews with Paul Young and key collaborators, as well as previously unreleased photos from the album's recording sessions and promotional period.[3][55] The vinyl edition expands on the original tracklist in a gatefold sleeve with updated artwork, offering a collectible format for analog enthusiasts.[56] This release builds on prior reissues by emphasizing modern audio enhancements and anniversary-specific archival material.[55]
Legacy
Cultural Significance
No Parlez marked the launch of Paul Young's solo career, transitioning him from frontman of the pub rock and new wave band Q-Tips to a leading voice in British pop-soul, with the album's release in July 1983 propelling him to international prominence. Its eclectic mix of soul covers and original material helped pioneer blue-eyed soul for white British artists, paralleling the later rise of acts like Simply Red and contributing to a broader revival of soul influences in the UK's 1980s music scene.[13][57]The album's promotion aligned with the MTV era's Second British Invasion, where music videos for tracks like "Come Back and Stay" and "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)" gained heavy rotation, enhancing Young's visibility and bridging his roots in pub rock to mainstream pop-soul appeal across global markets. In 1984, Young received the Brit Award for Best British Newcomer, recognizing No Parlez's role in reshaping British pop. The record's romantic themes provided escapism during the socio-economic tensions of the Thatcher era, offering audiences a soulful counterpoint to the period's political and industrial strife.[58][59][60]No Parlez's commercial success, certified quadruple platinum in the UK for sales exceeding 1.2 million copies and achieving strong international performance, bolstered CBS Records' 1980s roster by demonstrating the label's ability to elevate British talent amid a competitive pop landscape.[5][13]
Influence and Covers
The tracks from No Parlez have exerted a lasting influence on subsequent artists, particularly in the realm of blue-eyed soul and the fusion of soul covers with contemporary pop arrangements. Paul Young's emotive vocal delivery and reinterpretation of classic soul material on the album helped establish a template for white artists engaging with Black musical traditions, a style later echoed by figures like Amy Winehouse, whose work on Back to Black (2006) similarly blended retro soul influences with modern production techniques.[13][61]Notable covers of No Parlez songs highlight its enduring appeal. The album's standout single "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)"—itself a cover of Marvin Gaye's 1962 original—was reinterpreted by the British boy band Boyzone in 1997, reaching number 8 on the UK Singles Chart and demonstrating how Young's soulful phrasing resonated in boy band vocal harmonies during the late 1990s pop revival. The song's lyric has been referenced in Beastie Boys' 1989 album Paul's Boutique, nodding to the soul tradition originating from Marvin Gaye's version. Additionally, "Love of the Common People" has seen covers in the 2000s, including acoustic renditions that pay homage to Young's upbeat, optimistic arrangement of the 1967 original by The Four Preps.[62][63][64]Young's style from No Parlez found echoes in boy band aesthetics, where layered, soul-inflected vocals became a staple, influencing groups like Boyzone who directly covered his material and adopted similar emotive ranges in their performances.[13]In the 2010s, Young revived interest in the album through live performances, including a 2018 UK tour marking the 35th anniversary of No Parlez, where he played the full album to celebrate its role in his career.[65] By 2025, the album's tracks had amassed approximately 270 million streams on Spotify alone, underscoring its digital longevity and appeal to new generations.[66]