Album Description
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Paul Young's second album, released in 1985, THE SECRET OF ASSOCIATION was his US commercial breakthrough following the critical praise for his 1983 debut, NO PARLEZ. Thanks to two spectacular singles--the definitive version of Daryl Hall's lovely "Everytime You Go Away" and a charging rendition of the oft-covered "I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down" that is second only to Ann Peebles' slinky original--the record was an enormous success.
THE SECRET OF ASSOCIATION is a masterpiece of mid-'80s commercial pop. Young's secret weapons include the trilling voices of his female backing duo, The Fabulous Wealthy Tarts, incredibly lush keyboard-dominated arrangements, and Laurie Latham's panoramic, gimmicky production--which showcases (but does not smother) Young's powerful voice in a setting of odd sonic tricks. All are helped considerably by Young's increasingly confident songwriting (his "Everything Must Change" is particularly strong) and by an odd choice of covers that even includes a brilliant rendition of Tom Waits' "Soldier's Things."
