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The Lover Speaks (album)

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The Lover Speaks
Studio album by
The Lover Speaks
ReleasedAugust 1986
Studio
GenrePop, new wave
Length42:23
LabelA&M
Producer
The Lover Speaks chronology
The Lover Speaks
(1986) 		The Big Lie
(1987)
Singles from The Lover Speaks
  1. "No More "I Love You's""
    Released: July 1986
  2. "Tremble Dancing"
    Released: September 1986
  3. "Every Lover's Sign"
    Released: October 1986
  4. "Never to Forget You (Australia only)"
    Released: June 1987

The Lover Speaks is the self-titled debut studio album from British duo The Lover Speaks, released by A&M in 1986.[1]

Background

[edit]

David Freeman and Joseph Hughes formed The Lover Speaks in 1985, having previously worked together in the punk outfit The Flys. Deriving their name from the Roland Barthes' book A Lover's Discourse: Fragments, the duo began writing material and also recruited keyboard player Barry Gilbert after advertising for a keyboardist. Although Gilbert was not an official member of the group, he would record and tour with the duo. Later in 1985, the band sent a demo tape to Dave Stewart of Eurythmics and soon signed with Stewart's Anxious Music Publishing. Meanwhile, Stewart had forwarded the demo tape to Chrissie Hynde, who sent it to producer Jimmy Iovine. Iovine was successful in getting the band a recording contract with A&M Records in early 1986.[2][3]

Work on the duo's debut album began in February 1986 at A&M Studios in Los Angeles. The Church Studios in London was also used for recording and Marcus Recording Studios was used to master the album. With Iovine as co-producer, the album took three months to complete. Originally, Freeman had put forward two possible titles for the album – The Politics of Roses and Seriously Purple Prose – but both were rejected by A&M in favour of being self-titled.[4] Describing the album's theme, Freeman recalled in 2015:

"Each song on the album is a reference to a specific idea in Roland Barthes' book Fragments d'un discours amoureux. Our idea was to produce a musical cartoon of his book. The whole album is based on that book – an exercise in camp with a bouffant hairdo.[4]

In July 1986, the band's debut single, "No More "I Love You's"",[5] peaked at No. 58 in the UK.[6] In August, the debut album was released, but failed to chart. To promote the album, the band opened for Eurythmics during their Revenge World Tour.[7][8] A second single from the album, "Tremble Dancing" was released in September, but also failed to chart.[9] A third single, "Every Lover's Sign", was released in October in the UK and November in the US.[10] In December, it reached at No. 6 on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs Chart.[11]

In 1987, the duo followed the album with a cover of Dusty Springfield's "I Close My Eyes and Count to Ten", but the single failed to chart. In June 1987, "Never to Forget You" was released in Australia as a single, with "I Close My Eyes and Count to Ten" as the B-Side.[12] During the same year, the band recorded their second album, The Big Lie, but A&M decided not to release it.

Release

[edit]

The album was released by A&M Records on vinyl, CD and cassette across the world including in the UK, Europe, US, Canada, Japan and Australia. In June 2015, The Lover Speaks was re-issued on CD by Cherry Pop with eight bonus tracks.[13] The re-issue was produced by Vinny Vero and mastered by Andy Pearce. The liner notes were written by Larry R. Watts with artwork and design by Johan Mauritzson.

As of March, 2022, this critically acclaimed album is not available on iTunes.

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[14]
Billboardfavourable[15]
Cash Boxfavourable[16]
Los Angeles Timesfavourable[17]
Nervefavourable[18]
Number One[19]
PopMatters[20]
The Second Discfavourable[21]
Smash Hits[22]
The Sydney Morning Heraldfavourable[23]

Upon release, Billboard listed the album as 'Recommended' in their 'Pop' section. The review stated: "Intricate vocals and splashy arrangements spark this debut, dominated by vocalist/songwriter David Freeman's soul-drenched pop originals."[15] Terry Atkinson of Los Angeles Times stated: "Though its ultra-romantic, stylishly emotional approach sometimes leads to Tears for Fears/Wham! mush, this new English duo bows with a frequently intriguing album. Freeman's hyper-emotional lead vocals are sometimes ludicrously overwrought, but all in all this collection is well worth checking out." He highlighted "No More I Love You's", "Still Faking This Art of Love", "Every Lover's Sign" and "Of Tears" as the best tracks.[17] Cash Box listed the album as one of their "feature picks" during August 1986. They commented: "Led by the interesting and captivating "No More 'I Love You's'," The Lover Speaks debuts with this engaging set."[16]

Kyle Swanson of the Canadian magazine Nerve said: "Exquisitely produced by Jimmy Iovine, The Lover Speaks is disturbingly likeable. It makes no pretense about being pretentious, and all ten tunes are pure love song pop - but state of the art. TLS is David Freeman and Joseph Hughes, who understand this type of music. A vocal hook here, a sweeping melody there, and soon you're humming and smiling and thinking of sunsets. A supremely good make-out record, The Lover Speaks is rare, stellar pop music."[18] Stuart Coupe of The Sydney Morning Herald said: "Discovered by Eurythmics' Dave Stewart, The Lover Speaks display the influences of early Motown, and a production style that has led to comparisons with Phil Spector. Well worth investigating."[23] Music & Media picked the album as one of their "albums of the week" in September 1986.[24]

Frank Gillespie of Number One said: "As far as I'm concerned, this album is just pine-city. Hearts heave as synthesisers are programmed and tears roll down cheeks in the studio as Ultravox's "Vienna" royalties are fondly remembered. The Lover Speaks are a better looking, more believable pair of crooners than Godley and Creme. The production is slinky and smooth and the lyrics have a sad memory from the past to accommodate everyone. Just the stuff for a quiet night in with your nearest and dearest."[19] Colette Campbell of Smash Hits stated: "This lot must be one of the drippiest cry-baby bands ever. Every song on the album is about the trials and tribulations of being "in lurve". The music actually sounds quite nice in a desperately gloomy synthesisery sort of way, so it's a shame they're so overwhelmingly serious and pretentious."[22] Newcastle Evening Chronicle said: "Nothing radically different, just good quality pop-rock performed with verve."[25]

Michael Sutton of AllMusic retrospectively praised the album. He commented on the "stylishly crafted, soulful pop" of "No More "I Love You's"", which he felt was "elevated by Freeman's booming voice". He wrote that "Absent One" and "Love Is: "I Gave You Everything" "surge with bruised emotions", while "Every Lover's Sign" and "Never to Forget You" "offer respite from all the melancholy confessions". He summarised: "...it's the stinging ache in tracks such as "Face Me and Smile," a tale of infidelity, that linger after the album has finished spinning."[14] Imran Khan of PopMatters reviewed the re-issue of the album, where he described the duo's sound as a "baroque and windswept drama of romance and pop". He summarised the album as being "full of bouncy, ebullient grooves and an atmosphere of high drama which still maintains its charm nearly 30 years later".[20]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks written and composed by David Freeman and Joseph Hughes except "Of Tears" written by Freeman, Hughes and Barry Gilbert, and "I Close My Eyes and Count to Ten" written by Clive Westlake.

No.TitleLength
1."Every Lover's Sign"4:38
2."No More "I Love You's""4:04
3."Never to Forget You"4:22
4."Face Me and Smile"4:19
5."Absent One"4:16
6."Love Is: "I Gave You Everything""4:27
7.""This Can't Go On!""3:52
8."Still Faking This Art of Love"4:22
9."Tremble Dancing"4:16
10."Of Tears"3:43
Cherry Pop CD bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
11."Every Lover's Sign" (7" Remix)4:07
12."I Close My Eyes and Count to Ten"3:57
13."Tremble Dancing" (Extended)5:17
14."Every Lover's Sign" (New York Mix)5:53
15."I Close My Eyes and Count to Ten" (12" Dance Mix)4:50
16."Every Lover's Sign" (Dub Mix)6:37
17."I Close My Eyes and Count to Ten (Reprise)"1:08
18."Every Lover's Sign" (Dub Mix Edit)5:19

Personnel

[edit]
The Lover Speaks

with:

  • Barry Gilbert – keyboard, arranger (track 10)
Additional personnel
Technical
  • Jimmy Iovine – producer
  • Fred Defaye – engineer
  • Marc O'Donoghue – assistant engineer
  • Joe Chiccarelli – mixing, recording
  • Craig Engel – mix assistant
  • Joe Borja – recording
  • Robert de la Garza – recording
  • John Warwicker – art direction, design
  • Matt Mahurin – photography
  • Atelier Koninck – typography

Charts

[edit]

Singles

[edit]

No More "I Love You's"

Chart (1986) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart[26] 58
US Cash Box Top 100 Singles Chart[27] 88

Every Lover's Sign

Chart (1986) Peak
position
US Billboard Dance/Club Play Songs Chart[28] 6

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The Lover Speaks – The Lover Speaks at Discogs". Discogs.com. 30 March 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  2. ^ Biography by Michael Sutton. "Lover Speaks | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  3. ^ "Seriously Purple Prose – The Official David Freeman and The Lover Speaks Site Updates". Soulsaw.com. 25 September 1957. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  4. ^ a b "Images for The Lover Speaks – The Lover Speaks". Discogs.com. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  5. ^ "The Lover Speaks – No More "I Love You's" / This Can't Go On – A&M – UK – AM 326". 45cat. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  6. ^ "LOVER SPEAKS | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  7. ^ Eurythmics – Revenge Tour. "Eurythmics – Revenge Tour – Ultimate Eurythmics". Eurythmics-ultimate.com. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  8. ^ "The Lover Speaks album is re-issued with extensive liner notes talking about Eurythmics, Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart – Ultimate Eurythmics". Eurythmics-ultimate.com. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  9. ^ "The Lover Speaks – Tremble Dancing / Still Faking This Art Of Love – A&M – UK – AM 347". 45cat. 7 July 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  10. ^ "The Lover Speaks – Every Lover's Sign / Every Lover's Sign (Dub Mix Edit) – A&M – UK – AM 361". 45cat. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  11. ^ "Lover Speaks – Chart history". Billboard. 13 December 1986. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  12. ^ "The Lover Speaks - Never To Forget You / I Close My Eyes And Count To Ten - A&M - Australia - K-255". 45cat. 22 November 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  13. ^ "The Lover Speaks – The Lover Speaks (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  14. ^ a b Sutton, Michael. "The Lover Speaks – Lover Speaks | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  15. ^ a b "Billboard – Google Books". 9 August 1986. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  16. ^ a b Cash Box newspaper - 16 August 1986 - Album Releases - page 8
  17. ^ a b Terry ATKINSON (7 September 1986). "Mush, Emotion - latimes". Articles.latimes.com. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  18. ^ a b Nerve magazine - Issue No. 29 - October 1986 - Short & Sweet by Kyle Swanson - page 19
  19. ^ a b Number One magazine - 27 September 1986 - Album Reviews - page 35
  20. ^ a b "The Lover Speaks: The Lover Speaks". PopMatters. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  21. ^ Duquette, Mike. "More "I Love You"s: Cherry Pop Reissues, Expands "The Lover Speaks"". Theseconddisc.com. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  22. ^ a b Smash Hits magazine - 10–24 September 1986 - Album Reviews - page 50
  23. ^ a b The Sydney Morning Herald - Vinyl Talk - Stuart Coupe - 14 December 1986
  24. ^ "M&M Euro Tip Page - Albums of the Week". Music & Media Magazine. 20 September 1986.
  25. ^ Newcastle Evening Chronicle - Time Off: Albums - 13 November 1986 - page 16
  26. ^ "lover-speaks | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  27. ^ Downey, Pat; Albert, George; Hoffmann, Frank W. (4 June 2010). Cash box pop singles charts, 1950-1993 - Pat Downey, George Albert, Frank W. Hoffmann - Google Books. ISBN 9781563083167. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  28. ^ "Lover Speaks – Chart history". Billboard. 13 December 1986. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
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