Paul Young's retrospective
From Time to Time: The Singles Collection brings together all his major U.S. and European hits from the 1980s and early 1990s. Some of these, including his only U.S. number one "Every Time You Go Away," were remixed when released as singles and to radio -- this collection intelligently includes those versions. Young's music, which bridged new wave, British soul, and adult contemporary, always sported state-of-the-art production, and, coupled with his soulful, yearning voice, has gone on to become some of the finest and most timeless the 1980s had to offer. The songs sound just as lush and energetic as when first released. Highlights include his bewitching breakthrough U.S. single "Come Back and Stay," its reggae-flavored follow-up "Love of the Common People," his massive "Every Time You Go Away," the electrifying "I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down," the timeless and sadly underrated "Everything Must Change," his breakthrough U.K. cover of
Marvin Gaye's "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)," his last U.S. Top Ten hit "Oh Girl," and the international smash "Senza Una Donna" (with Italian star
Zucchero).
Paul Young was a superb interpreter of other people's hits, evident here by two new tracks -- his stirring renditions of
Crowded House's "Don't Dream It's Over" and
Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now." The only hit missing is his smash from Fried Green Tomatoes "What Becomes of the Broken-Hearted," but, then again, that song was released the year after this collection. ~ Jose F. Promis