No Parlez [Import]

Paul Young | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 4, 1984)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Columbia Europe
• ASIN: B0000269Y8
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #171,065 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

2008 digitally remastered and expanded two CD 25th Anniversary edition of the British Pop/Soul vocalist's debut album featuring a bonus disc containing 10 tracks including remixes, B-sides and live cuts. With the release of this debut album in 1983, Paul Young was immediately hailed as an intriguing synthesis of the old and the new. Blessed with a classic Blue-Eyed Soul voice, Young pays homage to R&B tradition with respectful covers of Marvin Gaye's 'Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)' and Booker T and the MG's' 'Iron Out the Rough Spots'. 25 years on it still sounds fantastic - Paul's own songs are quirky and New Wave-influenced while his choice of covers is rather interesting. He covers Joy Division's 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' and three songs by Jack Lee (of L..A.'s Power Pop band The Nerves) among them the exquisite hit single, 'Come Back and Stay'. In retrospect, No Parlez is unmistakably a product of the early '80s but Young's voice and those inescapable pop hooks remain timeless. 21 tracks. Standard jewel case pressing. Sony/BMG. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Caveat Emptor, March 15, 2000

By 

Elessar Tetramariner (Ann Arbor, MI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: No Parlez (Audio CD)

"~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!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Paul Young's best by far; hope they remaster and re-release this in cardboard mini-LP replica sleeve very soon!, July 16, 2005

By 

Frederick Baptist (Singapore) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: No Parlez (Audio CD)

I actually grew up at the time of the release of this album (I was about 17 at the time and the impact on me was tremendous). Not only was Paul's voice great, the remix version of the album (metal oxide tape at the time, cds not yet invented)was just fanstastic.

Being a music hobbyist/collector for more than 30 years now and believe me I've heard too many albums to remember, this one album is still with me while many others that I had started with have since decayed and not been picked up/replaced by me for my collection.

I guess that's how I tell if an album is a classic or not if after all the years, you still miss it if it no longer is in your collection or if you don't put it on the cd player once in a while. For this reason, when my tape eventually wore out, I waited patiently to find a good cd version but I guess I'm still stuck with the Australian release which leaves a lot to be desired given the current level of recording technology that exists out there.

It seems every thing except the kitchen sink has been remastered with bonus tracks added except for this great gem of a classic album (Rupert Holmes' "Partners in Crime" is another one). I hope Sony would reissue this soon fully remastered and in a mini-LP cardboard sleeve. I know, I for one would snap it up at the pre-order stage (same for Rupert Holmes').

Oh, about the album itself? If you are not too concerned about the sound quality being perfect or if you're not too much of an audiophile, then this album is a great addition to your current collection.

The songs are great and the singing is first class. I still enjoy listening to and singing along with "Love of the Common People", "Come Back and Stay", "Wherever I Lay My Hat" (Paul was very heavily influenced by Marvin Gaye and it shows in all the songs here)"Love Will Tear Us Apart" and more. I guess the only filler in this album could be "Sex" (the last song) but overall, all the songs are great if you are into soul and that classic 80s sound. I know I am! By far, Paul Young's greatest album.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars warning, 2008 re-release NOT the original album version, July 17, 2008

By 

gnagfloW (Rosa Barks) - See all my reviews

This review is from: No Parlez: 25th Anniversary Edition (Audio CD)

The initial CD version of No Parlez included only longer versions of the hit singles alongside a few other songs. The album versions from the album were, however, nowhere to be found. In the liner notes of this re-release Paul Young describes those versions as being wearing; not an understatement. According to Paul, the album version was always the true version and finally one can listen to it on CD a quarter of a century later.

It took me not a whole lot longer than zero seconds to realize that something was wrong. The starting crushing interplay of bass & drums on Come Back and Stay is nowhere to be heard, the songs simply "starts". When I heard that the middle section where Paul sings "Since You've Been Gone...." is truncated did I realize that this is the single version being used, NOT the original album version. Things get worse: Love Will Tear Us Apart is presented here without the intro on the original album, again it simply "starts". Similar story with Love of the Common People, the long intro on the album has been shortened, similar as to the single version although I am not sure whether its identical, it is a bit longer than the version on his Time compilation. I think/hope I have spotted all the faults.

The production at the time was revolutionary; Lauri Latham (later worked with Echo & the Bunnymen, Squeeze and The Stranglers) came with a distinctive glossy and crisp sound. Although it became soon dated, it sounds today very fresh. The re-mastering is good, it is as if the tapes were cleaned with the separation much clearer. The music has also aged well, Paul Young's voice still gives me goose bumps. A bonus CD is included with the boring 12 inch versions but an interesting version of Tears For Fears' Pale Shelter and 2 great live recordings.

In whole, a major disappointment due to shortened versions, and simply baffling since it is stated that this IS the original album. I thus give it only three stars, which may be generous. Any comments, especially from someone responsible for this re-release would be welcomed.