No One Is to Blame
"No One Is to Blame" | ||||
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Single by Howard Jones | ||||
from the album Dream Into Action (original version) Action Replay and One to One (re-recorded version) | ||||
B-side | "The Chase" | |||
Released | 3 March 1986 (UK) 24 March 1986 (US) | |||
Recorded | 1985 | |||
Genre | New wave, soft rock[1] | |||
Length | 3:29 (1985 version) 4:13 (1986 version) | |||
Label | WEA (UK) Elektra Records (US) | |||
Songwriter(s) | Howard Jones | |||
Producer(s) | Phil Collins & Hugh Padgham | |||
Howard Jones singles chronology | ||||
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"No One Is to Blame" is a song written and performed by British musician Howard Jones. Originally released on Jones's 1985 album, Dream into Action, "No One Is to Blame" was re-recorded and released as a single in 1986. The single became Jones's biggest U.S. hit to date, peaking at #4.
History
[edit]The original version of the song can be found on Dream into Action. Following the success of the previous singles from that album, it was re-recorded to generate a more radio-friendly sound. Phil Collins and Hugh Padgham produced the re-recording, with Collins adding his own drum work and mood.[2][3] The new version of the song was included on the 1986 US EP Action Replay as well as the CD version of Jones' 1986 studio album, One to One.[4]
"No One Is to Blame" was released as a single in March 1986. It became Jones' biggest hit in the United States, peaking at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100.[2] The song also became the first of his two #1 songs on the U.S. adult contemporary chart ("Everlasting Love" would top this chart in 1989).[5] "No One Is to Blame" was also a top 10 hit in Australia and a #16 hit in the U.K.[6]
In 2018, Morgan Enos of Billboard described "No One Is to Blame" as a "dreamy, existential" ballad that "doesn’t quite deal with love, but with the lack thereof". Enos added that the song "had a message and melody that resonated".[7] The song is known for its "aching beauty"[8] and for Jones's "plaintive lead vocals and piano".[9]
Track list
[edit]7"
- "No One Is to Blame" – 4:14
- "The Chase" – 2:53
12"
- "No One Is to Blame (Extended Mix)" – 5:16
- "The Chase" – 2:53
- "No One Is to Blame (The Long Mix)" – 3:07
Chart positions
[edit]Weekly Charts
[edit]Chart (1986) | Position |
---|---|
Australia (Kent Music Report)[10] | 9 |
Canada (The Record)[11] | 12 |
Italian Singles Chart | 21 |
UK Singles Chart | 16 |
US Adult Contemporary | 1 |
US Mainstream Rock Tracks | 20 |
Billboard Hot 100 | 4 |
Year end charts
[edit]Year-end chart (1986) | Position |
---|---|
Australia (Kent Music Report)[12] | 63 |
US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)[13] | 44 |
Personnel on 1986 version
[edit]- Howard Jones – vocals, keyboards, percussion programming
- Phil Collins – drums, backing vocals & co-producer
- Phil Palmer – guitar
- Mo Foster – bass guitar
- Afrodiziak – backing vocals
- Hugh Padgham – co-producer & engineer
- Steve Chase & Paul Gomersall – assistant engineers
Other versions
[edit]Jones performed the song solo on The Old Grey Whistle Test in 1985.[14] A previously unreleased version of "No One is to Blame" by Neilson Hubbard appears on the 2001 Parasol Records compilation, Parasol's Sweet Sixteen, Volume 4.[15]
Rachael Sage recorded a version of "No One Is to Blame" in 2018.[7]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Peake, Steve. "Top Soft Rock Songs of the 1980s". LiveAbout.
- ^ a b Dean, Maury (2003). Rock N' Roll Gold Rush. Algora. pp. 180, 453. ISBN 0-87586-207-1.
- ^ "Single Stories: Howard Jones, "No One Is To Blame"". rhino.com. April 12, 2017.
- ^ One to One track listing Discogs.com. Retrieved 29 April 2009.
- ^ Hyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of #1 Adult Contemporary Hits (Billboard Publications), page 307.
- ^ Official Charts Company info OfficialCharts.com. Retrieved 29 April 2009.
- ^ a b Enos, Morgan (March 29, 2018). "Rachael Sage Unveils Howard Jones-Approved Cover of 'No One Is to Blame': Exclusive Premiere". Billboard.
- ^ "Deluxe Edition of Howard Jones' 'One To One' Rolls Right Up From Cherry Red". theseconddisc.com. December 7, 2019.
- ^ Mason, Stewart. "No One Is to Blame - Howard Jones". AllMusic.com. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St. Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 161. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. the Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid 1983 and 19 June 1988.
- ^ Lwin, Nanda (2000). Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide. Mississauga, Ont.: Music Data Canada. ISBN 1-896594-13-1.
- ^ "National Top 100 Singles for 1986". Kent Music Report. No. 650. December 1986. Retrieved January 24, 2023 – via Imgur.
- ^ "1986 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. 98 (52): Y-21. December 27, 1986.
- ^ The Old Grey Whistle Test Vol. 3 (DVD). BBC Video. 2006.
- ^ "Various Artists: Parasol's Sweet Sixteen Volume 4, PopMatters". PopMatters. November 27, 2001.