Album Club - Week 106: 13.08.2013: Howard Jones - Dream Into Action (1985)

[Album Club]

Thanks to Lawrence (losenotaminute) for his selection for this week.


This week I have chosen Dream Into Action by Howard Jones.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8126/8696951376_240c6b536b_n.jpg

This was Howard's second album, released in 1985. IMO this is electronic music at its best, with imaginative use of synthesisers to create rich and engaging sounds, coupled with good song-writing and meticulous production values. He is still touring regularly.

spotify:album:1yC4k8dnCCbtpeu1GttVP2

YouTube - No One is to Blame (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2V3SNrkpp0)

Discogs - Dream Into Action (http://www.discogs.com/Howard-Jones-Dream-Into-Action/master/66384)

Track listing:

Side One
1."Things Can Only Get Better" - 4:02
2."Life In One Day" - 3:39
3."Dream Into Action" - 3:45
4."No One Is to Blame" - 3:28
5."Look Mama" - 3:53
6."Assault And Battery" - 4:51
Side Two
1."Automaton" - 4:04
2."Is There A Difference?" - 3:33
3."Elegy" - 4:20
4."Specialty" - 3:58
5."Why Look For The Key" - 3.23
6."Hunger For The Flesh" - 3:59

From Wikipedia:
Howard Jones (born John Howard Jones, 23 February 1955, Southampton, Hampshire, England) is a British musician, singer and songwriter. According to the Guinness Book of British Hit Singles & Albums, "Jones is an accomplished singer-songwriter who was a regular chart visitor in the mid-1980s with his brand of synthpop. Jones, who was equally popular in the U.S., appeared at Live Aid". Allmusic journalist, Stephen Thomas Erlewine adds, "Jones was one of the defining figures of mid-1980s synthpop. His music merged the technology intensive sound of New Wave with the cheery optimism of hippies and late 1960s pop. Jones racked up a string of hits in the mid and late 1980s, before he retreated into being a cult figure in the 1990s".

For those of you into synths, here is a YouTube video of Howard reviewing the Jupiter 80 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wVUKsMohpU) in his music room.

I look forward to hearing your opinions.

Lawrence

[synsei]

To me this is Jones pivotal album packed full of foot-tappingly good tunes and rich, textured synth harmonies. Stand out tracks for me are the singles Things Can Only Get Better, Dream Into Action and Look Mama, however my favourite track on the album has got to be the haunting Elegy ;)

[Audioman]

I will give this a go but never was into synth pop. Always think of Jones and Nick Kershaw as one so to speak. Judging by his age wasn't Jones just a talented musician that jumped on the 80's pop bandwagon for commercial reasons ?

[losenotaminute]

To me this is Jone's pivotal album packed full of foot-tappingly good tunes and rich, textured synth harmonies. Stand out tracks for me are the singles Things Can Only Get Better, Dream Into Action and Look Mama, however my favourite track on the album has got to be the haunting Elegy ;)
Dave,

I'm pleased and a bit relieved that you like it. I was worried that nobody else would appreciate this kind of album, but hopefully if people give it a chance they will recognise the songwriting skill. What I like is the variety of sounds and textures, of course it should be played loud on a decent system to get the shivers down the spine.

Lawrence

[losenotaminute]

I will give this a go but never was into synth pop. Always think of Jones and Nick Kershaw as one so to speak. Judging by his age wasn't Jones just a talented musician that jumped on the 80's pop bandwagon for commercial reasons ?

I think Howard was classically trained, but I'm not sure his motivation was entirely commercial. If you watch the video about the Jupiter synth it's apparent that he loves synthesizer sounds and given that he is still touring and composing we can't really consider him like the Pop Idol flash in a pan no-marks.

Lawrence

[synsei]

Dave,

I'm pleased and a bit relieved that you like it. I was worried that nobody else would appreciate this kind of album, but hopefully if people give it a chance they will recognise the songwriting skill. What I like is the variety of sounds and textures, of course it should be played loud on a decent system to get the shivers down the spine.

Lawrence

I am a huge fan of Synth-Pop Lawrence (I can't stand the genre classification personally but it serves a purpose here). Artists such as Howard, Thomas Dolby and Nik Kershaw were consummate songwriters who fully understood the technology they employed and their market. Unfortunately, and for reasons I cannot fathom, time has dealt them a cruel blow as their output is not fondly remembered by many, probably because they feel that songs produced with synthesizers and computers somehow do not deserve be considered as serious music, I think they believe that the artist has cheated somehow. This couldn't be further from the truth. Below is a track from each artist which demonstrates the opposite is true.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liGUgqrF0PA


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjnwmMX9fsQ


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBYHTYSsias

[pjdowns]

Just listening to this album now ... very good... might have to get it :)

[Audio Al]

I have listened to this album

Sorry its not for me

Nothing to spark me into action musically or vocally

I gave it 5 out of 10

[Bazil]

I didn't like a lot of 80's music in fact I hardly bought anything until Marillion came onto the scene, this album is so typical of the times , but give him his due he was/is a decent writer so the album managed a 5/10.

ps. I couldn't listen to "Like to get to know you well", it is a song from those times that I hate.

[Audioman]

This actually surprised me being only familiar with HJ's singles. Based on the original 12 lp tracks I give it a 6/10. The song writing and arrangements are very good in spite of my dislike for drum machines.

[synsei]

A pretty good result for Mr Jones so far :cool: He's certainly gone down better with the crowd than my Third World selection from a few weeks ago which appears to have frightened members off even listening to it... :scratch:

[Val33]

Wow, this brought back some memories. I went to Camberwell School of Art in the early 80's and ran the Students Union Bar for extra money. in 1982 we had Howard and his band booked for the last Friday of every month for a whole year. I seem to remember we payed them £150 which included his mime artist, the PA and lighting!!

He was a very good live act and the union was usually at capacity when he played.

9/10 from me, partly because of the great memories!

Val

[synsei]

Wow, this brought back some memories. I went to Camberwell School of Art in the early 80's and ran the Students Union Bar for extra money. in 1982 we had Howard and his band booked for the last Friday of every month for a whole year. I seem to remember we payed them £150 which included his mime artist, the PA and lighting!!

He was a very good live act and the union was usually at capacity when he played.

9/10 from me, partly because of the great memories!

Val

Nice memories Val, wish I'd been there :)

[Barry]

A pretty good result for Mr Jones so far :cool: He's certainly gone down better with the crowd than my Third World selection from a few weeks ago which appears to have frightened members off even listening to it... :scratch:

Since I don't subscribe to Spotify (and don't want to), unless some YouTube links are provided I cannot engage in these discussions.

[synsei]

Something to consider in the future then. Sorry Barry I didn't think to put up a YT link in my own listing. I will endeavour to find one if available... :o

[losenotaminute]

Since I don't subscribe to Spotify (and don't want to), unless some YouTube links are provided I cannot engage in these discussions.

Try this:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_rwDKn-LV8&list=PL23673E56579F7959

Lawrence

[Bazil]

Since I don't subscribe to Spotify (and don't want to), unless some YouTube links are provided I cannot engage in these discussions.

Nor do I but you can use it free, it stops now and then for an advert thats all.

[MartinT]

Wow, this takes me back, bringing memories of a different era, different lifestyle and different relationships. As a throw-back, it works wonders. As music, it engages me a lot less, I'm afraid. Some good memorable tunes, so I'll give it 6/10.