ARTIST SPOTLIGHT = Paul Young (3 songs)

This English singer-musician is the former frontman of short-lived bands Kat Kool & The Kool Cats, Streetband & Q-Tips. Solo success turned him into a 1980s teen idol, with his smooth & soulful voice.

#1
Written by Daryl Hall (of Hall & Oates), Young’s cover version became his 1st Top 10 in the United States. Released 02/25/1985 as the 3rd single from his 2nd solo album ‘The Secrets Of Association’, this song claimed #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 & Adult Contemporary charts. It also reached the Top 10 in Ireland (#2), Norway (#2) & England (#4). It was his 6th Top 10 in both England & Ireland. In the United States, it was his 2nd Top 40, behind 1983’s “Come Back & Stay”.

#2
Originally recorded by The Chi-Lites in 1972, this song has been covered by various artists. Young’s version is arguably the most-known; released in 1990 from his 4th solo album, ‘Other Voices’, this single claimed #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart & reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100. It notched at #25 in England & #20 in Ireland. His next internationally-successful release was 1991’s “Without A Woman”.

#3
Written by William Weatherspoon, Paul Riser & James Dean, this song was originally a hit for Jimmy Ruffin in 1966. Young’s 1991 cover was featured in the movie ‘Fried Green Tomatoes’; it reached #22 on the Billboard Hot 100 & claimed #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart. It proved to be his last charting single in the United States; his last Top 15 on any chart was 1993’s “Now I Know What Made Otis Blue”, which reached #14 in England.