No One Is to Blame

Last updated
"No One Is to Blame"
Howard Jones - No One Is to Blame.jpg
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"
Released3 March 1986 (UK)
24 March 1986 (US)
Recorded1985
Genre New wave, soft rock [1]
Length3:29 (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
"Life in One Day"
(1985)
"No One Is to Blame"
(1986)
"All I Want"
(1986)

"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.

Contents

History

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

7"

  1. "No One Is to Blame" – 4:14
  2. "The Chase" – 2:53

12"

  1. "No One Is to Blame (Extended Mix)" – 5:16
  2. "The Chase" – 2:53
  3. "No One Is to Blame (The Long Mix)" – 3:07

Chart positions

Weekly Charts

Chart (1986)Position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [10] 9
Canada (The Record) [11] 12
Italian Singles Chart21
UK Singles Chart 16
US Adult Contemporary1
US Mainstream Rock Tracks 20
Billboard Hot 100 4

Year end charts

Year-end chart (1986)Position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [12] 63
US Top Pop Singles (Billboard) [13] 44

Personnel on 1986 version

Other versions

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

Related Research Articles

<i>No Jacket Required</i> 1985 studio album by Phil Collins

No Jacket Required is the third solo studio album by English drummer and singer-songwriter Phil Collins. It was released on 18 February 1985 by Virgin Records in the UK and by Atlantic and WEA internationally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Howard Jones (British musician)</span> British musician, singer and songwriter

John Howard Jones is a British musician, singer and songwriter. He had ten top 40 hit singles in the UK between 1983 and 1986, six of which reached the top ten, including "Like to Get to Know You Well", "What Is Love?", "New Song", and "Things Can Only Get Better". His 1984 album Human's Lib reached number one on the UK Albums Chart. Around the world, Jones had 15 top 40 hit singles between 1983 and 1992. The 1986 hit single "No One Is to Blame" reached No. 4 on the US charts. Four others placed in the US top 20.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In the Air Tonight</span> 1981 single by Phil Collins

"In the Air Tonight" is the debut solo single by English drummer and singer-songwriter Phil Collins. It was released as the lead single from Collins's debut solo album, Face Value, in January 1981.

"That's What Friends Are For" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Can't Hurry Love</span> 1966 single by the Supremes

"You Can't Hurry Love" is a 1966 song originally recorded by the Supremes on the Motown label. It was released on July 25, 1966 as the second single from their studio album The Supremes A' Go-Go (1966).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One More Night (Phil Collins song)</span> 1985 single by Phil Collins

"One More Night" is the first single in the United States and second in the United Kingdom from Phil Collins' third studio album, the Diamond-certified No Jacket Required. "One More Night" was Phil Collins' second U.S. No. 1 single, following "Against All Odds", and was his fourth single to reach the top ten in the UK, peaking at No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart. In the U.S., the single entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 50 on the chart dated 9 February 1985. It hit number one seven weeks later and remained on top for two weeks. In the UK, the single was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry. It was also his first No. 1 on the U.S. Adult contemporary chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take Me Home (Phil Collins song)</span> 1985 single by Phil Collins

"Take Me Home" is a song written and performed by English drummer, singer and songwriter Phil Collins. It is the tenth and final track on Collins' third solo album, No Jacket Required. Collins co-produced the song with Hugh Padgham and released it as a single in the UK in July 1985 and the U.S. in March 1986. It did moderately well in the UK, peaking at No. 19. While it was not as successful as other singles from the album, such as "Sussudio" or "One More Night" in the US, it still reached the top 10, peaking at No. 7.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In Too Deep (Genesis song)</span> 1986 single by Genesis

"In Too Deep" is a song by English rock band Genesis, included as the fourth track on their 13th studio album, Invisible Touch (1986). It was released as the second single from the LP in the UK and the fifth single in the US. The single was a success in America during the summer of 1987; it reached the No. 3 spot on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, and the No. 1 spot on the Adult Contemporary chart. The song was only performed live during the 1986 North American legs during the Genesis 1986–87 Invisible Touch world tour. An October 1986 performance of the song was included on the 1992 live album The Shorts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Invisible Touch (song)</span> 1986 single by Genesis

"Invisible Touch" is the title track and first single from the 1986 album of the same name by the English rock band Genesis. The song is a group composition which featured lyrics written by drummer and singer Phil Collins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">True Colors (Cyndi Lauper song)</span> 1986 single by Cyndi Lauper

"True Colors" is a number one hit song written by American songwriters Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly. It was both the title track and the first single released from American singer Cyndi Lauper's second studio album of the same name (1986). Released in mid-1986, the song spent two weeks at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, being Lauper's second and last single to occupy the top of the chart. It received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Easy Lover</span> 1984 single by Philip Bailey and Phil Collins

"Easy Lover" is a song performed by Philip Bailey of the band Earth, Wind & Fire and Phil Collins of the band Genesis, jointly written and composed by Bailey, Collins, and Nathan East. The song appears on Bailey's solo album, Chinese Wall. Collins has performed the song in his live concerts, and it appears on both his 1990 album, Serious Hits... Live!, and his 1998 compilation album, ...Hits. It is Bailey's only US Top 40 hit as a solo artist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">That's All (Genesis song)</span> 1983 single by Genesis

"That's All" is a song by the English rock band Genesis. It is a group composition and appears as the second track on their 1983 album Genesis. It was the album's second single after "Mama". On June 17, 1993, MCA Records re-issued and re-released the song as a CD and "HiQ" cassette single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">How Long (Ace song)</span> 1975 single by Ace

"How Long" is the debut single by the English band Ace, from their 1974 debut album, Five-A-Side. It reached No. 3 on both the US and Canadian charts, and No. 20 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Separate Lives</span> 1985 single by Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin

"Separate Lives" is a 1985 song recorded by Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin and featured on the soundtrack to the motion picture White Nights. It reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts as well as in Canada and Ireland. It reached No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart, and was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry.

<i>Dream into Action</i> 1985 studio album by Howard Jones

Dream into Action is the second studio album by British pop musician Howard Jones. It was released in March 1985 and reached No. 2 in the UK Album Charts. The album also reached the top ten in the U.S. The album achieved a gold certification in the UK and platinum status in the US and Canada.

<i>One to One</i> (Howard Jones album) 1986 studio album by Howard Jones

One to One is the third album by British pop singer Howard Jones. It was released in October 1986. The album contains the singles "You Know I Love You... Don't You?", "All I Want" and "Little Bit of Snow". The CD release also contains the single version of "No One Is to Blame", a song included in its original form on Jones's previous album, Dream into Action, which had been re-recorded and released as a single earlier in 1986. This version features Phil Collins on drums and backing vocals. One to One reached number 10 in the UK Albums Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Something Happened on the Way to Heaven</span> 1990 single by Phil Collins

"Something Happened on the Way to Heaven" is a song by English drummer Phil Collins, released in April 1990 from his fourth studio album, ...But Seriously (1989). The song peaked at No. 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 the week of October 6, 1990 and No. 15 on the UK Singles Chart. A live version also appears on the Serious Hits... Live! album. The song is often identified by the recurring hook of "How many times can I say 'I'm sorry'?", however, the title of the song is essentially the 2nd line of the 2nd verse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everlasting Love (Howard Jones song)</span> 1989 single by Howard Jones

"Everlasting Love" is a song by English singer and songwriter Howard Jones from his fourth studio album, Cross That Line (1989). Written by Jones, it was released as the album's first single on 20 February 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Do You Remember? (Phil Collins song)</span> 1990 single by Phil Collins

"Do You Remember?" is a song by the English drummer and singer-songwriter Phil Collins. It was released in April 1990 as the fourth single from his fourth solo studio album ...But Seriously. It was produced by Collins and Hugh Padgham and features singer-songwriter Stephen Bishop on the track as a backing vocalist. The song had minor success in European countries but went to number one on both the Canadian and US Adult Contemporary charts. It also peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming his 14th and last top-ten hit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dance into the Light (song)</span> 1996 single by Phil Collins

"Dance into the Light" is a song performed by English drummer, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actor Phil Collins, released in September 1996 by Atlantic, Virgin and WEA as the first single from his sixth studio album, Dance into the Light (1996). The song was written by Collins, who also co-produced it with Hugh Padgham. It peaked at number nine on the UK Singles Chart, but was a disappointment on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100, reaching number 45 on both charts. The song also peaked within the top 10 in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Scotland, while reaching number 29 on the Eurochart Hot 100 in October 1996. The accompanying music video was directed by English musician and music video director Kevin Godley. The track was the only song from Dance into the Light to be featured on his compilation album ...Hits in 1998. B-sides were songs "Take Me Down" and "It's Over".

References

  1. Peake, Steve. "Top Soft Rock Songs of the 1980s". LiveAbout.
  2. 1 2 Dean, Maury (2003). Rock N' Roll Gold Rush . Algora. pp.  180, 453. ISBN   0-87586-207-1.
  3. "Single Stories: Howard Jones, "No One Is To Blame"". rhino.com. April 12, 2017.
  4. One to One track listing Discogs.com. Retrieved 29 April 2009.
  5. Hyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of #1 Adult Contemporary Hits (Billboard Publications), page 307.
  6. Official Charts Company info OfficialCharts.com. Retrieved 29 April 2009.
  7. 1 2 Enos, Morgan (March 29, 2018). "Rachael Sage Unveils Howard Jones-Approved Cover of 'No One Is to Blame': Exclusive Premiere". Billboard .
  8. "Deluxe Edition of Howard Jones' 'One To One' Rolls Right Up From Cherry Red". theseconddisc.com. December 7, 2019.
  9. Mason, Stewart. "No One Is to Blame - Howard Jones". AllMusic.com. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  10. 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.
  11. Lwin, Nanda (2000). Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide. Mississauga, Ont.: Music Data Canada. ISBN   1-896594-13-1.
  12. "National Top 100 Singles for 1986". Kent Music Report . No. 650. December 1986. Retrieved January 24, 2023 via Imgur.
  13. "1986 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. 98 (52): Y-21. December 27, 1986.
  14. The Old Grey Whistle Test Vol. 3 (DVD). BBC Video. 2006.
  15. "Various Artists: Parasol's Sweet Sixteen Volume 4, PopMatters". PopMatters. November 27, 2001.