The Lover Speaks (1986)
Full disclosure about this one:
I have no idea why I own this CD. I have too many CD’s, this is a given. And it makes for some head-scratching moments when I come across an unfamiliar title in an untended stack on the floor of the spare bedroom I call my “office” (except most “offices” aren’t littered with stacks of under-curated CD’s).
In a recent (brief) spate of tidying said room I came across The Lover Speaks and decided I’d give it a fair listen before banishing it to a “discard” pile.
As I did the accompanying dive into the band’s story, I remained mystified as to why I owned a copy of the one and only official release of a band that never had a hit song, properly speaking. I can only think it was bought on the algorithmic recommendation of a certain online music seller, where I noticed copies are currently selling for prices that would make the most ardent music collector squirm.
The Lover Speaks were vocalist David Freeman and composer/arranger Joseph Hughes. Their 1985 demo tape passed through the hands of the Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart and then Chrissie Hynde on its way to producer Jimmy Iovine, who helped get the duo signed to A&M Records.
They later toured in support of Eurythmics.
But a series of singles failed (“No More ‘I Love You’s'” peaked at #58 in the UK; none of their singles cracked the US charts at all) and a second album was shelved by A&M.
The duo broke up, their main claim to fame being that Annie Lennox turned “No More ‘I Love You’s'” into a solo smash a decade later.
So again, what compelled me to purchase this obscurity? It clearly came recommended in some form or fashion, and I had to determine whether there was any validity to the recommendation.
With each repeat listen as I attended to other tasks, the hooks dug deeper. The songwriting chops sounded keener. The intelligent turns of lyrical phrase came to the fore. And the male/female vocals of Freeman and June Miles Kingstone, swooping and soaring together in an interplay of melody and countermelody made it clear “No More ‘I Love You’s'” was no fluke.
Much of 80’s synth pop was chilly and short on soul. But Freeman’s vocals on “Face Me and Smile” and “Absent One” absolutely ache. His baritone suggests Human League. But the authentic emotional resonance and the soul are closer to Pet Shop Boys or Bryan Ferry.
And I simply can’t understand how “Never to Forget You” missed the American top twenty.
Far from being “No More ‘I Love You’s'” and a bunch of filler, this album sounds like a string of lost mid-80’s new wave hits.
Now I know why it’s in my collection. And I’m glad I got a physical copy while it was still affordable to do so.
Turn an 80’s new wave fan onto this album.
Listen to: “Every Lover’s Sign”
Listen to: “No More ‘I Love You’s'”
Listen to: “Never to Forget You”
Listen to: “Face Me and Smile”
Listen to: “Absent One”
Every Moment Has A Song 