The Lover Speaks – Record-facts…

posted by albums-update

The Lover Speaks were an English new wave duo consisting of David Freeman (vocals) and Joseph Hughes (arranger, composer). They wrote and sang the original version of the song “No More “I Love You’s”“, covered by Annie Lennox in 1995 on her Medusa album, which she took to No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart. The Lover Speaks is their self-titled debut studio album, released in 1986.

David Freeman and Joseph Hughes formed The Lover Speaks in 1985, having previously worked together in the punk outfit The Flys. Deriving their name from the Roland Barthes‘ book A Lover’s Discourse: Fragments, the duo began writing material and also recruited keyboard player Barry Gilbert after advertising for a keyboardist. Although Gilbert was not an official member of the group, he would record and tour with the duo. Later in 1985, the band sent a demo tape to Dave Stewart of Eurythmics and soon signed with Stewart’s Anxious Music Publishing. Meanwhile, Stewart had forwarded the demo tape to Chryssie Hynde, who sent it to producer Jimmy Iovine. Iovine was successful in getting the band a recording contract with A&M Records in early 1986.

Like a classic automobile, they simply don’t make albums like the Lover Speaks‘ self-titled debut from 1986 anymore. At first, the Lover Speaks may seem like a knock-off of the Human League. Singer David Freeman‘s baritone resembles Philip Oakey‘s deep croon, and whenever the backup vocals of June Miles Kingstone appear, the male/female harmonies of the Human League is instantly recalled. Musically and lyrically, however, the Lover Speaks easily separate themselves. The soaring, heartbreaking chorus of “No More ‘I Love You”s” must’ve mesmerized Annie Lennox of the Eurythmics; she covered it in the early ’90s. The original version by the Lover Speaks is a stunner — stylishly crafted, soulful pop elevated by Freeman’s booming voice. Like “No More ‘I Love You”s,” “Absent One,” and “Love Is: ‘I Gave You Everything'” surge with bruised emotions. But the pain in Freeman’s voice is exhilarating, not depressing, to listen to; sad and bitter words pour beautifully from his mouth. “Every Lover’s Sign” and “Never to Forget You” offer respite from all the melancholy confessions; however, it’s the stinging ache in tracks such as “Face Me and Smile,” a tale of infidelity, that linger after the album has finished spinning. In “No More ‘I Love You”s” Freeman sings, “I used to have demons in my room at night/desire, despair, desire, so many monsters.” All of his monsters are illustrated in The Lover Speaks, and every one is sharply rendered.

Work on the duo’s debut album began in February 1986 at A&M Studios in Los Angeles. The Church in London was also used for recording, while Marcus Recording Studios was used to master the album. With Iovine as co-producer, the album took three months to complete. Originally, Freeman had put forward two possible titles for the album – The Politics of Roses and Seriously Purple Prose – but both were rejected by A&M in favour of being self-titled. Describing the album’s theme, Freeman recalled in 2015:

“Each song on the album is a reference to a specific idea in Roland Barthes’ book Fragments d’un discours amoureux. Our idea was to produce a musical cartoon of his book. The whole album is based on that book – an exercise in camp with a bouffant hairdo.

In July 1986, the band’s debut single, “No More “I Love You’s”“, peaked at No. 58 in the UK. In August, the debut album was released, but failed to chart. To promote the album, the band opened for Eurythmics during their Revenge World Tour. A second single from the album, “Tremble Dancing” was released in September, but also failed to chart. A third single, “Every Lover’s Sign“, was released in October in the UK and November in the US. In December, it reached at No. 6 on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs Chart.

In 1987, the duo followed the album with a cover of Dusty Springfield‘s “I Close My Eyes and Count to Ten“. However, the single failed to chart. In June 1987, “Never to Forget You” was released in Australia as a single, with “I Close My Eyes and Count to Ten” as the B-Side. During the same year, the band recorded their second album, The Big Lie, but A&M decided not to release it.

Tracklist

1. “Every Lover’s Sign” – 4:38
2. “No More “I Love You’s”” – 4:04
3. “Never to Forget You” – 4:22
4. “Face Me and Smile” – 4:19
5. “Absent One” – 4:16
6. “Love Is: “I Gave You Everything” – 4:27
7. “”This Can’t Go On!” – 3:52
8. “Still Faking This Art of Love” – 4:22
9. “Tremble Dancing” – 4:16
10. “Of Tears” – 3:43

All tracks written and composed by David Freeman and Joseph Hughes except “Of Tears” written by Freeman, Hughes and Barry Gilbert, and “I Close My Eyes and Count to Ten” written by Clive Westlake.

Personnel