Top 10 Paul Young Songs

Photo: James Hole, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Our Top 10 Paul Young songs list looks back at ten of the most fabulous songs Paul Young has released throughout his career. The singer would not only become one of the biggest rock stars in his native home of England in the 1980s, he would reach mega rock star status around the world appearing at Live Aid and singing the opening line to the huge benefit song “Do They Know It’s Christmas.” In 1985, Paul Young found himself with a number one single in the United States making him a huge star also in the US. Over the years Paul Young has released nine studio albums and thirty six singles since he first arrived on the scene in 1983.

# 10 -Senza Una Donna (Without A Woman)” (with Zucchero)

Opening up this top 10 Paul Young songs list we have this beautiful song entitled Senza Una Donna (Without A Woman)” The song was recorded as a duet with the wonderful singer Zucchereo. The song was released on the album entitled From From Time to Time – The Singles Collection. The hits collection was released in 1991 It was the fifth and final single released from the album. The song was a huge hit in Europe hitting number one in both Norway and Sweden. It hit number four in the United Kingdom.

# 9 – Love of the Common People

As we now continue with our top 10 Paul Young songs list we turn to the song “Love Of The Common People.” A song that should not be confused with Todd Rundgren’s “Love Of The Common Man.” The song was released on the album entitled No Parlez. The album was released in 1982. The re-release of the song was the fifth single released from the album. The song was a hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 peaking at number 45. We just love the great groove behind this one. An we love those very original sounding female harmony vocals behind Paul Young.

# 8 – Some People

In the number eight position on our top 10 Paul Young songs list is the track “Some People.” The song was released on the album entitled Between Two Fires. The album was released in 1986. It was the second single released from the album. The song was a hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 peaking at number 65. This one sounds very different from the last track. One can easily hear that sort of Tears For Fears chugging rhythm that was so popular at the time in 1986 fueling this track.

# 7 – Don’t Dream It’s Over

Landing in the number seven spot on our top 10 Paul Young songs list is the great song “Don’t Dream It’s Over,” This is a cover version of the classic Crowded House song. Paul Young recorded the song as a duet with the great Paul Carrack. The song was released on the album entitled From Time to Time – The Singles Collection. The two legendary singers deliver this one with a very slow soulful groove that is a master clasocc in r&b singing.

# 6 – Come Back and Stay

At number six on our top 10 Paul Young songs list is this extraordinary recording of the song “Come Back And Stay.” The song was released on the album entitled No Parlez. It was Paul Young’s first big hit in the United States. The song was hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 peaking at number 22. In Europe it was even bigger. The song went straight to number one in Switzerland, New Zealand and Germany.

# 5 -I’m Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down

At the halfway point on our top 10 Paul Young songs list is the classic song “I’m Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down.” The recording was a cover of the old 1972 song first recorded by Ann Peebles. Paul Young’s version was released on the 1984 album entitled The Secret of Association. The song was a hit in the United Kingdom where it reached all the way up to number four.

# 4 -What Becomes of the Brokenhearted

Now everyone knows this classic Motown song entitled “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted.” The song was originally recorded by Jimmy Ruffin on Motown Records in 1966. Paul Young’s version was released on the soundtrack to the motion picture Fried Green Tomatoes. The album was released in 1992. The song was a hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 peaking at number 22. It failed to chart in Europe as it was a very much themed United States Hollywood film centered around southern living.

# 3 – Oh Girl

Paul Young always was a master at covering classic pop soul songs and making them his own with that silk voice of his. The Chi-Lites had recorded the definite version of this song back in 1972. Nonetheless, Paul Young took a stab at it in 1990 and had another huge hit with the song. The song was released on the album entitled Other Voices. The song would become Paul Young’s second of only two singles that he ever released to break into the US Billboard Hot 100 peaking at number eight.

# 2 -Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home)

As we begin to wind down our top 10 Paul Young songs list we take a listen to the song “Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home).” This was Paul Young’s first big hit single. It was also the first single he ever released that broke onto any of the world music charts. And to this day it still stands as one of his best. Not many people are born with a voice like the one that Paul Young celebrates. It’s a voice of beauty and soul and it shines so brightly on this magical recording released in 1982. The song “Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home,”) hit number one in his native home of England in 1983.

# 1 – Every Time You Go Away

We close out our top 10 Paul Young songs list with the classic recording of the song “Every Time You Go Away.” If there is one song that will remind you of the mid 1980s, it’s this classic Paul Young song. The song was released on the album entitled The Secret of Association. The album was released in 1985. “Every Time You Go Away.” would become Paul Young’s first and only number one single in the United States where it reached that much desired number one spot on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1985.