Rocktrospectiva: A Flock Of Seagulls Rare Gem "The Story Of A Young Heart" Turns 40

 

Released on 19 August 1984, "The Story Of A Young Heart" was the third studio album by A Flock Of Seagulls, it was also the last album to feature the original line-up of the band, as guitarist Paul Reynolds left the band shortly after the album release. The album spawned three singles "The More You Live, The More You Love", "Never Again (The Dancer)", & "Remember David", the album peaked at No. 66 on Billboard 200 and No. 30 on the UK charts. 

 

According to singer Mike Score, the album had great tunes that weren't hits, the focused on deeper human things and concerns for instante the track "Suicide Day", on the other hand, the track "The More You Live, The More You Love" remains as one of the most recognizable tracks for the band, it was a minor hit back then, but at least to focus on depper and serious stuff proved the band can write and bring serious and meaningul music, to be considered enough as a sort of Pink Floyd of the 1980s., for some fans this album was a true gem of the New Wave sound, the band created a mature look focused to love and death creating a serious point at the time that not so many bands had the chance to do it, and perhaps this was the reason the critics considered a lesser album due the declining sales and popularity, but it was close to a masterpiece.

 

The sound was heavily sinthesized approaching to euro pop vibes, a more polished sound that was undermined by the limited vocal range of singer Mike Score, and maybe this was the reason critics found the lack of warmth on several track, and because the rest of the album sounds like a reminiscence of their earlier days, "Over My Head" and "Heart Of Steel" sounds thing but are remarkable in some ways, the vibrant "Remember David" shines apart, this was due to great guitar work by guitar hero Paul Reynolds, the master mind behind the band sound, other remarkable tracks ar "European (I Wish I Was)", "Heart Of Steel", "The End", stand as the most contemplative tracks of the set, the deepest side of the band related with the suicide of a closer friend in "Suicide Day" & "Remember David", and finally the appealing "Never Again (The Dancer)", stands alone on its own, proving this record despite the thin production and Mike's limited vocal range, remains as one of the most creative album the band ever released. 

Certainly, this is one of the best album of the band and one of the best related to new wave genre.

 

The Story Of A Young Heart Track List: 

 

1. The Story Of A Young Heart

2. Never Again (The Dancer)

3. The More You Live, The More You Love

4. European (I Wish I Was)

5. Remember David

6. Over My Head

7. Heart Of Steel

8. The End

9. Suicide Day