Rocktrospectiva: The Worldwide Succesful "The Secret Of Association" Turns 40

Released on 25 March 1985, "The Secret Of Association" was the second studio album by English singer Paul Young, the album reached No.1 on the UK, and a fantastic top 20 in the United States, spawning fourth singles the Hall & Oates cover "Everytime You Go Away", Ann Pebble's "I'm Gonna Tear Your Plahouse Down", "Everything Must Change" and finally "Tomb Of Memories".

The album followed the pattern of Young's debut album, No Parlez, combining cover versions with original songs written by Young and keyboard player Ian Kewley. However, on this album the Young/Kewley partnership was better represented with five of their compositions featuring.

The album was the point of inflextion on Young's career, reaching No. 1 on both sides with "Everytime You Go Away", and just like its predecessor album, again achieved on audiences taste, the second single, an Ann Peebles cover of the 1970s' "I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down" was strong and heavy providing a raw and rare energy on Young's style, "Everything Must Change" was the third single an became a top ten on Christmas 1984, but the jewel of the crown was "Every Time You Go Away" the definitive and most-defining single on Young's career due its inmaculate performance, this allow Young to find its own niche against Tears For Fears, Phil Collins or Dire Straits. 

The album was more than that, indeed it's huge album full of surprises, a winter record due its moody sound and full of intense moments, great examples are the Tom Wait's cover "Soldier's Thing" a wonderful track again, Billy Bragg's "Man In The Iron Mask" had strong and haunted the listener, another cool cover was "A New England" by the late Kirsty MacColl, a sublime cover that aided the album to keep a perfect balance between ballads and strong tracks, "Bite The Hands That Feeds" sets the pace in a similar sound and line as "I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down", another nice track is "Tomb Of Memories" considered by many critics as the key track, an original Young composition, showing his confidence and direction his music had at the time, full of dynamic arrangements and catchy tunes. Paul Young was one of the main artists to performed at the Live Aid that 13 July 1985, the artists achieved to earn the likes and taste of the audiences, allowed the album to make a come back on charts despite it had a minor presence in comparison "No Parlez". 

The Secret Of Association Track List:

 

1. Bite The Hand That Feeds

2. Everytime You Go Away

3. I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down

4. Standing On The Edge

5. Soldier's Thing

6. Everything Must Change

7. Tomb Of Memories

8. One Step Forward

9. Hot Fun

10. This Means Anything

11. I Was In Chains

12. Man In The Iron Mask