"Sons and Lovers" is the second album by English singer-songwriter Hazel O'Connor, released in November 1980 by Albion Records. Following the success of O'Connor's acting role in the film Breaking Glass earlier in 1980, which also featured her singing the soundtrack, Sons and Lovers was an effort to establish her own identity as an artist, distinct from her onscreen persona as Kate. While Breaking Glass had propelled her into the spotlight, O'Connor sought to make a clean break and explore new musical territory.
Produced by Nigel Gray, who had previously worked with bands like The Police and Siouxsie and the Banshees, Sons and Lovers featured a more polished sound. Despite its strong production and O'Connor's rising fame, the album didn't perform as well commercially as expected. The album’s lead single, "Time," failed to chart on the UK Singles Chart but peaked at number 30 on the Indie Chart. The second single, "Waiting," was released only in Australia, while the third single, "D-Days," became the album’s biggest hit, reaching number 10 on the UK Singles Chart.
Though the album was originally planned for release in January 1981, it was completed ahead of schedule and released in November 1980 to coincide with O'Connor's first major British tour. Despite high expectations due to her previous success and the calibre of the producer, the album did not chart in the UK but reached number 4 on the Indie Chart. It was thought that Sons and Lovers’s commercial potential may have been overshadowed by ongoing promotion for Breaking Glass and O'Connor’s subsequent album Cover Plus.
In March 2018, the album was reissued by Cherry Red Records in an expanded edition, featuring five bonus tracks. These included two live recordings from the Dominion Theatre in London, "Ain't It Funny" and a cover of David Bowie's "Suffragette City" (the latter featuring Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran, who had supported O'Connor on tour). Additionally, two versions of "D-Days" were included: the single remix by Tony Visconti and an alternate 'New' version from 1981. The reissue also featured the original 1979 version of "Time is Free," which had previously been a B-side to O'Connor’s debut single Ee-I-Adio.
Though Sons and Lovers didn’t achieve widespread commercial success, it remains a significant album in Hazel O'Connor's discography, showcasing her talent as a singer and songwriter during a pivotal time in her career.
