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No Parlez

by Paul Young

Released: July 22, 1983

Pop, Blue-eyed soul, new wave

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Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Breakthrough.

The Album

"No Parlez" is the debut solo studio album by English singer Paul Young, released in 1983. The North American release of the album featured a different cover, and a new video was produced for the single "Come Back and Stay." In 2008, a promotional CD of the album was distributed by the Daily Mail newspaper. The album initially struggled with its first two singles, "Iron Out the Rough Spots" and a remake of "Love of the Common People," which did not perform well.

Stories and details

Interesting Facts

The album was among the early releases to…

No Parlez includes eight cover versions alongside original…

No Parlez includes eight cover versions alongside original songs written by Young, keyboard player Ian Kewley, and guitarist Steve Bolton.

Notable covers include several tracks by Jack Lee…

Notable covers include several tracks by Jack Lee, who also penned "Hanging on the Telephone" for Blondie.

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Essential Tracks

Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)

However, the third single, a cover of Marvin Gaye's "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)," became a major hit, reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart for three weeks in July and August 1983.

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Explore the Album

Paul Young - No Parlez

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Then

Reception

The album achieved significant commercial success, reaching number one on the UK Albums Chart for a total of five non-consecutive weeks and remaining in the UK Top 100 for 119 weeks. It has been certified quadruple platinum by the BPI for UK sales exceeding 1.2 million copies. However, the third single, a cover of Marvin Gaye's "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)," became a major hit, reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart for three weeks in July and August 1983.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"No Parlez" is the debut solo studio album by English singer Paul Young, released in 1983. The album achieved significant commercial success, reaching number one on the UK Albums Chart for a total of five non-consecutive weeks and remaining in the UK Top 100 for 119 weeks. It has been certified quadruple platinum by the BPI for UK sales exceeding 1.2 million copies.

The album initially struggled with its first two singles, "Iron Out the Rough Spots" and a remake of "Love of the Common People," which did not perform well. However, the third single, a cover of Marvin Gaye's "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)," became a major hit, reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart for three weeks in July and August 1983. This success marked the beginning of Young's chart presence, with "Come Back and Stay" following up with a number four position and the re-release of "Love of the Common People" reaching number two.

The album was among the early releases to capitalize on the extended capacity of CDs, featuring an extra track ("Behind Your Smile") and extended versions of five tracks not present on the vinyl edition. No Parlez includes eight cover versions alongside original songs written by Young, keyboard player Ian Kewley, and guitarist Steve Bolton. Notable covers include several tracks by Jack Lee, who also penned "Hanging on the Telephone" for Blondie.

The North American release of the album featured a different cover, and a new video was produced for the single "Come Back and Stay." In 2008, a promotional CD of the album was distributed by the Daily Mail newspaper.