No One Is to Blame

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"No One Is to Blame"
Single by Howard Jones
from the album Dream Into Action (original version)
Action Replay and One to One (re-recorded version)
Released3 March 1986 (UK)
24 March 1986 (US)
Recorded1985
GenreNew wave, soft rock[1]
Length3:29 (1985 version)
4:13 (1986 version)
LabelWEA (UK)
Elektra Records (US)
Songwriter(s)Howard Jones
Producer(s)Phil Collins & Hugh Padgham
Howard Jones singles chronology
"Life in One Day"
(1985) 		"No One Is to Blame"
(1986) 		"All I Want"
(1986)

"No One Is to Blame" is a song written and performed by British musician Howard Jones. Originally released on Jones's 1985 album, Dream into Action, "No One Is to Blame" was re-recorded and released as a single in 1986. The single became Jones's biggest U.S. hit to date, peaking at #4.

History[edit]

The original version of the song can be found on Dream into Action. Following the success of the previous singles from that album, it was re-recorded to generate a more radio-friendly sound. Phil Collins and Hugh Padgham produced the re-recording, with Collins adding his own drum work and mood.[2][3] The new version of the song was included on the 1986 US EP Action Replay as well as the CD version of Jones' 1986 studio album, One to One.[4]

"No One Is to Blame" was released as a single in March 1986. It became Jones' biggest hit in the United States, peaking at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100.[2] The song also became the first of his two #1 songs on the U.S. adult contemporary chart ("Everlasting Love" would top this chart in 1989).[5] "No One Is to Blame" was also a top 10 hit in Australia and a #16 hit in the U.K.[6]

In 2018, Morgan Enos of Billboard described "No One Is to Blame" as a "dreamy, existential" ballad that "doesn’t quite deal with love, but with the lack thereof". Enos added that the song "had a message and melody that resonated".[7] The song is known for its "aching beauty"[8] and for Jones's "plaintive lead vocals and piano".[9]

Track list[edit]

7"

  1. "No One Is to Blame" – 4:14
  2. "The Chase" – 2:53

12"

  1. "No One Is to Blame (Extended Mix)" – 5:16
  2. "The Chase" – 2:53
  3. "No One Is to Blame (The Long Mix)" – 3:07

Chart positions[edit]

Weekly Charts[edit]

Chart (1986) Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[10] 9
Canada (The Record)[11] 12
Italian Singles Chart 21
UK Singles Chart 16
US Adult Contemporary 1
US Mainstream Rock Tracks 20
Billboard Hot 100 4

Year end charts[edit]

Year-end chart (1986) Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[12] 63
US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)[13] 44

Personnel on 1986 version[edit]

  • Howard Jones – vocals, keyboards, percussion programming
  • Phil Collins – drums, backing vocals & co-producer
  • Phil Palmer – guitar
  • Mo Foster – bass guitar
  • Afrodiziak – backing vocals
  • Hugh Padgham – co-producer & engineer
  • Steve Chase & Paul Gomersall – assistant engineers

Other versions[edit]

Jones performed the song solo on The Old Grey Whistle Test in 1985.[14] A previously unreleased version of "No One is to Blame" by Neilson Hubbard appears on the 2001 Parasol Records compilation, Parasol's Sweet Sixteen, Volume 4.[15]

Rachael Sage recorded a version of "No One Is to Blame" in 2018.[7]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Peake, Steve. "Top Soft Rock Songs of the 1980s". LiveAbout.
  2. ^ a b Dean, Maury (2003). Rock N' Roll Gold Rush. Algora. pp. 180, 453. ISBN 0-87586-207-1.
  3. ^ "Single Stories: Howard Jones, "No One Is To Blame"". rhino.com. April 12, 2017.
  4. ^ One to One track listing Discogs.com. Retrieved 29 April 2009.
  5. ^ Hyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of #1 Adult Contemporary Hits (Billboard Publications), page 307.
  6. ^ Official Charts Company info OfficialCharts.com. Retrieved 29 April 2009.
  7. ^ a b Enos, Morgan (March 29, 2018). "Rachael Sage Unveils Howard Jones-Approved Cover of 'No One Is to Blame': Exclusive Premiere". billboard.com.
  8. ^ "Deluxe Edition of Howard Jones' 'One To One' Rolls Right Up From Cherry Red". theseconddisc.com. December 7, 2019.
  9. ^ Mason, Stewart. "No One Is to Blame - Howard Jones". AllMusic.com. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  10. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St. Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 161. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. the Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid 1983 and 19 June 1988.
  11. ^ Lwin, Nanda (2000). Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide. Mississauga, Ont.: Music Data Canada. ISBN 1-896594-13-1.
  12. ^ "National Top 100 Singles for 1986". Kent Music Report. No. 650. December 1986. Retrieved January 24, 2023 – via Imgur.
  13. ^ "1986 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. 98 (52): Y-21. December 27, 1986.
  14. ^ The Old Grey Whistle Test Vol. 3 (DVD). BBC Video. 2006.
  15. ^ "Various Artists: Parasol's Sweet Sixteen Volume 4, PopMatters". PopMatters. November 27, 2001.

External links[edit]

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