| "No One Is to Blame" | ||||
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| Single by Howard Jones | ||||
| from the album Dream Into Action and One to One | ||||
| Released | 15 March 1986 (UK) 24 March 1986 (US) |
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| Format | 7", 12" | |||
| Recorded | 1985 | |||
| Genre | Pop, New wave | |||
| Length |
3:29 (1985 version) 4:13 (1986 version) |
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| Label | WEA Records (UK) Elektra Records (US) |
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| Writer(s) | Howard Jones | |||
| Producer | Phil Collins | |||
| Howard Jones singles chronology | ||||
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"No One Is to Blame" is a song by British new wave musician Howard Jones. The song, in its original version, can be found on Jones's second studio album, Dream Into Action, which was released in 1985. Following the success of the previous singles taken from the album, the original track for "No One Is to Blame" was re-recorded to give the song a more radio-friendly sound. Phil Collins produced the re-recording, adding his own backing vocals and drum work.[1] The radio remix of the song was included on the 1986 US EP Action Replay as well as the Compact Disc version of Jones' 1986 studio album, One to One.[2]
"No One Is to Blame" was released as a single in March 1986 and became Jones' biggest hit single in the United States, peaking at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100.[1] The song also became the first of his two #1 songs on the U.S. adult contemporary chart ("Everlasting Love" would top this chart three years later, in 1989).[3] The song was also a top 10 hit in Australia and a #16 hit in the U.K..[4]
The song is about unfulfilled attractions, saying that these are normal and commonplace ("We want everyone - no one is to blame"). It uses a number of metaphors, such as "You can look at the menu, but you just can't eat" and "It's the last piece of the puzzle, but you just can't make it fit," to describe the frustration of experiencing attraction but being unable to act on it, for whatever reason.
Contents |
7”
12”
The Long Mix is a piano and vocal-only version of the song recorded in session for the BBC Radio 1 Janice Long show.
In 2007, American singer-songwriter Katrina Carlson recorded a cover version, on which Jones contributed piano and backing vocals. Carlson’s version, which is taken from her album Here and Now, reached #20 on the US Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart.
Emile Millar covered the song for the soundtrack of Waitress in 2007.
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