simplyeighties.com

  howardjones.com

    Howard Jones at NME

Welsh Synth-pop solo artist Howard Jones had a string of hits in the 80s including "New Song", "Like To Get To Know You Well" and "Life In One Day". Overall, he achieved ten Top 40 hit singles during the 1980's.

My personal favourite, though, is "Pearl In The Shell", where Howard sings "and the feel goes on!".

His debut album "Human's Lib" was his most successful in the UK - in the US Howard's second album "Dream Into Action" was more successful - and was released in 1983, reaching #1 in the UK and speding 57 weeks in the album charts. It featured the hit singles "New Song", "What is Love?", "Hide and Seek" and "Pearl in the Shell".

Released in March 1985, the second album "Dream Into Action" was also a big hit, peaking at #2 in the UK album charts.

Howard Jones - Pearl in The Shell

This was my favourite track from Howard's debut album Human's Lib. It was the fourth and final single to be lifted from the album and peaked at #7 in the UK. The saxophone solo is played by Davey Payne who was in Ian Dury's band The Blockheads.

Howard Jones - Hide and Seek (1984)

The third single from the Human's Lib album reached No.12 in the UK singles chart, which was slightly disappointing after the previous single "What is Love" had reached No.2 in 1983.  However, a No.12 in the 80s was stilll very successful and would probably have shifted more copies than some of the number ones singles from the Noughties.

Howard Jones - New Song (1983)

Here's howard playing his classic 1983 hit "New Song" live in November 2008

 Howard Jones - Like To Get to Know You Well (The Tube - 1984)

Howard Jones - You Know I Love You Don't You? (1986)

This single was taken from his third album "One to One". Sadly, this was the start of the slippery slope for Howard, as this was the first single not to reach the top 40 - it peaked at No.43.