[A 40-Year-Old Breakup Record] -- Yazoo (or simply Yaz in North America) formed in 1981 when electronic musician Vince Clarke, fresh off the success of Depeche Mode's debut album, teamed with soul singer Alison Moyet. Their debut album, 1982's Upstairs At Eric's, had been a big success, particularly in the UK – and in dance clubs. Mute, their record label, was anticipating the duo's sophomore release.
Unfortunately, Clark had not considered Yazoo as a longterm project, and he was ready to walk away in favor of something new.
Even though he was talked into doing a second album, rather than repeating his one and done move as with Depeche Mode, it seems he wasn't really into it. Per Moyet, "...even as we began the second album we knew that it was over, he had already decided he didn't want to work with me anymore" [The Quietus, May 2011]. So, not only is You And Me Both, released 40 years ago this week, the duo's second and final album, it is also something of a breakup record. Clarke and Moyet had grown estranged and they ended up recording most of the album separately, rather then working together in the studio. They even announced the band's breakup before You And Me Both hit record shops.
The strange thing is that they had more time to work on the album, so it seems more planned and polished than their prior record. This was another point of contention because, while Clarke embraced the opportunity to plot and plan the work, Moyet's background had been in punk and pub rock, so she preferred the more spontaneous process associated with their debut album [see notes #4 and #5 on the wiki article].
Now, I did not know any of this in 1983. In fact, I didn't even know there was a Yazoo until my college years. And when I finally discovered Yazoo in 1986-1987, it was probably from doing audio archeology – that is, digging back from Clarke's then current band, Erasure, and finding his prior recordings. And after You And Me Both found its way into my life, it landed itself firmly as one of my favorite albums of the early 1980s. The album released only one single, the excellent "Nobody's Diary" which peaked in the #3 slot on the UK singles chart. But other highlights include "Softly Over," "Walk Away From Love" (which really should have been a single), and my personal favorite from the album, "Mr. Blue."
I still have a vinyl copy of You And Me Both. It was a birthday present from my early peer group at Penn State. And by early, I'm thinking they gave it to me in 1987.
Let me know what you think of this synthpop gem!
Flashback: You And Me Both (July 4, 1983)
And that's all till next week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the Prophet or Madman archives or via Bookended's 80s Flashback tag. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.
I'll see you in seven!
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