The Story of a Young Heart is the third studio album by A Flock of Seagulls, released in August 1984 by Jive Records. It was their last album—until 2018's Ascension—to feature the original line-up of the band, as guitarist Paul Reynolds left shortly after the album's release.[5] Three singles were released from the album, some only in select countries: "The More You Live, the More You Love", "Never Again (The Dancer)" and "Remember David". The album was reissued in 2008 by Cherry Red Records with bonus tracks.
The Story of a Young Heart | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 20 August 1984 | |||
Recorded | 1983–1984 | |||
Studio | Ridge Farm (Capel, England) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 42:24 | |||
Label | Jive | |||
Producer | Steve Lovell | |||
A Flock of Seagulls chronology | ||||
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Singles from The Story of a Young Heart | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Smash Hits | 6/10[4] |
Lead singer Mike Score has recalled of the album, "The Story of a Young Heart [1984 album], there was some great stuff on that, that weren't hits - there was a bit deeper stuff, like "Suicide Day." To do something like "Suicide Day" after "Space Age Love Song" and "The More You Live" and all that, then you're on a darker track. Stuff like that, I think at that time, it showed where we could have gone if it hadn't have gone awry with the band - we could have become deep and meaningful, kind of an '80s Pink Floyd."[6]
Reception
editTom Demalon from AllMusic retrospectively praised the "less cluttered, more polished" sound of the album's production, but felt the songs lacked warmth. He took a greater liking to songs such as "Over My Head" and "Heart of Steel", and believed that "Remember David" closely recaptured the band's "hyperkinetic glory" of their first two albums.[2]
People stated that the album, at first listen, seemed "unsatisfyingly bloodless and facile", but believed tracks such as "European (I Wish I Was)", "Over My Head", and "Heart of Steel" "tend[ed] to sound better the more they are played."[7]
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Mike Score, Ali Score, Frank Maudsley and Paul Reynolds
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "The Story of a Young Heart" | 6:07 |
2. | "Never Again (The Dancer)" | 5:05 |
3. | "The More You Live, the More You Love" | 4:10 |
4. | "European (I Wish I Was)" | 4:26 |
5. | "Remember David" | 4:06 |
6. | "Over My Head" | 3:55 |
7. | "Heart of Steel" | 5:45 |
8. | "The End" | 3:34 |
9. | "Suicide Day" | 5:20 |
Total length: | 42:24 |
No. | Title | Length |
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10. | "The More You Live, the More You Love" (7″ version) | 4:13 |
11. | "The More You Live, the More You Love" (Full Moon mix) | 6:17 |
12. | "Lost Control (Totally)" | 4:12 |
13. | "Never Again (The Dancer)" (7″ version) | 3:46 |
14. | "Never Again (The Dancer)" (12″ dance mix) | 5:17 |
15. | "Living in Heaven" | 5:32 |
16. | "Remember David" (7″ version) | 4:07 |
Personnel
edit
A Flock of Seagulls
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Additional personnel
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Charts
editChart (1984) | Peak position |
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Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[8] | 32 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[9] | 17 |
European Albums (Eurotipsheet)[10] | 25 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[11] | 31 |
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[12] | 36 |
UK Albums (OCC)[13] | 30 |
US Billboard 200[14] | 66 |
References
edit- ^ Demalon, Tom (17 August 2023). "The Story of a Young Heart Review by Tom Demalon". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
- ^ a b Demalon, Tom. "The Story of a Young Heart – A Flock of Seagulls". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
- ^ Larkin, Colin, ed. (2011). "A Flock of Seagulls". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). London: Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.
- ^ Martin, Peter (30 August 1984). "Albums". Smash Hits. p. 21. ISSN 0260-3004 – via Flickr.
- ^ Tortoricci, Frank (4 August 1999). "A Flock Of Seagulls' Paul Reynolds". MTV News. Archived from the original on 10 July 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
- ^ Prato, Greg (4 June 2018). "Mike Score of A Flock of Seagulls". Songfacts. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
- ^ "Pots and Pans Review: The Story of a Young Heart". People. 22 October 1984. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 8532". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – A Flock of Seagulls – The Story of a Young Heart" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
- ^ "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Eurotipsheet. Vol. 1, no. 23. 3 September 1984. p. 12. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – A Flock of Seagulls – The Story of a Young Heart" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
- ^ "Charts.nz – A Flock of Seagulls – The Story of a Young Heart". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
- ^ "Billboard 200 – Week of September 22, 1984". Billboard. Retrieved 13 July 2022.