SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: HOWARD JONES – DREAM INTO ACTION: THE FARMYARD SESSIONS

HOWARD JONES
DREAM INTO ACTION: THE FARMYARD SESSIONS
CHERRY RED RECORDS

Dream Into Action, Howard Jones’s second album, was originally released in 1985 and it reached number two in the UK album charts, and the top ten in North America. It solidified his career and proved that he was not a one hit wonder. There was a great deal of pressure on Jones given the success of his debut album, Human’s Lib. He needn’t have worried. Dream In Action was a much stronger album and had a polish that his debut didn’t have. Dream Into Action had a number of hit singles and just as many radio-friendly album cuts. To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Dream Into Action: The Farmyard Sessions is available on vinyl. These tracks were originally available in 2018, on a new long deleted (and quite rare) CD reissue of the album.

Dream Into Action was recorded at Farmyard Studios in the UK, and the versions of these songs are early takes. It is quite a fascinating opportunity to hear songs before they were developed into the hits they became. Because the album is synth based, we are not talking acoustic versions, but these sessions are much rawer than the final album. Songs like “No One Is to Blame” and “Elegy”” are not vastly different, but they are more stripped back and less lush than the album versions, whereas songs like “Look Mama” and “Why Look for the Key” are a bit more experimental and much more synth based than the eventual completed versions.

The second album in the two-album set is more interesting. For example, “Like to Get to Know You Well (Alternative Mix)” is vastly different from the finished product and a much different and slower groove. Even more interesting is the demo of the song. One can hear the evolution of the future synth-pop classic. “You Jazzy Nork!” is also included, which is a reworked, jazzy instrumental version of “Why Look for the Key”. Not only is it a welcome addition, it is extremely enjoyable. Jones is cutting loose and having a great time turning his music into electronic jazz.

One thing is clear, however, Jones came into the sessions with completed songs and a definite vision of how he wanted the songs to sound. The other versions are close to the finished versions. Having said that, there is still a great deal to discover when listening to Dream Into Action: The Farmyard Sessions. Jones’s voice is less buried, and one can hear and appreciate his excellent synthesizer playing. There is a lot to discover on this double album, and fans will enjoy going through some of the songs they may not have heard or even been aware of. It is great to have the return of Dream Into Action: The Farmyard Sessions, as it is an important time in Jones’s career. It shows an artist getting ready to expand from synth-pop into even more greener pastures.

SPILL FEATURE: WHEN EVERY NOTE GOES UNDER THE MICROSCOPE – A CONVERSATION WITH HOWARD JONES

Artist Links