"Everytime You Go Away" is a song written and composed by Daryl Hall. It was first recorded in 1980 by the American duo Hall & Oates but was not released as a single. A cover version of the song by Paul Young became an international hit in 1985, reaching No. 1 in the US and No. 4 in the UK.^[2]

Hall and Oates version

The original version of "Everytime You Go Away" appeared on Hall & Oates's 1980 studio album, Voices, although it was not released as a single. Hall & Oates also recorded it for their 1985 concert album Live at the Apollo.

Personnel

• Daryl Hall – lead vocals, backing vocals, synthesizers
• John Oates – backing vocals, 6-string and 12-string guitars
• Ralph Schuckett – organ
• G.E. Smith – guitars
• John Siegler – bass
• Jerry Marotta – drums
• Charlie DeChant – saxophone

Paul Young version

"Every Time You Go Away"
Single by Paul Young
from the album The Secret of Association
B-side	"This Means Anything"
Released	February 25, 1985
Recorded	1984
Genre	Soft rock
Length	5:23 (album version) 4:15 (7" version) 7:32 (12" version)
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Daryl Hall
Producer(s)	Laurie Latham
Paul Young singles chronology
"Love of the Common People" (1984) "Every Time You Go Away" (1985) "I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down" (1985)

Background

English singer Paul Young recorded a cover version of the song titled "Every Time You Go Away" for his studio album The Secret of Association in 1985. His cover features a combination of echoed piano, the Yamaha DX7's "harp" preset, the distinctive fretless bass of Pino Palladino, as well as a Coral electric sitar and a Ovation Spanish acoustic guitar, which were both played by John Turnbull.^[3]

In March 1985, Young's version hit No. 4 in the UK Singles Chart.^[4] It was among the songs he performed at Live Aid held at Wembley Stadium in London on 13 July 1985. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 two weeks later, and was one of two top 10 hits Young had on the U.S. pop singles chart (the second being his 1990 cover of "Oh Girl" by the Chi-Lites). "Every Time You Go Away" also topped the U.S. adult contemporary chart for two weeks. The song won British Video of the Year at the 1986 Brit Awards.^[5]

Reception

John Leland of Spin wrote, "What can you say bad about Paul Young, except perhaps that he generally doles out incredibly bland versions of even blander songs? Here, dispensing with his penchant for ersatz British soul, caresses it into warmly moving fuck music."^[6]

Personnel

• Paul Young – lead vocals, backing vocals
• Ian Kewley – acoustic piano, synthesizers
• John Turnbull – electric sitar, classical guitar
• Steve Bolton – electric guitar
• Pino Palladino – fretless bass
• Mark Pinder – drums
• Marc Chantereau – tambourine
• Jimmy Chambers – backing vocals
• George Chandler – backing vocals
• Tony Jackson – backing vocals

Music video

Track listings

7" single

1. "Every Time You Go Away" – 4:15
2. "This Means Anything" – 3:13

12" maxi

1. "Every Time You Go Away" (Extended version) – 7:32
2. "This Means Anything" – 3:13

15" album

1. "Every Time You Go Away" – 4:28

Chart performance

Kulcha version

In July 1995, Australian R&B group Kulcha released a version of the song, which peaked at 35 in Australia and 22 in New Zealand.

CD single

1. "Everytime You Go Away" - 4:02
2. "Everytime You Go Away" (instrumental) - 3:58
3. "My Love" - 3:36

Charts

Other cover versions

• Gloria Gaynor on her 1986 album The Power of Gloria Gaynor
• Blue Room on the soundtrack to the 1987 film Planes, Trains and Automobiles.
• George Benson and Al Jarreau on their 2006 album Givin' It Up.
• Susan Wong on her 2009 album 511.
• Barbara Jones on her 2010 album Blue Side Of Lonesome
• Lennon Stella and Kevin Garrett on a 2020 single.
• Jamaican-Canadian singer George Banton on his album Rock and Soul Vol. 1.