No One Is to Blame
{{Infobox song
| name = No One Is to Blame
| cover = Howard Jones - No One Is to Blame.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Howard Jones
| album = Dream into Action (original version)
Action Replay and One to One (re-recorded version)
| B-side = The Chase
| released = 3 March 1986 (UK)
24 March 1986 (US)
| recorded = 1985
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = {{hlist|New wave|soft rock{{Cite web|url=https://www.liveabout.com/top-soft-rock-songs-of-the-80s-10695|title=Top Soft Rock Songs of the 1980s|first=Steve|last=Peake|website=LiveAbout}}}}
| length = 3:29 (1985 version)
4:13 (1986 version)
| label = WEA (UK)
Elektra Records (US)
| writer = Howard Jones
| producer = Phil Collins, Hugh Padgham
| prev_title = Life in One Day
| prev_year = 1985
| next_title = All I Want
| next_year = 1986
}}
"No One Is to Blame" is a song written and performed by British musician Howard Jones. Originally released on Jones's 1985 album Dream into Action, "No One Is to Blame" was re-recorded and released as a single in 1986. The single became Jones's biggest U.S. hit to date, peaking at #4.
History
The original version of the song can be found on Dream into Action. Following the success of the previous singles from that album, it was re-recorded to generate a more radio-friendly sound. Phil Collins and Hugh Padgham produced the re-recording, with Collins adding his own drum work and mood.{{cite book |title= Rock N' Roll Gold Rush |last= Dean |first= Maury |author-link= Maury Dean |year= 2003 |publisher= Algora |isbn= 0-87586-207-1 |pages= [https://archive.org/details/rocknrollgoldrus00dean/page/n195 180], 453 |url=https://archive.org/details/rocknrollgoldrus00dean|url-access= limited }}{{cite web|url=https://www.rhino.com/article/single-stories-howard-jones-no-one-is-to-blame |title=Single Stories: Howard Jones, "No One Is To Blame" |website=rhino.com |date=April 12, 2017}} The new version of the song was included on the 1986 US EP Action Replay as well as the CD version of Jones' 1986 studio album, One to One.[http://www.discogs.com/Howard-Jones-One-To-One/release/823169 One to One track listing] Discogs.com. Retrieved 29 April 2009.
"No One Is to Blame" was released as a single in March 1986. It became Jones' biggest hit in the United States, peaking at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song also became the first of his two #1 songs on the U.S. adult contemporary chart ("Everlasting Love" would top this chart in 1989).Hyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of #1 Adult Contemporary Hits (Billboard Publications), page 307. "No One Is to Blame" was also a top 10 hit in Australia and a #16 hit in the U.K.[https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/Dancing%20In%20The%20Street Official Charts Company info] OfficialCharts.com. Retrieved 29 April 2009.
In 2018, Morgan Enos of Billboard described "No One Is to Blame" as a "dreamy, existential" ballad that "doesn’t quite deal with love, but with the lack thereof". Enos added that the song "had a message and melody that resonated".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/rachael-sage-howard-jones-no-one-is-to-blame-cover-8265778/|title=Rachael Sage Unveils Howard Jones-Approved Cover of 'No One Is to Blame': Exclusive Premiere |magazine=Billboard|last=Enos |first=Morgan |date=March 29, 2018}} The song is known for its "aching beauty"{{cite web|url=https://theseconddisc.com/2019/12/09/deluxe-edition-of-howard-jones-one-to-one-rolls-right-up-from-cherry-red/ |title=Deluxe Edition of Howard Jones' 'One To One' Rolls Right Up From Cherry Red |website=theseconddisc.com |date=December 7, 2019}} and for Jones's "plaintive lead vocals and piano".{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/no-one-is-to-blame-mt0003400272 |title=No One Is to Blame - Howard Jones |website=AllMusic.com |last=Mason |first=Stewart |access-date=September 12, 2023}}
Track listings
;7"
- "No One Is to Blame" – 4:14
- "The Chase" – 2:53
;12"
- "No One Is to Blame" (extended mix) – 5:16
- "The Chase" – 2:53
- "No One Is to Blame (The Long Mix)" – 3:07
Chart positions
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable"
!Chart (1986) !Position |
| Australia (Kent Music Report){{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St. Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|edition=Illustrated|page=161|isbn=0-646-11917-6}} N.B. the Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid 1983 and 19 June 1988.
|align="center"|9 |
| Canada (The Record){{Cite book|last=Lwin|first=Nanda|title=Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide|publisher=Music Data Canada|year=2000|isbn=1-896594-13-1|location=Mississauga, Ont.}}
|align="center"|12 |
| Italian Singles Chart
|align="center"|21 |
| UK Singles Chart
|align="center"|16 |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)
|align="center"|1 |
| US Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard)
|align="center"|20 |
| US Billboard Hot 100
|align="center"|4 |
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable" | |
| Year-end chart (1986) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report){{cite magazine|url=https://i.imgur.com/F7ais40.jpg|title=National Top 100 Singles for 1986|magazine=Kent Music Report|issue=650|date=December 1986|via=Imgur|access-date= January 24, 2023}}
| style="text-align:center;"|63 | |
| US Top Pop Singles (Billboard){{cite magazine |date=December 27, 1986 |title=1986 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles |page=Y-21 |magazine=Billboard |volume=98 |issue=52 }}
| style="text-align:center;"|44 |
Personnel on 1986 version
- Howard Jones – vocals, keyboards, percussion programming
- Phil Collins – drums, backing vocals & co-producer
- Phil Palmer – guitar
- Mo Foster – bass guitar
- Afrodiziak – backing vocals
- Hugh Padgham – co-producer & engineer
- Steve Chase & Paul Gomersall – assistant engineers
Other versions
Jones performed the song solo on The Old Grey Whistle Test in 1985.{{cite AV media|title=The Old Grey Whistle Test Vol. 3|type=DVD|publisher=BBC Video|year=2006}}
A previously unreleased version of "No One is to Blame" by Neilson Hubbard appears on the 2001 Parasol Records compilation, Parasol's Sweet Sixteen, Volume 4.{{Cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/various-parasolssweet164-2496139119.html|title=Various Artists: Parasol's Sweet Sixteen Volume 4, PopMatters|date=November 27, 2001|website=PopMatters}}
Rachael Sage recorded a version of "No One Is to Blame" in 2018.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=howard jones|chart=all}} Billboard.com for US artist chart history]
- [https://www.officialcharts.com/artists/ OfficialCharts.com for UK artist chart history]
- [http://cdbaby.com/cd/katrinacarlson3 Here And Now at cdbaby.com]
- [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/searchResult.jsp?configType=BBCOM_SIMPLEDEFAULT&pubList=Billboard&an=bbcom&action=Submit&kw=&exposeNavigation=true&keyword=katrina+carlson&searchType=ARTICLE_SEARCH Katrina Carlson at Billboard.com]{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
{{Howard Jones}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Howard Jones (English musician) songs
Category:British soft rock songs
Category:Songs written by Howard Jones (English musician)
Category:Song recordings produced by Hugh Padgham
Category:Song recordings produced by Phil Collins