Only the Lonely (T'Pau song)
{{Short description|1989 single by T'Pau}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Only the Lonely
| cover = T'PauOnlyTheLonelySingle.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = T'Pau
| album = Rage
| B-side = Between the Lines
| released = 13 March 1989{{cite magazine|last=Smith|first=Robin|date=11 March 1989|title=News|magazine=Record Mirror|page=7}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = Pop rock
| length = 4:02
| label = Siren
| writer =
- Ronnie Rogers
- Carol Decker
| producer = Roy Thomas Baker
| prev_title = Road to Our Dream
| prev_year = 1988
| next_title = Whenever You Need Me
| next_year = 1991
}}
"Only the Lonely" is a song by English band T'Pau, released in 1989 as the third and final single from their second studio album, Rage (1988). It was written by vocalist Carol Decker and rhythm guitarist Ron Rogers, and produced by Roy Thomas Baker. "Only the Lonely " peaked at No. 28 on the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for six weeks. For its release as a single, "Only the Lonely" was remixed.
A music video was filmed to promote the single. Numerous formats of this release were issued including 12 inch vinyl, 7 inch vinyl, 7 inch Gatefold Poster Pack, 5 inch CD, and 3 inch CD. Autographed copies were also made available at independent record stores across the UK helping the song climb the charts. {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x39TZugeZ2k |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/x39TZugeZ2k |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=T'pau - Only The Lonely |publisher=YouTube |date=2007-07-21 |access-date=2012-06-23}}{{cbignore}} T'Pau also performed the song on a number of UK TV shows including Going Live!,{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfafQ4toP3U |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/rfafQ4toP3U |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=T'pau - Only The Lonely |publisher=YouTube |date=2010-06-03 |access-date=2012-06-23}}{{cbignore}} Top of the Pops,{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbmOc6xYJeA |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/YbmOc6xYJeA |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=T'pau - Only The Lonely |publisher=YouTube |date=2010-05-15 |access-date=2012-06-23}}{{cbignore}} Daytime Live{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9y7QvALap8 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/s9y7QvALap8 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=T'pau - Only The Lonely |publisher=YouTube |access-date=2012-06-23}}{{cbignore}} and The Hippodrome Show.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As7ix2Vu154 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/As7ix2Vu154 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=T'pau - Only The Lonely |publisher=YouTube |access-date=2012-06-23}}{{cbignore}}
Critical reception
Upon release, William Shaw of Smash Hits commented: "You have to hand it to Carol and Ronnie. They certainly know how to make records that start off quiet and then get louder and louder. T'Pau have already shown a certain adeptness at turning out crunching great ballads of this ilk, but this time what's so extraordinary about it is Carol's singing. One moment she's singing dainty little harmonies, the next moment she's bawling away like a dame possessed. Marvellous."{{cite magazine|last=Shaw|first=William|date=8 March 1989|title=Singles|magazine=Smash Hits}} Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote: "A song that sees Carol Decker in fine voice which might be a chance for T'Pau to regain their rapidly fading status."{{cite magazine|date=8 April 1989|title=Previews: Singles|magazine=Music & Media}}
Formats
- 7" single
- "Only the Lonely" (Guitar Remix) - 4:02
- "Between the Lines" - 3:35
- 12" single
- "Only the Lonely" (Nightmare Mix) - 8:00
- "Only the Lonely" (Guitar Remix) - 4:02
- "Downtown" (Live) - 3:35
- CD single
- "Only the Lonely" (Guitar Remix) - 4:03
- "Only the Lonely" (Nightmare Mix) - 8:01
- "Between the Lines" - 3:35
- "Downtown" (Live) - 3:37
Personnel
T'Pau
- Carol Decker – lead vocals
- Dean Howard – lead guitar
- Ronnie Rogers – rhythm guitar, lead vocals on "Downtown"
- Michael Chetwood – keyboards
- Paul Jackson – bass guitar
- Tim Burgess – drums
Production
- Roy Thomas Baker - producer of "Only the Lonely", mixing on "Only the Lonely" and "Between the Lines"
- T'Pau - additional production on "Only the Lonely", producers of "Downtown", mixing on "Between the Lines" and "Downtown"
- Gary Langan - additional production and remixing on "Only the Lonely", producers of "Downtown", mixing on "Downtown"
- Carol Decker, Ronnie Rogers, Tim Burgess - producers of "Between the Lines"
- Stephen W. Tayler - mixing on "Between the Lines"
Other
- Sheila Rock - photography
- Mark Millington - sleeve design
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Chart performance for "Only the Lonely" ! scope="col"| Chart (1989) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row"| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles){{cite magazine |title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles |magazine=Music & Media |volume=6 |issue=17 |date=29 April 1989 |page=31 |oclc=29800226}}
| 86 |
|---|
| scope="row"| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista){{cite book|last=Pennanen|first=Timo|section=T'Pau|url=https://musiikkiarkisto.fi/oa/_tiedostot/julkaisut/sisaltaa-hitin.pdf|title=Sisältää hitin – Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021|language=fi|edition=2nd|location=Helsinki|publisher=Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava|year=2021|page=262|isbn=978-952-7460-01-6}}
| 29 |
| {{single chart|Ireland2|22|song=Only the Lonely|rowheader=true|access-date=28 July 2023}} |
| {{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|28|artist=TPau|artistid=24396|rowheader=true|access-date=9 November 2016|refname="ukchart"}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{discogs master|95765|Only The Lonely|type=single}}
{{T'Pau}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Song recordings produced by Roy Thomas Baker
Category:Songs written by Carol Decker