written by Vince Clarke

produced by Eric Radcliffe, Daniel Miller and Yazoo

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This has to be the biggest coincidence I’ve encountered yet while

making the entries on the site. The next song in my List’s sequence

to be done is “Only You” by Yaz(oo). I promise I am not making

that up, and you’ll see why I’m making that promise in just another

moment. (This early ’80s new wave synth band went by simply Yaz in North America, so when I write out their name, I often stylize it with the two ‘o’s in parentheses. (Or—excuse me, we’re in Britain—brackets. (The ‘o’s are in brackets. (Though that’s the only time I’ll be doing it on this page.)))) And the coincidence part: today, the day I’m constructing this page, is June 18th, 2021, a day that also just happens to be the big 6-0 of Yazoo’s lead singer and female half, Geneviève Alison-Jane Moyet-Ballard—known to us as Alison Moyet. She was born 18 of June, 1961. I swear I’m neither making that up. So this is the first—and likely only—time I’ll be continuing chronologically through The List making song pages, and making a birthday tribute simultaneously.

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Songwright Vince Clarke penned this number while still a member of even earlier ’80s new wave synth band Depeche Mode. The year previous, DM had made their debut, and in doing so scored what would become one of their most lasting and endearing hits ever, “Just Can’t Get Enough,” showing themselves a demonstrable force to be reckoned with. Vince soon after buddied up with Alison and assumed the role of Yazoo’s male half. The duo dropped one album in 1982, another in ’83, and decided thereafter to lay Yazoo to rest. Their singles did well; after “Only You” came “Don’t Go,” “Situation,” “The Other Side Of Love” and “Nobody’s Diary.” Sadly, it didn’t take long for Vince and Alison to find themselves in ugly altercations which caused them to split up. Alison embarked on a solo career which brought her the most success through the rest of the ’80s. Vince went on to found a short-lived collaboration band called The Assembly, before meeting Andy Bell and whipping up the extremely successful Erasure.

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A few of Yazoo’s singles were re-released in 1990 and 1999, with the respective years tacked onto the titles. While the Yazoo days were actually happening, debut single “Only You” dropped just before ’82’s vernal equinox. I found and nabbed the “Situation” single in my used record store one day, but “Only You” I got on a compilation (as a matter of fact, it happened to be the very same compilation on which I scooped up this song). “Only You”’s production results in a comfy cozy synth feel that seems to embrace you and make you feel snug and warm. One of the videos is similarly sweet and benevolent, taking place after business hours in a mannequin shop, bringing a couple of the mannequins to romantic life. This one was lots of fun to give my audio treatment and listen to with it. Happy 60th, Alison!!

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Have notes to add? Let me know!

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YT:

full version

music video #1

music video #2