"Everytime You Go Away" is a song written by American musician Daryl Hall. It was first recorded in 1980 by his 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.

Hall & 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.

As Tom Breihan wrote in Stereogum, "It’s not a particularly complicated song, but it does a nice job showing off Hall’s soul-singer chops. Hall and Oates recorded the track as a warm, spacious, gospel-informed lament. The arrangement is built around a churchy organ and an old-timey guitar figure, and it gives Hall’s voice plenty of room to operate." Hall commented, "It's just one of those songs. I feel very proud of its craftsmanship."

Personnel Source: 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

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 an Ovation Spanish acoustic guitar, which were both played by John Turnbull.

In March 1985, Young's version hit No. 4 in the UK singles chart. It was among the songs he performed at Live Aid held at Wembley Stadium in London on July 13, 1985. It reached No. 1 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."1986 Brit Awards – Winners". Brits.co.uk. Retrieved July 7, 2012

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."

Daryl Hall said that the Young version was one of his favorite covers. "I never thought of it any other way than the way it was 'til Paul Young did it ... I was just doin' a kind of gospel/soul song; that was all I had in mind for it. I was really surprised to hear the production they did because it kept the elements but commercialized it - made it sound like a pop record."

Personnel Source: 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 "Every Time You Go Away" – 4:15 "This Means Anything" – 3:13

12" maxi "Every Time You Go Away" (Extended version) – 7:32 "This Means Anything" – 3:13

15" album "Every Time You Go Away" – 4:28

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1985)PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report)20Canada RPM Top Singles1Canada RPM Adult Contemporary1Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)19UK Singles (OCC)"Every Time You Go Away", UK Singles Chart Official Charts Company (Retrieved January 12, 2009)4US Billboard Hot 100Billboard [ allmusic.com] (Retrieved January 12, 2009)1US Billboard Adult Contemporary1US Billboard Mainstream Rock14US Cash Box Top 100Cash Box Top 100 Singles, August 3, 19851scope="row"

Year-end charts Chart (1985)RankAustralia (ARIA)108Canada 20UK Singles (OCC) 60US Billboard Hot 100Musicoutfitters.com11US Cash Box 18

All-time charts Chart (1958–2018) PositionUS Billboard Hot 100462

Certifications CountryCertificationSales certifiedCanadaCanada certifications cria.ca (Retrieved January 12, 2009)Gold50,000UKUK certifications Bpi.co.uk (Retrieved January 12, 2009)Silver250,000U.S.U.S. certifications riaa.com (Retrieved January 12, 2009)Gold500,000

Kulcha version

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

Track listing "Everytime You Go Away" – 4:02 "Everytime You Go Away" (instrumental) – 3:58 "My Love" – 3:36

Charts Chart (1995) Peakpositionscope="row"scope="row"

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. Academy Award nominee Cynthia Erivo as a 2025 single for the documentary John Candy: I Like Me.

See also List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1985 (U.S.) List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1985 (U.S.)

References

External links Every Time You Go Away music video on YouTube