The Lover Speaks
The Lover Speaks | |
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Lp cover | |
Background information | |
Origin | England, UK |
Genres | New wave |
Years active | 1986–1988 |
Labels | A&M Records |
Associated acts | The Flys |
Members |
David Freeman Joseph Hughes |
Past members | Barry Gilbert |
The Lover Speaks was a new wave duo consisting of David Freeman (vocals) and Joseph Hughes (arranger, composer). They wrote and sang the original version of the song "No More "I Love You's"", covered by Annie Lennox in 1995 on her Medusa album, which she took to No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart.
Freeman and Hughes formed The Lover Speaks (deriving the name from Roland Barthes' book A Lover's Discourse: Fragments) in 1985, after working together in the punk outfit The Flys. They met keyboard player Barry Gilbert and began writing an album which included the song "No More I Love You's". Dave Stewart of Eurythmics got the band a recording contract with A&M Records and their self-titled debut, including contributions from Stewart, June Miles-Kingston and Nils Lofgren among others and production by Jimmy Iovine, was released the following year. Freeman's vocals received praise, but the album never took off. "No More I Love You's", their first single, fell off the UK chart after rising to No. 58. The band opened for Eurythmics during the 1986 Revenge World Tour with Gilbert on keyboards and the following year Freeman, Hughes and Gilbert wrote and produced the duet "Sleep Like Breathing" with Alison Moyet, included on her album Raindancing and "I Fall in Love Too Easily" for Kiki Dee.
They returned to the studio in 1987, by which time Gilbert had left the band, and recorded another album, The Big Lie with Iovine, Stewart and Daniel Lanois sharing production - only to face A&M Records who declined to release it. The duo then split; Freeman went on to release a few solo albums in the 2000s.
Discography
Albums
- The Lover Speaks (1986)
Singles
- "No More 'I Love You's'" No. 58 UK[1]
- "Every Lover's Sign"
- "Tremble Dancing"
- "I Close My Eyes and Count to Ten" (cover of the Dusty Springfield song)
References
External links
- Official website
- Allmusic biography
- The Lover Speaks discography at Discogs