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Paul Young / No Parlez 40th anniversary reissue featuring SDE-exclusive blu-ray audio

Blu-ray and 2CD editions

By Paul Sinclair

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213

SDE-exclusive blu-ray audio with 8 audio streams • 2CD sets with SDE-exclusive edition featuring US artwork • Quick pre-order link

40 years ago this very week, one of the most popular albums of the 1980s, Paul Young’s solo debut No Parlez, was number two in the UK album charts while its fourth single, a reissued ‘Love of the Common People’, occupied the same position in the UK singles charts. Released in July 83, the album became a commercial phenomenon, taking up residence in the top 10 where it remained for an astonishing 32 consecutive weeks (baring one seven day spell at #11) until March 1984. During that time, other legendary 80s albums came and went, including Culture Club’s Colour by Numbers, Duran Duran’s Seven and the Ragged Tiger and Lionel Richie’s Can’t Slow Down, but No Parlez endured, reaching number one on four separate occasions for a total of five weeks at the summit. In the end, it spent over two years in the top 100!

Now, four decades on, this titan of 80s pop is getting a literal super deluxe treatment with an SDE-exclusive blu-ray audio edition that will surely be the last word on No Parlez, with no fewer than EIGHT different audio mixes, including a brand new immersive Dolby Atmos Mix, a 5.1 mix, a new stereo mix and much more.

Additionally, a new 2CD edition offers the original first UK vinyl pressing on CD for the very first time, along with B-sides and remixes on CD 2. As well as being available in the classic sleeve, an SDE-exclusive edition of the 2CD set comes packaged in the original USA artwork, in deluxe seven-inch packaging!

No Parlez was produced by Laurie Latham (he produced Ian Dury’s 1977 album New Boots and Panties!!) and features the UK number one, ‘Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home)’, ‘Come Back And Stay’, ‘Iron Out The Rough Spots’ and the aforementioned ‘Love of the Common People’.

Latham’s signature layered production style – working with a group of very creative musicians (including bassist Pino Palladino, who quickly became one of the most in demand sessions players of the era) and the idiosyncratic backing singers Kim Lesley and Maz Roberts (affectionately nicknamed ‘The Fabulous Weathy Tarts’) – lends itself perfectly to immersive audio, wonderfully showcasing Paul Young’s exceptional voice.

All the original 24-track, two-inch analogue tapes were located, heat-treated (‘baked’) and captured to digital in startling 192 kHz/24-bit clarity. The process sees the album meticulously rebuilt in stereo, with painstaking attention to detail, before the immersive audio Atmos and 5.1 mixes are created. This is detailed and time-consuming work and there is nothing automated about it! Producer and artist David Kosten has undertaken this work (he created the Atmos Mix for Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells) and it’s fair to say that No Parlez will never sound better!

Interestingly, one multi-track tape had been missing for 15 years, but with some SDE sleuthing we located it, transferred it and returned it safely to the Sony archive. Phew!

I have personally worked on three major Paul Young reissue projects over the last decade (Remixes and Rarities, Tomb of Memories: The CBS Years 1982-1993 and The CBS Singles Collection 1982-1994 box set) and in that time Paul has become something of a friend to SDE. So it will come as no surprise to read that this 40th anniversary reissue of what few would argue is his defining work, comes with Paul’s full approval and endorsement.

The SDE-exclusive blu-ray audio features 8 versions of No Parlez!

To cut to the chase, the No Parlez 40th anniversary SDE-exclusive Blu-ray Audio features the following hi-resolution audio streams:

  1. 2024 Dolby Atmos Mix
  2. 2024 5.1 Mix (48/24)
  3. 2024 New Stereo Mix (192/24 and 48/24)
  4. 2024 Dolby Atmos Instrumental Mix
  5. 2024 5.1 Instrumental Mix (48/24)
  6. 2024 New Stereo Instrumental Mix (192/24 and 48/24)
  7. 1983 Mix Newly Mastered – Unlimited (no peak limiting applied) (96/24)
  8. 1983 Original 1983 CBS CD Master (48/24)

1-7 above is the original 11-track vinyl version of the album which has the 4.57 version of ‘Come Back And Stay’ at the beginning. #8 is the original CD/cassette version with five extended mixes and bonus track (full tracklisting details below). I would like to highlight that the original 1983 vinyl hi-res stereo mix (#7, above) has been mastered specifically for this blu-ray with no peak limiting applied for maximum dynamics. This mastering will be different to the 2CD edition.

Additionally, there are three bonus tracks in the same 1-6 streams listed above (i.e. Atmos, 5.1 instrumentals etc.). They are:

  • Behind Your Smile (B-side and cassette/CD bonus track)
  • I’ve Been Lonely For So Long (No Parlez outtake)
  • Yours (B-side)
2CD in original USA sleeve design

The 40th anniversary 2CD edition is pictured above in SDE-exclusive guise. This combines the newly-mastered first vinyl pressing version of No Parlez (first time on CD, remember) with the second disc of 12-inch mixes, seven-inch mixes and non-album tracks. For the avoidance of doubt, the audio is the same on both 2CD sets, only the design (UK sleeve v US sleeve) is different. The SDE-exclusive is limited to 1000 units worldwide.

In terms of the SDE-exclusive blu-ray, No Parlez is #17 in the ongoing SDE Surround Series and will be packaged similarly to previous editions and ships with a free, collectible SDE Surround Series slipcase.

Here’s the now traditional reminder as to why this product is highly recommended:

  • It’s the only way to enjoy the Dolby Atmos mix of the album via a physical product
  • You don’t need to sign-up to a streaming service such as Tidal or Apple Music to hear the spatial audio mix
  • The Atmos Mix on the Blu-ray is not compressed due to streaming bandwidth restrictions. The Dolby Atmos version on a Blu-ray is encoded in Dolby TrueHD Atmos has a bit rate 10 times higher (up to 8000 kbits/s) compared to streaming’s Dolby Digital Plus (768 kbits/s)
  • You own the product, you are not renting it from a digital service provider
  • The Blu-ray audio is an excellent format for music and you don’t want to see it die off
  • Supporting SDE with these initiatives leads to similar collaborations with labels/artists and we are keen to bring your more in the near future!

The SDE-exclusive Blu-ray Audio of No Parlez is a limited edition item. It will be pressed based on demand and due to the short lead time to manufacture, it will be available to pre-order for 10 days only. You have until Christmas Eve! Availability after that cannot be guaranteed, so secure your copy today by pre-ordering at the SDE shop, either directly via this link or using the special SDE shop buy button (‘add to cart’) below. We ship worldwide, no longer have any extra charges to the EU (for orders under €150) and cost saving bundles are available.

The No Parlez 40th anniversary Blu-ray Audio and the 2CD editions will be released on 15 March 2024 and is a collaboration between SDE and Edsel. There is no vinyl version of this reissue! Feel free to ask questions via the comments and I will do my best to personally answer them.

Tracklisting

No Parlez Paul Young / SDE-exclusive blu-ray audio

    • No Parlez: UK Vinyl First Pressing version with 3 bonus tracks (as below) in the following audio streams: 2024 Dolby Atmos Mix, 2024 5.1 Mix (TBC, although expected to be 96/24), 2024 New Stereo Mix (96/24), 2024 Dolby Atmos Instrumental Mix, 2024 5.1 Instrumental Mix (TBC, although expected to be 96/24), 2024 New Stereo Instrumental Mix (96/24)
      1. Come Back and Stay 4:57
      2. Love Will Tear Us Apart 5:00
      3. Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home) 5:18
      4. Ku Ku Kurama 4:19
      5. No Parlez 4:57
      6. Love of the Common People 4:56
      7. Oh Women 3:35
      8. Iron Out the Rough Spots 4:47
      9. Broken Man 3:54
      10. Tender Trap 4:32
      11. Sex 4:49
      Bonus tracks
      1. Behind Your Smile 4.08 (B-side)
      2. Yours 5.39 (B-side)
      3. I’ve Been Lonely For So Long (No Parlez outtake) 3.39
      No Parlez: UK Vinyl First Pressing version newly remastered with no peak limiting 
      1. Come Back and Stay – 4:57
      2. Love Will Tear Us Apart  5:00
      3. Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home)  5:18
      4. Ku Ku Kurama – 4:19
      5. No Parlez – 4:57
      6. Love of the Common People – 4:56
      7. Oh Women  – 3:35
      8. Iron Out the Rough Spots – 4:47
      9. Broken Man  – 3:54
      10. Tender Trap – 4:32
      11. Sex  – 4:49
      No Parlez: Original 1983 CD Master
      1. Come Back and Stay 7:56 (scratch mix)
      2. Love Will Tear Us Apart  5:00
      3. Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home)  6:01 (extended club mix)
      4. Ku Ku Kurama 4:19
      5. No Parlez 4:57
      6. Behind Your Smile 4:08
      7. Love of the Common People  5:51 (extended club mix)
      8. Oh Women 3:35
      9. Iron Out the Rough Spots 7:28 (extended club mix)
      10. Broken Man 3:54
      11. Tender Trap 4:32
      12. Sex 6:51 (extended club mix)

Tracklisting

No Parlez Paul Young / SDE-exclusive 2CD set and standard 2CD set

    • CD 1
      1. Come Back And Stay 4:57
      2. Love Will Tear Us Apart 5:00
      3. Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home) 5:18
      4. Ku Ku Kurama 4:19
      5. No Parlez 4:57
      6. Love Of The Common People 4:56
      7. Oh Women 3:35
      8. Iron Out The Rough Spots 4:47
      9. Broken Man 3:54
      10. Tender Trap 4:32
      11. Sex 4:49
    • CD 2
      1. Behind Your Smile 4:08
      2. I’ve Been Lonely For So Long 3:38
      3. Iron Out The Rough Spots [7” Mix] 3:41
      4. Love Of The Common People [1982 7” Mix] 3:43
      5. Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home) [7” Version] 4:52
      6. Come Back And Stay [Single Remix Version] 4:23
      7. Love Of The Common People [Remix] 3:41
      8. Iron Out The Rough Spots [12” Mix] 7:29
      9. Love Of The Common People [Extended Club Mix] 5:51
      10. Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home) [Extended Club Mix Version] 5:59
      11. Sex [Extended Club Mix Version] 6:52
      12. Come Back And Stay [Extended Club Mix Version] 7:24
      13. Yours 5:39
      14. Come Back And Stay [Scratch Mix] 7:55

1 Tears For Fears / The Tipping Point

2 xPropaganda / The Heart is Strange

3 Gilbert O’Sullivan / Driven

4 Shakespears Sister / Hormonally Yours

5 Brian Eno / ForeverAndEverNoMore

6. Orbital / Optical Delusion

6.5 Various Artists / Concert For George

7 Ten Years After / A Space in Time

8 Bob Dylan / Time Out Of Mind (2022 Remix)

9 Tears For Fears / The Hurting

10 Mike Oldfield / Tubular Bells

11 Suede

12 ABC / The Lexicon of Love

13 Duran Duran / Danse Macabre

14 Trevor Horn / Echoes – Ancient and Modern

15 Soft Cell / Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret

16 Def Leppard / Diamond Star Halos

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213 Comments

213 thoughts on “Paul Young / No Parlez 40th anniversary reissue featuring SDE-exclusive blu-ray audio”

  2. I just wanted to say that as a teenager in the 80’s in Omaha, Nebraska, USA my music tastes were changing and I stopped listening to the radio much as it was dominated by “hair bands” and cheesy pop.
    I was getting into Depeche Mode, New Order & The Smiths and the like… so, I only knew of Paul Young by what was on the radio or MTV here, as well as Love Of The Common People as I picked up these British compilations called “Chart Trek.”
    He was kind of dismissed by my peers as a “cover act,” but I always liked his voice & never had any real reason to not like what I did hear.
    So I went ahead and ordered this and absolutely love this album now after all
    these years. His interpretations are awesome, and his vocals fantastic. He really makes the songs his own & even manages to pull of a very interesting take on Joy Division, which could get one into a lot of trouble!
    I haven’t listened to the Blu-ray yet but the album has been on repeat on my headphones and in the truck. I even got his next album too and plan to move through his whole catalog.
    Big Paul Young fan after all these years!

  3. Paul, I have been enjoying the CD, a couple of notes. 
    The Cd2 listing above does not match the info on the back of the CD set, you might want to update and on the SDE store too.
    Is there any chance you can start putting higher res images of the SDE exclusive covers on the site ? i.e. 1500+ not the 600×600
    Cheers

  5. Finally had a chance to sit down and listen to the Atmos mix. It is absolutely sensational. This is the best Atmos/5.1 mix I own by far. David Kosten did an amazing job. Some spatial mixes are simply not that good and you can’t really hear a huge difference with the stereo mix. This mix is absolutely incredible. Listening the instrumentals now. It’s brilliant. You hear every instrument (especially the brilliant base by Pino Palladino) down to the congas. This is a must have!

      1. Paul, I have written to you twice this week re order 5404870344940. I have received the Blu ray and slipcase, but only the 2CD sleeve – the CDs are missing.

        Can you please contact me to confirm you have received these e-mails and are looking into this matter.

  6. Well, today, March 25, I FINALLY got my SDE-exclusive Paul Young blu-ray delivered to my house in Lincoln, California (USA) and my goodness was this ever worth the wait! My girlfriend in high school (81-85) liked him but I was always more of a classic rock/hard rock/metal kind of guy so I didn’t pay much attention. I was familiar with the album that was released after “No Parlez” as it was played quite a bit on the A.M. & F.M. top 40 radio station(s) in Sacramento, CA at the time but that too was of little interest. What a difference 40 years makes, I guess, as I am just blown away with his vocals, interpretations of songs and the amazing recording and remix into 5.1 and ATMOS. Almost four months into the year, this SDE-exclusive of “No Parlez” finds itself at or near the top of my list of best immersive releases of 2024. Paul Sinclair, the SDE-exclusive blu-ray series and Rhino’s QUADIO series are head and shoulders the best on-going “immersive/surround” series in the physical product marketplace. PERIOD! By the way, I was never a Wham! fan either, but I did pre-order those, too. I am looking forward to another revelation…Cheers!

  7. Great to have this BR which arrived quickly and safely here, thanks Paul and team. I just wonder if anyone else noticed that when you choose to play the 2024 instrumental mixes the second stereo audio track (track 4) does not play the instrumental version of “Broken Man”. All other audio tracks do, just track 4 plays the regular version.

  9. Hi Paul, I just made the purchase of the bundle Blu-Ray Audio (to own the instrumentals of the album) & the US sleeve 2CD set with the express checkout using PayPal. Just to make sure I met the deadline I just purchased first & now the question: will the Blu Ray Audio play on the standard Blu Ray player (for films/movies)? If not the I’ll hold on to the disc untill one day I will get or replace my Blu Ray player with a newer one.

    I own this CD, bought a long time ago on eBay https://www.discogs.com/release/1417047-Paul-Young-No-Parlez
    I also have the European or UK one with different tracklisting (different durations of tracks) like this one https://www.discogs.com/release/1959001-Paul-Young-No-Parlez

    I also bought this Sony one https://www.discogs.com/release/7564551-Paul-Young-No-Parlez
    (It looked like Sony used the US album tracklisting instead of the UK/European back then, according to the durations, I had never compared the CD’s yet by listening to the tracks back to back). Perhaps someone will/can confirm that.

    Many thanks for the instrumentals on the Blu Ray Audio and finally the First vinyl pressing tracklisting now on CD. Keep up the good work I still visit your site frequently. But now only sometimes I will leave a comment like this time (or Wham the time before this).

    BTW I believe I spotted a typo or the “auto-correction”: remember should perhaps be remastered. English is not my mother tongue so I could be wrong
    The 40th anniversary 2CD edition is pictured above in SDE-exclusive guise. This combines the newly-mastered first vinyl pressing version of No Parlez (first time on CD, remember) with the second disc of 12-inch mixes, seven-inch mixes and non-album tracks.

  10. Blu-ray ordered. I almost forgot! This is a stellar release. I have the original CD with all of the 12 inch mixes and look forward to hearing all of the versions on the Blu-ray. What a superb, superb package. I’m hinting at It’s Better to Travel, maybe it could be #21 in the series. But seriously, this is once more a brilliant release. Thank you!

  11. Finally got around to ordering this today. I already have a CD of the album in a cheap box set of 5 Paul Young albums, but I have (or have ordered) the other 17 SDE Surround blu-ray titles. In for a penny, in for a pound, as they say.

  12. Really wish the pre-order time was longer, that just doesn’t give it time, particularly in the mad run-up to Christmas, to do justice to the work that’s gone into this. I’m almost tempted to buy a 100 of them, knowing full well they’ll shift.
    Buying it anyway, but speaking as an unashamed completist it would have been nice to make 100% sure that all the CD tracks are on the BD package, somehow ..

  13. Hi Paul – just a quick comment re the album getting a release in “deluxe 7-inch packaging” ….. I think on balance I actually prefer the smaller cardboard packaging you did for the SAW blu-ray.

    It would appear whoever mocked up the packshot for the 2CD set prefers the smaller packaging as well!

  14. This is a very niche memory for those of us in the outer reaches of the UK. I remember when Channel 4 started late 1982 they had a dispute with unions right from the start and ending in the summer of 1983. This prevented them from putting on adverts and in the breaks between programmes, we got the Channel 4 logo on screen and music played. They used Paul Young a fair bit – Wherever I lay my hat particularly but also Everytime you go away. It was always the instrumental versions and I loved them. I thought it was a shame when the dispute ended and we had to have adverts!! I think other regions got music videos but I much preferred Paul Young. I’d like to have seen the instrumentals on Disc 2 of the CD set. If anyone knows where I can get them (on CD) I’d be grateful (I don’t have the ability to play Atmos)

    1. Don’t forget the blu-ray has the instrumentals in stereo as well as the remastered album in stereo and the CD version of No Parlez in stereo. There’s no easy way to get instrumentals, otherwise. Some were on the CD box set that is out of print. Only ‘Everything Must Change’ was officially released as an instrumental in the UK.

  15. My Duran Duran blu-ray is waiting to get shipped since oct. 26th at UK distribution center. I really want this disc :(

    My PWL blu-ray was ‘out for delivery’ by bpost for 2 weeks! And then returned to sender. Never delivered at my door, never available at a parcel pickup point. After 2 weeks in transit they decided it to return to sender. I can’t file a complaint according to the site, only the sender…

    Guess I’ll give up ordering from UK, although I’m a collector of blu-ray audio…

  17. First time poster, although long time reader of this website. I have ordered the Blu-ray and 2 CD bundle, it looks fantastic. Can I assume there is no chance of getting Lexicon of Love now? Keep up the good work anyway!

  18. This is great news I ordered my copy. Now all we need is Dead Or Alive Youthquake, Adam and the Ants Dirk Wears White Sox and Kings Of The Wild Frontier, Culture Club Colour By Numbers, Boy George Sold And Tense Nervous Headache, The Human League Dare, Shakespears Sister Sacred Heart just to name a few to be released on Blu-ray Audio.

    1. @MarkyMark While I think ‘Dare’ would be a holy grail Atmos for many people (myself included), I can’t help thinking the Adam and the Ants and Culture Club titles are bit more ‘niche’. If either act were to do an Atmos Best Of, on the other hand….

      1. Each to their own. To me, Human League is a bit less commercial than Adam or Boy (and thereby more niche). I own quite a bit of Adam (with or without the Ants), one Boy George album (but, strangely, not any CC – need to rectify that with an SDE surround blu-ray, Paul), and no straight-up Human League, however I do have the League Unlimited Orchestra remixed version of Dare as Love and Dancing on vinyl – if that was released as an Atmos mix on blu-ray (maybe paired with the original Dare album) I’d be up for that.

  19. I remember back in the day, initially I could take or leave Paul Young. Then I saw a live concert on the telly, and I was converted. I don’t order many Atmos BDs, but this is one of those :)

  21. Aside from postage and vat issues, Paul, I think it is incredible that you are maintaining the price of these releases, especially as the content keeps getting better and more extensive. As you mentioned yourself, there must have been an enormous amount of work and expense involved with this latest release.

  22. Thats a very nice album I bought on CD in 83 or so, and a great voice. I love 5.1 mixes, but I have to say that the postage cost tp EEC is about 50% the price of the bluray. That seems over the top to me. ISn’t there a cheaper solution than good old Royal Mail? (. Why don’t you join Amazon UK to take advantage of their logistics?)

    1. Maybe the Blu-ray is too cheap? We are now paying all the VAT on EU purchases – something we can’t reclaim – so our costs have gone up 20% and the price of the item has gone down by that amount for EU customers.

      1. For EU customers, the total cost has not decreased! The only difference is that we pay VAT immediately, not when the product arrives in the EU. There is no difference! The Royal Mail tracking system is completely useless. You can see the date the shipment leaves the UK and the date the shipment arrives at its destination. But nobody knows where the parcel stays for about 7 days, it results in useless service and unnecessary costs.

        1. You are wrong. It has decreased. Before you were paying the price of the item – £23 –  plus: shipping, import VAT, local admin charge. People kept telling me it was more than DOUBLING the price of the item and they were paying €50+. We implemented IOSS at our cost and now you no longer have to pay the import VAT or any local charges associated with it. Now buying Paul Young shipped to the EU is less than €40. Royal Mail are mostly pretty good we find. *Sometimes* the tracking doesn’t work, but mostly it does. Normally the item turns up between 5 and 10 days after it has shipped from UK to EU. Items hardly ever get lost.

      2. Hi Paul, thanks.
        Usually when you export a good and pay the destination VAT ahead, like you do for EEC, you don’t pay local (UK) VAT.
        Maybe you are paying the VAT twice, UK and EEC? Your accountant should be able to confirm.
        Nonetheless to come back to your point, I ‘d rather pay 3 € extra on the Blu ray rather than this 11 £ of Royal Mail which seems out of proportion with current practices of courriers.

        For example I ordered the Steven Wilson “Harmonu Codex” Blu ray from Amazon ( his e-shop apparently have a deal with them). I payed 24 € for the BR and 2.49€ for the shippement from UK . Thats 22,73£. I ‘m not being picky on a couple of pounds on the product itself, but rather on the logistics.

        1. I’m telling you exactly how it was working to compared to how it is now. There’s no ‘usually’. People in the EU are now paying at least €12 LESS for SDE blu-rays then they were before August 23rd this year. I know this because I am bearing the cost! I’m not getting into a debate about what is good and not good for shipping. Our service is tracked, fully insured, in sturdy card wraps (not jiffy bags). We also offer very good personal customer service from Anne who deals with all queries quickly.

          1. You’re completely right, Paul. Before 23rd of August I payed €63, now €39. They forget all the extra costs we had to pay for custom formalities etc. Like they don’t live in Europe! I ordered almost every Blu-ray and they were all delivered. So no problem with Royal Mail.

          2. I will admit that Royal Mail’s shipping cost is higher than most (although I recently shipped a paperback from New Zealand to Canada and the shipping cost was in excess of the equivalent of £30), but I want to point out some of the many positives of purchasing direct from theSDEShop.

            I can confirm excellent customer service from Anne recently, in fact, the best service I’ve had from a company from memory. She recently made one collector’s dream a reality.

            A month or so ago, I made a purchase elsewhere and chose the cheaper shipping option – that shipment went missing and the company did nothing to compensate and I was out of pocket for the full cost, so it is nice to know SDE shipments are fully covered for loss/damage.

            In Paul’s defense (and stated by him elsewhere), the shipping cost does not merely cover the cost of the courier – it includes the packaging (which in Paul’s case is more sturdy than most) as well as the packing/handling expenses of staff. I assume other companies put those costs into the product itself.

            Suggesting Paul use Amazon as an intermediary (even if that were possible) would at best transfer some of the cost from shipping to product, or at worse just add more cost (Amazon is a business after all, and would need their cut of the profit), which would likely not help. I’d rather give my money to Paul than to Amazon.

            Paul’s pre-order window system is unique and fair for all purchasers (yet still results in a limited product), and I can’t imagine how any other intermediary could handle that like Paul does.

            The fact that the SDE Surround blu-rays have only had one small price increase since inception is great, so I for one am glad that Paul is trying to avoid any more unnecessary cost increases.

          3. Have to fully agree that the implementation of IOSS decreases the costs for us in EU. And from the day it was announced here at SDE it works flawlessly (Paul, great work by the team at SDE!). All shipments go through customs without any issues since. Much bigger shops than e.g. Warner (New Order/PSB) are still failing in this regard and do not manage to get the IOSS set up correctly.
            I am also ordering at Amazon UK but everybody has to be aware that we cannot expect these low cross-financed shipping costs from shops not having the size of this mega company.
            In regards to tracking the Royal Mail shipments I have no issues with this. The RM tracking code works just fine also in the DHL app and updates from UK departure till arrival at my home.

          4. I’m glad to hear that the IOSS system is working with SDE. I haven’t ordered anything from here since it was implemented because funds are really tight and there hasn’t been a release I felt I couldn’t live without, but I was slightly worried about future releases because I remember reading stories from other stores where it didn’t work and people had to erroneously pay double VAT and then try to reclaim that money. In fact, something like that happened to me with a Discogs order. I know Discogs is a marketplace but it does supposedly use IOSS…

  23. Oh I’ll be ordering the bundle with the “No Parlez” SDE exclusives of the #17 BRA & the US cover 2CD along with the book(let)…I have a confession to make here…on this album which I originally bought on US vinyl & played to death, that was where I first heard “Love Will Tear Us Apart” by Joy Division…I was fairly new to new wave, punk, goth & Britpop in 1983, and I remember the credits said “written by J.Division”, I loved the song and was like, who’s this J.Division person?? Forgive me, I was only 15/16…then I heard the original and learned about New Order/Joy Division…I was like “wow, this is that song Paul Young did!!”

    On an unrelated note, what’s up with the Trevor Horn BRA #14?? I got my Soft Cell, the Trevor was dispatched according to records, I hope it didn’t get lost…

      1. Yeah mine finally arrived this past Friday, like 2 weeks after the Soft Cell BRA arrived and both were shipped 2 weeks prior…so I was starting to worry…just happy it arrived…I have all 15 now…with Def Leppard up next and then Paul Young…

  24. It was a bit complicated between Paul Young and me at the time.

    The first 7′ release of ‘Love Of The Common People’ and, after that, ‘Iron Out The Rough Spots’ went unnoticed by me (and by most other people in Germany, i think) and while ‘Wherever I Lay My Hat’ was a huge hit in Germany i thought it to be a bit lame.

    My interest in PY only began to rise after ‘Come Back And Stay’ and it was the remix 7′ of ‘Love Of The Common People’ that i enjoyed enough to buy a copy of the ‘No Parlez’ album which i, to my own surprise, enjoyed immensely when listening to it in its ‘original UK vinyl sequencing’.

    So that album was logically one of the first i bought on cd after buying my first cd player in 1987. Listening to that cd quickly became a mixed bag too though. While i quite liked the idea of putting some 12′ mixes on there i would have preferred them as an addition to, not a substitution for the original tracks.

    As over the years i first stopped buying records on vinyl and then for decades didn’t even had a record player up and ready to play my old vinyl records i very much applaud the idea to this release and have ordered the bundle of the br-a plus 2-cd US cover art version.

    It will be the first time for literally decades that i’ll be able to listen to this record as it was originally intended so thank you for making that happen Paul & Paul.

    P.S.: My full enjoyment of Paul Young’s abilities as a performer only saw the light of day after his performance at ‘Rockpalast’ in March of 1985 when he could choose the songs for the set list out of two killer albums, ‘No Parlez’ and ‘The Secret Of Association’, the latter being my favourite album by him and, assisting some other comments already made here, ‘I’m Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down’ in PY’s rendition is one of my most loved tracks ever.

  25. My initial question when I saw this upcoming release was “Who is Paul Young?”. Does this artist have more of a European following? Anyway, looking forward to more releases that get me more excited. Keep up the great work :)

    1. Ummm, Paul Young is one of the best pop/soul singers/artists the UK has ever produced really…he had some success in the US too, had a #1 single in his cover of Hall & Oates’ “Everytime You Go Away”…speaking of, I hope there will be an SDE of “The Secret of Association” as well…

  26. Hi Paul – does the 2CD set include ALL of the b-sides, edits and remixes that were released in support of the album at the time? Has anything been left out (apart from some demo recordings and live tracks released on a previous 2CD set)?

  28. Wouldn’t have instinctively gone for this one but the extra tracks and the meticulous work apparently achieved to release these new mixes convinced me. Quite easily admittedly. I am in !

  29. Having never owned this album I like the CD version having an original album mix put on it, but I do have a question as I have to put music purchasing on hold for a while; will the standard 2CD version be available long-term? I realize the blu-ray and UK artwork versions are limited, just hoping I can wait a few months on buying the standard version.

  30. Paul Young’s Japanese Singles Collection with a Blu-Spec CD and DVD is a “special price” (it’s printed on the OBI) of 2778 Yen at CD Japan right now. That’s around £15 GBP. Not a bad price if anyone wants to add 18 of Paul’s videos to their collection. DHL shipping to Europe is around £15 GBP. The CD/DVD price includes taxes if shipped to Europe also. Not sure about the UK. Only one left in stock as I write: https://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/SICP-31275

    1. I just checked this following your provided link.

      The price on the item page (2778¥) is the net amount (excluding Japanese VAT). It is correct that CD Japan will collect your local VAT instead of you having to pay it when the item arrives at your door (the usual 150€/£135 thresholds apply) but the amount for said VAT (also due for shipping costs) will only be added once you put the item into your shopping cart and have chosen a shipping method.

      So in your example the total price for this item including tracked shipping with DHL will be approximately 43-45€ to an EU-country or £36 to the UK.

  31. Thanks for a remaster free from the loudness wars madness. Never understood why so many Universal audio blu-ray’s were heavily compressed… these surround and hi res audio mixes are mainly intended for listening at home… not for the car or crowded places….

    1. because when you compress a sound (reduce the dynamic : difference between the silent and the maximum volume), it sounds louder because the sound level feeling is based on the “average” value of the signal. ( we could do an analogy with RMS power vs peak power of amplifier). This comes from the mp3 devoce which need a high volume sound for their shitty earbuds.

  33. Loved the album back in the days – and still listening to it from time to time. So ordered the bundle and added the recent Soft Cell-release. Thank you for your great work, otherwise wouldn’t buy any physical releases anymore

  34. Not making the same mistake that I did with Trevor Horn, however my growing list of Blu Ray purchases from SDE have been superb. It’s just so tempting to put down a 100 suggestions but I will trust Paul to do what he can when he can, I can only imagine how hard it is to organise these things.

  36. My theory about “No Parlez” was that it was the great “couples” album of the time, that Young’s appeal to both boys and girls meant that it became the compromise soundtrack to the rise and fall of a whole generation of first loves, usually at the girl’s behest nonetheless. When the relationships soured the boys moved on to heavier or more esoteric fayre, leaving the girls holding on to a reminder of a failed relationship that was suddenly as relevant as last week’s newspapers. This is why it was then impossible to go into either a charity shop or secondhand record shop for the next 20 years without tripping over a boxful of unwanted “No Parlez’s”.

    Still a brilliant pop album, though.

  38. My wife bought a new sofa and wants a tv to go with it. Apparently I can have a sound bar to play my music on. I’m not so sure this is a genuine offer for music, rather than an addition to improve the tv experience! However, in the spirit of open mindedness, does anyone use a sound bar for playing atmos music? Is it a good experience, better than nothing, or a waste of space?

          1. I’ve never used a soundbar but I will assume having the rear speakers makes a big difference in hearing sound behind you if you’re sitting in the centre of the room.

  43. I have the previous boxes so felt I had this album inside out. It’s so iconic though I had to buy with my new found surround system.

    If this means, in future, we potentially get the 12” of Tear Your Playhouse Down in surround, take my money now!

  44. This looks great. Have ordered the BD (brilliant that there are so many options for listening) and the US 2CD bundle plus the interview booklet for The Secret Of Association. Love 7″ packaging on CDs. Will be counting down the days to March. Fair play Paul, top work.

  46. Ordered the Bundle straight away, can’t wait for this. Great to have the original track listing on the CD’s and the Surround Sound Blu Ray. Another 80’s classic given the proper treatment it deserves. Thanks Paul for all you do.

  48. Although I wasn’t the biggest fan of Paul Young per se, this contains seminal work by one of my favourite bassists, Pino Palladino whose fingerprints appear all over so many of my favourite 80s albums; for me as a budding fretless bass player, his influence was second only to Mick Karn in mind-blowing awesomeness (even if Jaco Pastorious wins for flat-out technical brilliance). I cannot wait to hear Pino’s bass playing rewoven into Atmos mixes, so – ordered! Yet another in the SDE surround series that keeps me one foot in the “physical product” game! Such a great package Paul!

  52. Instant buy Special US cover 2CD and Blu Ray – one can never have too many versions of No Parlez. And finally the original scratch Comeback and Stay version opening the record. Thank you Paul and Paul for the continues cooperation – any signed versions available maybe?

  54. I was working at Tower Records here in Los Angeles when this album came out & I promoted it heavily in-store. One of the best things about working at Tower was getting to promote new artists & albums to our customers. I loved the 2nd video for “Come Back & Stay” and I’m glad to see the US cover on this CD reissue. Ordered my “set” immediately! Thanks Paul & Paul! (maybe Paul Y. can come in & secretly sign some of the Blu-Ray cardboard sleeves!)

  55. Ordered ! I love how this page singlehandedly keeps this blu ray audio format alive ! I was so sad it didn’t become a new standard and yet this page keeps releasing amazing titles !

    Still hoping for Grace Jones….. either Slave to the rhythm or Hurricane / Dub….. or both :-)

  58. I like the additional touch of listing all of the SDE Surround blu-rays so far released at the end of the post (although that solitary 0 at the beginning has me intrigued – could it be that there was a release prior to Tipping Point we are not aware of ;) ).

    Also, if my Maths is correct, this is the 11th SDE Surround announcement of 2023. At one point during the year Paul prophesied 12 announcements this year. Might we be lucky enough to get one more before the new year?

  59. This is great news and I’m thrilled to see an ‘unmastered’ (or remastered without clipping) version available. I found this recording initially a little constricted from the audio point of view and am looking forward to listening to this album (and that magical high fretless bass) again….

  64. Applying my criteria for SDE Surround Series purchases:

    1. Is it an album by an artist I know – check
    2. Is it an album I know – check
    3. Is it an album by an artist I should like – check
    4. Is it a Blu-ray I’ll play more than once – check

    A jam-packed Blu-ray plus exclusive 2 CD version of the album – bundle ordered!

    Hearty congrats on a spectacular release. Looks like a lot of work went into this. Thank you!

    Fingers crossed for a similar SoA release in the future.

  65. This is great! I have been searching for the Single Version that runs 3:30 on many vinyl singles and was hoping to see that here. Is that just a typo on all of those vinyls that state 3:30?

  66. This is exactly what I want on my shelf – a well curated, high quality version of a classic album, with additional contemporary tracks, in multiple audio streams – at an amazing price! What I don’t want on my shelf is another punter fleecing overpriced, coloured vinyl version of a mediocre album from someone you might have hoped would have a bit more consideration for their fans.
    Thank you both Pauls – ordered, of course.
    PS Can we see any images of the booklet?

      1. I really enjoyed the setup for The Lexicon of Love and the way you could swap the track between the different mixes and it would just carry on from where you were listening. Helped to make the comparison easier to hear without going backwards and forwards through the menu’s. Anyone else?

  68. What a scoop! Though I’ve suspected that this might appear on the SDE Blu-ray rosta for a while. A great album and what a plethora of mixes and additional tracks. Personally can’t wait to hear the incredible playing of Pino Palladino on the instrumental mixes. Thanks Paul and the SDE team. An instant purchase for me.

  69. Hi Paul

    Your article above makes mention of“an SDE-exclusive edition of the 2CD set [that] comes packaged in the original USA artwork, in deluxe seven-inch packaging!” Does that mean that the standard (non-USA artwork) version comes in a regular-sized digipak, or is that also a 7″ design? TIA!

  70. Thank you, Paul, for this early Christmas present! Ordered, of course.
    Now, here’s hoping that this now well established series of 17 SDE Blu-ray editions can convince powers-that-be to allow you to give the same treatment to other 1980’s classics: Slave to The Rhythm or Welcome To The Pleasure Dome…
    Merry Christmas to Paul and his family, and to everyone here on this forum!

  73. Excellent choice!
    Brings back college memories. I was a CBS Records College Rep at UNC Chapel Hill.
    Paul Young played Duke University with Simon F opening.
    Simon F went on the Duke student station and started slagging Paul Young off – basically saying if you want some excitement tonight, come see me then leave, because it gets boring after that…
    I let the folks in New York know, and I think that was one of Simon F’s last dates as the opener…
    P.S. – Paul put on a great show!

  75. Ordered! It’s really a super deluxe edition with all these different mixes and much cheaper then a box set. Many thanks for your hard work and presenting the music in the best possible audio format.

  76. When I received the email about this next BR release I physically shouted “YES” so loud my wife thought we’d one the lottery.
    One of the easiest purchases ever. I’ve been praying for this to be an SDE BR Audio release and now my dreams have come true.
    Wow. That’s a lot of content. Can’t wait.
    Thanks Paul (& Paul Young)

  77. Thanks Paul this is great news, I’m loving the SDE surround series & No Parlez is a great album…would love to see Frankie goes to Hollywood welcome to the pleasuredome available in the SDE surround format.

  79. Hi Paul, I have the CBS Singles boxset (which is great by the way) and I want to know if this is an attempt to reissue all his CBS albums in this way. I only have that singles boxset but I always wanted the CBS albums too. So if I buy this 2CD set, will the other albums be reissued in the same manner? Cheers, Luke

  80. Bundle ordered. Not just because this was one of the best albums from the 1980s, but also to help with getting an SDE (re)release of The Secret Of Association. And of course to keep the collection complete.
    Great work Paul!

  82. HI Paul,
    This is just amazing, one of my all time favourite albums, ready to add to the rest of the the No Parlez collection i have. Now if other bands/individuals can see the sterling work that you are doing we might see more early release from Duran/Wham/Spandau etc…. and current streaming exclusives coming to you to release… thinking the recent Take That as one.

    Keep up the fantastic work, a very happy holiday season to all at SDE Towers!
    Mark

  86. This is one of the albums that I bought when I was 18 loved it then and love it today. Indeed Paul Young was my first concert that I attended over the age of 18 on the No Parlez UK Tour, my first pint of beer at a live event, and even was my first Tour Merch purchase of the album title logo in Bright Yellow on a blue T shirt, amazing what things stick in your memory!. This is a no brainer purchase even though I haven’t got the Atmos set up I’m hoping that the 24/192 stereo transfer this came from will be added to the disc. Please please. Will be ordering this when I get home later.

  87. OMG, no brainer! It only took me a few seconds to place an order for the blu-ray+2CD bundle… oh, I added Peter Gabriel’s blu-ray+2CD set I somehow missed in my previous order :-D

    Thank you, Paul, for keeping on surprising us with these wonderful goodies!

  88. Unclipped, full dynamic range sounds good to me; Blu-ray audio is the perfect place for it too, as I doubt anyone buying Blu-ray audio is listening to it on cheap earbuds without much volume control. ODR (Original Dynamic Range) should be exploited on CD as well as BDA specifically marketed and aimed at audiophiles. Finally, it seems that audiophiles are being listened to and catered for. With any luck, the recording industry as a whole will wake up and follow this example.

    1. No Parlez – no brainer!

      Given the contents, this could be my favourite of the whole series so far (and that’s saying something when we’ve had The Hurting and Lexicon Of Love already). This looks even better than I could have imagined. That elusive original 1983 configuration on CD at last!

  90. Amazing stuff Paul, a big thank you for all your work and effort on this one.

    I did wonder in creating the surround series whether any artist/record company would be willing to spend money to use multi-track tapes to create fresh mixes or whether it’ll only be artists who had already digitized their multi-tracks. It’s encouraging to learn of the use of these tapes.

    No Parlez to me is a classic 80’s album, a mix of covers and original songs that finally got rid of monkey off Paul’s back that is ‘Toast’. I did go to see Paul Young in Herne Bay a couple of months ago doing his ‘Behind The Lens’ tour where he talks about his life in music. He also answered my question on Pino Palladino and came back with a pretty informative answer on how he got Pino to play on the album.

  94. Honestly, Paul, you’ve really spoilt us this year (not that I’m complaining about it!) This looks like another fantastic release that I’m excited to add to the collection.

    Thanks, as always, for all the hard work behind the scenes in making these SDE exclusives happen. I’m sure it can’t be easy at times but know that all that effort is very much appreciated.

  95. WOW! You surely set a new standard for audio blu-ray releases. Ordered the bundle immediately. This is an absolutely incredible offering. Instrumental versions, bonus tracks, new album remix, you name it and it is there. Even the 12”es are included (on the original 1983 cd master). Well done!!

    One comment, you seem to say it’s the first time the original vinyl pressing is on cd but it was also on the 25th anniversary edition in 2008. At least it had the short versions on cd1 so I’m assuming it was the original vinyl pressing.

  97. So I am one to criticise (especially around excessive limiting) but Paul thank you and well done!

    My view is to maximise sales of Blu Ray you need to appeal to both the Surround & Stereo audiophile markets.

    The best way to get to the stereo audiophile market is Hi Res (24/48, 24/88.2 or 24/96) together with dynamic (or flat) mastering.

  98. Liking the 2nd CD! I have the 2CD 25th anniversary edition of this album, but this new 40th edition has 7 tracks that aren’t on that, so another reason worth getting it! – And the 25th anniversary edition has 3 tracks not on the 40th, so justifies me keeping both copies! (As well as the alternative artwork on the SDE exclusive!).
    Despite now being a huge New Order / Joy Division fan, this album was my intro to “Love will tear us apart”. And despite discovering the (better in my opinion) JD original, I still love Paul Young’s excellent, very different take on it.
    Now to order the SDE exclusive!

  100. This looks great . I can remember first hearing “I’ve Been Lonely So Long “ on an NME free tape and wishing it had been on the tape version of “No Parlez“ which id bought . Thankfully it appeared on the reissue a few years back .

  101. Even though I like Paul Young, I have never owned this album in any form. After having looked at the specs for the blu ray and what was on it, it went straight into my basket and purchased immediately. Look forward to hearing this album for the very first time. Thanks so much Paul for your continued work in getting these outstanding blu rays out.

  102. I couldn’t order the blu-ray/CD bundle fast enough, it’s one of my favourite albums and listen to it frequently, and it still sounds as good in 2023 as it did when I first heard it all those years ago when I was discovering my own musical taste.

    Really happy, you’ve brightened my day

  103. Also a no-brainer – pre-ordered BR+2CD :) I had the cassette version, my b-i-l had the LP! Never realised the Come Back And Stay Scratch Mix wasn’t the Extended Club Mix by another name (I know, call myself a fan!). Hopefully no more ‘must owns’ before payday, Paul!

    1. Just spent the last 15 minutes going down a rabbit hole because I was wondering the same thing. I’ll start by stating that I’m certainly no expert in these numbers, but my guess is that since the original master isn’t being tinkered with (remix/remaster), there is no real need to convert the tapes to higher kHz. This keeps the files smaller and the human ear apparently can only hear up to 20 kHz frequencies anyway. If a producer or engineer is going to remaster or remix the files, then converting the digital files to higher numbers is beneficial in giving the new remaster as much clarity as possible.

      But then again, I really have no idea. :)

    2. I’m surprised that particular stream is 24-bit at all as there was very little, if any 24-bit mixing and mastering going on in 1983 with digital audio masters. Even 16-bit digital recording and mixing was still very expensive at the time. Perhaps this stream is taken from the original analogue master that was prepared for the CD master.

      1. The original 1983 source tapes including the original vinyl master were all analogue but the subsequent original CD master (different track listing) must have been digital (24/48) and then dithered down to 16/44.1.

  107. Wow Paul! You just keep raising the bar on these releases. Atmos, Hi Rez 5.1, no brickwalling, original stereo mix, instrumental, new stereo mix. You are the standard and I hope the market pivots to this approach. Ordered of course.

    1. Thanks. I should add that rebuilding an album like No Parlez from scratch after locating, baking and transferring the tapes and then doing the Atmos and other mixes is INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE! So No Parlez is going to have to sell pretty well on blu-ray to justify Edsel wanting to do The Secret of Association. Everybody’s enthusiasm and support is wonderful and let’s hope we can keep this series going.

        1. It’s manufactured on demand with a 10 day window, so it’s not going to sell out at all, just only available for that period, so the amount they will manufacture is the amount ordered…which is better, no fear of missing out…

  110. O R D E R E D the complete bundle. I had to have the alternate cover plus the standard deluxe version AND the blu-ray. Thank you Paul for your hard work. And thanks to Mr Paul Young for his great music. I’ve been a fan since 1983 :)

          1. People say a lot of things.. but funny enough, when they have actually done blind side by side testing with people that insist they hear the difference.. its clear they don’t as they are just as likely to pick the lower resolution one than the higher, when asked to pick the higher

          2. On average, you’re right, the vast majority of average listeners can’t hear the difference, but I’ve seen the occasional person who genuinely can do better than chance, in proper blind testing. As with all things, there really aren’t any absolutes out there.

      2. TBH most midrange blu ray players have 24/192 DACs, and the rest will down-sample PCM 24/192 to 24/96 or 24/48 as required. The blu ray standards dictate that a player must handle LPCM tracks at 24/192 for up to six channels or 24/96 for up to eight channels. If they can’t do this, they are not adhering to the standards that define being a blu ray player.
        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray#Audio
        If this is correct 2 channel stereo at 24/192 is a no brainer. It just means I have to buy more disk space when I rip it to go on my NAS! :)

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