Dream Into Action was Jones’ second album. It went to #2 in the UK and #10 in the US. I adored Howard Jones in 1985 and probably bought this LP sometime after its US release in May ‘85. I still really love several songs on Dream Into Action: “Things Can Only Get Better” is fantastic synthpop (#6 UK, #5 US) – we got a chance to see Jones perform a few summers back and that track was his closing song and he was brilliant: full audience sing along with pure joy while Jones rocked the shit out of his keytar.

I also really still love “Life In One Day” (#14 UK, #19 US) which also feels particularly relevant for those of us stuck homebound for who-knows-how-long (ie don’t get all those cleaning and house projects finished right away, also quit freaking the fuck out): “Try to enjoy the here and now/The future will take care of itself somehow.” “No One Is To Blame” is still massively melancholy; Jones released a re-recorded version (produced by Phil Collins who also plays drums for the new track) in 1986 (#16 UK, #4 US). The single “Like to Get to Know You Well” only appeared on the US release; Jones released it as a stand-alone single in the UK in ‘84 (#4 UK). Jones also released “Look Mama” as a single in the UK (#10) – I’m not as crazy about this track, it’s a bit 80′s-bland.

I don’t think I listened to Side B more than a couple of times in the 80′s because I hardly recognize any of the songs. I find “Bounce Right Back” really bizarre – a mashup of new wave Brit synthpop and US hip hop. Weird. Weirder is that Dream Into Action went to #65 on the US R&B/Hip Hop album chart. “Elegy” is exactly what you’d expect from the title – slow, sad; same goes for “Automation” – not slow or sad but very techy and bleep-bloopy.

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We got a chance to see Howard Jones perform a couple of summers ago as part of a retro tour that included Modern English, Paul Young, Men Without Hats and (part of) English Beat. Jones put on an amazing show, for the few songs he was up there, rocking his key-tar and working the crowd masterfully.

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“What is Love?” is probably my favorite track (as it was back in ‘84): the synthpop tempered by some really rich textures, harmonies and mid-tempo beats.

Overall, it’s an upbeat album, bouncy and energetic, and although one critic commented at the time of its release that it read like a “revolving self-help manual,” I do occasionally enjoy a sunny, fun record with positive reinforcement. From “New Song” –

I’ve been waiting for so long
To come here now and sing this song
Don’t be fooled by what you see
Don’t be fooled by what you hear

This is a song to all of my friends
They take the challenge to their heart
Challenging preconceived ideas
Saying goodbye to long standing fears

Don’t crack up, bend your brain, see both sides
Throw off your mental chains

Don’t crack up, bend your brain, see both sides
Throw off your mental chains

I don’t wanna be hip and cool
I don’t wanna play by the rules
Not under the thumb of the cynical few
Or laden down by the doom crew

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Side 1 received most of my time back in the day; as I sit and listen to the album now, I don’t recall any of the songs on Side 2, even “Look Mama” which charted at #2 in the UK (but was not released in the US). Better known, of course, are the singles “Things Can Only Get Better,” “Life in One Day” (check this out for a glorious new wave mullet!) and “No One Is To Blame.”

The lyrics to “Things Can Only Get Better” are perfect for Jones today:

Treating today as though it was
The last, the final show
Get to 60 and feel no regret
It may take a little time
A lonely path, an uphill climb
Success or failure will not alter it.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Jones!

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