Everytime You Go Away

Daryl Hall wrote "Everytime You Go Away" for his duo with John Oates, where it appeared as a deep cut on their 1980 studio album Voices. The original recording received minimal radio play and failed to chart upon its release via RCA Records. Four years passed before the song gained significant traction when English singer Paul Young recorded a cover version.

Young's rendition arrived on his third studio album The Secret of Association in February 1985 under Columbia Records. Producers Simon Napier-Bell and Jolley & Swain reimagined the track as a lush soft rock ballad featuring a slower tempo and a prominent synthesizer backdrop. This arrangement allowed Young's distinctive vocal delivery to take center stage, transforming the obscure composition into a global anthem.

The single reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 in June 1985, marking Young's only top spot in America. It also secured the top position on the Adult Contemporary chart while peaking at number four in the UK. The track earned a Gold certification from the RIAA and received a Grammy nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance in 1986.

A new iteration emerged in October 2025 when Cynthia Erivo released a stripped-back acoustic version for the documentary film John Candy: I Like Me. Released through Verve and Republic Records, this performance featured a minimalist arrangement that highlighted the lyrics during an emotional scene about the late comedian's legacy. Critics noted how Erivo maintained the song's original emotional core while introducing it to a modern audience. [edit]