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    Paul Young - Come Back And Stay (Remix) - UK 7'' Cover - Front
    1983 Paul Young Singles

    Paul Young – Come Back And Stay (Remix)

    3 Views1 Min Read

    The Eighties Archive

    Song Number 0094
    Paul Young’s 1983 hit Come Back and Stay remains a towering achievement in the landscape of eighties synth-pop and blue-eyed soul, a track that perfectly captures the era’s sonic innovation and emotional intensity. Originally penned and recorded by American songwriter Jack Lee as a guitar-driven power-pop tune, the song was completely disassembled and reimagined by Young and his visionary producer, Laurie Latham. Together, they transformed it into a dark, atmospheric masterpiece that topped charts across Europe and solidified Young’s status as one of the most distinctive vocalists of his generation. The track stands as a masterclass in how to merge high-tech studio production with raw, human vulnerability, creating a piece of music that is both undeniably catchy and deeply haunting.
    At the absolute center of the song’s identity is its revolutionary instrumentation, most notably the iconic bass playing of Pino Palladino. Utilizing a fretless bass, Palladino created a fluid, sliding, and melodic counter-melody that weaves seamlessly around Young’s vocals. Instead of merely anchoring the rhythm, the bass acts as a second voice, crying out with a distinctive mwah sound that mirrors the melancholy of the lyrics. This liquid bassline, paired with the sharp, clinical ticking of a LinnDrum machine and icy synthesizer pads, established a stark sonic contrast. The production creates a vast sense of space, making the listener feel the profound loneliness and isolation that the song’s narrator is experiencing as he begs his lover to return.
    Young’s vocal performance provides the perfect emotional counterweight to this sleek, electronic backdrop. Possessing a gritty, gravelly tone heavily inspired by classic rhythm and blues, Young pours unbridled desperation into every line. He does not sing the lyrics with cool detachment; instead, he delivers them with the frantic urgency of a man on the edge of heartbreak. His voice breaks and strains under the weight of the pleading chorus, turning a standard pop lyric into a devastating psychological portrait of obsession and loss. This raw vocal delivery is brilliantly offset by the soaring, gospel-infused backing vocals of Kim Lesley and Maz Roberts, whose smooth, harmonic interventions elevate the track to a spiritual, almost tragic grandeur.
    Beyond its technical brilliance, Come Back and Stay captures the unique cultural crossroads of the mid-1980s, where the boundaries between dance clubs and mainstream radio were blurring. The song’s driving rhythm and infectious hook made it a staple on dancefloors, yet its melancholic undercurrent ensured it resonated on a much deeper, introspective level. It proved that electronic pop music did not have to be cold or superficial; it could be used to amplify genuine, agonizing human emotion. Decades after its release, the track retains its powerful resonance, serving as a definitive textbook example of eighties pop perfection and a testament to the enduring power of creative reinvention.
    The song peaked at No. 04 in the UK charts on 24th September 1983.
    Paul Young - Come Back And Stay (Remix) - Eighties Archive - Promo Image
    Paul Young - Come Back And Stay (Remix) - UK 7'' Cover - Front
    Paul Young - Come Back And Stay (Remix) - UK 7'' Cover (Front)
    Paul Young - Come Back And Stay (Remix) - UK 7'' Cover - Back
    Paul Young - Come Back And Stay (Remix) - UK 7'' Cover (Back)
    A-Side Come Back And Stay (Remix) (4:24)
    (J. Lee)
    Produced By Laurie Latham
    B-Side Yours (3:50)
    (P. Young, I. Kewley)
    Produced By Laurie Latham
    UK Top 40 Chart Run [8 Weeks] – 10th September 1983 – 29th October 1983
    27
    06
    04
    05
    06
    13
    23
    35

    Officially Released Versions

    Come Back And Stay (Remix) (Single Version) (4:24)
    Come Back And Stay (Extended Club Mix) (7:24)
    Come Back And Stay (Scratch Mix) (7:56)
    Come Back And Stay (US Single Version) (3:37)
    Come Back And Stay (Instrumental) (4:07)
    Come Back And Stay (Original Album Version) (4:59)

    See ALL releases of ‘Come Back And Stay’ on Discogs.

    Lyrics

    Since you’ve been gone
    I shut my eyes
    And I fantasize that you’re here with me

    Will you ever return?
    I won’t be satisfied
    ‘Til you’re by my side
    Don’t wait any longer
    (Come back)

    Why don’t you come back?
    Please hurry
    Why don’t you come back?
    Please hurry

    Come back
    And stay for good this time
    (Did you write the book of love?)
    Come back
    And stay for good this time
    (Ego, envy, lust)

    When you said goodbye
    I was trying to hide
    What I felt inside
    Until you passed me by
    You said you’d return
    You said that you’d be mine
    ‘Til the end of time
    But don’t wait any longer
    (Why don’t you come back)

    Why don’t you come back?
    Please hurry
    Why don’t you come back?
    Please hurry

    Since you’ve been gone
    I opened my eyes
    And I realize
    What we had together

    Will you ever return?
    Or have you changed your mind
    If you won’t stay mine
    Just love me forever
    (Love me forever)

    Why don’t you come back?
    Please hurry
    Why don’t you come back?
    Please hurry
    Why don’t you come back?
    Please hurry
    Why don’t you come back?
    Please hurry

    Just come back
    And stay for good this time
    (Did you write the book of love?)
    Come back
    And stay for good this time
    (Ego, envy, lust)

    Come back
    And stay for good this time
    (Did you write the book of love?)
    Come back
    And stay for good this time
    (Ego, envy, lust)

    Written By J. Lee

    Paul Young - Come Back And Stay (Remix) - Promo Advert

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    Paul Young
    Come Back And Stay (Remix)
    Paul Young - Come Back And Stay (Remix) - UK 7'' Cover - Front
    Paul Young - Come Back And Stay (Remix) - VIT Album

    Date Released

    August 1983

    Highest Chart Position

    No. 04

    Genre

    Pop, Soul

    Date Of UK Top 40 Entry

    10th September 1983

    Record Label

    CBS RECORDS

    Catalogue Number

    A 3636

    Other Songs In Archive

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