The Secret of Association

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Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
Classic Pop	[3]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[4]
Sounds	[5]
The Village Voice	B+[6]

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In his review of the album for Sounds, Garry Bushell found Young's voice "as expressive as ever" and Laurie Latham's production "less cluttered and obtrusive" than on No Parlez, concluding that "the overall feel is one of growing confidence and maturity", and that "The Secret of Association earmarks Young as a talent of lasting value".^[5]

Retrospectively, AllMusic critic Jose F. Promis called The Secret of Association a "stellar" record "featuring lush orchestration and Young's signature, soulful vocals," and "one of the better albums of the 1980s."^[2]

All tracks composed by Paul Young and Ian Kewley. Except where indicated.

1. "Bite the Hand That Feeds" (Billy Livsey, Graham Lyle) - 4:31
2. "Everytime You Go Away" (Daryl Hall) - 5:23
3. "I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down" (Earl Randle) - 5:05
4. "Standing on the Edge" (Andrew Barfield) - 4:38
5. "Soldier's Things" (Tom Waits) - 6:21
6. "Everything Must Change" - 5:35
7. "Tomb of Memories" - 3:53
8. "One Step Forward" - 3:42
9. "Hot Fun" - 4:26
10. "This Means Anything" - 3:13
11. "I Was in Chains" (Gavin Sutherland) - 5:42
12. "Man in the Iron Mask" (Billy Bragg) - 3:13 (Not included on vinyl record or U.S. releases.)

Note: some cassette releases feature "Man In The Iron Mask" as track 6 and replace tracks 2, 3, 6, 9 and 11 with extended remix versions.

The Secret Of Association was re-released as a 2 x CD album in 2007 under license on Edsel (EDSD2006) and contained a second CD containing 12" remixes and live tracks. "The Man In The Iron Mask" was excluded from the first CD but was instead featured on the second CD.

CD2 Listing

1. "I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down (special extended mix)"
2. "Everything Must Change (12" mix)"
3. "Give Me My Freedom"
4. "Everytime You Go Away (12" mix)"
5. "Tomb Of Memories (12" mix)"
6. "Man in the Iron Mask"
7. "Bite the Hand That Feeds (live at Hammersmith Odeon)"
8. "No Parlez (live at Hammersmith Odeon)"

• Paul Young – lead vocals, backing vocals, arrangements
• Ian Kewley – acoustic piano, Hammond organ, Yamaha DX7, Oberheim OB-Xa, Fairlight CMI, E-mu Emulator, arrangements
• Steve Bolton – guitars
• John Turnbull – guitars, electric sitar (2)
• B. J. Cole – pedal steel guitar
• Matt Irving – keyboard bass
• Pino Palladino – bass guitar, Chapman stick
• Mark Pinder – drums, Simmons drums, LinnDrum, Roland TR-808, percussion
• Marc Chantereau – percussion
• Laurie Latham – effects, arrangements
• Nick Payn – saxophone (7)
• Paul Nieman – trombone (5)
• Jim Paterson – trombone (9)
• Mark Feltham – bass harmonica (11)
• Graham Preskett – violin (11)
• Jimmy Chambers – backing vocals
• George Chandler – backing vocals
• Ged Doherty – backing vocals
• Tony Jackson – backing vocals
• Kim Lesley – backing vocals
• Maz Roberts – backing vocals
• Chris Difford – backing vocals (7)
• Glenn Tilbrook – backing vocals (7)

• Producer and Engineer – Laurie Latham
• Additional Engineers – Stewart Barry and James Illes
• Mastered by Tim Young
• Art Direction and Design – Rob O'Conner
• Cover Photography – Simon Fowler
• Inner Sleeve Photos – "Everyone"

• The Secret of Association at Discogs