When I was young
I never needed anyone
And makin’ love was just for fun
Those days are gone

I guess we call this a classic pop ballad. Almost all of us probably know those opening lines and it may also be one of those records you can remember buying or it reminds you where you were at the time or even who you were with.

Living alone
I think of all the friends I’ve known
But when I dial the telephone
Nobody’s home

It’s quite maudlin isn’t it? But I’ve always done maudlin and when songs have that novelty factor, this has it in abundance with those drums near to the end after the songs has crept to a standstill.

All By Myself came out in December ’75 and as such, might have been one of those singles that was a hit in two different years.

I’m aware of the covers, I know that, depending on your viewpoint, Celine Dion assassinated this in 1996 and no, I haven’t heard Rachmaninov’s two-piano twenty minute version though the verse is based on the second movement (Adagio sostenuto) of Sergei Rachmaninoff‘s Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Opus 18, famously used to underscore the 1945 British film Brief Encounter. Thanks Wiki!

And talking of extensions, did you know that the album version is seven minutes long? I didn’t until quite recently but here it is anyway.

I don’t think there was any need for a long version but I’ll take it all the same, thank you. And I wish that maybe I’d tried playing that myself on the keyboards. I’m a bit of a pianist. Well, I’ve been called that sometimes.

Today the classic pop ballad is up against the modern day pop ballad in the shape of a band whose history I know nothing about at all, just that, when I heard this song the first time it blew me away. If you’ve never heard this before I impeach thou! Thou shalt at least give it a try!

On Twitter I looked To The Wedding up and was pleased to find Lauren and declare to her my love for this song. I always imagine, when I hear it, that it would be a magnificent closer for a movie. You know when the film’s ended and everyone gets up from their seats and heads for the exits and there’s a song playing out? That moment.

Now I’ll link Lauren to this post and wish her song all the very best in this slush showdown. I’m calling it that because some people refer to such ballads as ‘slushy’. It’s a term of endearment!

Now I don’t think Honest Love will seriously compete with epic Carmen but I can live in hope. It’s time for the Twitter people to decide.

So here is Honest Love with lyrics. It’s Sunday anyway, relax and let this one wash over you.

Couldn’t tell you what I wanted just honey, im lost
something changes when you hold me and that is enough
but all the roads that keep us wandering are upon us now
I looked out to see you with me and I let go

Don’t look now, I’m running
Darling you know, I want it now
Don’t let go, It’s honest love

It’s only love that keeps us humming and honey, you’re on
I believe you are the courage that sends me along
and all the changes that are coming couldn’t take you on
I’ll be waiting til you’re with me, I won’t let go