1980’s Voices album saw Hall & Oates evolving into a new decade, riding the radio roller coaster of new wave and power pop while staying true to their soft rock, blue-eyed Philly Soul roots. With two massive Billboard Hot 100 hits in “Kiss on My List” (#1) and “You Make My Dreams” (#5), the album itself rose to #17 on the Billboard 200 in 1981, their highest album chart position since their self-titled fourth album hit the same spot in 1975. Written by Daryl Hall and tucked away on Side 2, “Everytime You Go Away” was also a number one hit - but not for Hall & Oates. Paul Young’s synth-heavy cover, featuring a fretless bass part by Pino Palladino, was released in 1985 and quickly made its way to the top of the pop and adult contemporary charts.

The song starts with a rim shot on the snare drum, which is quickly accompanied by a clean guitar lick, followed by a windup of gospel organ and bass. At :42, just when the tension starts to build, the organ plays a descending line while the Leslie speaker spins down, decelerating from a shimmering “tremolo” to a swirling “chorale”.

Layering instruments and vocals to build emotion in a track is nothing new; neither is the liberal application of a Hammond B3 with a Leslie cabinet to a soul song. It works exceptionally well here because the sparse arrangement feels like a band rehearsing in a church basement, and we’re drawn into the groove before Hall even sings the opening verse. The organ line at :42 only lasts a couple of seconds, but I wait for it every time. That’s the Hall-mark (I’m so sorry) of great songwriting and production.