"Invisible" by Alison Moyet

Song#:  2241
Date:  03/09/1985
Debut:  83
Peak:  31
Weeks:  17
Genre:  Pop, Blue-Eyed Soul



Pop Bits:  Moyet first became a music star as part of the duo Yazoo (aka Yaz in the US). Beginning in 1982, they reached the UK Top 10 with three singles and their #2 debut album Upstairs at Eric's would be a platinum seller. Two of their singles reached the US Pop chart, but with minimal results. Their song "Only You" did the best reaching #67. After their second album, the pair split up and Moyet signed on with CBS as a solo artist. The label suggested the production team of Steve Jolley and Tony Swain (of Bananarama fame) and the pair along with Moyet set out to co-write and record Moyet's debut album, Alf. In the UK, the LP would be a #1 smash hit thanks to two Top 10 singles. This song would be the third single in the UK (reaching #21), but for the US market it would be selected as the album's first single. The song stuck around on the chart for a good length of time, but stalled before entering the Top 30. The album would peak at #45, which was better than Yazoo's output, but a far cry from the Top 10 showings in many other countries. The album made Moyet a big star around the world, except in the US.

ReduxReview:  There are times I just want to say, "America, what is your problem?!" This absolutely should have been a big hit. This is just a delicious slice of blue-eyed soul wonderfully served up by Moyet's big voice. I swear, if this song had a modern arrangement and was sung by someone like Adele or Sam Smith, this song would be a hit. Why it got ignored back in the day is a mystery. However, I do have to admit that I even missed this song when it first came out. I remember liking it, but it just wasn't played on the radio in my area so I didn't get a chance to hook into it. I certainly did later on, along with the Alf album. It's a shame that Moyet didn't catch on here. Both she and this song deserved a better fate. Luckly, her career carried on in Europe and other places, so she has a nice catalog of albums. She released a new disc in 2017 titled Other and I think it is easily her best work. It's full of modern electro-pop tunes and shouldn't be missed.

ReduxRating:  9/10

Trivia:  All songs on Alf were co-written by Moyet, Jolley, and Swain except for this one, which was written specifically for Moyet by the legendary Motown composer Lamont Dozier. Both on his own and with brothers Brian and Eddie Holland, Dozier has written and produced a plethora of hits, most of which were recorded by Motown artists throughout the 60s. Dozier helped to supply The Supremes with ten #1 records and co-wrote pop standards like "Reach Out I'll Be There" by the Temptations, "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)" by Marvin Gaye (and later James Taylor), and "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" by the Four Tops. The Holland-Dozier-Holland team were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.

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