"Like to Get to Know You Well" by Howard Jones

Song#:  2480
Date:  09/28/1985
Debut:  81
Peak:  49
Weeks:  9
Genre:  Synthpop



Pop Bits:  Jones' second album Dream Into Action was a #10 platinum seller thanks to two Top 20 hits including the #5 "Things Can Only Get Better." Hoping to keep the momentum up, this third single was released. At first it looked like the song would be able to get inside the Pop Top 40, but then it suddenly stalled just inside the top half of the chart. It would be the last single from the album released in the US.

ReduxReview:  This reggae-tinged track complete with synth generated steel drums was a real highlight from the album. It had a very hooky chorus but for some reason it just didn't click in the US. I really thought it would, especially since it had been a sizable hit in many other countries. It might not have been Top 10-worthy, but it certainly should have done much better.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  This song was actually released in the UK in the summer of '84 as a stand-alone single. It did well there reaching #4 on the chart. An extended version of the song called the "International Mix" was included on the stop-gap album of remixes released in the UK as The 12" Album. The single and album were issued out while Jones was working on Dream Into Action. Once that album was ready for release in the UK, "Like to Get to Know You Well" was not included. Therefore, at the time the only way you could get the song was via the single or in the remixed version on The 12" Album. When Dream Into Action was prepped for US release, two songs were dropped from the UK version ("Speciality" and "Why Look for the Key") and replaced with "Like to Get to Know You Well" and "Bounce Right Back." The UK would see these two songs on a later CD edition of Dream Into Action while the US would get the two dropped songs on the upcoming EP Action Replay.

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