Blue Plate Special: Howard Jones
Howard Jones emerged in the early 1980s as one of synth-pop’s most distinctive voices, blending cutting-edge electronic music with an optimism that set him apart from many of his contemporaries. While others explored alienation and dystopian themes, Jones filled his songs with curiosity, self-discovery, compassion, and the possibility of personal transformation. His music married bright synthesizer melodies, sophisticated keyboard craftsmanship, and deeply human songwriting, creating a sound that felt both technologically modern and emotionally warm. Whether performing alone surrounded by keyboards or fronting a full band, he brought a sense of intellectual playfulness to pop music that made complex ideas feel accessible and uplifting.
More than four decades into his career, Jones remains a singular figure whose influence extends far beyond the era that first embraced him. His fusion of electronic innovation, melodic pop sensibility, and philosophical reflection helped define a generation of synth-driven music while laying groundwork for countless artists who followed. Songs such as “What Is Love?,” “Things Can Only Get Better,” and “No One Is to Blame” endure not simply because of their memorable hooks, but because they speak to universal questions about identity, resilience, and human connection. In a musical landscape often drawn toward cynicism, Howard Jones built a body of work rooted in hope—proving that thoughtful, intelligent pop music can be both commercially successful and profoundly meaningful.
Some of my favorites from his catalog:
Things Can Only Get Better – from the album Dream Into Action (1985)
What Is Love? – from the album Human’s Lib (1984)
Life in One Day – from the album Dream Into Action (1985)
New Song – from the album Human’s Lib (1984)
The Human Touch – from the album Engage (2015)
You Know I Love You, Don’t You? – from the album One to One (1986)
Like to Get to Know You Well – from the album The 12″ Album (1984)
Everlasting Love – from the album Cross That Line (1989)
The One to Love You – from the album Transform (2019)
