Julian Lennon’s debut album Valotte (1984) was a bold and promising start for the son of John Lennon, proving that Julian had his own voice, separate from his father’s legacy. While comparisons to his father are inevitable, if you take the time to listen to Valotte with a fresh perspective, you’ll find a beautiful set of songs that form an idealistic album experience for Valotte offers music lovers a stunning blend of pop, rock, and ballads that reflects the musical landscape of the mid-80s.
What isn’t 80s-styled is the striking artwork for its timeless appeal would have looked spectacular on the shelves of a local record store; especially via the larger vinyl canvas. It’s humble and unassuming and doesn’t detract from the music itself as it is complementary. While I haven’t been fortunate enough to hear this release on vinyl, what I can say is that the overall production, mix, and mastering, that has been made available via Apple Music, is thoroughly pleasing.
No, the Apple Music stream offers no unique mastering and isn’t an Apple Digital Master, but as it pertains to CD facsimiles, it doesn’t get much better than this. The presentation has an airiness that allows each musical element space to breathe and while not entirely enveloping, the presentation is sonically beautiful and will leave most fans more than satisfied. Could a vinyl edition, perhaps the 2021 Friday Music vinyl reissue, offer an even more compelling presentation? Yes, possibly, but in the absence of attaining that edition, you can rest assured knowing that there are no glaring omissions from the Apple Music stream.
Valotte opens the record with a sophisticated, melancholic ballad that sets the tone for the entire album. The piano-led arrangement is naturally reminiscent of some of John Lennon’s softer compositions, but it is Julian’s vocal delivery that is the standout element here for his performance is distinctly smooth. Add to that the polished production values and you’ve got not only an exceptional album opener but a track that is both radio-friendly and emotionally resonant. It’s, therefore, hardly surprising that Valotte became one of the album’s most successful singles and rose to the Top 10 in both Canada and the US.
O.K. For You shifts the tone into a more upbeat pop-rock rhythm. Featuring an infectious groove and bright instrumentation that contrasts nicely with Julian’s vocal style, O.K. For You is one of the most memorable numbers on the album, demonstrating Julian’s diversity as an artist. It’s a true hidden gem in every sense of the word and could have been a chart-topping hit of the 80s had it been released as a single.
On The Phone is a mellower mid-tempo track that features an enduring melody, supported by a jangly guitar and synth arrangement. As is the case throughout the entire album, Julian’s vocals are placed prominently within the mix and are allowed to shine without being overpowered by the accompanying musical bed. That said, we need to acknowledge just how exceptional the musicians are playing on this song for that mid-song solo ensemble, alone, is spectacular.
Space has a beautiful atmospheric arrangement with an ethereal approach that is somewhat of a trademark for Julian and it’s an aspect that works incredibly well with his vocal style. As the song progresses, the swirling synths and dreamlike production create a sense that the listener is drifting through space and time. Space is, subsequently, a spectacular tune and one of the most sonically pleasing from the album.
Well I Don't Know returns us to a more grounded, rock-oriented sound that is perfectly positioned within the era. It isn’t, however, as catchy as some of the other songs from the album, but its straightforward rock sound works well with the album’s structure. As a result, it’s a quintessential album-only tune; one that drives the record forward while ensuring that it doesn’t detract from the stronger compositions throughout.
Too Late For Goodbyes is an infectious pop song with a lively rhythm, driven by a snappy bassline and upbeat melody. As the lead single from the album, I don’t consider it to be single-worthy; particularly as there are far more compelling songs that could have been selected. Nevertheless, it charted well so let’s just say it’s probably a good thing that my subjective opinion isn’t a recommendation to artists looking to launch themselves on the world stage.
Lonely is a beautiful tune, even if its mood is sombre. It’s another exceptional hidden gem and it’s music like this that has me coming back for more as it enhances the album experience. Again, it’s songs such as this that highlight Julian’s uniqueness and the musical bed is so exceptional that I consider Lonely to be not only one of the best songs from the album, and Julian’s career, but one of the best songs ever recorded in all of music history.
Say You're Wrong returns us to an upbeat pop-rock sound that is filled with 80s cues. There’s nothing wrong with that, of course, but following Lonely, Say You’re Wrong is a slight jolt to the senses. Regardless, it’s a solid tune with a radio-friendly style that, while not setting the charts on fire, was worthy of being Valotte’s third single.
Jesse will see you toe-tapping and head-bopping to the addictively good 80s groove and while released as the fourth single, I honestly feel that it would have been better as the lead single for it leans more into the era’s sonic qualities than Too Late For Goodbyes does.
Let Me Be has an interesting, almost vaudeville musical styling that initially sounds out-of-place with the other songs on the album. As the song progresses, however, and you settle into the restrained composition, with its soft guitar strumming and gentle percussion, you’ll likely find yourself compelled by this slightly offbeat closing track as it will encourage you to play the album again, whilst simultaneously considering the music you’ve just heard.
Valotte is one of those special albums that is seldom replicated. While later records, such as Photograph Smile (1998) and Jude (2022), are exceptionally beautiful, none quite match the allure of this debut record; one that should be in every music lover’s collection and one that is amongst the very best the 80s had to offer.