Day 434 - Hothouse Flowers - Don't Go

434. Hothouse Flowers - Don't Go
from the Album People
(London, 1988)

"I will admit from the outset that I actually know very little about Hothouse Flowers outside of the fact that I pretty much love anything and everything I have ever heard from them. The greatest love I have for this band is encapsulated in this wonderfully Gospel, funky, bluesy, Celtic, and unflinchingly stirring hoe down. It's just flat out infectious.

Birthed in Ireland, I first heard about them from an interview with Bono, who was admittedly a huge fan of the band. Their first single was released in 1986 by U2′s own label. That lead to a mainstream record deal. They went on to have the best selling debut album in Ireland with People. I still hear songs from this album used in bumper music. In fact talk show host Laura Ingraham is a huge fan and uses their music all the time on her radio program.

The album is filled with deeply personal and spiritual content delivered in a uniquely creative musical narrative that is immediately likable and never grows weary. Lead vocals are bluesy, soulful and utterly heartfelt. There’s a slight slur to the inflection that gives an Irish whiskey drawl to the approach.
…
[T]he album is loaded with traditional Celtic instruments combined with modern instruments and the melding of the two work perfectly. The saxophone solo on If You Go is simply ridiculous!

Even as I type this I am starting to think this album deserves to be ranked higher! Please do yourself a favor and just get a copy." (Source: CCM's 500 Best Albums)

Don't Go peaked at #16 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and at #8 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. Here is original studio released music video for the song:



The studio also released an excelent extended version of the video that's about three minutes longer and, as far as I know, doesn't appear on any album.