Things Can Only Get Better – Howard Jones | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#5); 1985
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
At Royal Grammar School in his native England, Howard Jones’ music teacher advised him not to take the “A” level course so he formed Warrior, his own Genesis-inspired classic rock band.
In college he picked up some extra money doing the overnight shift on Piccadilly Radio, playing the synthesizer and occasionally tossing off a vocal. Listeners responded…with complaints.
Next Howard and his synthesizer toured solo. The interest in his one-man-band act was underwhelming, to say the least. Finally, in 1983
Howard scored a record deal on the strength of a demo tape of New Song and What Is Love?, which peaked at #3 and #2 respectively on the UK chart in re-recorded versions.
Although they only reached #27 and #33 in the U.S., Song and Love set the stage for future success. Howard racked up three more Brit hits before the fourth, the infectious Things Can Only Get Better, also broke Stateside, and landed Howard on both the pop and Hot Dance charts.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- Rupert Hine
Lyrics Written by:
- Howard Jones
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).