For those unaware, on 24th March 2024, approximately 40 years since they first shared a stage, Howard Jones performed live at The O2 Arena in London as the Special Guest of his great friends OMD.

This brilliant new recording features live versions of many of Howard’s big hit singles including ‘New Song’, ‘What Is Love?’, ‘Hide & Seek’, ‘Pearl In The Shell’, ‘Like To Get To Know You Well’, ‘Things Can Only Get Better’ plus Howard’s cover version of Kajagoogoo’s ‘Too Shy,’ accompanied by his friend and former Kajagoogoo band member Nick Beggs.

1. Intro
2. Pearl In The Shell
3. New Song
4. Like To Get To Know You Well
5. The One To Love You
6. Too Shy
7. Hide & Seek
8. The Human Touch
9. You Know I Love You… Don’t You?
10. What Is Love?
11. Things Can Only Get Better
12. Things Can Only Get Better (Remix)

For me, a fan of all-things ’80s (music being the headliner to that statement, closely followed by movies, of course), Howard Jones has not only stood out as being a consummate performer of that decade, but has continued to showcase his never ending desire to remain relevant to the new generations with not only his continual touring ethic, but his new recordings.

Ergo, the only thing that was missing from that list of previously released music down the years was a live album, and so here on Live At The 02, Jones (together with his trio touring mate Nick Beggs) bring forth a most splendid night of ’80s flashbacks and more.

Opening on a funky, synth-tastic .49 second intro, the band quickly launch into a clean cut Pearl In The Shell and a well-received (albeit a live version where Jones already sounds out of breath) New Song, the pop Caribbean bounce flow of Like To Get To Know You Well, a sparkling The One To Love You (from his 2019 album Transform), and then comes one of the highlights for us all, Howard and Nick coming together for the soulfully-grooved Kajagoogoo hit Too Shy.

The ornately delicate ballad Hide & Seek then gives way to the propulsive synth-funk dynamism that drives The Human Touch (which was a new bonus track on his recent best of Celebration) and they are backed by a full on, forcefully driven rock version of You Know I Love You… Don’t You?, the night (or at least this recording) rounding out on the haunting What Is Love? and, after an impassioned message from Jones, a vibrantly-charged Things Can Only Get Better, merged with a dub house remix of it, closes the musical extravaganza.

Howard Jones’ Live At The O2 is packaged in a digi-sleeve and contains a 464mm x 348mm pull-out poster featuring the great cover shot of Howard performing live at the O2.

Howard Jones Live At The O2 [Official Trailer]

Official Purchase Link