Written by David Foster, Paul Hyde, Bob Rock & Miriam Nelson

In the early Eighties, David Foster brought both Chicago with Chicago 16 and Chicago 17 and The Tubes with The Completion Backward Principle and Outside Inside to impressive heights on Billboard’s various charts. These triumphs in the pop/rock arena paved the way for Foster’s subsequent work with the critically-acclaimed Canadian rock/new wave band, The Payola$.

In 1985, The Payola$ had a contract with A&M Records. They were looking for their big break in the USA after receiving good results on the first three albums in their home country. The Vancouver-originated group also spawned a few Top 40 singles in Canada including “Eyes Of A Stranger” and “Never Said I Love You.” The Payola$, probably pushed by their record company, changed their name to Paul Hyde & The Payolas. Paul Hyde was the lead singer/songwriter of the group and co-leader with guitarist/sound engineer Bob Rock. The decision to change the name was made for the band so they could enter the American market with a solid name instead of being a faceless band with a questionable name. The most significant step the band made was to hire Foster to man the producer’s seat. The Hitman brought his pop sensibility, superior craftsmanship and fantastic production skills. The musical partnership resulted in a great pop/rock album entitled Here’s The World For Ya. Foster’s catchy, keyboard-driven atmospheres and slick string and horn arrangements were tailor-made for North American radio playing, but the sound was a far cry from The Payola$’ unique eclectic mix of rock, punk and new wave. So Here’s The World For Ya with its pop flavors attracted some new fans, but probably lost the original fan base. The album eventually made an appearance on Billboard’s Album chart, but without breaking the group in the US . One single, “You’re The Only Love,” was co-written by Foster, was a minor hit and already reviewed in our archives. The album was a solid hit in Canada , was certified gold there and yielded four hits on the charts. The title-track was one of those singles and one heck of a power ballad.

Co-written by Foster with the group and sporting Hyde’s very personal lyrics, “Here’s The World” was a song that featured Foster’s trademark sounds like the prominent keyboards and synths, lush strings and beautifully conceived lead and backing vocals. Sonically, it borrows some of Foster’s magic from his hit work on ballads including Chicago ’s “Hard Habit To Break” and The Tubes’ “I Don’t Want To Wait Anymore.” Hyde said that the song’s positive lyrics were a message of encouragement to his son and his evocative vocals were completely noteworthy.

Here’s The World For Ya hasn’t been released on cd yet. Those interested can pick up one of the best-of compilations titled Between A Rock & A Hyde Place – The Best Of Payola$ and 20thCentury Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best Of The Payola$. Both records include the title-track reviewed here and other Foster-produced goodies.

Listen

Lead Vocals: Paul Hyde
Guitars: Bob Rock
Bass: Alex Boynton
Drums: Chris Taylor
Keyboards & Synthesizers: David Foster

Produced & Arranged by David Foster

Lyrics

Here’s the world, I can only help you go so far
Try to teach you wrong from right
How to take each day like a brand new day
Don’t worry ’bout me, cos who could ever ask for more
Listen to these words that I write
There’ll be no tears in my eyes tonight

Don’t let them fool you
Don’t let them tell you that you’ll never go far

Here’s the world for ya, here’s the world for ya
Go tell them who you are
Here’s the world for ya, here’s the world for ya
Go be a shining star

Take all my love and carry it inside of you
Know that I will always be there’s
Know that I will always care

Don’t let them fool you
Don’t let them tell you that you’ll never go far

Here’s the world for ya, here’s the world for ya
Go tell them who you are
Here’s the world for ya, here’s the world for ya
Go tell them who you are

Go be a shining star

And If I ever did wrong, please forgive me now
Before I am gone
And if I ever did right, tell me with a smile
That will light up this night, Light up this night

Here’s the world for ya, here’s the world for ya
Go tell them who you are
Here’s the world for ya, here’s the world for ya
Go be a shining star

You’ll be a star

Here’s the world for ya, here’s the world for ya
Go tell them who you are
Here’s the world for ya, here’s the world for ya
Go tell them who you are

Go be a shining star

“The Payola$” started out as a punk/new wave band in British Columbia around the end of the seventies. In just a few years they developed a personal pop/rock style that gave them a few hits on the Canadian charts.The group was the brainchild of guitarist Bob Rock and UK singer Paul Hyde. In 1985, after a couple of so-so albums, they became “Paul Hyde & The Payolas” and their label put them into David Foster’s capable hands for a new record. Foster, a fellow British Columbian, was the hottest producer around at that time with his recent hits for Chicago that sent him to the Grammy podium as Producer Of The Year. “Here’s The World For Ya” was the result of the collaboration and it is a solid pop/rock collection. Foster’s influence is clear in the multi-layered vocals, the clean overall sound, the arrangements and keyboard playing. Hyde called the record: “easily the best thing we’ve ever done.”
The producer co-wrote three songs on the album. “It Won’t Be You” is an especially good rock song deeply influenced by Bryan Adams who co-wrote the tune with Jim Vallance, Foster, Hyde, and Rock. The title track is an intense power ballad with great vocals by Hyde plus beautiful work on the keyboards by Foster. The other tune that Foster co-wrote, “You’re The Only Love,” is a radio-friendly, superbly crafted love ballad. The song showcases Hyde’s vocals and Foster’s keys, but it also benefits from Bob Rock’s amazing performance on the acoustic and electric guitars. The song reached # 37 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Chart and was a minor entry on the Billboard Hot 100 at # 84. The album was a good success in Canada with other significant hit singles like the title track and “Stuck In The Rain.”
After the band’s break-up, Hyde worked as a solo artist. Bob Rock went on to become one of hard rock’s most successful engineers/producers working with, among others, Motley Crue, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith and Metallica.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/you_re_the_only_love.mp3|titles=You’re the only love|artists=Paul Hyde]

Lead Vocals: Paul Hyde
Drums: Chris Taylor
Bass: Alex Boynton
Guitar: Bob Rock
Keyboards: David Foster
Background Vocals: Richard Marx, David Foster, Paul Janz, Todd Smallwood etc.
Produced & Arranged by David Foster

Lyrics

Won’t be home today
I’ll be seeing you tomorrow
But I just had to say
That I’ve got no more time for sorrow
My love was like a small ship
Lost across the sea
Just when all my hope was gone
You came to rescue me

Soon I’ll be gone then I’ll be dreaming about you
But don’t get me wrong, I’m only crazy without you
You’re the only love, you’re the only love
This heart has ever known

Keep you safe for me
I will be your only lover
Everything’s alright
Girl there will never be another
My love was like a garden turning into stone
All the flowers were gone, the weeds were overgrown
And there’s one thing I want you to know
I’ve finally found what I’m after
Now my face is filled with laughter

Soon I’ll be gone then I’ll be dreaming about you
But don’t get me wrong, I’m only crazy without you
You’re the only love, you’re the only love
This heart has ever known