Everything But The Girl – Love Not Money

Everything But The Girl – Love Not Money

Released in 1985, Love Not Money is the second studio album by British duo Everything But The Girl, featuring singer Tracey Thorn and multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Ben Watt. Produced by Robin Millar and originally released in the UK on Blanco y Negro Records, the album captures the pair moving beyond the folk-jazz and Latin-influenced sound of their debut, Eden, towards a sharper, more guitar-driven style of sophisticated British pop.

Where the debut drew on jazz arrangements and understated acoustic textures, Love Not Money embraces jangling guitars, melodic bass lines, punchier rhythms and more direct songwriting. The shift reflects the changing musical landscape of mid-1980s Britain, when independent pop was increasingly blending literate songwriting with the energy of guitar-based alternative music. Everything But The Girl retained their distinctive musical intelligence, however, combining these more immediate arrangements with thoughtful lyrics and Thorn's cool, expressive vocal delivery.

The album also has a strong social and political undercurrent. Its songs explore relationships, disillusionment, everyday pressures and the realities of contemporary British life, giving the record a more pointed perspective than straightforward romantic pop. This combination of melodic accessibility and thoughtful observation became an important part of the duo's identity during their early years.

Opening track “When All's Well” establishes the album's direct, guitar-led approach, while “Ugly Little Dreams” demonstrates the sharpness of Thorn's songwriting and the duo's interest in the gap between appearances and reality. “Shoot Me Down” adds another engaging melodic turn, and “Are You Trying To Be Funny” brings a conversational edge to the album's sequence. Ben Watt's “Sean” provides another perspective within the record's carefully balanced collection of songs.

The second side continues with “Ballad Of The Times” and “Anytown,” which reflect the album's interest in the wider world beyond personal relationships. “This Love (Not For Sale)” and “Trouble And Strife” maintain the duo's distinctive mixture of emotional restraint, lyrical precision and pop craftsmanship. The closing track, “Angel,” stretches out into a more expansive arrangement, offering a fitting conclusion to the album's ten-song programme.

Musically, Love Not Money occupies an appealing space between indie pop, jangle pop and sophisticated guitar-led songwriting. Its arrangements are more immediate than those on Eden, yet the record avoids sacrificing the subtlety and detail that distinguish Everything But The Girl from many of their contemporaries. Millar's production brings clarity to the performances while allowing Thorn and Watt's songwriting to remain at the centre.

The album was an important step in the duo's early career, reaching number 10 on the UK Albums Chart and helping establish them as a significant presence in British pop. It also forms part of an intriguing early run of albums in which they continually changed direction, leading towards the orchestral ambitions of Baby, the Stars Shine Bright and the more introspective sound of Idlewild.

For fans of Everything But The Girl, 1980s British indie pop and intelligent, guitar-driven songwriting, Love Not Money offers a compelling snapshot of Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt developing their sound while retaining the distinctive lyrical perspective that would define their career. It is equally rewarding for collectors exploring the Blanco y Negro catalogue and the more alternative side of sophisticated 1980s pop.

Tracklist

Side A

A1. When All's Well – 3:00
A2. Ugly Little Dreams – 2:54
A3. Shoot Me Down – 4:12
A4. Are You Trying To Be Funny – 3:16
A5. Sean – 3:30

Side B

B1. Ballad Of The Times – 3:27
B2. Anytown – 3:26
B3. This Love (Not For Sale) – 3:05
B4. Trouble And Strife – 3:07
B5. Angel – 5:35