"No One Is to Blame" is a song written and performed by British musician Howard Jones. Originally released on Jones's 1985 album Dream into Action, "No One Is to Blame" was re-recorded and released as a single in 1986. The single became Jones's biggest U.S. hit to date, peaking at #4.

History

The original version of the song can be found on Dream into Action. Following the success of the previous singles from that album, it was re-recorded to generate a more radio-friendly sound. Phil Collins and Hugh Padgham produced the re-recording, with Collins adding his own drum work and mood. The new version of the song was included on the 1986 US EP Action Replay as well as the CD version of Jones' 1986 studio album, One to One. "No One Is to Blame" was released as a single in March 1986. It became Jones' biggest hit in the United States, peaking at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song also became the first of his two #1 songs on the U.S. adult contemporary chart ("Everlasting Love" would top this chart in 1989). "No One Is to Blame" was also a top 10 hit in Australia and a #16 hit in the U.K. In 2018, Morgan Enos of Billboard described "No One Is to Blame" as a "dreamy, existential" ballad that "doesn’t quite deal with love, but with the lack thereof". Enos added that the song "had a message and melody that resonated". The song is known for its "aching beauty" and for Jones's "plaintive lead vocals and piano".

Track listings

Chart positions

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Personnel on 1986 version

Other versions

Jones performed the song solo on The Old Grey Whistle Test in 1985. A previously unreleased version of "No One is to Blame" by Neilson Hubbard appears on the 2001 Parasol Records compilation, Parasol's Sweet Sixteen, Volume 4. Rachael Sage recorded a version of "No One Is to Blame" in 2018.