Burning The Ground Exclusive
Released in May 1983, “Nobody’s Diary” was the final single by British synth-pop duo Yazoo—known as Yaz in North America—and the only single taken from their second and final studio album You and Me Both (1983). It also marked the final chapter of one of the most influential synth-pop partnerships of the early ’80s: Alison Moyet and Vince Clarke.
Written by Alison Moyet when she was just 16 years old, “Nobody’s Diary” carries a raw emotional honesty that makes it one of Yazoo’s most enduring songs. At the time, Moyet was still playing in local bands around South East Essex, and even then the song had the lyrical maturity and emotional depth that would later define her solo work. Although written years earlier, it became one of the last tracks recorded for You and Me Both. Vince Clarke later recalled that it immediately stood out as the obvious choice for a single.
Recorded at Eric Radcliffe’s Blackwing Studios and produced by Yazoo, Eric Radcliffe, and Daniel Miller, the track perfectly balances Clarke’s icy synth precision with Moyet’s rich, soulful vocal delivery. That contrast between emotional vulnerability and machine-like rhythm is exactly what made Yazoo so special.
Lyrically, “Nobody’s Diary” is about privacy, emotional distance, and the pain of being misunderstood or exposed. Moyet delivers every line with conviction, making the song both intensely personal and universally relatable at the same time. It remains one of her finest recorded performances.
The single reached #3 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming one of Yazoo’s biggest hits and a fitting final statement before the duo split.
The original sleeve artwork is also memorable. Designed by Steven Appleby with the sleeve produced by Acrobat Design, the cover depicts what was described as a “rather hip young man in a bathtub” who seems so lost in his private thoughts that he has forgotten to turn off the water. It’s a clever visual metaphor for the song’s themes of introspection and emotional isolation.
Mute Records also issued a second, limited-edition 12-inch single in the UK featuring “Situation” on the flip side. “Situation,” of course, became one of Yazoo’s signature club tracks and appeared on the U.S. version of Upstairs at Eric’s, though it was only added to later UK pressings of that album.
My copy is the U.S. Sire Records 12-inch, where “Nobody’s Diary” was issued as a double A-side with “State Farm.” In the UK, “State Farm” served as the standard B-side to “Nobody’s Diary” and did not appear on the UK version of You and Me Both. It was later included on the North American version of the album, making it a natural pairing for the U.S. release.
“State Farm” is one of Yazoo’s darker and moodier tracks, with a stark electronic atmosphere that contrasts beautifully with the emotional sweep of “Nobody’s Diary.” Together, they made a perfect club package for American DJs.
That strategy paid off—the double A-side “Nobody’s Diary” / “State Farm” reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in July 1983, giving Yazoo one final U.S. dancefloor triumph.
Even decades later, “Nobody’s Diary” still sounds timeless. It captures everything that made Yazoo extraordinary: sharp songwriting, emotional honesty, inventive production, and that unique tension between heartbreak and synthesizers.
It was the end of the duo—but what a beautiful way to say goodbye.
SIDE A:
Nobody’s Diary (Extended Version) 6:08
SIDE B:
State Farm (Extended Version) 6:38
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
| Chart | Peak Position | Date |
|---|---|---|
| US Billboard Dance Club Songs | #1 | 1983 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Sire – 0-20121, Sire – 9 20121-0 A, Mute – 0-20121, Mute – 9 20121-0 A
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Specialty Pressing
Country: US
Released: 1983
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
CREDITS:
- Design [Sleeve Design] – Acrobat Design Ltd.
- Illustration – Steven Appleby
- Producer – Daniel Miller (tracks: A), Eric Radcliffe, Yaz*
- Written-By – Moyet*, Clark* (tracks: AA)
NOTES:
Recorded at Blackwing Studios 1983.
Made in U.S.A.
Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS
VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for BURNING THE GROUND
THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon Concorde Music Black
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
Audio Interface: MOTU M4
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner
SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 25 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!
Password: burningtheground
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