The lead single off Young's surpisingly non-sh*t second album is a masterclass in 'slow-burning balladry'. Utterly inconsequential on first listen, 'Leave Right Now' actually pirouettes around a subtle melody that Paul McCartney or Harry Nilsson wouldn't be ashamed of. It sure shows up David Sneddon for the whiney wannabe he really is.
Of course, it's drowned in strings and a warbling choir, but that's obviously the only way the producers believed a song as (relatively) mature and sophisticated as this would ever get to Number One. Perversely, the one thing that doesn't totally work on this record is Young's voice, which hasn't developed into the soulful croon we might have expected it to. Here he's twangy and nasal and, dare we say it, distinctly average.
But Christ, let's not be too harsh on the lad, considering it's rare as hell to find an actual bona fide winner of one of these reality pop shows coming up with a good single.
