Here we go with another batch tunes that seem to be mostly pop songs from my youth with (hopefully) a few oddities for good measure. Never mind, kids, just go out and play with your screens!
"Missing You" by John Waite (1984)
This is the epitome of mid-1980s pop songs. It's just good enough to stand up to a little scrutiny but goes down easy while cruising the aisles of your favorite big box store.
"Birthday" by The Beatles (1968/2018 mix)
I'm sure I've said this on the blog somewhere before, but The White Album was the first Beatles LP I got to know well in my youth, with all its glory and weirdness; a lumpy masterpiece. This song was always such a solid opener of Side 3 on the original LP with its almost throwaway lyrics. However, the song just drives so hard and gets the job done in an economical two and a half minute length. The Giles Martin remix is very good and adds some clarity on the vocals, though I still like the old mono mix for its rock muddiness.
"Maneater" by Hall & Oates (1982)
As usual for the duo, the song is really catchy with a Motown-esque bass line. Oates claims the song wasn't really about a woman but about life in the big city. Yeah, okay.
"Strange Pursuit" by Devo (1978)
A deep cut from the band's second album that has fun with the vocoder. I also dig the ending fade over the arpeggiated keyboard line.
"Rest Your Love on Me" by Bee Gees (1978)
Barry Gibb does it again. In 1978, at the peak of his band's disco power, Gibb does a Country song. You've got to respect that.
"A View to a Kill" by Duran Duran (1985)
One of the only Bond themes that overshadows its film, which isn't tough given the weakness of this particular 007 movie, but it IS one of the best themes with a good groove and the right amount of over-the-top in the John Barry arrangement. The lyrics are...oh never mind, just dance into the fire.
"Prove It All Night" by Bruce Springsteen (1978)
There's not much to say except it's Peak Bruce.
"Urgent" by Foreigner (1981)
A pretty good Foreigner song with some goofy synth programming by Thomas Dolby.
"Get Your Hands off My Woman" by The Darkness (2003)
A funny, retro-metal sounding cut with some Freddie Mercury inspired vocals.
"Twist in My Sobriety" by Tanita Tikaram (1988)
An unusual and memorable debut from a 19 year old singer/songwriter that also features an oboe!
"Dancing with Myself" by Billy Idol (1981)
Idol, in his early retro rock and punk period before he discovered keyboards.
"(Love Is) Thicker Than Water by Andy Gibb (1977)
Yeah, it's sung by Barry's brother but it might as well be a Bee Gees single. You can't escape the OG BG!
"Sleep to Dream" by Fiona Apple (1997)
A rude awakening (ahem) or perhaps a palette cleanser after the previous song. Apple can be a bit on the pretentious side with the lyrics but she gets a pass since she's doing this as a singer-songwriter, age 19. The production has a real heft with the bass/drums matching the emotions of the song; subtle it ain't. I'll bet Apple has gone on to more mature material since then but this is outstanding for a debut.
"Mr. Roboto" by Styx (1983)
Mr. DeYoung was quite the prophet: "...too much technology." Indeed. It's kind of a sad end of a run of huge albums for this band. This track and maybe the other single, "Don't Let It End" (hmm), are solid, and in the case of this track, FUN, but does anyone really remember or care about the rest of this LP? Styx seems to have forgotten its core strengths were the singles. Whatever concepts their earlier albums had didn't go much beyond the cover art.
"Think" by James Brown (1960)
A cover of an earlier R&B hit, but differently done with the funky JB grooves.
"Refugee" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (1979)
We had some Peak Bruce, now some Peak Tom. One of his best, for sure.
"What Is Love?" by Howard Jones (1984)
This one just screams, "EIGHTIES", however, it's one of Jones' best songs.
"I Know There's an Answer" by The Beach Boys (1966)
Classic, amazing album, etc, etc but this track has Glen Campell playing the banjo!
"Radar Love" by Golden Earring (1973)
A fun classic rock staple that has this great, extended instrumental break/bridge.
"Rose Darling" by Steely Dan (1975)
This could be considered second-string "Dan", if barely. The sweet sound of the song is underlined by some typically sour and sarcastic lyrics. This has to be one of the earliest appearances by Michael McDonald on a Steely Dan record.
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