836. Stand Above Me - OMD (1993)

 

 

We always say we're happy

When you know it's never true

 

An infectious pop song,this was the first single from the 'Liberator' album,reaching number 21.

 

835. Backbeat - The Art Of Noise (1986)

 

 

From their second album 'In Visible Silence'. I like the combination of different sounds on this one. It samples the best known part of Le Freak by Chic.

 

 

834. People Are People - Depeche Mode (1984)

 

 

I never even met you

So what could I have done

 

A great piece of 80s synth pop,this gave Depeche Mode their highest chart position of no.4 which they have equalled twice more. It's one of Martin Gore's least favourite songs and hasn't been played live since 1988.

 

833. Nobody's Perfect - Mike + the Mechanics (1988)

 

 

There's no perfect reason

And no perfect rhyme

 

The production sounds a bit dated but this has a great chorus and lead vocal. Mike Rutherford co-wrote the song with B A Robertson who had some hit singles of his own in the late 70s.

 

832. The Lady Who Said She Could Fly - The Idle Race (1968)

 

 

When she was a girl she would jump rather high

Then she fell in love with the air and the sky

 

The Idle Race were Jeff Lynne's first group. With Jeff as their singer and main songwriter they released two albums and some singles. Despite the support of John Peel and Kenny Everett on Radio 1 and admiration from The Beatles,they never quite made it. This song is from their first album,'The Birthday Party'. It's a beautiful Beatles influenced ballad and at just 2 minutes and 18 seconds long is the shortest song on my chart. Jeff Lynne left the group in 1970,frustrated at their lack of success,to join The Move. The Idle Race soldiered on and eventually turned into The Steve Gibbons Band who got to no.12 in 1977 with 'Tulane'. They were formed in 1959 as Billy King and the Nightriders. The Steve Gibbons Band are still going so if you count name changes,I am putting this group forward as the UK's longest running pop/rock group unless someone on here can think of a group that has been going longer.

 

831. Party Fears Two - The Associates (1982)

 

 

I'll have a shower

And then phone my brother up

Within the hour

I'll smash another cup

 

I think anyone who likes 80s music would put this somewhere on a list of favourite songs. It has its own unique sound.

 

830. Cloud Nine - Onetwo (2007)

 

 

Don't ask for tomorrow

Just carry on with now

 

Onetwo were Claudia Brucken from Propaganda and Paul Humphreys from OMD. They were a couple for a while but have since split up. This song was originally recorded by Propaganda for a comeback album that was never released. It features Martin Gore on guitar.

 

829. Trap The Spark - Marillion (2008)

 

 

Photograph a feeling

Pin the cloud to the sky

Trap the spark and hold it

You can try

 

Another beautiful song from Marillion. This one is from their album 'Happiness Is The Road' which was originally intended to be a single album but they wrote so much music it was turned into a double album. 'Trap The Spark' is part of Volume 1:Essence.

 

828. Hand In Hand - Phil Collins (1981)

 

 

From his first solo album 'Face Value',this is an instrumental featuring the Phenix Horns who were Earth Wind & Fire's back up band and the addition of a children's choir.

 

827. Mercy In You - Depeche Mode (1993)

 

 

I would do it all again

Lose my way and fall again

 

The first Depeche Mode song in my chart from the 90s which is when I think they were at their creative peak. This is from 'Songs Of Faith And Devotion'.

 

826. She Has No Time - Keane (2004)

 

 

You think your days are uneventful

And no one ever thinks about you

 

From their debut album 'Hopes And Fears',this song was actually written in 1999. Tom Chaplin's vocals on this are stunning,reaching all those high notes.

 

825. Cry Little Sister (I Need U Now) - Lost Brothers featuring G Tom Mac (2003)

 

 

Love is with your brother (Thou Shall Not Kill)

 

The second song today to feature a children's choir. Cry Little Sister is from the soundtrack to the 1987 film 'The Lost Boys'. This is a remix with a 21st Century sound to it. I've never heard the original version before so I've listened to it just now. Very good as well.

 

I like People are People, the production is interesting and ahead of its time in it (some of the industrial sounding beats/synths in it do remind me a bit of the style of parts of Doctorin' The House by Coldcut/Yazz/Plastic Popualtion in 1988) and a bit dancey too (albeit not as dancey sounding as their next single Master And Servant though)! Pity Martin Gore doesn't like it.

 

That Cry Little Sister remix is fabulous, excellent euphoric trance tune!

Edited February 15, 20187 yr by The Snake

824. Baal's Hymn - David Bowie (1982)

 

 

Lots of strength is needed and experience too

Swollen bellies can embarrass you

 

This is not one of David Bowie's more well known songs. It was the lead track from the Baal EP which got to number 29 on the singles chart at the same time as Bertolt Brecht's Baal play was shown on the BBC starring Bowie. There are only orchestral instruments on this song and Bowie's vocals are very theatrical.

 

823. Temptation - New Order (1982)

 

 

Oh,you've got green eyes

Oh,you've got blue eyes

Oh,you've got grey eyes

And I've never seen anyone quite like you before

 

This also reached number 29,two months after 'Baal's Hymn'. It's the nine minute 12" version. I like the guitars and relentless drums on this. It was re-recorded for the 'Substance' singles collection in 1987 but the original is much better.

 

822. No Regrets - Robbie Williams (1998)

 

 

I know from the outside we looked good for each other

Felt things were going wrong when you didn't like my mother

 

I don't really like Robbie Williams or his music but this song goes into my chart because it's so good. It's about his breakup with Nicole Appleton from All Saints and features backing vocals from Neil Tennant and Neil Hannon. I like the epic scale of the song and the video.

 

821. Black Milk - Massive Attack (1998)

 

 

You're not my eater

I'm not your food

 

From their best album 'Mezzanine',this has a sultry late night sound to it. It features vocals from Elizabeth Fraser from the Cocteau Twins. Manfred Mann sued the group for an unauthorised sample in this song from his 1972 song 'Tribute'.

 

820. City - JJ72 (2002)

 

 

Somebody take me away from this city

I'm getting lost,lost in this city of lights

 

The second song in my chart from JJ72's album 'I To Sky'. A great vocal from Mark Greaney with the piano and guitars also prominent and a very good home made video on youtube for it.

 

819. Memory Of The Future - Pet Shop Boys (2012)

 

 

It's taking me all of my life to find you

 

From the 'Elysium' album,I like the use of brass instruments and it has a great chorus. A slightly different mix was released as a single but the album version is better.

 

818. Play The Game - Queen (1980)

 

 

When you're feelin' down and your resistance is low

Light another cigarette and let yourself go

 

Queen made a point of putting "no synths" on their record sleeves in the 70s but they relented in 1980 and this single includes a synthesiser. Freddie Mercury wrote the song and the video marks the debut of his moustache.