737. A Prisoner Of The Past - Prefab Sprout (1997)

 

 

Everywhere that you go

Be certain that the table's set for two

 

Another immaculately produced song from 'Andromeda Heights'. This got to no.30 and is the last of their seven top 40 singles. Seven seems very low,they have always been a bit underrated.

 

Design for Life is one of the first songs I ever really liked, it was played on the music channels quite a bit in the late 90s when I was very young. I think I liked the whole dramatic nature of the track.

Some goodies again, manics, Tom Petty, and many others and yes I agree Prefab Sprout are very under-rated commercially Prisoner of the Past hit 3 in my charts, and they topped my chart in 2013 with the fab Best Jewel Thief In The World. A big "Oh Yes" for ELO's Whisper In The Dark, always loved that one - prob about time I charted it for the first time :lol:

 

 

736. Crush - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark (1985)

 

 

Rain rain go away

I can't stand this one more day

 

The title track from OMD's sixth album. This is a rather maudlin song that doesn't have a chorus but I like its quirkiness and the strange backing vocal effects.

 

735. Hazard - Richard Marx (1992)

 

 

I swear I left her by the river

I swear I left her safe and sound

 

A song that tells a story but neither the lyrics nor the video make it clear who killed Mary. This is one whodunnit that has never been solved.

 

 

 

734. Open Your Heart - The Human League (1981)

 

 

End concealing try revealing

Open your heart

 

The third and final song in my chart from the Human League so this is my favourite song from them. A great example of early 80s synth pop.

 

733. The Empty Bottle - Archive (2009)

 

 

The light in the night and the stars on your face

You are everything that surrounds me in this place

 

Another track from 'Controlling Crowds Part IV',this is about as commercial as Archive get. It would probably have been a top 40 hit for a better known group. The album version is a few minutes longer.

 

Edited March 9, 20187 yr by King Rollo

732. The Theory Of Everything - Onetwo (2007)

 

 

A second song from Claudia Brucken and Paul Humphreys' album 'Instead'. It's in two parts and only part 2 is on youtube.

 

731. Love Is A Bourgeois Construct - Pet Shop Boys (2013)

 

 

I've been hanging out with various riff raff

Somewhere on the Goldhawk Road

I don't think it's gonna be much longer

Till I'm mugging up on the penal code

 

Only Pet Shop Boys (or maybe Sparks or Morrissey) would release a single with a title like 'Love Is A Bourgeois Construct'. The main hook of the song is based on a piece by Henry Purcell so he is down as a co-writer.

 

 

730. Radio #1 - Air (2001)

 

 

If you need some fun

Some good stereo gum

 

Taken from Air's second album '10000Hz Legend' which is my favourite album by them even though the first one 'Moon Safari' is generally regarded as their best. This track is having a slight dig at commercial radio stations so there is someone who sounds like a DJ talking over the end of the song. It's the last of Air's five top 40 singles,reaching number 31.

 

 

729. Since You've Been Gone - Rainbow (1979)

 

 

Your poison letter,your telegram

Just goes to show you don't give a damn

 

Rainbow's cover version of a song by Russ Ballard from 1976. A memorable guitar riff in the intro and a singalong chorus.

 

Didn't know 'Since You've Been Gone' was a cover! It is an excellent rock anthem anyway!

 

'Open Your Heart' is a very nice song. I like the medieval sounding synths in the chorus!

Edited March 10, 20187 yr by The Hissmobile

Certainly when it was out,I didn't know it was a cover either. I only found out in the last few years.

728. Recover - Chvrches (2013)

 

 

So pick any number,choose any colour

I've got the answer,open the envelope

 

Chvrches' second single,the synth sounds perfectly complementing Lauren Mayberry's vocals.

 

727. Sleepwalk - Ultravox (1980)

 

 

Spiralling deeper,I can't feel my fingers

rip round my throat as I dream

 

Ultravox's first single with Buzzjack's fourth favourite Midge as their lead singer. It was also their first top 40 hit,reaching number 29.

 

Lol Buzzjack's fourth favourite Midge. Poor Midge Ure, beaten by a type of insect, a fictional character and a Buzzjack poster.

726. Pleasure Little Treasure (Glitter Mix) - Depeche Mode (1987)

 

 

Maternity frocks and paternity suits

If that's what you want

They're waiting for you

 

A shorter original version of this song was the B side of 'Never Let Me Down Again'. This mix was on the 12 inch single but I know it as one of the bonus tracks on the cassette version of the album 'Music For The Masses'.

 

725. Europa and the Pirate Twins - Thomas Dolby (1981)

 

 

She smiled for the cameras as a bodyguard grabbed me

Her eyes were gone forever as they drove her away

 

Thomas Dolby's second single,narrowly failing to become his first hit. It got to number 48. The harmonica solo is played by Andy Partridge from XTC.

 

For Thomas Dolby, my go to track would be 'Hyperactive!'. I like the high energy of it.

Hyperactive is a great song but didn't make my chart.