Nice to see Radiohead in there!

310. The Sunshine Underground - The Chemical Brothers (1999)

Taken from their third album 'Surrender' this starts slowly and then speeds up. It's a real cocophony of sounds. The part at the start is sampled from 'Asian Workshop' by James Asher.

 

When I acquired a 'borrowed' version of the album from my friend, this was the immediate standout of the tracks that weren't singles. Love it!

 

Were the 2000s band named after this track I wonder?

Edited August 15, 20186 yr by Doctor Blind

Were the 2000s band named after this track I wonder?

They were, and a great band as well!

308. Us And Them - Pink Floyd (1973)

 

 

"Forward" he cried from the rear

And the front rank died

And the general sat,as the lines on the map

Moved from side to side

 

From the classic 'Dark Side Of The Moon' album,the anti-war lyrics were written by Roger Waters and sung by David Gilmour. The music was written by Richard Wright in 1969 for a film but was not used and kept in the can for four years. There's not much guitar here,it's mainly piano and saxophone.

 

307. My Body Is A Cage - Arcade Fire (2007)

 

 

My body is a cage

That keeps me dancing with the one I love

But my mind holds the key

 

From Arcade Fire's second album 'Neon Bible',I love the church organ sound on this. The organ and the drums are the only instruments on the song. The church organ is a bit under-used in rock and pop. I suppose your keyboard player needs to know how to play it and you need permission from a church. Yes are the only group that I can think of who have used it a few times.

 

306. Don't Bring Me Down - Electric Light Orchestra (1979)

 

 

You're looking good,just like a snake in the grass

One of these days,you're gonna break your glass

 

When I added 'Cars' by Gary Numan to this chart,I mentioned it was jointly the first record I ever bought along with this one as I bought them at the same time in the same shop. This is ELO's highest charting single here (if you exclude their collaboration with Olivia Newton-John) and also their biggest hit in the US. At the time,a lot of people thought Jeff Lynne was singing about Bruce but it's a made up word "grroosss". There was a further mystery for me in what the sound at the end was. It sounds like something falling on the floor but I only recently found out it's a metal fire door slamming at the studio where the song was recorded. In 2012,Jeff Lynne released an album of re-recordings of the most well known ELO songs,including this one,and the slamming door sound at the end was kept in.

 

 

305. Vanishing Point - New Order (1989)

 

 

My life ain't no holiday

I've been through the point of no return

I've seen what a man can do

I've seen all the hate of a woman too

 

The best song from New Order's number 1 album 'Technique'. An instrumental version was used as the theme tune for the BBC drama series 'Making Out' which I vaguely remember.

 

 

304. This Strange Engine - Marillion (1997)

 

 

Daddy came out the navy and took us away to his dirty grey home town

And he worked down a coal mine for National Service so that he could be around

 

The title track from Marillion's ninth album. Almost sixteen minutes long,the lyrics are based on H's own childhood and the sacrifices his father made for his family. In the most recent Marillion forum poll,'This Strange Engine' was voted as the fans' favourite song by the band.

 

 

 

My parents have the Best of ELO and 'Don't Bring Me Down' is on it. I did think it was someone called Bruce that Jeff Lynne was singing about too!

 

In terms of music style 'Don't Bring Me Down' definitely stands out amongst ELO's hit singles, as it sounds more like Status Quo than ELO's usual sound! Very good and fun song!

Edited August 17, 20186 yr by The Hiss.

303. Day Time (Gizeh Remix) - 4 Strings (2000)

 

 

4 Strings are Dutch duo Carlo Resoort and Jan De Vos while Gizeh is Dutch DJ Rob Fabrie. The single version of this reached number 48 but I'm not sure if I've ever heard it. It was this remix that was always played on Pete Tong and Judge Jules's Radio 1 shows. It's a great example of euphoric trance music.

 

Edited August 17, 20186 yr by King Rollo

My parents have the Best of ELO and 'Don't Bring Me Down' is on it. I did think it was someone called Bruce that Jeff Lynne was singing about too!

 

In terms of music style 'Don't Bring Me Down' definitely stands out amongst ELO's hit singles, as it sounds more like Status Quo than ELO's usual sound! Very good and fun song!

 

Yes,the usual string section is absent so it sounds a lot rockier.

 

302. Leave It - Yes (1983)

 

 

One down one to go

Another town and one more show

 

The follow up single to 'Owner Of A Lonely Heart',this was not as successful. The song starts a cappella and there was a full a cappella remix on the 12 version. Produced by Trevor Horn,this is a synth heavy track with other members of the Art Of Noise involved. As a fan of both groups,its great to see them combining in this way.

 

 

301. Accent On Youth/The Ascent - Ultravox (1981)

 

 

We stumble blindly chasing silhouettes and vacant faces

So well rehearsed our moves once so grateful turn against us

 

Two tracks from the 'Rage In Eden' album but this is one seamless song. As with many of their tunes,it's a great combination of synths,guitar and violin.

 

300. Hammer To Fall - Queen (1984)

 

 

Rich or poor or famous

For your truth it's all the same

Lock your door the rain is pouring

Through your windowpane

 

The fourth single from 'The Works'. Written by Brian May,it's one of Queen's heaviest songs. A big live favourite,it was part of their Live Aid setlist.

 

299. The Fountain Of Salmacis - Genesis (1971)

 

 

Unearthly calm descended from the sky

And then their flesh and bones were strangely merged

Forever to be joined as one

 

From the 'Nursery Cryme' album,the lyrics are based on Greek mythology. Salmacis was a nymph and her fountain can now be found in Bodrum,Turkey. This was Steve Hackett's first album with Genesis and his guitar work here is top quality along with Tony Banks' keyboards.

 

 

298. p:Machinery - Propaganda (1985)

 

 

The calls of the machines drowning in the steam

Another hope feeds another dream

Another truth installed by the machine

 

The third single to be taken from 'A Secret Wish' which is a lyric from this song. Unlike the other two,it didn't crack the top 40 but it should have. It was more popular in Spain,where it got to number 1.

 

297. Paninaro (remix) - Pet Shop Boys (1986)

 

 

Violence,religion,injustice,death

 

This is the remix by the Pet Shop Boys and David Jacob which appears on their Disco album. A shorter version was originally the B side of 'Suburbia'. Chris Lowe takes centre stage here,speaking the lyrics. A further remix was released in 1995 and got to number 15 but this is the definitive version.

 

 

 

 

 

 

296. Equinoxe Parts 5 & 6 - Jean Michel Jarre (1978)

 

 

There is no youtube clip of these two tracks together so this is just part 5 which was released as a single and is possibly his second best known piece of music after Oxygene Part 4.

 

295. Credo - Fish (1991)

 

 

An oily shroud on a coral reef

A black cloud's hanging over me

When I hit on the remote

The programmes stay the same

 

This reached number 38 as a single,marking Fish's final appearance in the top 40. I like the multi layered guitars on this one. Fish has always been a writer of lyrics only so the music on his albums is written by the rest of his band.

 

 

294. Wonderful Life - Black (1986)

 

 

Gulls in the sky and in my blue eyes

You know it feels unfair

There's magic everywhere

 

Black's best known song and a timeless much covered classic. It only reached number 72 in 1986 but was re-released after 'Sweetest Smile' hit the top 10. This time,it got to number 8. The beautifully shot video was filmed in Southport,Wallasey and New Brighton.