221. Killing Time - Roger Taylor (1984)

 

 

Ice men in kryptonite

Cavemen on wheels

Here in our own small way

Just passing the time of day

 

Roger Taylor has had a decent solo career with five top 40 singles. This song is from his second album,'Strange Frontier'. I like the bombastic instrumental break in particular.

 

 

220. Seasons End - Marillion (1989)

 

 

Snowflakes in a newborn fist

Sledging on a hill

Are these things we'll never see

In England

 

From Marillion's album of the same name,the first with H as lead singer. The song is about global warming. There is no apostrophe in the title as it's an end to all seasons,not one. There's a soaring chorus here and then just as you think the track is coming to a close,you get a great three minute coda.

 

 

219. While You See A Chance - Steve Winwood (1980)

 

 

When some cold tomorrow finds you

When some sad old dream reminds you

How the endless road unwinds you

While you see a chance take it

 

A top 10 single for Steve Winwood in the US,this only reached number 45 here. I love the organ and keyboard sounds. There are no guitars here,just various keyboards and drums which were all played by Steve.

 

218. It's Alright - Pet Shop Boys (1988)

 

 

Generations will come and go

But there's one thing for sure

Music is our life's foundation

And shall succeed all the nations to come

 

With production by Trevor Horn,this is the Pet Shop Boys' longest album track,clocking in at 9 minutes 23 seconds. It's a cover version of a song by Sterling Void and Paris Brightledge. There's a house/dance sound to the song with some fine soulful female backing vocals. A remixed single version got to number 5 but this one is much better.

 

217. Nights In White Satin - The Moody Blues (1967)

 

 

Gazing at people,some hand in hand

Just what I'm going through they can't understand

Some try to tell me,thoughts they cannot defend

Just what you want to be,you will be in the end

 

An undoubted classic and the song for which the Moody Blues are best known. Written by Justin Hayward at the age of just nineteen,the title was inspired by a gift from his girlfriend of satin bedsheets. Inexplicably,it only got to number 19. It did a little better on re-release reaching number 9 in 1972 and number 14 in 1979. It contains what is possibly the most recognisable flute solo ever.

 

 

216. Electronic Performers - Air (2001)

 

 

Synthesizers gave me some wings

They drop me through twelve bit samplers

 

The first track from Air's second album '10000 Hz Legend'. There are not many better openings to an album than the first two minutes of this song and I love the moment towards the end when the strings come in.

 

215. Endless Lies - ELO (1986)

 

 

It's alright,count to ten

It will all be better then

 

By 1986,ELO were down to a trio and 'Balance Of Power' was their last album before they split up. This song was originally intended for the previous album 'Secret Messages' but it was left out when it was reduced from a double album to a single one. It's a reworked version of the song which is an homage to Roy Orbison and Jeff Lynne does a very good impression of Roy's singing style here. There's also some great drumming from Bev Bevan who also adds a whip to his percussion.

 

 

Forever Autumn is a beautiful song indeed

 

Nights In White Satin is really good too. I actually remember someone singing that on the X Factor a few years ago, which was quite unusual as it wouldn't be the sort of song that usually gets covered there.

 

That version of It's Alright indeed sounds very housey with piano and is very good but I disagree with you, I defintiely prefer the better known remix, it sounds more atmospheric I think - the remix that charted reminds me of the likes of Inner City's 'Good Life' (which charted a few months before) in terms of production style. I also like the use of crowd noise in that one and the backing vocals too.

 

Interesting though how the remixed and unremixed versions of the Pet Shop Boys' version of It's Alright sound so different!

Edited September 10, 20186 yr by TheSnake

I'll listen to the remix later. I haven't heard it for a while.

214. Blue Would Still Be Blue - Guillemots (2006)

 

 

It's not raining cats,it's not raining dogs

And pigs are not flying,or turning the cogs

The sun has no hat on,whenever it shines

And I've never seen a cat with nine lives

 

Another track from 'Through The Windowpane'. Except for four notes on the piano,which are repeated throughout,this is all acapella and Fyfe Dangerfield puts in a remarkable vocal performance here. I wouldn't be surprised if this was recorded in one take.

 

213. America : What Time Is Love? - The KLF (1992)

 

 

We had to pass the pyramid blaster

The jams are here,to put you in a rapture

 

This is such a contrast to the Guillemots song. I didn't put them next to each other deliberately. It's the ultimate bathroom sink production and needs to be played loud. This is the full nine minute version. It was the last of the KLF's five consecutive top 5 singles. (I thought the k word wasn't banned anymore,I've changed it to bathroom. You know what I mean)

 

Edited September 10, 20186 yr by King Rollo

I use to think it was a bit of a pointless re-release after the famous 1990 version but having listened to it again, I rather like this version of 'What Time Is Love' with the use of the Ace Of Spades sample. Good mix of rock and dance.

212. Lay Your Hands On Me - Peter Gabriel (1982)

 

 

Working in gardens,thornless roses

Fat men play with their garden hoses

Poolside laughter has a cynical bite

Sausage speared by the cocktail satellite

 

Another track from Peter Gabriel's fourth untitled album. This one starts quietly with a haunting minimal arrangement before it builds up with the heavy drum sound,guitar and backing vocals. It was recently used on an episode of 'The Americans' which seems to have boosted the youtube views for the song.

 

Edited September 11, 20186 yr by King Rollo

211. Second Life Syndrome - Riverside (2005)

 

 

I don't want to waste any more of my life

Live from day to day

Live from hand to mouth

 

Riverside are a Polish prog rock band formed in 2001. This track,which some of you will remember I made my Nuggets debut with,is from their second album. The guitar playing on this is fantastic,especially the final third of the song. Sadly,the lead guitarist,Piotr Grudzinski,died in 2016. The lead singer has now taken over guitar duties and Riverside have a new album coming out later this month.

 

 

210. Out Of Control - The Chemical Brothers (1999)

 

 

It could be that I'm losing my touch

Or maybe you think my moustache is too much

 

Featuring Bernard Sumner on vocals and guitar which is why,when I first heard this played on the radio,I thought it was New Order.

 

 

209. The Cinema Show - Genesis (1973)

 

 

Romeo locks his basement flat and scurries up the stair

With head held high and floral tie,a weekend millionaire

"I will make my bed with her tonight",he cries

Can he fail,armed with his chocolate surprise?

 

Taken from Genesis' fifth album 'Selling England By The Pound',the highlight of the song is undoubtedly Tony Banks' iconic five minute keyboard solo which was often performed live as part of a medley of old songs in the 80s and 90s.

 

Edited September 11, 20186 yr by King Rollo

Impressive work.

 

Based on the first look there are not many songs, which I like, but will watch all this thread more attentive.

208. In Your Room - Depeche Mode (1993)

 

 

Will you let the morning come soon

Or will you leave me lying here

In your favourite darkness

Your favourite half light

 

From the 'Songs Of Faith And Devotion' album. The Zephyr Mix was released as a single and was a top 10 hit but I prefer this original album version which has a harder,rockier sound to it.

 

Edited September 12, 20186 yr by King Rollo

207. Fake Plastic Trees - Radiohead (1995)

 

 

She lives with a broken man

A cracked polystyrene man

Who just crumbles and burns

 

A top 20 single for Radiohead from 'The Bends'. The music alternates between quiet bits with just an acoustic guitar and Hammond organ and louder parts with drums and electric guitar and a few strings thrown in.

 

210. Out Of Control - The Chemical Brothers (1999)

 

Another fantastics Chems track, Surrender was a CD I had 'borrowed' from a friend at the time at school but I later purchased it to remove my guilt. It's good to see so many tracks from it here!