177. An Englishman In New York - Godley & Crème (1979)

 

 

Devoted collectors of paraphernalia out walking the rock

Battle and bitch for the ultimate kitsch of a crucifix clock

 

From Godley & Creme's third album 'Freeze Frame',this was a top 30 single in several countries but didn't chart in the UK. The xylophone and a brass section carry most of the song but the main reason this is high up my chart is the lyrics with Kevin and Lol really outdoing themselves with their clever wordplay.

 

 

176. Big Wheels - Electric Light Orchestra (1977)

 

 

I see the big wheels turning

Never ending,on and on they go

 

The second track of the four that make up the marvellous 'Concerto For A Rainy Day' on the 'Out Of The Blue' album. The song's working title was 'Bad Salad' because it was a sad ballad. There is great use of the choir here on backing vocals as well as usual string section. Just watching this video reminds me it's four years since Jeff Lynne put together his new ELO line-up. It's great to see him getting some justified recognition in the last few years with the Best Of album reaching number 1,appearances at Glastonbury and Wembley Stadium and a sold out tour.

 

 

175. If This Is A Plan - The Delgados (2002)

 

 

Well,if this is a plan,then I'm dead where I stand

I've been cursing the truth like I'm cursing my youth

 

And moving on to the Delgados who have recorded a cover version of 'Mr Blue Sky'. They are a more guitar oriented version of ELO and you can hear the influence on 'If This Is A Plan' with the strings and choir. They didn't have ELO's budget so this is likely to be just a few string players and vocalists being overdubbed. The song has a cracking chorus.

 

174. 1998 (Matt Darey Mix) - Binary Finary (1998)

 

 

Binary Finary are a British group comprising Matt Laws,Ricky Grant and Stuart Matheson. There are lots of mixes of this track and this is definitely the best one I've heard. Trance instrumentals don't get much better than this.

 

 

173. Don't Give Up - Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush (1986)

 

 

Rest your head,you worry too much

It's going to be alright

When times get rough

You can fall back on us

 

This is the best male/female duet ever with its lyrics of a unemployed man contemplating suicide being supported by his wife. They both sing their parts so well and the video,directed by Godley & Crème,is simple and effective. Peter first offered the song to Dolly Parton but she turned it down and I'm thankful she did as I'm sure it wouldn't have turned out as well as this.

 

172. Acolyte - Delphic (2010)

 

 

The third and final song on my chart by Delphic. It's a punchy instrumental and the title track from their debut album. If you like the Chemical Brothers,you will like this.

 

 

171. Ritual (Nous Sommes du Soleil) - Yes (1973)

 

 

Constant doors will open eyes

 

Another song from the number 1 album 'Tales From Topographic Oceans',a double album containing a 20 minute song on each of the four sides. If you don't have the patience to listen to the whole thing,just listen to the section from 14.10 to 17.00,it will take you to another place.

 

 

 

170. Perfect Life - Steven Wilson (2015)

 

 

But gradually,she passed into another distant part of my memory

Until I could no longer remember her face,her voice,even her name

 

Taken from Steven Wilson's fourth solo album 'Hand.Cannot.Erase.' which is a concept album loosely based around the case of Joyce Vincent who died in her flat in London aged 38 and whose body was not discovered for more than two years. In 'Perfect Life' the spoken part is by Katherine Jenkins,speaking with an English accent,and the second half,where Steven Wilson's vocals come in,is heavenly.

 

Edited September 25, 20186 yr by King Rollo

169. Bedshaped - Keane (2004)

 

 

Don't laugh at me

Don't look away

 

The third single from Keane's debut album 'Hopes And Fears' reaching number 10. It's a lovely,well structured song. Apparently,if someone spends too much time in hospital,they become bedshaped.

 

Edited September 25, 20186 yr by King Rollo

Hopes and Fears was a really good album, and Bedshaped was one of the best singles from it. Great choice!

168. The Musical Box - Genesis (1971)

 

 

She's a lady,she is mine

Brush back your hair,and let me get to know your flesh

 

The third song on my chart from the 'Nursery Cryme' album. This is a tale of a girl who accidentally kills a boy by decapitating him with a croquet mallet. He comes back as a spirit out of a musical box and starts ageing very quickly. He attempts to seduce the girl but is killed again by the girl's nurse when she hurls the musical box at him. The story inspired the album's cover. I love all the guitar sounds on this one.

 

Edited September 25, 20186 yr by King Rollo

167. Star Guitar - The Chemical Brothers (2002)

 

 

This song got its title from the fact it contains a guitar sample from 'Starman' by David Bowie. I like the soundscape they build up here and also this video of the view from a moving train where all the buildings and other objects go past at the same rate as the beats in the song.

 

 

166. Colours - Phil Collins (1989)

 

 

You can keep your toy soldiers

To segregate the black and white

But when the dust settles

And the blood stops running

How do you sleep at night?

 

From his number 1 album '...But Seriously',the lyrics are about apartheid in South Africa which still existed when the song was written. It's a lengthy piece,nine minutes long,which starts out as a ballad but after a few minutes,the horn section comes in and it becomes uptempo.

 

 

 

165. Smile Movement Two (Cycle Of Life) - Brian Wilson (2004)

 

 

Hung velvet over taking me

Dim chandelier awaken me

To a song dissolved in the dawn

 

In 1966,the Beach Boys attempted to follow up their landmark 'Pet Sounds' album but with the group falling apart and Brian Wilson's mental health deteriorating,the 'Smile' album was abandoned and is probably the most well known unfinished album by anyone. Brian Wilson eventually recorded the album the way it was supposed to sound in 2004 with a new band of musicians. This is the second of the three movements and is made up of four songs,'Wonderful','Song For Children','Child Is Father Of The Man' and 'Surf's Up'. I can't find it in its entirety on youtube so instead,this is the Beach Boys' version which was retrieved and put together from the original sessions and released in 2011.

 

164. Suburbia (The Full Horror) - Pet Shop Boys (1986)

 

 

I only wanted something else to do but hang around

 

This is the version of 'Suburbia' from the 'Disco' album and also the 12 inch single. It was inspired by the 1984 film of the same name set in the Los Angeles suburbs. I like the production here from Julian Mendelsohn with added sound effects of dogs barking,riots and smashing glass.

 

163. Of Course I'm Lying - Yello (1988)

 

 

Julie stopped her car,the sun had gone and left one of these dark red skies

She looked in my eyes and with a smile on her face she said

"Of course I'm lying. But I think I love you"

 

This was one of only two top 40 singles for Yello. They've had plenty more near misses. I like the smooth sound to it and the backing vocals complement Dieter Meier's lead vocal very well.

 

 

 

 

162. Sister Of Night - Depeche Mode (1997)

 

 

Sister of night

In your saddest dress

As you walk through the light

You're desperate to impress

 

This is quite similar to the Yello song. They are both smooth synthpop ballads. It's from my favourite Depeche Mode album 'Ultra'.

 

 

161. Chandelier - Sia (2014)

 

 

1,2,3 1,2,3 drink

Throw 'em back till I lose count

 

I thought this was a certain number 1 when I first heard it so I was surprised when it only got to number 6. It managed to hang around for a while,spending 114 weeks in the top 100. Sia gives it a bit of welly with her vocal and I like the tinkly piano part. The video has been viewed 1.9 billion times,putting it 32nd on the all time list.

 

160. Alpha Male - Royksopp (2005)

 

 

When I said that 'Running To The Sea' was the highest placed song by Royksopp on my chart,I forgot that this one was still to come. It's a fantastic eight minute instrumental from their second album 'The Understanding' which starts slowly and gradually speeds up before slowing back down at the end.

 

159. The Invisible Man - Marillion (2004)

 

 

I cannot lift a hand

Lift a hand to stop him

I don't exist,what can I do?

What can I do?

 

Another track from the brilliant 'Marbles' album. Marillion come up with great concepts for lyrics. The character in this song is a dead man who comes back to the world as a ghost and becomes frustrated that he can't be seen or heard or do anything to help the woman he has left behind. H puts in a great emotional performance here with his vocals.