894. Breaking Point - The Moody Blues (1988)

 

 

Have you reached your breaking point tonight?

 

From their 13th album 'Sur La Mer' which was the first Moody Blues album I bought. Most of the music on this album could be described as synthpop.

 

893. Talk More Talk - Paul McCartney (1986)

 

 

I hear water going through the pipes

I don't actually like sitting down music

 

From his album 'Press To Play' which I bought because some of the songs were co-written with Eric Stewart from 10cc. This one was written by Paul on his own. I like its eccentricity.

 

892. Calypso - Jean Michel Jarre (1990)

 

 

From his 10th album 'Waiting For Cousteau',this track is dominated by the steel drums of The Amoco Renegades. Anything with steel drums in it always puts me in a good mood. The album contained three tracks that were six to nine minutes long followed by a 46 minute ambient piece of music which would send anyone to sleep. I remember that the CD was priced at about £6 which was half the normal CD price at the time so I didn't feel I was being ripped off.

 

891. Ce Matin La - Air (1998)

 

 

From Air's acclaimed debut album 'Moon Safari' this is a relaxing piece of chillout music with the harmonica,strings and trumpet (or is it a trombone?).

 

890. Cowboys And Indians - The Cross (1988)

 

 

In the land of the free and the home of the brave

The cowboys and cowgirls and Indians have changed

 

The Cross were a side project of Queen's drummer Roger Taylor,releasing three albums from 1988-1991. This homage to the USA was the first single from their debut album 'Shove It'. It only got to no.74.

 

 

 

889. Strict Machine - Goldfrapp (2003)

 

 

I connect when I'm flush

You get love when told what to do

 

A smashing piece of electropop. The lyrics relate what happens to laboratory rats to human behaviour.

 

Calypso sounding nice - I'm pretty sure I've heard it before but not paid it that much attention. I've heard Strict Machine a lot but never fully realised it was a Goldfrapp song :o

888. Streets Of Philadelphia - Bruce Springsteen (1994)

 

 

I walked the avenue till my legs felt like stone

I heard the voices of friends vanished and gone

 

From the film 'Philadelphia',this song won an Oscar and four Grammys. It was kept from the no.1 spot by Doop - Doop. When chart injustices are brought up,it's always 'Shaddap Your Face' stopping 'Vienna' getting to no.1 that gets mentioned but this is almost as scandalous. Bruce sang live on the video using a hidden microphone.

 

887. Valerie - Steve Winwood (1987 remix)

 

 

Her cries hang there in time somewhere

Someday,some good wind may blow her back to me

 

This is originally from 1982 but I prefer this remix as the backing track has more life to it. It was sampled in Eric Prydz's 2004 no.1 'Call On Me' but that was technically not a sample as Steve liked it so much he re-recorded his vocals to make it sound better.

 

some more obscure choices new to me in the latest batches, and also some gems I do know - Shangri-Las (still yet to chart that one myself), Queen, INXS (Paloma did a good version too), Springsteen, Goldfrapp (check out the Suzi Quatro glamrock version!), and from my clubbing period, Lasgo, among many goodies.

Lasgo - Something is brill!

 

So you don't dislike ALL eurodance then, King Rollo, despite what you said in the Dance Forum song contest thread! :lol: :D

886. Onward - Yes (1978)

 

 

You're the light burning brightly

Onward through the night

 

Written by Chris Squire,this is from Yes' ninth album 'Tormato' which is not one of their best as they were still reeling from the punk rock invasion. However,this is a beautiful song with Jon Anderson's angelic vocals and an orchestral backing. It was played at the first concert Yes performed after Chris Squire's death in 2015,before they took to the stage,with a spotlight focused on his bass guitar and the rest of the stage in darkness. A fitting tribute and probably not a dry eye in the house.

 

Lasgo - Something is brill!

 

So you don't dislike ALL eurodance then, King Rollo, despite what you said in the Dance Forum song contest thread! :lol: :D

 

It never occurred to me that 'Something' was Eurodance. I always thought of it as pop/dance. These genre labels are sometimes confusing. :wacko:

 

 

885. Visage - Visage (1980)

 

 

New styles

New shapes

New modes

That's the role my passion takes

 

A classic from the New Romantics era. There was a big contribution on this track by members of Ultravox. I can think of four other singles where the song title is the same name as the group. There was Talk Talk by Talk Talk,Oh Well by Oh Well,Mr Blobby by Mr Blobby and of course Doop by Doop which I already mentioned today. I never thought I would be referring to that song twice on the same day. I am sure you may be able to think of some more examples.

 

884. You Take My Breath Away - SuReal (2000)

 

 

What more can I say

 

A top 20 trance hit. I like the vocals on this but I don't know who the singer is. SuReal was British DJ Stuart Langelaan also known as Lange.

 

883. Close Cover - Minimalistix (2002)

 

 

And here is some more trance. This one is a piano led instrumental which got to no.12. Minimalistix were a Belgian group.

 

Edited January 31, 20187 yr by King Rollo

882. Angelina - Marillion (2004)

 

 

When you've stayed up far too late

Fallen through the door in a state

Call her at the premium rate

 

The second song in my chart from the 'Marbles' album,this appears to be about a sex chatline worker. I like the way it meanders along with Steve Rothery's restrained guitar playing. This is one of just a few Marillion songs to feature a female singer,in this case,Carrie Tree.

 

881. Free Bird - Lynyrd Skynyrd (1973)

 

 

For I must be travelling on now

cause there's too many places I've got to see

 

A classic rock radio staple which conjures images of bearded American truck drivers. As good as the first half is,the song's popularity is down to the legendary four minute guitar solo in the second half. If anyone can think of a group with a longer name that contains no vowels,please let me know.

 

880. Rockaria! - Electric Light Orchestra (1976)

 

 

She's sweet on Wagner

I think she'd die for Beethoven

She loves the way Puccini lays down a tune

And Verdi's always creeping from her room

 

A top ten single from 'A New World Record'. The opera part was sung by Mary Thomas who came in too early but this mistake together with her saying "oops" were kept in by Jeff Lynne. The error is not included in this video.

 

879. Royksopp's Night Out - Royksopp (2001)

 

 

A seven and a half minute instrumental from Roysopp's debut album 'Melody A.M.' I love all the different sounds they've created here,this never gets boring.