Prince & The New Power Generation – Gett Off (1991)

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My posting has been a bit intermittent this week, so another double header today. Earlier mention of Diamond’s & Pearls immediately brought to mind Prince’s dancefloor calling card ‘Gett Off’. This track was ubiquitous in 1991/92 – it helped that an original promo pressing of remixes was issued to 1,500 DJs directly from Paisley Park without Warner Bros’ knowledge. Kudos. Prince would famously rebel against the record label shortly after Diamond’s & Pearls. As part of Time Warner, the largest media company in the world at that time, he knew how to pick his adversaries.

Prince – Sign O’ The Times (1987)

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The title track of Prince’ s LP Sign “O” The Times is not only one of the best of 1987, but also it opens one of the most ambitious albums recorded by any pop star, period. Have a great day.

Prince And The Revolution – Let’s Go Crazy (1984)

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This introduction needs no introduction. Prince’s ‘Let’s Go Crazy’ is the opening song from Prince’s film Purple Rain and the opening track to the 1984 album soundtrack to the film. “Dearly beloved. We are gathered here today. To get through this thing called life.”

9 of the best – sounds of 1980

A weekend treat… a look back at 1980. My favourite songs start with a couple of tracks from across the pond, but the rest are from a buoyant music scene in the UK. The Second British Invasion of the US charts was just around the corner. Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Talking Heads – Once In A Lifetime

Prince ‎- When You Were Mine

Joy Division – Love Will Tear Us Apart

The Cure – A Forest

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – Messages

David Bowie – Ashes To Ashes

Visage – Fade To Grey

Japan ‎- Quiet Life

Dexys Midnight Runners ‎- Geno

The Jam – Going Underground

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Honourable mentions also go to: The Police for ‘Don’t Stand So Close To Me‘; Robert Palmer for ‘Johnny and Mary‘; The Pretenders ‎for ‘Private Life‘; Yellow Magic Orchestra for ‘Behind The Mask‘; UB40 for ‘King‘; UB40 ‎for ‘Food For Thought‘; Blondie for ‘Atomic‘; Change for ‘Glow Of Love‘; The Sound for ‘I Can’t Escape Myself‘; and AC/DC for ‘Back In Black‘.

Prince – Little Red Corvette (1983)

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This song needs no introduction, but it helps. The synthesised intro is so completely recognisable – and what follows is a sing-along car song to trump all car songs. ‘Little Red Corvette’ was the second single off Prince’s fifth LP 1999. Have a great week.

9 of the best – sounds of 1983

I would suggest that 1983 was pop music’s annus mirabilis. Here I’ve curated my 9 favourite tracks of the year and can’t help but notice how many pop classics are consigned to my list of honourable mentions. ‘Let’s Dance’, ‘Every Breath You Take’; ‘Borderline’ and ‘Billie Jean’ make for a jewel-encrusted cutting room floor. In fact, by 1983, record execs were wondering if rock music had seen its day. But in amongst all the pop gloss, the next big acronyms (U2, R.E.M) in guitar music were starting to make their move.

David Bowie – Modern Love

The The – Uncertain Smile

Bob Marley – Buffalo Soldier

The Cure – The Lovecats

Prince – Little Red Corvette

R.E.M. – Talk About The Passion

U2 – New Year’s Day

New Order – Blue Monday

The Salsoul Orchestra – Ooh I Love It (Love Break)

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Honourable mentions also go to: Tears for Fears for ‘Pale Shelter‘; William Onyeabor ‎for ‘Good Name‘; Lewis for ‘I Thought The World Of You‘; Brian Eno for ‘Deep Blue Day‘; Aztec Camera for ‘Oblivious‘; U2 for ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’; The Police for ‘Wrapped Around Your Finger‘ and ‘Every Breath You Take’; New Order for ‘Age Of Consent‘; China Crisis for ‘Wishful Thinking‘; The Smiths for ‘This Charming Man‘; David Bowie for ‘Let’s Dance‘; Madonna for ‘Borderline‘; Talking Heads for ‘This Must Be the Place‘; Michael Jackson for ‘Billie Jean’ and ‘P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)’; and lest we forget Wham and Frankie Goes To Hollywood for ‘Club Tropicana’ and ‘Relax‘, respectively.

9 of the best – sounds of 1984

Rolling Stone magazine has argued that 1984 was pop’s greatest year. Well that depends what they mean by pop of course, but I understand what they are getting at. Reflecting on a year during which I would have certainly worn some very regrettable clothing, I give you my nine songs that make up my ideal 1984 soundtrack:

The Smiths – How Soon Is Now?

Lloyd Cole & The Commotions – Rattlesnakes

R.E.M. – So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)

Prince & The Revolution – When Doves Cry

Talk Talk ‎- It’s My Life

Everything But The Girl ‎- Each And Everyone

Tears For Fears – Mother’s Talk

David Bowie ‎- Loving The Alien

New Order – Thieves Like Us

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Honourable mentions also go to: Strafe for ‘Set It Off‘; Don Henley for ‘The Boys Of Summer’; Howard Jones for ‘New Song‘; The Mighty Wah! ‎for ‘Come Back (The Story Of The Reds)‘; Ennio Morricone for ‘Deborah’s Theme‘; The Replacements for ‘Unsatisfied‘; Echo & The Bunnymen for ‘The Killing Moon‘; The Style Council ‎for ‘You’re The Best Thing‘ and ‘My Ever Changing Moods‘; Lloyd Cole & The Commotions for ‘Are You Ready To Be Heartbroken?‘; Tullio de Piscopo for ‘Stop Bajon‘; Art Of Noise for ‘Moments In Love‘; U2 for ‘The Unforgettable Fire‘ and Penguin Cafe Orchestra for ‘Music For A Found Harmonium‘.

Prince And The Revolution – When Doves Cry (1984)

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In 1984, Prince’s intros needed no introduction. If ‘Let’s Go Crazy’ – the opening track off his album Purple Rain – has arguably has the best intro in 1980s pop, then the guitar solo and drum machine that kick off the LP’s flip-side combine to be very close contenders. Prince had written and composed ‘When Doves Cry’ after completing everything else on the album and any outstanding creative caution was thrown to the wind. Vocal loops, no bass-line and a baroque synth solo… this was a top-selling pop single from an artist at his creative peak.

Prince ‎- When You Were Mine (1980)

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Dirty Mind doesn’t tend to be a fan’s favourite Prince album, but it does include this pop gem and the immortal line “You didn’t have the decency to change the sheets.” The song’s sound is less timeless; the New Wave intro and guitar arrangements could have been lifted off a single by The Cars or Elvis Costello. Prince was able to fuse electronica, funk, rock rhythms, sex and humour, and it would influence so many artists in the business.

9 of the best – sounds of 1985

A day to myself and I’ve spent the last few hours reminiscing about 1985… nine of the best sounds from that year:

Prince – Raspberry Beret

Big Audio Dynamite – E=MC2

Tears For Fears – Head Over Heels

The Cult – She Sells Sanctuary

Prefab Sprout – Bonny

Kate Bush – Cloudbusting

The Cure – Close To Me

Felt – Primitive Painters

New Order – Elegia

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Honourable mentions also go to: Propaganda for ‘Duel‘; Tenor Saw for ‘Ring The Alarm‘; The Cure for ‘In Between Days‘; Kate Bush for ‘Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)’; U2 for ‘The Unforgettable Fire’; Lloyd Cole And The Commotions for ‘Brand New Friend‘; Prince for ‘Pop Life‘; Prefab Sprout for ‘Moving The River‘; Love and Rockets for ‘Saudade‘; The Pale Fountains for ‘…From Across The Kitchen Table‘; Pet Shop Boys for ‘West End Girls‘; The Wake for ‘Melancholy Man‘; The Cars for ‘Heartbeat City’; Bryan Ferry for ‘Slave To Love‘; and The Style Council for ‘Walls Come Tumbling Down’.

Prince And The Revolution – Raspberry Beret (1985)

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Good morning. In 1985, Prince released his psychedelic LP Around The World In A Day. It features ‘Raspberry Beret’ which was originally recorded in 1982. It stands as one of the finest examples of his Minneapolis sound, blending his groove with some unconventional arrangements incl. finger-cymbals, a string section and a harmonica. Who can ever get tired of that chorus?

9 of the best – sounds of 1987

Another bank holiday and some recent nostalgia about Public Enemy…  it doesn’t take much for me to start curating. These are my favourite sounds of 1987, in no particular order (save a desire to kick off with ‘Bring The Noise’!).

Public Enemy – Bring The Noise

Chris Rea – Josephine (La Version Française)

Phuture – Acid Tracks

Prince – If I Was Your Girlfriend

U2 – Where The Streets Have No Name

Eric B. And Rakim – I Know You Got Soul

Rhythim Is Rhythim – Strings of Life

New Order – True Faith

Fleetwood Mac – Big Love

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Honourable mentions also go to: Ce Ce Rogers for ‘Someday‘; Frankie Knuckles & Jamie Principle for ‘Your Love‘; The Cure for ‘Just Like Heaven’; Sugarcubes for ‘Birthday’; R.E.M. ‎for ‘Its The End Of The World As We Know It’; Aztec Camera for ‘Somewhere In My Heart‘; INXS for ‘Need You Tonight‘; Deacon Blue ‎for ‘Dignity‘; Depeche Mode for ‘Behind The Wheel‘ and ‘Never Let Me Down Again‘; Stone Roses for ‘Sally Cinnamon‘; Terence Trent D’Arby for ‘Sign Your Name‘; Sonic Youth for ‘Schizophrenia‘; U2 for ‘With Or Without You’; Eric B. And Rakim for ‘Paid In Full‘ and ‘I Ain’t No Joke‘, Public Enemy ‎for ‘Rebel Without A Pause‘; Prince for ‘Sign O’ The Times‘; and Pet Shop Boys ‘What Have I Done To Deserve This?‘.

Yves Tumor – Gospel For A New Century (2020)

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Good morning folks. When ‘Gospel For A New Century’ kicks off, one has no idea about what is about to follow. On first listening, I presumed Wu-Tang influenced hip hop with those drums, horns and stabs. But no… what follows is more like Prince doing a straightforward electronic rock track. Straightforward! Yves Tumor is the solo moniker of Sean Bowie, a multi-instrumentalist and producer who hails from Miami, Florida, but is based in Turin, Italy. This song is off his his forthcoming album, Heaven to a Tortured Mind.

Prince – I Wanna Be Your Lover (1979)

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Good morning folks. Completing a run of posts from the late 1970s, like so many times before, my attention is drawn to Prince. In 1979, disco was eating itself, funk was in transition and drum machines were about to conquer all. Enter, stage right, Prince Rogers Nelson from Minneapolis. His breakout single ‘I Wanna Be Your Lover’ would tear up the dance floor jam and leave the world of pop music better. It would feature on his self-titled sophomore album. Have a great week.

Childish Gambino – Redbone (2016)

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In 2016, after more than two years of no music, Childish Gambino resurfaced with his third studio album Awaken, My Love! Zeitgeist Gambino showed that he had been wasting no time. Channeling the sound of Prince and Connan Mockasin (now there’s a notion), he carefully moved away from rapping; listening to the standout single ‘Redbone’, you can hear, funk, soul and sadness. Talent.