Older song discoveries: April

 

 

 

Swamp Thing by The Chameleons (1986)
(Underappreciated English post-punk band. If this song is anything to go by, I predict I will connect with their 80s albums)

 

 

 

 

Always And Forever by Pat Metheny and Toots Thielemans (1992)
(YouTube can provide some great finds. Lovely instrumental that touches the emotions. Toots Thielemans was a Belgian jazz musician and Pat Metheny is an American jazz guitarist)

 

 

 

 

Moments In Love by Art Of Noise (1985)
(Another beautiful instrumental. Love the synths and piano)

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. Roboto by Styx  (1983)
(Kraftwerk meets The Cars)

 

 

 

 

 

I Got 5 On It by Luniz (1995)
(90s hip-hop classic, appears in the new Jordan Peele horror film “Us”)

 

 

 

 

 

Move Closer by Phyllis Nelson (1985)
(A romantic soul ballad. If Sade and Prince had a baby. Thanks Rol )

 

 

 

 

 

The Day Before You Came by Abba (1981)
(Underrated Abba song. Thanks Steven)

 

 

 

 

 

The Electrician by The Walker Brothers/Scott Walker (1978)
(An alluring, brooding atmosphere and has me curious to look into this guy’s work. Thanks Aphoristical )

 

 

 

 

 

New Rose by The Damned (1977)
(Lead single from their punk rock debut album. So much energy!)

 

 

 

 

 

Love At The Five & Dime by Nanci Griffith (1986)
(Every month, I stumble upon another country artist from the past. I love the name of the album which this track is from: The Last of the True Believers. Apparently Kathy Mattea’s 1986 cover became a hit)

 

 

 

 

 

Sylvias Mother by Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show (1971)
(Heartfelt lyrics, about coming to terms with a love you can’t have)

 

 

 

 

 

Who knows where the time goes by Fairport Convention (1969)
(Sandy Denny does it again with a beautiful, timeless tune. Thanks C )

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love Is A Battlefield by Pat Benatar (1983)
(Music that energizes you despite the singer describing relationship problems. Makes you feel young)

 

 

 

 

 

If I Were A Carpenter by Tim Hardin (1969)
(A new-to-me singer/songwriter. This is one of his best known folk songs which has been covered by a number of artists)

 

 

 

 
Some Things Just Stick in Your Mind by Vashti Bunyan (1965)
(A catchy melody. Lives up to its title!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who Invited You by The Donnas (2002)
(A modern alternative to The Runaways, who they were inspired by)

 

 

 

 

 

Any favorites or thoughts on these artists? As always, comments are welcome

Older song discoveries: March

 

 

 

For What It’s Worth by Talk Talk (b-side) (1986)
(RIP Mark Hollis. Another favorite from Asides/Besides is It’s Getting Late In the Evening)

 

 

 

 

Meet On The Ledge by Fairport Convention (1969)
(Sandy Denny’s vocal adds a lot to Fairport Convention. Sad she died so young)

 

 

 

 

Martha’s Harbour by All About Eve ‎(1988)
(And speaking of Sandy Denny, Julianne Regan has a beautiful voice too and has been compared to her. Thanks Rol)

 

 

 

 

Heaven is a Place I’m Moving to by The Blow Monkeys (1986)
(I love the lyric “This is my time”. To me, the closer from Animal Magic is superior to the album’s hit single Digging Your Scene)

 

 

 

 

 

I’m Not by Dora Gola (2016)
(Blogger Crazy Classic Rock interviewed the singer. The song is very cinematic and I like Gola’s vocal performance)

 

 

 

 

I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing by The New Seekers (1971)
(As a YouTube commenter said: “the ultimate rainbows-and-unicorns-and-marshmallow-fluff song, gives me a sugar-overdose in the best possible sense”)

 

 

 

 

 

Pretty Pink Rose by Adrian Belew and David Bowie (1990)
(A lesser known Bowie gem)

 

 

 

 

 

New Directions by The Foundations (1968)
(Darker b-side to Build Me Up Buttercup. Thanks C )

 

 

 

 

 

Tarantula (Colourbox cover) by This Mortal Coil (1986)
Beck released his own 2019 cover to coincide with Music Inspired by the Film ROMA. The 1986 version is the most affecting, lovely piano. The Colourbox original is from 1982/83)

 

 

 

 

 

The Sound of the Suburbs by The Members (1979)
(A punk classic)

 

 

 

 
Jenny (867-5309) by Tommy Tutone (1981)
(Catchy tune. The 1980s keeps on giving. Listed as #36 on VH1: ‘100 Greatest Songs of the 80’s)

 

 

 

 
Daytime Nighttime Suffering by Wings (1979)
(Should be better known. You can read about the b-side at Aphoristical’s site)

 

 

 

 

 

Strange and Beautiful by Aqualung (2002)
(I need to get my hands on Aqualung’s self-titled debut LP. This opener from the album is so haunting. You get the feeling the words come from an authentic place)

 

 

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Re-discoveries:

 

19 by Paul Hardcastle (1985)
(An odd mix of Vietnam history lesson and electro synthpop dance music. It somehow works)

 

 

 

 

Save Your Kisses For Me by Brotherhood Of Man (1976)
(Cringeworthy dancing in the video. Unforgettable chorus. UK winner of the Eurovision song contest)

 

 

 

 

Holding Back The Years by Simply Red (1985)
(An 80s classic. His slow songs I gravitate towards the most. Hucknall’s cover of If You Don’t Know Me by Now is another that never gets old)

 

 

 

 

Heathers Soundtrack by David Newman (1988)
(Eerie score)

 

 

What do you think? Any favorites? As always, comments are welcome

Older song discoveries: February

 

 

Rocket Man (cover) by Kate Bush (1991)
(Good cover with an unexpected reggae sound. She recently officially released the video on her YouTube channel. To coincide with the upcoming 4-disc rarities album The Other Sides)

 

 

 

 

Don’t Talk To Me by GG Allin & The Jabbers (1980)
(A random discovery via a letterboxd review. Apparently there are many wild stories about GG Allin and he is kind of the bad boy of punk music. This recording is from before he lost his mind. Bored To Death, from the same LP, is another memorable moment. A different era but the lyrics have aged well)

 

 

 

 

3,000,000 Synths by Chaz Jankel (1982)
(Sometimes spelled Chas or Chaz. Solo project of the guitarist and keyboardist of Ian Dury and the Blockheads. I don’t know if synth-jazz exists but this could be it. Wish I could hear what is said at 2.06, it’s inaudible)

 

 

 

 

Television, the Drug of the Nation by Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
(A 1992 hiphop classic that is critical of TV and is still applicable to today’s society.  Language Of Violence, taken from the same album, continues to ring true as well)

 

 

 

 

Think (About It) by Lyn Collins (1972)
(So funky! Reminds me a bit of Musicology, only better than Prince’s tune)

 

 

 

 

Moonlight in Vermont by Willie Nelson (1978)
(Wonderfully tranquil country song. A great discovery thanks to Alyson’s blog)

 

 

 

 

They Shoot Horses Don`t They by Racing Cars (1976)
(A Welsh pop band. A hit single inspired by the 1969 film They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? Despite three albums to their name, the group (according to wikipedia) acquired one-hit-wonder status) 

 

 

 

 

Lazy Sunday Afternoon by The Small Faces (1968)
(Very catchy. The band is remembered as one of the most important mod groups of the 1960s, and were a big influence on Britpop in the 1990s. They later evolved into Faces, a very successful psychedelic band with Rod Stewart as lead vocalist)

 

 

 

 

 

Harlem Shuffle by Bob & Earl (1963)
(An R&B dance classic. Was ranked #23 on The Daily Telegraph’s list of the “50 Best Duets Ever” and was used in the film Baby Driver. The Rolling Stones released a cover in 1986)

 

 

 

 

 

Hooverville by The Christians (1987)
(An underrated 80s group. The name of the band refers to the surname of the three brothers.  We need more uplifting tunes like this!)

 

 

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Re-discoveries:

 

 

 

Experience by Ludovico Einaudi (Mommy Soundtrack) (2013)
(Drew at Man About Words praised this instrumental in the comments section of his blog and I was reminded how moving this piece of music is)

 

 

 

 

Higher Love by Steve Winwood (1986)
(Unforgettable 80s chorus)

 

 

 

 

The Last Farewell by Roger Whittaker (1971)
(First heard as a child.  I love the “for you are beautiful” chorus, yet I’m only just uncovering the nautical theme in the lyrics. Whittaker hosted a radio show and is quoted as saying “one of the ideas I had was to invite listeners to send their poems or lyrics to me and I would make songs out of them”. Ron A. Webster, a silversmith from Birmingham, sent in The Last Farewell. I hope he receives royalties as the single has sold 10 million copies!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Probably half of these discoveries were found at Rol’s music blog, What do you think? Any favorites? As always, comments are welcome

Older song discoveries of the month: January

 

 

I haven’t listened to any albums (old or new) in January so this post will focus on songs I found instead. I hope you enjoy them as well.

 

 

 

 

 

Say You Will by Blanket Of Secrecy (1982)
(Wow. My most played song this year so far. Love the vocal delivery and should be better known. A lost 80s classic)

 

 

 

 

Hello In There by John Prine (1971)
(Thanks Aphoristical. A few music bloggers have raved about John Prine in recent months, I’ll try and get to the singer/songwriter’s beloved self-titled debut LP this year)

 

 

 

 

 

Skyline Pigeon by Elton John (1969)
(From the end credits of The Favourite (2018). From his debut album Empty Sky which seems to get less attention compared to his early 70s records. Maybe that’s why the song is new to me.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balek by Placebo (1973)
(Thanks Wolfman. A lesser known, brilliant jazz fusion instrumental from Belgium)

 

 

 

 

 

Too Young For Promises by Koo De Tah (1986)
(This Australian synthpop gem didn’t disappoint)

 

 

 

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Re-discoveries:
I Can Buy You by A Camp (2001)
(Thanks Rol. Solo side project of Nina Persson of The Cardigans)

 

 

 

 

 

You by Ten Sharp (1991)
(Thanks Alyson for reminding me of this one-hit wonder)

 

 

 

 

 

Independent Love Song by Scarlet (1995)
(The song title may not be easy to remember but how could you forget that wonderful uplifting chorus?)

 

 

 

 

 

Satellite by The Hooters (1987)
(Eccentric video. I must have heard this one years ago and had forgotten the name of the band. The lyrics and upbeatness somehow remind me of Jump into the Fire by Harry Nilsson)

 

 

 

 

 

 

What do you think? As always, comments are welcome