By philipphilip99
Thanks for contributing everyone, here’s my pick of your retro songs:
The A is for ‘Authentic’ A-List:
The Romantics – What I Like About You (ParaMhor)
This 1979 power pop has the ballsiness of 1950’s rockabilly, the swagger of the British Invasion bands of the 1960s, and the punk edginess of its day. And there’s something mesmerising about drummer and singer Jimmy Marinos – a real meat and potatoes guy.
Bruno Mars – Treasure (pejepeine)
This funky number from 2013 wouldn’t have sounded out of place at a 1980’s school disco – it’s all to do with the punch bass line, chicken-scratch guitar patterns, clap-chorus ends, wormy synths, and bell stabs. Apparently.
Sailor – Girls, Girls, Girls (magicman)
There’s nothing quite like pop music for diversity of style. This song was released in 1976, the same year as the Sex Pistols’ Anarchy in The UK, but rather than looking at contemporary troubles, it transported pop fans back to the swing jazz era. At the time, Sailor, fronted by Prince Georg Johan Tchegodaieff Kajanus of Norway, were dismissed by many as a poor man’s Roxy Music, but the arrangement here is pretty challenging and much of Sailor’s studio output required the building of custom instruments to play it live. Also, tuba.
The Real Tuesday Weld – Bathtime in Clerkenwell (UncleBen)
2002 electronica and scat jazz go together like jelly and ice cream. Who knew?
Bud Flanagan – Who Do You Think You Are Kidding, Mr Hitler? (LoudAtlas)
Written in 1968 for the Second World War situation comedy Dad’s Army, this was meant to be a gentle mickey take of the patriotic ditties popular in wartime, but they got it so spot on that many people are convinced it’s a song from the 1940s.
It’s partly because of the presence of Bud Flanagan, a member of ENSA who entertained the troops, and his heartfelt defiance and the quiver of age in his voice makes for a particularly affecting performance.
Carmel – More, More, More (vastariner)
You really could be forgiven for thinking this gospel-flavoured jazz was recorded somewhere in the US in the 1950s. It was actually recorded in Town House 3, Battersea, London, in 1984.
Spandau Ballet – True (amyLee)
Like many of us of a certain age, Gary Kemp fell hard for the toothsome and bouncy Clare Grogan, lead singer of Altered Images, and this 1983 song is about the difficulty of wooing her with words. He was aiming for something that sounded like a classic Motown ballad of the 1960s/70s and even namechecks Marvin Gaye.
It was convincing enough to earn the band an invitation to perform on US music-show Soul Train – though presenter Don Cornelius’s attempt to interview them was derailed by their London accents and had him turning to the audience to say, ‘These guys sure talk funny, huh?’
Though wee hen Clare didn’t succumb, True is an achingly romantic song and Spandau’s lead singer, Tony Hadley, reckons people often tell him they lost their virginity to it or were conceived to it – which suggests some excitable Spandau fans were a tad careless.
Samantha Crain – Bloomsday (ParaMhor)
2021 slice of gorgeous Americana topped with 1960’s folk rock sensibilities.
Yola – Faraway Look (severin)
This 2019 song draws inspiration and spirit from the chanteuses of the 1950s and 60s, and blimey, it’s good.
Primal Scream – Rocks (happyclapper)
In 1994, you screamed, I screamed, we all primal screamed for the 1970s grooves of The Rolling Stones and T-Rex.
The B is for ‘Bona Fide’ B-list:
Jet – Are You Gonna Be My Girl (SweetHomeAlabama)
Jet get annoyed when people suggest this 2003 song was riffing on Iggy Pop of the 1970s because they were riffing on Motown of the 1960s. Bumping into Iggy, they mentioned this to him, and he freely admitted that 1970’s Iggy Pop was also riffing on Motown of 1960s. Only a previous zedding, for surprising intros, keeps this off the A-list.
The Vines – Orange Amber (IsabelleForshaw)
1960s US garage rock psychedelia but from Australia, 2008.
Madonna – Beautiful Stranger (AltraEgo)
Recorded in 1999 for the film Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, this song transports us to 1967 and seems greatly indebted to a song from that year – Love’s She Comes in Colours. Still, if you’re going to borrow, you may as well borrow from the greats.
Alabama Shakes – Hold On (swawilg)
‘When you’re a rock fan, sometimes modern bands sound like you’re coming home. That’s why you like ’em’ – swawilg.
Billy Joel – Uptown Girl (SweetHomeAlabama)
‘Hey, Billy, this recording studio is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside!’
‘That’s right, bud, because we’re leaving 1983 and headed back to the malt shop in 1963.’
Everything But The Girl – Come On Home (swawilg)
A song from 1986 with heyday of Hollywood stylings.
Noisettes – That Girl (SweetHomeAlabama)
Apart from the lyrical references to Tweets and blogs, this 2012 song would sit happily in the music charts of the mid-1960s.
The Darkness – I Believe in A Thing Called Love (SweetHomeAlabama)
Slathered with aural irony, this 2003 song takes on the twin-guitar attack of 1970’s British rock by the likes of Bad Company and Thin Lizzy. Despite playing with tongue firmly in cheek, there’s nothing half-hearted about it – it’s a good example of taking your art seriously but not yourself.
Black Country Communion – Black Country (Tincanman2010)
A 2010 song born of American guitarist Joe Bonamassa’s dream of being in a 1970’s British rock band.
Oxymoron – Dead End Generation (Carpgate)
This 1994 release by a German punk band pays homage to and sounds exactly like the British punk bands of 1982 – if anyone can possibly know this it’s our resident punk expert Carpgate.
Guru’s Wildcard Picks:
The Maisonettes – Heartache Avenue
Brummie and former City Boy singer Lol Mason was obviously yet another Motown fan and uses new-fangled synthesizers to stand in for the string and brass sections on this 1982 one hit wonder.
The backing singers appear to have been plucked from the make-up counter at Rackhams – Oo-ee-oo!
Blue Angel – I Had A Love
This song to lost love by Blue Angel, with its retro-rockabilly styling and wall-of-sound production, is sensational and yet failed to gain much attention in 1980. The delightful singer was called Cyndi Lauper – wonder what ever happened to her?
These playlists were inspired by readers' song nominations from last week's topic: Out of their time: original songs with a striking retro style. The next topic will launch on Thursday at 1pm UK time.
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