The Melody Haunts My Reverie

My first iTunes mix - Impossibly Perfect Pop. While busy transferring old CDs out of their jewel boxes, I was thinking about songs that have a rare combination of gorgeous melody and impeccable production. Read on for more ... IMPOSSIBLY PERFECT POP
1. Prefab Sprout - Appetite (1985)
The track that inspired this playlist. Nothing less than pure pop bliss.
2. 'Til Tuesday - Will She Just Fall Down (1986)
Aimee Mann's growing prowess as a songwriter holds court in this crafty, Beatlesque number.
3. The Style Council - My Ever Changing Moods (1984)
So hip and souful. This one makes me want to take off through cobblestone streets in a Vespa scooter.
4. Astrud Gilberto - Beach Samba (1967)
A trifle, but you can't get better trifles than Astrud bopping along to a bossa beat.
5. Petula Clark - The Other Man's Grass Is Always Greener (1967)
Not as well-remembered as some of her other hits, undeservedly so. A booming production with this wonderful undercurrent of dread.
6. Swing Out Sister - Heart for Hire (1989)
SOS perfected a swanky, swinging fake-Bacharach sound on this Kaleidoscope World track. That trumpet is so "I Say a Little Prayer".
7. Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 - Mundo Hermoso (Pretty World) (1969)
I have three different versions of this song in my iTunes playlist. Very mod, very chi-chi, very Now Sound of Today.
8. Everything But The Girl - Sugar Finney (1986)
Anything from their Baby, the Stars Shine Bright album will do. I think I just like the funky wakka wakka guitar on this one.
9. Pet Shop Boys - Miserablism (1990)
One of their best - and it only ended up as a b-side!
10. The Supremes - Together We Can Make Such Sweet Music (1970)
Made just after the exit of Diana Ross, during their organic "peace, love and harmony" phase. Beautiful production.
11. Air - You Make It Easy (1998)
Headphone magic. They should have done more with Beth Hirsch - gentle, ethereal with a hint of melancholy.
12. The Beach Boys - Time to Get Alone (1968)
A breezy, overlooked gem in the Beach Boys catalog.
13. Agnetha Faltzkog - If I Ever Thought You'd Change Your Mind (2004)
This song is just so -- amazing. Agnetha's voice sounds like it hasn't changed since 1982.
14. The Pernice Brothers - The Ballad of Bjorn Borg (2001)
Tough choice between this and "Blinded by the Stars". Both are an extended, wistful sigh set to music.
15. The Mavericks - I Should Have Been True (1994)
Another case where a fabulous melody overcomes its gimmicky retro trappings. Raul Malo's goosebump-inducing vocal makes this one of the best "fake Roy Orbison" songs ever recorded.
16. Mandy Barnett - The Whispering Wind (Blows On By) (1999)
Mandy does Patsy, with producer Owen Bradley. A gorgeous, gorgeous song.
17. Skeeter Davis - What Does It Take (To Keep a Man like You Satisfied) (1967)
Sixties girly pop goes country with state-of-the-art production that includes harps, harpsichord and an early synthesizer. Real groovy!
18. The Four Tops - Is There Anything That I Can Do (1965)
A Smokey Robinson-penned gem from their second album, imaginatively titled Four Tops Second Album.
19. Split Enz - I Got You (1981)
Edgy and dark, holds up surprisingly well.
20. Wilco - I'm Always in Love (1999)
Rough-hewn song to wind up the mix. That jarring synth line seems like it wouldn't fit in, but it works.
Posted by mhinrichs at July 1, 2004 12:26 PM