Enjoy this nostalgic nibble from my musical memory lane, carefully selected from my library that clearly couldn’t decide between heartbreak, disco, or dramatic staring out the window.
| Title | Artist | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| I’m A Believer | Smash Mouth | Originally written by Neil Diamond for The Monkees in 1966. A pop-rock anthem about love unexpectedly proving itself real. Smash Mouth, from California, are known for fun, upbeat alt-rock with a retro twist. |
| I Should Have Known Better | The Beatles | Written by John Lennon. A harmonica-laced song about realizing the power of love. The Beatles, from Liverpool, revolutionized modern music across genres and generations. |
| Fools Together | Maggie MacNeal | Written by Bolland & Bolland. A dramatic duet about two people knowingly continuing a doomed romance. MacNeal is a Dutch singer famous for her work in Mouth & MacNeal and solo pop hits. |
| Sweet Disposition | The Temper Trap | Written by Dougy Mandagi and the band. An uplifting indie rock track capturing fleeting youth and emotion. The Temper Trap are an Australian band known for atmospheric and emotive music. |
| Modern Love | David Bowie | Written by David Bowie. Explores the tension between romantic ideals and religious devotion. Bowie, from the UK, was a visionary artist who reshaped pop culture and music. |
| Gimme Some Lovin’ | Spencer Davis Group | Written by Steve Winwood, Spencer Davis, Muff Winwood. A punchy R&B track fueled by urgent longing. The UK-based group helped launch Steve Winwood’s long career. |
| High Steppin’ Hip Dressin’ Fella | Love Unlimited | Written by Barry White. A funky warning about smooth-talking players. Love Unlimited was a female vocal trio from the USA, best known for their lush soul arrangements. |
| The Shoop Shoop Song | Cher | “It’s in His Kiss” was written and composed by Rudy Clark and first released as a single in 1963 by Merry Clayton. Cher’s cover “The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s in His Kiss)” was for the soundtrack of her 1990 film Mermaids. Cher, from the USA, is a pop icon and Oscar-winning actress with a decades-long career. |
| P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) | Michael Jackson | Written by Quincy Jones & James Ingram. A flirtatious funk-pop jam. Jackson, from Indiana, was the “King of Pop” and one of the most influential entertainers of all time. |
| Love Resurrection | Alison Moyet | Written by Steve Jolley & Tony Swain. A plea for emotional and sensual rebirth. Moyet, from the UK, is known for her deep, soulful voice and synth-pop roots. |
| Ti Sento | Matia Bazar | “Ti sento” (Italian for ‘I feel you’), a dramatic Italian synth-pop ballad about love and longing, was written by the band members, Carlo Marrale, Aldo Stellita and Sergio Cossu. Matia Bazar is an Italian Pop/Rock band formed in 1975 by founding member Piero Cassano (keyboards), Aldo Stellita (bass), Carlo Marrale (guitar, vocals), Giancarlo Golzi (drums) and Antonella Ruggiero (vocals). |
| Move Over Darling (Extended Version) | Tracey Ullman | “Move Over Darling” is a song from the 1963 movie, originally recorded by Doris Day, In 1983, Tracey Ullman released a version of the song as a single and on the album You Broke My Heart in 17 Places. Ullman, from the UK, is a comedian and singer who had a brief but lively pop career. |
| You Better Move On | Mink DeVille | “You Better Move On” is a 1961 rhythm and blues song by Arthur Alexander, inspired by Alexander’s real life situation, in which his girlfriend and future wife already had a boyfriend. Mink DeVille, fronted by Willy DeVille, blended rock, soul, and Latin influences in NYC’s punk scene. |
| Samson and Delilah | Middle Of The Road | Traditional song adapted with a pop flair. Tells the Biblical tale of betrayal and strength. Middle of the Road, a Scottish band, were famous for their catchy Euro-pop hits. |
| Working My Way Back to You | The Spinners | Originally by The Four Seasons (1966). A disco-infused plea for redemption in love. The Spinners, from Detroit, USA, were soul legends known for rich harmonies and smooth grooves. |
| Fire | Beth Ditto | Written by Ditto and collaborators. A fiery, Southern-rock track about personal power and passion. Ditto, from Arkansas, USA, is known for her bold vocals and fronting the punk band Gossip. |
| Fire | Ohio Players | The band members wrote this funk classic with blazing horns and sensual energy. The Ohio Players, from the USA, were pioneers of funk and soul in the ’70s. The composer of Wild Cherry’s hit song “Play That Funky Music” has indicated that “Fire” was the inspiration. |
| Eternal Flame | The Bangles | Bangles lead singer Susanna Hoffs wrote “Eternal Flame” with songwriters Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly. The Eternal Flame at the gravesite of Elvis Presley in Memphis inspired this song, a tender ballad about devotion and vulnerability. The Bangles, from LA, mixed ‘60s jangle pop with strong female harmonies. |
| Dreams | Fleetwood Mac | Written by Stevie Nicks. A bittersweet breakup anthem wrapped in soft rock. Fleetwood Mac, a British-American band, were known for drama-fueled classics and tight songwriting. |
| Louise | The Human League | Written by Oakey/Callis/Burden. A melancholic synth-pop ballad about reconnecting with a lost love. The Human League, from the UK, were pioneers in electronic pop. |
| It’s My Life | No Doubt | Originally by Talk Talk (1984), Gwen Stefani’s group No Doubt introduced this song to a new generation when they covered it in 2003. An assertive anthem about living life on your terms. No Doubt, from California, brought ska-pop into the mainstream with Gwen Stefani’s vocals. |
| Crystal Ball | Keane | Written by Tim Rice-Oxley. A piano rock track questioning identity and fate. Keane, from England, are known for emotional, anthemic songs driven by keys rather than guitars. |
| Sweet Little Mystery | Wet Wet Wet | The band wrote this smooth pop-soul song about love’s contradictions. Wet Wet Wet, from Scotland, gained fame for melodic ballads and a Motown influence. Lead singer Marti Pellow stated they used two lines from “A Sense of Wonder” “to pay homage to Van Morrison and the band also shared co-writing credit for “Sweet Little Mystery” with British singer John Martyn, as their choruses share similarities. |
| Livin’ Thing | Electric Light Orchestra | Written by Jeff Lynne. A vibrant orchestral rock track reflecting on lost love as a living force. The song features uncredited vocals by Patti Quatro (sister of Suzi Quatro), Brie Brandt, and Addie Lee, who were all one time members of the female rock group Fanny, singing the “higher and higher” parts. ELO, from the UK, mixed classical strings with rock in spacey, symphonic pop. |
Sources
The information sources of the song facts include, but are not limited to, Wikipedia, songfacts.com, discogs.com, secondhandsongs.com, YouTube and artists’ related websites.
