In which I shuffle through some music files and listen to the first five songs from the years 1976-85 that randomly pop up.
- "Prime Time" by The Tubes (1979, A&M)
A single released from the Remote Control album. Said album was produced by Todd Rundgren and his hand is all over this disco tune, especially apparent in the vocal harmonies, the synth solo and (even without a writing credit) it sounds like he wrote the entire bridge. It peaked at #34 in the UK singles chart, but didn't see any action stateside. - "I'm On the Outside Looking In" by Leslie Smith (1982, Elektra)
"I'm on the Outside (Looking In)" is a 1964 hit song by Little Anthony and the Imperials and if I've ever heard their version, I've forgotten it, but I can't imagine it being any smoother than this. Side A, track 2 on the wonderful Heartache album which was spotlighted on this very blog back in February 2019. - "Jump Street" by Boz Scaggs (1976, Columbia)
A minor-key blues piece that harkens back to Boz's days in the late '60s - Boz gets to play some blues guitar, if only for a short bit. Not bad on its own or in a shuffle, it doesn't really fit into the rest of the Silk Degrees album. I dig the urgency to the track and when the tempo picks up at the end. - "Believe in Magic" by Maurice White (1985, Columbia)
The answer to the question "what would Earth, Wind & Fire sound like if synths replaced all the instruments?" Good material wasted on poor arrangement and production. If you lived through 1985, you could easily pick the year this was released just by the sound of the thing. - "I Learnt How to Pray" by Squeeze (1985, A&M)
Speaking of characteristic 1985 production, here's more for ya. Squeeze was smart enough to include some "real" instruments in addition to the synths and LinnDrum, though. Typical Squeeze hooks aplenty throughout and a tasty organ solo from Jools Holland. Been awhile since I heard the Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti album, think I'll throw a copy into the truck's CD player today.
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