Song Of The Day: Valerie.

Steve Winwood- Valerie




Released in 1982 from the album 'Talking Back To The Night'. It was re-released in 1987 and this is the version I've posted, this is a better video and the one I remember. Sound wise, it doesn't appear to be that different just more production it seems.
It's written by Steve Winwood and Will Jennings.

I chose this as song of the day because it I heard it on Abolute80s Radio earlier.. I enjoyed hearing it again..haven't really heard it in a while.

A Reason To Love The Eighties

One of the things that I love most about 80s music is the intricacy. Incorporating various instruments and the way that they are all fit together creates a mindblowing multi-dimensional sound. Some may say it's 'over-production', but I think producers in the 80s were genius. There's the infectious riffs and strong beats, and all the little synth/guitar sounds here and there. I think of it as a FULL sound, every gap is filled with little details.  Add a good powerful voice, and that is perfection to me. I think of it as a beautiful piece of artwork with impecable detail.
This is a characteristic that resounds in pretty much every genre of music poppin' in the 80s, in Pop, Soul, Funk, New Jack Swing, Rock and Metal etc.

Also the 80s seems to be the decade when maybe there was a sense of unity. I don't know if this was the case, just how I see it. I say this because, if you listen to a relatively broad spectrum of 80s music over time, you will see that this decade was packed with genre-busting songs. For example, the trend of pop and soul artists crossing over into rock and sometimes even hard rock. Artists like Prince, Chaka Khan, Tina Turner etc. One of my favourite examples of this is Janet Jackson's 'Black Cat', she rocks it so hard! And it is definitely some heavy guitar.

And again, the same thing happened with Rock artists, using synth and horns alot more. You hear synth across many different rock songs of the 80s whether it's the main riff, obviously in Van Halen's Jump, or synth to fill the background, found in the songs of many more-commercial hard rock and AOR bands like Heart, Y&T, Danger Danger, Bon Jovi etc. And later in the decade towards the start of the 90s, horns started to appear in hard rock. Songs like 'Tall Dark Handsome Stranger' by Heart, 'Dude Looks Like A Lady' by Aerosmith and 'Lil Jack Horny' and 'Get The Funk Out' both by Extreme.

And the popstars in between, constantly challenging the stereotypical distinguishing aspects of the styles they belonged to, by borrowing elements of different genres creating the unique collective sound, that I think to this day, really belongs to the 80s. Also the 80s gave us the first taste of giants of different styles, teaming up to create something really special, like Aerosmith and Run DMC's 'Walk This Way'. This sense of merging, also showed through the artists outfits and costumes, but I will go into that another day.

So there's one reason, a big reason, why I love this decade .To me, it will always be the most exciting decade of music.

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Song Of The Day: Betcha She Don't Love You

Betcha She Don't Love You- Evelyn 'Champagne' King



Released 1982 from the album 'Get Loose'.
Written by Kashif Saleem, who also wrote her biggest hit 'Love Come Down'.

I bought a hits compilation of hers last year, 'Let's Get Funky'. Somehow I missed this one first time round. But now I've listened properly, this is what's being repeated on my ipod at the moment. Love the beat and its got that riff to groove to, on loop running through the track. I'm going to listen to more of her music.

YEAH!

I'm happy. As you will know if you've read my previous posts, I've been looking to buy Chaka Khan- I Feel For You, and Diana Ross- Eaten Alive, on cd. And I managed both in one go this afternoon! I already knew they had I Feel For You in HMV so I was going to go pick it up and I thought I may as well look while I'm here. I always look in HMV,  and I mostly end up disappointed. I never go with very high expectations of them having exactly what I want. But today, they pulled through and sitting cosily behind a Diana Ross hits compilation, was Eaten Alive. I was actually shocked. Anyway so I bought them both.. YAAAY.

So this is why you should always look just in case.


Also I knew that the BeeGees wrote Chain Reaction but actually there's at least one Gibb credited on every track. I also didn't know Michael Jackson had so much input into the track 'Eaten Alive', you hear him loads on it.. Awesome!

Song Of The Day: 'Wood Beez'

Scritti Politti- Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin).




Released in 1984, from the album 'Cupid & Psyche 85'.

Written and composed by lead singer Green Gartside. I think Green is an incredible songwriter, his thoughtful lyrics and untypical arrangements and melodies are inspired.
It's produced by Arif Mardin, now if I saw an album with his name in the sleeve, I would give it a listen. He's done loads. The production on this song and other Scritti songs is amazing and he also worked and wrote on Chaka Khan's 'Destiny', which is another fantastic album.

LOVE THIS SONG.

So Excited: Diana Ross, Chaka Khan

The 'So Excited' section of my blog will be showcasing the most recent songs that I've found that I love.

So first, Diana Ross. Now I've liked Diana Ross' songs, as in her hits, but I've never delved into more of her music. I thought I would give it a whirl after seeing her perform 'Eaten Alive' at the American Music Awards in 86, on Youtube. On just flicking through some tracks, it didn't really stand out to me, I don't why. But I decided yesterday to have another listen, and I'm glad I did because I found some gems!

These are the ones that stood out:

SWEPT AWAY

CRIME OF PASSION

FOOL FOR YOUR LOVE

I was particularly surprised by this hard rock track! I never knew Diana could belt it out like this, as she normally sings with quite a soft tone to her voice.


So I'm going to listen to more and I'm going to be looking out for some of her albums to buy on cd in the stores. Particularly 'Swept Away' and 'Eaten Alive'.

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Also, Chaka Khan. A few months ago I bought the album 'Destiny'. I had to get it online, as it seems to be alot harder to come by than it's predecessor, 'I Feel For You'. When I had a listen through some of her back catalogue I actually liked 'Destiny' more upon first hearing. Obviously on 'I Feel For You', the Prince-penned title track is awesome, and was a hit, as was the ballad 'Through The Fire', but the rest of it didn't wow me at first. My thoughts were that it was a bit too scratchy dj-ish for me, in parts. But like with Diana Ross, I decided to go back to it. The track that is sparkling for me right now is 'My Love Is Alive'. I'm going to continue to have a proper listen to 'I Feel For You', and luckily I don't think I'll have too much trouble finding this one in the shops, as it was her biggest album.

MY LOVE IS ALIVE

I love the cover art for 'I Feel For You' It's so cool, probably one of my favourites actually.

x

Song Of The Day

Donna Summer- Love Is In Control (Finger On The Trigger)


Donna Summer - Love Is In Control (Finger On The... by universalmusicsuisse

Released 1982,  from the album 'Donna Summer'.
It's written by Quincy Jones, Rod Temperton (both notably worked on Michael Jackson's albums including Thriller) and Merria Ross.

This is such a fun song that I always go back and listen to now and again, I never get tired of it!

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