Top 100 Songs From the 1990s (No. 69)

69. "Timeless Melody"
Artist: The La's
Year: 1990

Ah, the La's. What could have been... what should have been. I don't know where you stand on frontman Lee Mavers, probably somewhere between prick and perfectionist, but at the end of the day, that self-titled debut, years in the making, sounded perfect to me. Mavers didn't agree, and I can understand why he felt that way since he had quit the sessions, leaving producer Steve Lillywhite to work with what he had to get a completed album in the can for Go! Discs. All of that behind-the-scenes stuff aside, most fans and critics liked the jangle, too, especially the re-recorded version of the 1988 single "There She Goes." OK, get out your abacus so you can follow along with the timeline of recordings and re-recordings of my personal favorite from the album, "Timeless Melody."

This is the original "Timeless Melody" single that was set to be released in 1989. It was pulled by the band at the 11th hour. In fact, some copies had already been sent to critics for review. Personally, I like the Lillywhite version much better.



Here is an alternate version of the song done in a style thought to be more in line with what the band had in mind. It certainly sounds like how they performed it on stage while on tour to support the album. I think it's better than the aborted single from 1988, but I still don't think I like it as much as the Lillywhite version. What are your thoughts?

Nice 'Pattern' From Paul Weller

Since we had a lively conversation about Paul Weller's solo work the other day, I wanted to make sure you hadn't missed the latest song up for streaming from 'Saturns Pattern,' his 12th solo album, which should be in our hands come May.

This, the title track, is the second song we have heard from the new one. Personally, I was a little worried when "White Sky" came out in February, but I really like "Saturns Pattern." When Weller said this was a 21st century album, after that first song I was thinking I wanted to be taken back to the 20th. Well, I got what I asked for, as the title track is a nice mix of the old and the new. Lots of '60s and '70s influences here. Weller told Uncut magazine he thinks this album is "one of the best things I've done." I'm not sure these two songs back up such a bold statement, but at least this latest song has me looking forward to hearing some new Weller again.

Top 100 Songs From the 1990s (No. 70)

70. "The King Is Half-Undressed"
Artist: Jellyfish
Year: 1990

The band wasn't around long, just two proper albums, but Jellyfish should be considered one of the power-pop greats of the '90s and of all time. The fellas wore their influences on their sleeves, the Beach Boys, XTC, Cheap Trick, the Paisley Underground, and core members Andy Sturmer and Roger Joseph Manning, Jr., surrounded themselves with like-minded geniuses such as Jason Falkner (on the first album) and Jon Brion (on the second album) to create a sort of supergroup to be. Every musician named here would go on to create many of my favorite pop albums later in the '90s and beyond as songwriters, solo artists, producers and as members of other bands.

There were a whopping five singles on the first album, and any of them could have been chosen to fill this spot. "Baby's Coming Back" was the closest to a hit here in America, peaking at No. 62 on the Billboard Hot 100, and "That Is Why" is the one that seems to get selected the most for compilations, but I went with "The King Is Half-Undressed" because it was the first song I ever heard from them and because its stuffed with all of the bells and whistles that became even more prevalent on the second album. If, by chance, you aren't familiar with the albums 'Bellybutton' or 'Spilt Milk,' this is a great time to jump on the bandwagon. Both have been reissued as double-disc deluxe editions in 2015. Perhaps we will hear from a Jellyfish alum a little later in the countdown.

Top 100 Songs From the 1990s (No. 71)

71. "No More 'I Love You's'"
Artist: Annie Lennox
Year: 1995

The original version of this song by the Lover Speaks got some airplay on MTV in 1986, and I really took to it. Couldn't sound any more 4AD than that without actually being on the label, and I liked David Freeman's croon. At the end of the day, it was a very minor hit, doing nothing over here and peaking at No. 58 on the UK Singles Chart. Fast forward about a decade and I hear the song covered on the radio by Annie Lennox. I didn't take to it right away. I harbored possessive feelings (This is my song, and I don't want moms singing along. Where were you people a decade ago? That sort of thing. Ridiculous.), but the song was just too good to ignore. I was also eventually won over when I read what big fans Lennox and Dave Stewart were when they were with the Eurythmics. I had no idea Stewart helped the Lover Speaks get signed, and they opened for the Eurythmics on their '86 world tour.

Anyway, the rest is ancient history you already know well. The version by Lennox was a smash all over the planet, In fact, it remains her biggest solo hit, and it won her a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. I would also assume it made Joseph Hughes and Freeman, the two with the songwriting credit, a nice chunk of change. As for Lennox, she continues to impress. I have seen her on a few recent awards and tribute shows, and her voice never sounded better. For obvious reasons, I'm a little nervous about posting this song for very long. I'll probably take it down in a day or two. For those that see this later, here are YouTube clips. You can find "No More 'I Love You's'" on her covers album 'Medusa.'

Top 100 Songs From the 1990s (No. 72)

72. "Our Frank"
Artist: Morrissey
Year: 1991

If you're asking yourself how I could possibly choose just one song from Moz, then prepare yourself to be disappointed. It wasn't all that difficult. Morrissey was one of the most important voices from my youth, and I thoroughly enjoyed his early solo singles as well. Songs like "Suedehead," "Everyday Is Like Sunday," "Interesting Drug" and "Hairdresser on Fire" led me to believe I would continue to enjoy his work for years to come. Didn't happen. I expect to hear from a few of my blogging pals for this one, but I would only recommend one album from Morrissey in the 1990s. 'Vauxhall and I' was better than the rest. Other than a couple of singles, that's it for me the entire decade.

Morrissey was still quite clever with a lyric. "Beware, I bear more grudges than lonely high court judges" pops into mind, and the tale told in "November Spawned a Monster" is so odd and off-putting that I couldn't help but be fascinated. The band, man, it's the band that I never took too. The music of Alain Whyte and Boz Boorer didn't (and doesn't) do it for me. Still, to completely shut out Morrissey wouldn't be right. I was still hopeful and somewhat content in 1990 and 1991. So, that's where I'm going with No. 72. This one is the opener from 'Kill Uncle,' produced by the team of Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley. Not a great album, but I really like this one. I don't think it's remembered all that fondly by most. It was a minor hit, but the first of several successive singles that didn't burn up the charts like the old days.

I hate that this post comes off so negatively. Morrissey is one of many casualties from a decade I don't rate highly, but I still consider Morrissey one of my favorites. I'm going to put on 'Bona Drag' or something from the Smiths to make myself feel better.

Top 100 Songs From the 1990s (The Bump)

The Bump. "Don't Go Away Mad"
Artist: Little Village
Year: 1992

What a miserable lot. The entire family unit, including myself, is sick. So, I'm presenting something I already had in the hopper. Brace yourselves. I'm giving you an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the work that went into this riveting list. Thanks to me thinking Superchunk was from 1989, taking it off the list, then bringing it back a day later when I found out I was correct in the first place because it was, indeed, from 1990, my countdown has been a spot off here on the back end since No. 82. This is the song that got bumped during the debacle. Of course, on the front end, all you see is the well-oiled machine that is Top 100 Songs From the 1990s. I'm presenting the one that got bumped with no corresponding number. Back with No. 72 next time.

This supergroup consisting of Ry Cooder, John Hiatt, Nick Lowe and Jim Keltner first played as a unit on Hiatt's 1987 album 'Bring the Family.' If you're choosing between that one and 'Little Village,' go with 'Bring the Family,' by all means, but there were a couple of inspired moments, including "Solar Sex Panel" and this one with Hiatt as frontman. The album was nominated for a Grammy, but not even the participants were all that enthralled with the results. Eight years ago, Lowe told AV Club, "Little Village was really good fun. Unfortunately, the record we did was no good. I suppose on some level, it worked, but Warner Brothers kind of gave us too much time to do it."

That's the quote that gave me the ammunition to choose this one for "The Bump." Righting the ship feels good. Let's keep this one between us, shall we?

Don't Miss Blur's Performance of New Album

As I'm sure you are well aware, Blur is back, not just on stage, but with new music as well. We have been fed video and audio clips from the impending album, 'The Magic Whip,' for the past month, and you may have heard there was a secret show for 300 fans in a West London club last Friday. The fellas played the new album in its entirety, and it was filmed for the Beats by Dr. Dre YouTube channel. The show will be streamed tomorrow for one day only. A band interview follows the concert, and the Q&A will be available for viewing throughout April. Times are as follows: 8pm GMT, 9pm CET for Europe and 8pm PST/11pm EST here in America. Here's the link:

Blur Show

These are the three new songs heard so far. We have been told there will not be no more song previews before 'The Magic Whip' is released at the end of April. Enjoy the show.

Top 100 Songs From the 1990s (No. 73)

73. "Parallel Horizontal"
Artist: Marine Research
Year: 1999

For a few of reasons, 'Sounds From the Gulf Stream' is probably the least known album in Amelia Fletcher's impressive discography. The name Marine Research was used only for this one record. The band scrapped the well-known moniker Heavenly following the death of the band's drummer (and Amelia's brother), Mathew Fletcher. So, for fans, I think there has always been a certain feeling, a dark cloud, if you will, floating above this brief era.

Its lack of popularity can also be traced back to the demise of the legendary Sarah Records, the former home to Fletcher's previous bands. Although 'Sounds From the Gulf Stream' was released on K Records here in America (as Fletcher's albums always were), there wasn't a proper outlet for it in the UK.

I won't pretend this was Amelia's best moment, but through all of the personal turmoil, I still think 'Sounds From the Gulf Stream' was a good album, full of all the trademark jangle and catchy hooks we had come to expect, and the two singles, including the song featured here today, were top-notch tunes. The good news for me is with all of these changes in band names, I get to feature most of its members one more time on this countdown.

Top 100 Songs From the 1990s (No. 74)

74. "I'm Gonna Soothe You"
Artist: Maria McKee
Year: 1993

This is the opening track to 'You've Got to Sin to Get Saved,' an album that really grabbed me at the time of its release and has never let go. What's strange is that I was never into her work (solo or with Lone Justice) before this one, and I never bought another album after it either. Sometimes we have these brief moments in time with artists, don't we? When looking her up today for this post, I was struck by her varied body of work and relatively successful run in the UK, at least when compared to here in America. As far as the charts go, she peaked with Lone Justice's "Shelter" in 1986, but across the pond, McKee had a No. 1 hit in 1990 with "Show Me Heaven." I never heard the song until about five minutes ago. Meh. She also wrote Feargal Sharkey's "A Good Heart," another song that went to No. 1 over there. Another meh.

There were other minor hits for McKee in the UK, including the song I have for you today peaking at No. 35. For me, though, I'm perfectly content having her be a one-album wonder (although I have been tempted by 'Life Is Sweet' many times at my local shop). This song, in particular, is pretty powerful. The protagonist is ready to take the reins from a girlfriend who has treated her man so very badly. She's going to take care of everything. McKee really sweeps you in with her "soothing" voice, and I will tell you with a little trepidation and a blushing face that by the time she sings "lay your head on my breast, I'll do the rest," I'm sure McKee has this guy and any other one she wants within earshot.

Top 100 Songs From the 1990s (No. 75)

75. "Uh Huh Oh Yeh"
Artist: Paul Weller
Year: 1992

I feel guilty. No. 75?!? Shameful. He's the Modfather, for cryin' out loud! The man behind two of my all-timers, the Jam and the Style Council. So, why aren't I enamored with Paul Weller's solo work? There have been some fine moments, and I felt nothing but excitement when I heard his first two singles, "Into Tomorrow" and "Uh Huh Oh Yeh." So what if his self-titled debut didn't quite live up to past glories. He was finding his footing. Great albums were sure to follow... Unfortunately, for me, that solo masterpiece never came, at least not yet, although I have continued to enjoy songs from time to time, like "Wild Wood," "You Do Something to Me" and the more recent "Brand New Toy." Like a lemming, I keep buying and hoping.

"Uh Huh Oh Yeh" was a pretty big hit in the UK, peaking at No. 18. Like much of that first album, there's a lot of '60s-inspired soul, funk and R&B in there. For most listeners, however, I imagine this song hinges on whether you like the sample taken from "Hot Rod Poppa," a scorching Marsha Hunt B-side, written by Marc Bolan, that came out in 1969. I do. Oh, yes, I do. If you think I'm way off on Weller's solo work, let me have it. I can take it.

Top 100 Songs From the 1990s (No. 76)

76. "Some Fantastic Place"
Artist: Squeeze
Year: 1993

We all loved Squeeze. By this time, however, I imagine there are quite a few of you out there that had given up on the band. For me, I threw in the towel with the release of 'Babylon and On.' Man, I didn't like that one. I won't deny there were a couple of fine moments on 'Frank' and 'Play,' but I didn't find that out until years after their releases. This is the song that brought me back into the fold. "Some Fantastic Place" is a very personal song about an old friend (I think she was called Maxine) Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook knew from their earliest days together. She was Tilbrook's first girlfriend, and the one that made him answer Difford's ad put up in a shop window requesting a guitar player influenced by the Kinks, Velvet Underground and Glenn Miller. She passed away from leukemia, and this beautiful song is a moving tribute to her and her optimistic view, especially in the face of such a grim prognosis. I find this one quite uplifting. So, I'm including all of the lyrics below.

'Some Fantastic Place' was the first album without Gilson Lavis. In his place on drums was Pete Thomas from the Attractions. Jools Holland was absent as well, but Paul Carrack made a triumphant return on keyboard for the first time since 'East Side Story.' Difford and Tilbrook have gone on record that this is their favorite Squeeze song. Oh, and for those of you that did lose track of Squeeze, you might be surprised to learn both Difford and Tilbrook have put out some excellent solo albums this millennium.

She gave to me her tenderness
Her friendship and her love
I see her face from time to time
There in the sky above

We grew up learning as we went
What a voyage our life could be
It took us through a wilderness
Into the calmest sea

Her smile could lift me from the pain
I often found within
She said some things I won't forget
She made a few bells ring

So simple her humility
Her beauty found in grace
Today she lives another life
In some fantastic place

She showed me how to raise a smile
Out of her bed of gloom
And in her garden sanctuary
A life began to bloom

She visualized a world ahead
And planned how it would be
She left behind the strongest love
That lives eternally

I have the hope that when it's time
For me to come her way
That she'll be there to show me round
Whenever comes that day

Her love was life and happiness
And in her steps I trace
The way to live a better life
In some fantastic place

Seems Like Old Times

I have four albums by the Monochrome Set... the first four. Love 'em, but this means my most recent album is 30 years old. There is a new one out this week, the third since reuniting (again) about four years ago. Most reviews I have seen of 'Spaces Everywhere' have been mixed (at best). I would have just left it at that and enjoyed an evening listening to 'Eligible Bachelors' in complete contentment, but then I watched the video for "Iceman" the other day. As I listened, it felt like three decades just disappeared. Wouldn't this song have fit in quite nicely on 'The Lost Weekend?" Thanks to Lester, Bid and the rest of the bunch. I'm all in... again.