The Fifth P&J Singles Poll!

The last five titles are from the video category (why not?).

Hmm...Talking Heads, "Just Be Good to Me," "Church of the Poison Mind," "Billie Jean," or "Little Red Corvette." I'll vote for Culture Club.

Initially, I thought it would be a battle royale between "Billie Jean" and "Little Red Corvette" for my vote, but surprise surprise, I ended up choosing "White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)" when it came right down to it.

White Lines vs. Billie Jean, for me, but I will vote for Grandmaster Flash (for the second time in one of these polls!--I'm sort of surprised, though I'm not surprised to vote for White Lines).

1983 P&J singles voters OTM.

Little Red Corvette. Definitely was a better year for singles than albums.

White Lines (baby)

"Modern Love" was one of my very-favoritest Bowie songs even before I saw Mauvais Sang, so that.

"Atomic Dog," easy, or maybe not so easy. But that Top 10 is fucking monstrously good.

The only ringers on the list are "All Night Long" and the Kinks, actually. I would have subbed U2's "New Year's Day" for "Thriller" even though the superb Big Country song is the year's arena anthem.

"Sweet Dreams (Are Made of These)" is easily Eurythmics' worst single though, and I'd have voted for "Undercover of the Night" had it been the 12" version with "Too Much Blood."

AND WHERE ARE "CONFUSION" AND "BLUE MONDAY"?

home, in bed with the sniffles?

Given how Yank-hit that list is I'm sure "Blue Monday" got lost in the import-only shuffle, big time--though that carried on through the '80s (no New Order singles made the Top 25 after 1982), so who knows. But the wider and more diverse the poll becomes, the more homogeneous the results tend to be anyway.

Definitely was a better year for singles than albums

OTM. And that list is pretty damn awe-inspiring, unless you hate black music, or white Englishmen making black music.

"Electric Avenue" for me.

Really really tough choice between "Looking for the Perfect Beat," "Little Red Corvette," "It's Like That," "Atomic Dog," "Last Night A DJ Saved My Life," "Just Be Good To Me" and "Modern Love"

Went with Indeep.

No brainer: "Looking for the Perfect Beat"

M.I.A.:

Haysi Fantayzee: "Shiny Shiny" (RCA Victor 1983)
Debbie Deb: "When I Hear Music" (Jam Packed 1983)
Michael Jackson: “Wanna Be Startin’ Something” (Epic 1983) - although this may have made an earlier list
Loose Joints: “Tell You (Today) (Vocal)” (Island 1983)
Divine: "Love Reaction"/"Kick Your Butt"/"Alphabet Rap" ("O" 1983)
The Human League: "(Keep Feeling) Fascination" (A&M 1983)
Change: “Paradise” (Atlantic 1983)
A Flock of Seagulls: "Wishing (If I Had A Photograph Of You)" (Jive 1983)
Tears For Fears: "Pale Shelter"(Mercury 1983)

Actually, that Change single was 1982, wasn't it? Still I doubt it was on the 1982 list.

omg "Paradise"--that might be my favorite of anything mentioned on this thread. holy fucking bassline, Batman

hahaha xpost

Shannon's "Let The Music Play" ain't on this list either (I realize it crossed over in early '84), but we Miamians were lucky.

Also missing:

Rufus & Chaka Khan, "Ain't Nobody"
Madonna, "Burning Up"
H&O, "One On One"
Rick James, "Coldblooded"
Mtume, "Juicy"

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

thanks for the reminder, ILX system. sooooo many good songs on there. my gut instantly told me "it's like that," so that's how i voted.

Went with "It's Like That"/"Sucker MCs"

top 10 also-rans:

Michael Jackson: "Billie Jean" (Epic)
Afrika Bambaataa & the Soul Sonic Force: "Looking for the Perfect Beat" (Tommy Boy)
Eddy Grant: "Electric Avenue" (Epic)
Michael Jackson: "Beat It" (Epic)
Big Country: "In A Big Country" (Mercury)
Lionel Richie: "All Night Long" (Motown)
Herbie Hancock: "Rockit" (Columbia)
Indeep: "Last Night A DJ Saved My Life" (Sound of New York)
Culture Club: "Karma Chameleon" (Epic)
S.O.S. Band: "Just Be Good To Me" (Tabu)

Four most boring songs on the list:

The Police: "Every Breath You Take" (A&M)
Elvis Costello: "Everyday I Write the Book" (Columbia)
David Bowie: "Let's Dance" (EMI America)
David Bowie: "Modern Love" (EMI America)

And I do agree, "Paradise" by Change could give anything on the Pazz&Jop list a run for its money (but then, so could a bunch of other 1983 singles, probably. I'd go through my record collection and list them, but it would probably take a few years.)

Interesting Xgau list, as usual (which reminds me that "Beat Bop" might be my real single of the year):

Singles

Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force: "Looking for the Perfect Beat" (Tommy Boy 12-inch)
Michael Jackson: "Beat It" (Epic)
George Clinton: "Atomic Dog" (Capitol)
The Crass: "Sheep Farming in the Falklands" (Crass import)
Run-D.M.C.: "It's Like That"/"Sucker M.C.'s" (Profile 12-inch)
Tribe II: "What I Like" (Celluloid 12-inch)
Michael Sembello: "Maniac" (Casablanca)
Rammelzee vs. K-Rob: "Beat Bop" (Tartown/Profile 12-inch)
Donna Summer: "She Works Hard for the Money" (Mercury)
Michael Jackson: "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" (Epic)
Imagination: "Just an Illusion" (MCA)
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts: "Star Star"/"Everyday People" (MCA 12-inch),
Donna Summer: "Unconditional Love" (Mercury)
Big Country: "In a Big Country" (Mercury)
Special AKA: "Racist Friend"/"Bright Lights" (2 Tone import)
Shannon: "Let the Music Play" (Emergency 12-inch)
S.O.S. Band: "Just Be Good to Me" (Tabu 12-inch),
Kevin Rowland with Dexy's Midnight Runners: "Come On Eileen" (Polydor)
Malcolm McLaren: "Soweto" (Island import)
Earth, Wind & Fire: "Magnetic" (Columbia)
Herbie Hancock: "Rockit" (Columbia 12-inch)
Fun Boy Three: "Our Lips Are Sealed" (Chrysalis)
Disco Four: "We're at the Party" (Profile 12-inch)
Four Brothers: "Mokoroto" (Earthworks import)
Crash Crew: "On the Radio" (Sugarhill 12-inch)
Freeez: "I.O.U." (Streetwise 12-inch)
Tommy Keene: "Back to Zero Now"/"Mr. Roland" (Avenue)
Pieces of a Dream: "Fo-Fi-Fo" (Elektra)
Lyres: "I Want to Help You Ann" (Ace of Hearts)
Men at Work: "It's a Mistake" (Columbia)

Weren't Pieces of a Dream some smooth jazz quiet storm group or something? Or am I just confused?

Not sure I've ever heard these, either (though it's possible I've heard all of them but Four Brothers):

Special AKA: "Racist Friend"/"Bright Lights" (2 Tone import)
Fun Boy Three: "Our Lips Are Sealed" (Chrysalis)
Disco Four: "We're at the Party" (Profile 12-inch)
Four Brothers: "Mokoroto" (Earthworks import)
Crash Crew: "On the Radio" (Sugarhill 12-inch)

Oops, these too, maybe (though I think Metal Mike Saunders said the Lyres one was the only good song they ever did once, and the only other song from the garage revival he liked then was by the Pandoras):

Tommy Keene: "Back to Zero Now"/"Mr. Roland" (Avenue)
Lyres: "I Want to Help You Ann" (Ace of Hearts)

The Crass, Imagination, Tribe II, and Michael Sembello songs he lists are definitely great, though (as are some others previous mentioned here.)

I voted Run.

"It's funky and everybody can dance to it," quoth Mr. Simmons.

That's from when they were on "Soul Train" with "Rock Box."

Second choice: "White Lines."

Weren't Pieces of a Dream some smooth jazz quiet storm group or something? Or am I just confused?

You're not confused. I have the 12". "Fo-Fi-Fo" are numbers if I remember correctly, i.e. 4-5-4. That's all I recall apart from it sounding very smooth jazz quiet storm.

Special AKA: "Racist Friend"/"Bright Lights" (2 Tone import) - These are both on the In The Studio album. Can't recall the latter but the former's chorus goes "If you have a racist friend, now is the time, now is the time for that friendship to end." I interviewed the bass player. He said it was extremely difficult to play, in some funky meter and all that.
Fun Boy Three: "Our Lips Are Sealed" (Chrysalis) - The Go-Go's song. This is the original (I'm pretty sure). Much more tart with affectless vocals. First heard it on Rhino's mammoth Just Can't Get Enough new wave series.
Disco Four: "We're at the Party" (Profile 12-inch) - Relentless in a vaguely Treacherous Three way.
Four Brothers: "Mokoroto" (Earthworks import) - Hyper Zimpop. The correct spelling is "Makorokoto" but some copies spell it "Mokorokoto." Means "congratulations!" or so I hear.
Crash Crew: "On the Radio" (Sugarhill 12-inch) - Not originally on Sugarhill. Not even on the Rhino Sugarhill box (although it's appeared on other Sugarhill comps). Don't recall how this sounds but have it on a CD somewhere.
Lyres: "I Want to Help You Ann" (Ace of Hearts) - Very organy garage pop. Makes Beantowners all misty-eyed.
Tommy Keene: "Back to Zero Now"/"Mr. Roland" (Avenue) - Perfect power pop which doesn't mean perfect in any general sense. They are below at 320 kbps.

"Back To Zero Now"

http://download.yousendit.com/A7600EEF1C69FCB6

"Mr. Roland"

http://download.yousendit.com/33DF46960434FB01

Come to think of it, I don't remember these off hand, either (though I might well own the first one):

Malcolm McLaren: "Soweto" (Island import)
Earth, Wind & Fire: "Magnetic" (Columbia)

The first one is a great mbaqanga rip. How exactly did Malc get in trouble with the UN for this (as mentioned in the 1980s Subjects For Further Research)? "Magnetic" is even better. Slick electro R&B in a rush to get somewhere, mainly the chorus. The verses are 12 seconds long just the way they should be! Definitely the last song in your aerobics workout. I love Xgau's take on late EWF.

"All Night Long"! Especially now that it's hot out, that song makes me feel good.
The only thing I can contribute to this discussion is that Fun Boy Three's "Our Lips Are Sealed" was the remake.

thanks again, Kevin, for indulging your fellow dorks in this generous manner

Fun Boy Three's "Our Lips Are Sealed" was the remake.

Ah, you're right! Thanx.

And de nada, Matos.

Those two versions of "Our Lips Are Sealed" freak me the fuck out: Terry Hall's the spineless asshole who doesn't want his cool friends to find out he's finagling the wannabe popular girl.

actually, Terry Hall sounds like the creepy asshole who's been finagling the varsity quarterback.

Lucky him.

I too would've voted for "Paradise."

Earth, Wind & Fire: "Magnetic" (Columbia)

I prefer "Fall In Love With Me."

haha these polls make me agree with Phil Collins – "OUR GENERATION WILL GET IT RIGHT!"

Oddly, I feel much more disconnected from this one than most people on this thread--not exactly sure why. There's something really impressive-sounding but nonetheless a little hollow about too many of these songs for me. (I don't mean hollow sentiments, just something hollow about the "bigness" of the sound.) I'm being vague, because I can't really explain the disconnect (a lot of it is I'm just really sick of many of these songs). I'll probably vote for Eddy Grant or Run-DMC.

The song that definitely typifies the very worst aspects of this for me is without question "Let's Dance." God, just the thought of that song makes me cringe.

You might say that's where the Chic sound was given steroids (and proved highly influential).

Yeah, I loathe Bowie and Nile Rodgers equally on that thing. Hate Bowie's vocal inflections and his words, but also despise just how overbearing the thing sounds.

I think it may be the BIG '80s sound of the production on some of these records that may be bothering you, Scott. (that "sound" more or less takes over all pop productions from here on for much of the rest of the decade, after all)

xp

I agree, though I'd say it takes over for a few years, maybe not the rest of the decade. It seems to me that singles get better again a little later in the decade. The quirkiness seems a little less over-the-top or forced, maybe? I peaked at the '88 and '89 lists, and though there are things in there I don't like, those lists just somehow don't feel nearly so monolithic as this one does.

"Modern Love" is the better song, no question, but I can think of other NIle Rodgers (and Bernard Edwards more so) productions I loathe more than "Let's Dance."

The albums Bernard Edwards produced for Power Station and Robert Palmer are, for the most part, rather vile.

I don't know if "Let's Dance" is the worst post-Chic thing or not, but it's probably the one that gets played most frequently. I don't really care that much for the sound of the hits on Like a Virgin, either (or the other ones you mention), but you hear those songs so less frequently. (Plus, at least in the case of Madonna, the person fronting the song is a thousand times more compelling and fun than Bowie in 1983.)

I still love the song "Modern Love," but it's easy to imagine just how much better it would've sounded as a cut on Aladdin Sane.

The Serious Moonlight Tour is also maybe the worst concert I can recall seeing. The only half-good moment was hearing "Burning Down the House" moments before the show started; that got a much stronger reaction from the crowd than anything Bowie did (and yet, I'm incredibly sick of that song, also).

"the worst post-Chic thing" may be a great survey! (xpost)

That tour was recently issued on DVD and for mainstream entertainment it wasn't terrible; the version of "Station to Station" is almost as great as the one on Stage.

I'm glad to see the thoughts above for "All Night Long," though. That one holds up really well, and at this point I prefer it to any of the MJ singles from this list (though "Wanna Be Startin' Something" would maybe be my pick if it were an option).

"Modern Love" is the better song, no question

"Modern Love" is a complete bore. "Let's Dance" is the better song.

Not that it's one of my favorite Bowie songs or anything.

I'll take "Running with the Night" over "All Night Long (All Night)." It's such an odd song – the original's like a 12" version of a Doobie Bros track.

I don't even know that. Is it the first song from that same album? I remember hearing that song once and thinking it sounded amazing and never hearing it again. (And actually, I should modify my comment a bit: "All Night Long" holds up well, maybe not REALLY well... I'm using it there as a defense against the Michael Jackson songs I'm just so tired of.)

that would be the title track, which was one of the only ones that wasn't a single (and, considering the fact that he released "Hello" instead, he should have).

Oddly, a song on that list I used to despise but have come around on a bit is "Undercover of the Night" (which probably just refutes all the blanket statements I made above). Still don't think it's a great song, and Jagger bugs me in it, but the production is pretty exciting, all those dubby bits, and the drums.

If you get your hands on the 12" version b/w "Too Much Blood," you have the best Stones jam of the eighties, and uses that Bill Laswell/Nile Rodgers-influenced song to better effect than what Mick got when he actually hired them for his solo record.

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

"Looking for the Perfect Beat" robbed! Do people just not dig this one? It's the most dazzling collection of sounds in all of hip-hop.

The correct song won.