137. Chiquitta – Abba (1978)

I first heard this song on a television special for UNICEF called ‘A Song For UNICEF’ in January 1979 where among other artistes Abba provided this song and agreed to give half of the royalties from its sale to UNICEF. Among the other acts I also remember the BeeGees singing ‘Too Much Heaven’ and Donna Summer but it was this song by Abba that stood out.

In interviews with Abba, I have come to learn that they loved the idea of using ‘international’ concepts in songs such as well known phrases and words like “Hasta Manana” and “S.O.S’’ for example but the Spanish word ‘Chiquitta’

(which means ‘little girl’ in Spanish) is remarkably apt for such a wonderful song.

It seemed entirely befitting that this was the song chosen for the UNICEF benefit concert in 1979 when I was still ten years old and helped to raise funds for the children’s fund.

As mentioned before Abba were so talented that they recorded songs in Spanish as well and so you can listen to the song in both Spanish and English….

Now listen to the song (sung in English)…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzdfPEsf7qY

And Spanish….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9_cmILo3dM

136. Mr Blue Sky – Electric Light Orchestra (1977)

‘Mr Blue Sky’ was my introduction to the ELO as I first saw and heard this song on ‘Top Of The Pops’ in 1978 right at the time I was buying my first single and becoming a member of the record buying public. I bought the single, which was on Jet records and dreamed of having my own blue vinyl copy of the double album ‘Out Of The Blue’ from which this song was taken which my friend Graham had!

I have always been a great admirer of Jeff Lynne (and his amazing eighties hair which made the whole band look a lot like the ‘Hair Bear Bunch’) and was even more impressed to discover he had written all of the songs on this album in one three week period while on holiday in Switzerland during which it rained a great deal of the time.

Although I love many ELO songs of which this is only one – this is the first song of their that I ever heard and was the one that helped me develop a deep loving for this style of music and this band of musicians.

Now listen to the song….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98P-gu_vMRc

135. The Boy With The Gun – David Sylvian (1987)

‘The Boy With The Gun’ is a song from David Sylvian’s album ‘The Secrets Of The Beehive’ which was released in 1987 and is without exception my favourite album of all time. Nothing better has some along in the twenty odd years since it first heard it to change my mind.

The album is a rare example of a record being ‘one work’ with each song so perfectly crafted as to create a whole work of such beauty that sometimes it is impossible to listen to or try to understand any of the songs on their own without listening to the whole album.

I first came across this album when we were living in Hackney in the early 1990s

when it was played to me by my best friend. Although I had been a great fan of Japan and loved their work, I had somehow lost touch with David Sylvian’s solo work following ‘Brilliant Trees’ and this record had somehow passed me by. 

Once I had heard it, it became a CD that we had on the stereo most nights and like the Missa Luba (Song 102 – ‘Sanctus’ – from ‘Missa Luba’) it was one that we often played time and time again repeatedly.

On the basis that the album is a ‘complete work’ it is hard to choose one song to sum it up, however this is one of the songs from the album which captures some of the essence of the work and I would heartily recommend to anyone that if they like this song they will love the whole album and should listen to immediately.

Now listen to the song….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgqItiTeYjI

134. Tower Of London – ABC (1984)

I remember hearing this song for the first time on a Friday night episode of ‘The Tube’ back in 1984 after Paula Yates had introduced us to the new look ABC!

I had long since been a fan of ABC and absolutely loved ‘The Lexicon Of Love’ (See Song 111: All of My Heart) which was a largely orchestral sounding work so this song along with their single of the time ‘How To Be A Millionaire’ were a radical new departure for the band and I must admit I was captured by this song and the new sound.

There are plenty of songs about how wonderful New York is but apart from ‘London Pride’ by Noel Coward written during the war I am at a loss to think of another, so this modern song about London being a ‘fashion catwalk’ and referring to its history, the Tower and St. James’ makes a refreshing change.

I downloaded this song onto my ipod and it is one of the ones my kids love to listen to when driving in the car!

Now listen to the song….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTX1QXHCUnU

133. These Foolish Things – Bryan Ferry (1973)

This song was originally written in 1936 and so by the time that Bryan Ferry had come to record his version in 1973 it was already thirty seven years old and is now 75 years old, however despite its age, like a fine wine, it has lasted the test of time and is as great a song today as it has always been.

Some of the lines and concepts seems a trifle old fashioned today such as a ‘cigarette that bears a lipstick’s traces’ and ‘wild strawberries at only seven francs a kilo’ but the general idea that objects and things such as these can remind a person of a lost love and fun times together is a concept we can all understand. Add that to the joys of Paris in the spring and you have a winner.

The general level of sophistication in this song and the wonderful way that Bryan ‘Mr Sophisticated’ Ferry delivers this marvellous song make it a true classic and one that I love to listen to as well as play and sing on the piano. There is no greater thrill than playing the ‘tinkly’ bits while singing ‘A tinkling piano in the next apartment’ although I seem to have misplaced the sheet music but will be looking for it tonight!!

Now listen to the song….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbSp_xEa3PI

132. The Rivers Of Babylon – Boney M (1978)

I remember this record being Number 1 for weeks in 1978 and the ‘B’ side of the single ‘Brown Girl In The Ring’ also being in the charts at the same time with some people not realising that they were on the same record and buying two copies for each of the songs rather than buying one and turning it over!

Back in 1978, I was ten years old and Boney M seemed to be everywhere and on everything! They were on the Saturday Night Seaside Specials on BBC 1 and on ‘Top Of The Pops’ and on every tv channel, radio and juke box as well.

What I really love about the ‘Rivers Of Babylon’ is that the words are actually ‘borrowed’ from Psalm 137 in the King James Bible and that ‘Brown Girl In the Ring’ was also  ‘borrowed’ from a traditional Jamaican Children’s song. The thing that I really love about ‘Boney M’ is the often bizarre subject matter of their songs like ‘Rasputin’ and  ‘Ma Baker’ as well as ‘Belfast’ and ‘Night Flights to Venus’ and the wonderful sound and production values means that their records are truly wonderful. A manufactured band and the brain child of German producer Frank Farian they produced some great songs including ‘The Rivers Of Babylon’ which was one of the biggest selling singles of all time in the UK! 

Now listen to the song….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdgMo7BjA0Y

131. Diary of Hate – Michael Nyman (1999)

‘Diary Of Hate’ is a piece from the soundtrack of ‘The End Of The Affair’ a film by Neil Jordan based on Grahame Green’s novel of the same name.

I have always loved Michael Nyman’s music which I first discovered when it was largely associated with the films of Peter Greenaway like ‘The Draughtsman’s Contract’, ‘The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover’ and ‘Drowning By Numbers’ before he began to move on to more mainstream films such as this one and other projects.

Kerry and I had watched this film on a video one evening in our little flat in Loughton and I absolutely loved every part of it from the way it was shot, the acting, the music and the fascinating story which centres around an affair between a young writer and a woman married to a civil servant. The central themes of the film are obsession, jealousy and Catholicism, which act as a mirror to Greene’s own issues, making this almost a semi autobiographical piece.

As with all Michael Nyman’s music it fits seamlessly into the film adding the drama where necessary and hanging back when needed. For some reason I bought the soundtrack album from a record shop in L.A when I was on honeymoon and still have it on my ipod today.

Now listen to the music….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=281RDt5NStk