Getting Away With It

Getting Away With It by Electronic is one of my all-time favourite songs. It is majestic pop courtesy courtesy of Bernard Sumner (New Order), Johnny Marr (The Smith) and Neil Tenant (Pet Shop Boys) coming together to create something quite perfect.

Sumner and Marr co-wrote the music, with Sumner and Tenant co-writing the lyrics and the opening line is a beauty, coming shortly after the catchy stabbing piano chords and dreamy strings.

I've been walking in the rain just to get wet on purpose

Bernard Sumner delivers potentially his best vocal performance. And he doesn't hang about in getting to the hook and chorus, his voice beautifully entwining with Neil Tenant's.

I've been getting away with it all my life (getting away)

However I look it's clear to see that I love you more than you love me

However I look it's clear to see that I love you more than you love me

The second verse follows instantly, Sumner pouring his heart out in a lyric Marr's other songwriting partner would have been proud of, but Sumner's performance and delivery is a million miles away from that of Morrissey.

I hate that mirror it makes me feel so worthless

I'm an original sinner but when I'm with you I couldn't care less

The song is brilliantly written (musically and lyrically), structured, performed and produced. I love singing it, I love dancing to it and I love listening to it.

I thought I gave up falling in love a long, long time ago

I guess I like it but I can't tell you, you shouldn't really know

I've been talking to myself just to suggest that I'm selfish

I've been trying to suggest that more is less and I'm repressed

It was the Electronic's debut single - I struggle to think of a better one, although the trio admittedly had quite a background! Here they are performing the song on Top of the Pops.

Greg Wilson, my favourite DJ also loves and appreciate this song - so much that he edited and 11-minute 30 second version of it!

Always On My Mind

Cover version of the month #20

Pet Shop Boys take on Elvis!

As always, I learn something new about a song when I write my monthly cover version of the month blog. Elvis wasn't the original performer of Always On My Mind - it was soul singer Gwen McCrae. There are over 300 versions of the song that composer Wayne Carson said that he wrote in 10-minutes with the help of his friends Mark James and Jonny Christopher.

FACT - I once got on stage and danced with Gwen McCrae at the Bongo Club in Edinburgh in 2003/2004. Her song 90% Of Me was on a compilation I adored and I dug deeper into her catalogue.

Gwen released the song as You Were Always On My Mind in 1972, Brenda Lee also released a version and then later that year came Elvis.

A number of covers blogs have highlighted that the song that went on to be a HUGE hit started life as a b-side and that was also the case with Elvis! It was released as an A-side in Britain though and was voted Number 1 Elvis song in a 2013 poll. Elvis' voice croons and sooths, you believe every word he has to say.

The Pet Shop Boys take a huge song and turn it into a massive disco hit. The stabbing synths at the start grab you and pull you in. In the background it sounds like they have hit the play button for the rhythm section, but that doesn't matter. Strings sound divine, Neil Tennant sound soothing and uplifting at the same time and the Pet Shop Boys fairly tear through it.

The stabbing synths return every so often to dramatic effect and Tennant pleads with heartfelt soul;

Tell me, tell me that your sweet love hasn't died

Give me on more chance to keep you satisfied

You were always on my mind

You were always on my mind

The Pet Shop Boys get and got pop music. Tennant once worked (up to Assistant Editor) for Smash Hits. Their first single was the incredible West End Girls!

Tennant and Chris Lowe turn a slow burner into a pop anthem. But then you go back and listen to Elvis, Gwen or any of the other versions and you realise that this was a pop anthem in the waiting all along.

The reflective lyrics, the pleading, the soul, the fact it's not quite an apology....it's a beauty.

Previous covers of the month

1. You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' 

2. Going Back To My Roots

3. Nirvana play The Vaselines

4. Slip Inside This House

5. Top 10 covers by Teenage Fanclub

6. Only Love Can Break Your Heart

7. Time For Livin' 

8. Sound and Vision 

9. All Along The Watchtower

10. I Am The Walrus 

11. Guiding Star

12. You’ll Never Walk Alone

13. Hurt
14. This Guy's In Love With You

15. I Wish I Never Saw The Sunshine
16. California Soul
18. Wonder wall 
19. Dancing In The Dark

Five for Friday

Last summer at Rock Ness I witnessed a truly inspiring performance from Leftfield. The sound was incredible, the music was from another planet, the atmosphere was positive and uplifting, a great festival performance. This was a real highlight, 'Afrika Shox';

It is 30-years since the release of Depeche Mode's debut single. It still sounds fresh and vital. I'm not the biggest fan of the Mode, I prefer their earlier poppier stuff with Vince Clarke before their darker, gothier stuff after he left. This is pure pop.

When two of my favourite acts combined in the early 00's they produced a remarkable single that left me wondering what they could do if they had time to work on an album. This is Wayne Coyne with the Chemical Brothers, enjoy;

Two of my other favourite artists did combine to make a few albums worth of material. Bernard Sumner from New Order teamed up with Johnny Marr after the demise of The Smiths to produce some exquisite pop, with the added benefit of guest vocals from Neil Tennant of Pet Shop Boys. Here they all are on Top of the Pops.

David Bowie has always been ahead of his time, with his appearance, music, vision and art. 'A New Career In A New Town' is an instrumental taken from his legendary 1977 album 'Low';

Five for Friday

This weeks five for Friday is an 80's special.


We kick start with a sublime slice of new wave pop from Fun Boy Three, the group formed by Terry Hall, Neville Staple and Lynva Golding after they left The Specials.

We follow that up with an outstanding song by Bronski Beat; 'Smalltown Boy'. Debut singles don't get much better than this; telling the tale of a homosexual boy whose family turn his back on him. The beats are big, Somervilles vocals are outstanding, the lyrics are straight from the heart and the electronic riff is instantly infectious. The video is also pretty outstanding.

Pet Shop Boys sailed through the 80's on a stream of outstanding and memorable pop songs. This got to number 2 in 1986 when I was 10-years old. I remember loads from that summer with the Mexico World Cup and this definitely left an impression on me. Pure pop and the break/chorus with Dusty Springfield lifts the song to places where others can only dream of.

Soft Cell also released a string of amazing singles throughout the 80's, helped by some truly outstanding 12-inch versions/remixes. 'Say Hello, Wave Goodbye' was their fifth single. The twelve inch version has a beautiful intro that lasts for over 3 minutes and 30 seconds, enjoy every single second before Marc Almond sings his heart out.

Take your hands off me

I don't belong to you, you see

Take a look at my face

For the last time

I never knew you

You never knew me

Say hello goodbye

Say hello wave goodbye

In 1982 Abba released their last ever album, 'The Visitors', with the title track also becoming their last ever single. Those expecting pure pop were startled by a synth masterpiece. This is pretty special. 

5 songs to kick start any weekend!