Category: Elise

Little River Band | Reminiscing

Australia’s Little River Band released “Reminiscing” in 1978. Reaching #3 in the US and rumored to be one of John Lennon‘s favorite tunes of that era, the song looks back at the music of the 1930s and 1940s by decorating its 1970s sound with musical touches from those bygone decades.

Receiving an oddly low score of only 51.75 out of 100 from the Yacht or Nyacht yacht rock website, the tune modulates at 2:03, then returns to the original key at 2:19.

Hall + Oates | One on One

At the peak of their history-making string of hits during the 80s, Hall & Oates released “One on One” in 1983. The spare texture allows the individual players within H&O’s longtime lineup to shine — particularly the inventive bassline from the late T-Bone Wolk and the infectious solo from sax player Charles DeChant.

The intro (0:00 – 0:20) features a C/G to G7 vamp; the verse (0:20) is built around a repeating progression of Ebmaj7 / DMin7 / GMajor; the chorus pivots to a CMajor, G/C, F/C progression at 1:01. Written by lead vocalist Daryl Hall, the tune manages to tip its hat to the 1960s/1970s Philly Soul the band grew up with while remaining squarely within the synth-driven textures of the early 1980s.

Jerome Kern | The Way You Look Tonight

“The Way You Look Tonight,” co-written by Jerome Kern and winner of the Oscar Awards for Best Original Song in 1936 for its appearance in the movie “Swing Time,” was first performed by that film’s star, renowned dancer Fred Astaire. Multiple singers have covered this standard in the years since, from Ella to Billie to Sinatra to Tony Bennett, who is featured here. Modulation at the beginning of the middle section at 1:36, then back to the original key at 2:17.

Brent Bourgeois + Ginny Owens | One Thing

After his work as vocalist, keyboardist, and co-writer for the pop/rock band Bourgeois Tagg, songwriter Brent Bourgeois transitioned to the Contemporary Christian Music genre in the late 90s; he’s continued to write, release, and produce his own solo work since then. His duet with songwriter and vocalist Ginny Owens, “One Thing,” released in 2000, modulates at 1:20.

Mariah Carey | I Don’t Wanna Cry

One of Mariah Carey’s early hits from her debut album, 1991’s “I Dont Wanna Cry” (co-written by Carey and Narada Michael Walden) made it to #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 charts. Carey’s first four singles performed identically, making her the first female artist and first solo artist to have all four first four singles reach #1 (The Jackson 5 did it first, as a group). After a big bridge, the modulation is at 3:25, made all the more powerful by compound chords at the transition.

Todd Rundgren | Hello, It’s Me

First released by Todd Rundgren during his stint with the band Nazz 50 years ago (October 1968), Rundgren’s subsequent solo version (1972) reached #5 on the US pop charts. The tune features a horn section including Randy Brecker and Michael Brecker, among other top-drawer players. Something/Anything, the album which featured the single, was later voted #173 on Rolling Stone‘s “500 Best Albums of All Time.”

The half-step modulation at 2:45.

Atlanta Rhythm Section | Spooky

Today’s featured tune is “Spooky,” a 1979 release by the Atlanta Rhythm Section – Band, a southern rock band which enjoyed a string of hits. A cover of a 1967 original by The Classics IV, ARS’s version adds a direct modulation early on (1:29) and continues from there. The two versions went to #17 and #3, respectively.

Janis Ian | At Seventeen

1975’s “At Seventeen,” the most successful single from singer/songwriter Janis Ian, went to #1 in the US and Canada. A biting commentary on Western beauty standards and their effects on young women, the tune was also used in multiple movies and television shows. The tonality switches from C major on the verses and C minor on the choruses (the first transition is at 0:47).