Perfect Way (Scritti Politti song)

Last updated

"Perfect Way"
Perfect Way (Scritti Politti song).jpg
Single by Scritti Politti
from the album Cupid & Psyche 85
Released27 August 1985 (1985-08-27)
Genre
Length4:33 (album version)
4:02 (single version)
Label Virgin (UK) / Warner Bros. (US)
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Scritti Politti singles chronology
"The Word Girl"
(1985)
"Perfect Way"
(1985)
"Oh Patti (Don't Feel Sorry for Loverboy)"
(1988)
Official video
"Perfect Way" on YouTube

"Perfect Way" is a song written by Green Gartside and David Gamson [1] and performed by the British pop band Scritti Politti. It was featured on the band's second and most successful studio album, Cupid & Psyche 85 , released in June 1985. The song features synthesizer in its instrumentation.

Contents

Chart performance

Four singles had already been released in the UK from the album before "Perfect Way" was issued in August 1985. It was only a minor hit in the UK (No. 48), [2] but in the US "Perfect Way" became Scritti Politti's only hit, reaching No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. [3] On other US charts, "Perfect Way" reached No. 6 on the Hot Dance/Disco chart. [4] The song was also a minor hit on the Hot Black Singles chart, where it peaked at No. 85. [5] It was also a Top 40 hit in Canada, reaching No. 32 on the RPM Singles chart.

The official music video, which mixes monochrome and colour footage, features musicians performing in the studio, intercut with close-up faces, video effects, and urban scenes, was directed by Paula Greif and Peter Kagan. [6]

Critical reception

John Leland of Spin wrote the song was, "a pretty, lightweight pop tune that skips around on a busy electronic groove as feyly as Green's ultrawimp vocals. This is extremely well crafted, but it packs all the punch of a neutered "Sussudio"." [7]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1986)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [8] [9] 75

Year-end charts

Year-end chart (1986)Rank
US Top Pop Singles (Billboard) [10] 64

Cover versions

An instrumental version of the song was covered by Miles Davis on his 1986 studio album Tutu , providing a second success for the song in the US. [11] The song entered Davis' live repertoire and he was recorded playing it live many times.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scritti Politti</span> British music group

Scritti Politti are a British band, originally formed in 1977 in Leeds, England, by Welsh singer-songwriter Green Gartside. He is the only member of the band to have remained throughout the group's history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Davis (singer)</span> Musical artist

Paul Lavon Davis was an American singer and songwriter, best known for his radio hits and solo career that started worldwide in 1970. His career encompassed soul, country, and pop. His most successful songs are 1977's "I Go Crazy", a No. 7 pop hit that once held the record for the longest chart run on the Billboard Hot 100, and 1982's "'65 Love Affair", which at No. 6 is his highest-charting single. Another pop hit, "Cool Night", was released in 1981. In the mid-1980s, he also had two No. 1 country hits as a guest vocalist on songs by Marie Osmond and Tanya Tucker.

<i>Cupid & Psyche 85</i> 1985 studio album by Scritti Politti

Cupid & Psyche 85 is the second studio album by the British pop band Scritti Politti, released in the UK on 10 June 1985 by Virgin Records. The release continued frontman Green Gartside's embrace of commercial pop music stylings and state-of-the-art studio production, while its lyrics reflect his preoccupation with issues of language and politics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freeway of Love</span> 1985 single by Aretha Franklin

"Freeway of Love" is a song by American singer Aretha Franklin. It was written by Jeffrey Cohen and Narada Michael Walden and produced by the latter for Franklin's thirtieth studio album Who's Zoomin' Who? (1985). The song features a notable contribution from Clarence Clemons, the saxophonist from Bruce Springsteen’'s E Street Band. Sylvester, Martha Wash, and Jeanie Tracy provided backup vocals on "Freeway of Love".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Love Bizarre</span> 1985 single by Sheila E.

"A Love Bizarre" is a song written by Prince and Sheila E. The song is a duet between both singers and it appears on Sheila E.'s 1985 album Romance 1600. It clocks in at 12:16, but the single version is 3:46 in duration. It made its debut in the music movie Krush Groove.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walk Like a Man (The Four Seasons song)</span> 1963 single by The Four Seasons

"Walk Like a Man" is a song written by Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio and originally recorded by the Four Seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Be Near Me</span> 1985 single by ABC

"Be Near Me" is a song by English pop band ABC. It was released in April 1985 as the second single from their third studio album, How to Be a ... Zillionaire!. It peaked at No. 26 on the UK Singles Chart in 1985, and was the only single from the album to reach the UK top 40. It was more successful in the United States where it reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song also went to number-one on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart in September of that year, remaining on top for two weeks.

"You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You" is a popular song written by Russ Morgan, Larry Stock, and James Cavanaugh and published in 1944. The song was first recorded by Morgan and was a hit for him in 1946, reaching the No. 14 spot in the charts. The best known version was Dean Martin's, which was released in 1960 and reissued in 1964.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Wonder If I Take You Home</span> 1985 single by Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam with Full Force

"I Wonder If I Take You Home" is a song recorded by Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam with Full Force in 1984. Record Producer Kenny Beck discovered the song in a "discard bin" at Personal Records while looking for songs to include on his debut album with the label. He was so impressed that he created a compilation break-dancing album, CBS/SuzyQ, just to include the song. He released the album in Europe on CBS Records, and it immediately gained popularity as a dance hit with club DJs there. Soon American DJs began playing the song in the United States on Columbia Records. After the song received heavy play from these DJs, "I Wonder If I Take You Home" reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart for one week in June 1985. On other US charts, it peaked at No. 6 on the R&B chart and reached No. 34 on the Hot 100. In 1991, the single was certified gold in the US by the RIAA. Overseas, it charted at No. 12 on the UK Singles Chart and number 41 in the Netherlands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green Gartside</span> Musical artist

Green Gartside is a Welsh singer, songwriter and musician. He is the frontman of the band Scritti Politti.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The "Sweetest Girl"</span> 1981 single by Scritti Politti

"The 'Sweetest Girl' " is a song written by the Welsh singer Green Gartside. It was originally performed by Gartside's band Scritti Politti, and released in October 1981 as a single. The single peaked at No. 64 in the UK Singles Chart. The keyboards are played by Robert Wyatt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin)</span> 1984 single by Scritti Politti

"Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin)" is the seventh single released by British pop band Scritti Politti, issued in the UK on 24 February 1984 by Virgin Records. It later appeared on the band's second studio album Cupid & Psyche 85 (released in June 1985) and was produced by Arif Mardin. The song's subtitle is a reference to "I Say a Little Prayer", Aretha Franklin's biggest UK hit; Mardin had also produced Franklin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Word Girl</span> 1985 single by Scritti Politti

"The Word Girl" is a song by British pop band Scritti Politti. Included on their second studio album, Cupid & Psyche 85, the reggae style track was released as a single in the UK on 29 April 1985 and remains the band's highest charting hit in the UK, peaking at No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart. The music video was directed by John Scarlett-Davis and produced by Nick Verden at Aldabra Films for Virgin Records.

<i>Songs to Remember</i> 1982 studio album by Scritti Politti

Songs to Remember is the debut studio album by the British pop band Scritti Politti. The album's recording had to be delayed for nine months due to frontman Green Gartside's collapse and illness, and then after completion its release was delayed for a further year at the band's request. It was eventually released on 3 September 1982 by Rough Trade Records, peaking at number 12 on the UK Albums Chart. The album was heavily influenced by disco, reggae, and soul music, and marked the beginning of Scritti Politti's move from their underground DIY post-punk sound towards commercial pop music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loverboy (Billy Ocean song)</span> 1984 song by Billy Ocean

"Loverboy" is Billy Ocean's second single from his 1984 album, Suddenly. It was produced by Keith Diamond and reached number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 as well as hitting number 20 on the soul chart, and number 15 on the UK Singles Chart in February 1985. It also reached the top spot of the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in the US, in an extended version. The track was released on the Jive label under the catalogue reference, JIVE 80. The song was played in the first episode of the long-running BBC One medical drama Casualty on 6 September 1986.

<i>Provision</i> (album) 1988 studio album by Scritti Politti

Provision is the third studio album by the British pop band Scritti Politti, released in the UK on 6 June 1988 by Virgin Records.

David Gamson is an American keyboardist/musician. Originally hailing from New York, he has worked with, among others, Kesha, Kelly Clarkson, Jessie J, Adam Lambert, Chaka Khan, Charli XCX, Meshell Ndegeocello, Green Gartside, Sheila E., George Benson, Luther Vandross, Donny Osmond, Miles Davis, Al Jarreau, Tony LeMans, Roger Troutman, Eden xo, Quinn XCII and Hannah Diamond.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take Me in Your Arms and Love Me</span> 1967 single by Gladys Knight & the Pips

"Take Me in Your Arms and Love Me" is a song and single by American group, Gladys Knight & the Pips written by Barrett Strong, Cornelius Grant and Rodger Penzabene. It was produced by Norman Whitfield.

This is the discography of British band Scritti Politti.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Absolute (song)</span> 1984 single by Scritti Politti

"Absolute" is the eighth single released by British pop band Scritti Politti, released on 29 May 1984 by Virgin Records in the UK. It later appeared on the studio album Cupid & Psyche 85 and was produced by Arif Mardin.

References

  1. "Perfect Way by Scritti Politti". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  2. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 486. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  3. Roberts, David (2001). British Hit Singles & Albums (14th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 393. ISBN   0-85156-156-X.
  4. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 229.
  5. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 515.
  6. "Scritti Politti - Perfect Way (1985)". IMVDb.com. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  7. John Leland (September 1985). "Singles". Spin . No. 5. p. 32.
  8. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 267. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  9. "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – 1985". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  10. Nielsen Business Media, Inc (27 December 1986). "1986 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 52. p. Y-21.{{cite magazine}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  11. CMJ New Music Monthly - Feb 2000 N.º 78 p 23 "... The percolating single "Perfect Way" met with US success twice (the second time thanks to Miles Davis' instrumental ..."