Over-looked power pop classics

[chogdog]

Hey there are some great songs by some artists, not considered power pop greats, that are often looked upon as either jokes, one hit wonders, MOR, passe, or mainstream top 40. Here are some of my favorites.

Jesses Girl-Rick Springfield
Break up Song-Greg Kihn
Jenny Jenny-Tommy Two Tone
My Mistake-The King Bees
Is She Really Going Out with Him-Joe Jackson
When the Lights Go Out-Slade
Midnight Blue-Lou Gram
Outfield-Say it isn't so
Outfield-Your Love
Don't fear the reaper-Blue Oyster Cult
Please say Please-Dwight Twilley Band
Baby it's You-Phil Seymour

Anybody have any others.

[HighPlainsDrifter]

The Knack - My Sharona (overlooked? I don't know)

J. Geils Band - Centerfold (a personal favorite )

[chogdog]

J. Geils Band - Centerfold (a personal favorite )

That reminds me Peter Wolf's 'Come as You Are' should be included too.

[erschen]

Midnight Blue-Lou Gram

Have always liked that tune.....haven't heard that album in quite some time.......painted my 78 cutlass that color about the time that song came out. It was the official tune of my car.

[Loon Rider]

Don't fear the reaper-Blue Oyster Cult
Anybody have any others.

You're kidding? Maybe there wasn't enough cowbell.

This is difficult because I'm not really sure what genre power pop actually is. Also I have little idea how well particular songs or artists performed on the other side of The Pond.

Will these count?
Todd Rundgren - Can We Still Be Friends
Marshall Crenshaw - What Do You Dream Of?
The Flamin Groovies - Shake Some Action
Anything by the dBs or Let's Active.

For me the likes of Badfinger, Big Star etc are classic power pop, as opposed to more modern power pop - Jellyfish, Jason Falkner, The Posies, Velvet Crush, Sloan, The Rooks etc. Or do you define them as a different genre?

[chogdog]

Don't fear the reaper-Blue Oyster Cult
Anybody have any others.

You're kidding? Maybe there wasn't enough cowbell.

This is difficult because I'm not really sure what genre power pop actually is. Also I have little idea how well particular songs or artists performed on the other side of The Pond.

For me the likes of Badfinger, Big Star etc are classic power pop, as opposed to more modern power pop - Jellyfish, Jason Falkner, The Posies, Velvet Crush, Sloan, The Rooks etc. Or do you define them as a different genre?

I guess power pop is a very generic term but to me has always been sort of sparkly occasionally jangly very melodic guitar based rock and roll. About a quarters each of the beatles, the byrds, the who and the kinks. I've always thought that Big Star as a purely power pop band was overstated and probably the only song I would consider by them to be pure power pop is 'September Girl', yeah maybe 'Feel' and 'in the street' too but not by much.

Alot of bands are considered power pop by many and you can finds their songs on the power pop comps includindg the Rasperberries, Badfinger, Cheap Trick, Flaming Groovies, Todd Rundren in the 70's and yeah Marshall Crenshaw (who I would definitely consider power power pop and whom I've also been meaning to start a thread on recently) in the 80's among other. I guess I was asking what are some songs by bands that aren't considered power pop artists but to your ears sound like great power pop nonetheless.

[Wordman]

Dwight Twiley's I'm on Fire....In fact, any Twilley...

John Waites Missing You, and his Babies stuff

...anything by the Raspberries...

[RiverInTheRain]

Please don't make me mention my favorite band.

[flippedcanvas]

The Knack - My Sharona (overlooked? I don't know)

J. Geils Band - Centerfold (a personal favorite )

What that heck is that all about?
My Sharona is a new wave track which cannot be classified poppy as such!

[Wordman]

Please don't make me mention my favorite band.

DO IT!!!!!!

[chogdog]

Dwight Twiley's I'm on Fire....In fact, any Twilley...

John Waites Missing You, and his Babies stuff

Yeah I'm a big Dwight Twilley Band Fan. I think they were nearly up there with Big Star. There was a great CD that came out called the great lost Twilley album that collected alot of his unreleased 70's and early 80's stuff and I though it was pretty great. Unfortunately it's out of print now. Some of his stuff sounds dated but just as much of it sounds timeless. He's really is in need of a box set.

[RiverInTheRain]

I suppose "power pop", like "alt-country" is an ellusive concept at best.

But if "Me And The Boys", "Green Lights", "Smackaroo" or "I Want You Bad" aren't power pop, well, then I don't know what is. As opposed to, say, the "pure pop for now people" of tunes like "Ridin' In My Car", "If I Don't Have You" or "Little Floater". Just some of the many stylistic tendrils dangling from my favorite R&B, free jazz, rockabilly cowboy blues outfit...

...who shall remain unmentioned.

[Wordman]

I suppose "power pop", like "alt-country" is an ellusive concept at best.

But if "Me And The Boys", "Green Lights", "Smackaroo" or "I Want You Bad" aren't power pop, well, then I don't know what is. As opposed to, say, the "pure pop for now people" of tunes like "Ridin' In My Car", "If I Don't Have You" or "Little Floater". Just some of the many stylistic tendrils dangling from my favorite R&B, free jazz, rockabilly cowboy blues outfit...

...who shall remain unmentioned.

N...

[RiverInTheRain]

Dammit, Ray, don't out me! I'm trying to keep my New Kids On The Block fixation under wraps.

[Wordman]

Dammit, Ray, don't out me! I'm trying to keep my New Kids On The Block fixation under wraps.

Does it ryhme with Bar-B-Q?