“Ain’t Understanding Mellow” (1972) – Jerry Butler and Brenda Lee Eager


“Ain’t Understanding Mellow” (1972) – Jerry Butler and Brenda Lee Eager * Written by Herscholt Polk and Homer Talbert * 45: “Ain’t Understanding Mellow” / “Windy City Soul” (Butler only) * LP: The Sagittarius Movement * Produced by Gerald Sims and Jerry Butler * Label: Mercury

Soft-soul tour de force written by Herscholt Polk and Homer Talbert in which the voices of “Iceman” Butler and Eager sail with grace over a bass-driven track, telling the story of a couple that not only resolves to stay friends after the woman confesses she loves another man but rejoices in their decision. It’s a change of pace from the early ‘70 heyday of cheatin’ soul, and it comes off redemptive enough to verge toward gospel.

“Kesse Ye Lolo De Ye” (1979) – Stevie Wonder


“Kesse Ye Lolo De Ye” (1979) – Stevie Wonder * Written and produced by Stevie Wonder * LP: Stevie Wonder’s Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants * Label: Tamla

Stevie Wonder’s Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants sprung forth as soundtrack music for a documentary film based on a new-agey 1973 book by Peter Tompkins and Christopher Bird. It focused on plants as sentient beings, a premise that gives Wonder’s album whimsical appeal while attracting some serious stink-eye from hard science. “Kesse Ye Lolo De Ye,” from side two of the double LP, showcases Senegalese kora player Lamine Konte, and the title is a phoneticization of the words “a seed is a star” in Konte’s native Bambara language.

“Meridian Leeward” (1968) – Nazz

“Meridian Leeward” (1968) – Nazz * Written by Todd Rundgren * LP: Nazz Nazz * Produced by Nazz * Label: SGC 

We can assume some sort of Animal Farm or youth culture angle inspired this Nazz song about a human who used to be a pig. It stands out among other tracks on the group’s sophomore Nazz Nazz album, though, because of the bewildered discomfort in singer Stewkey Antoni’s delivery. No wonder the group’s clearly mismatched songwriter Todd Rundgren moved on after this album.

“Shut Down” (1963) – The Beach Boys

“Shut Down” (1963) – The Beach Boys *  Written by Brian Wilson and Roger Christian * 45: “Surfin’ USA” / “Shut Down” * LP: Surfin’ USA * Produced by Nick Venet * Label: Capitol
 
Side B of the Beach Boys’ #3 hit “Surfin’ USA” (and reaching #23 on its own merits) sported one of their quintessential hot rod tracks, fully equipped with terminology by gearhead DJ Roger Christian. It’s sung from the point of view of the driver of a ’63 Chevy Sting Ray, with its new, high-performance fuel-injected engine, facing off against a ’62 Dodge Dart that rumbles with a Max Wedge engine (called a “413” for its cubic-inch measurement). The implication at the end is that the Chevy “shuts down” the Dodge. Brian Wilson’s chorus hooks and harmonies tweak the 12-bar blues in a musical approximation of technical ingenuity.

“Ya Rayah” (1998) – Rachid Taha

“Ya Rayah” (1998) – Rachid Taha * Written by Amrani Abderrahmane * LP (France): Diwân * Produced by Steve Hillage * Label: Barclay

Although the breakthrough success of the Algerian Taha’s Diwân album (produced by Steve Hillage, the former Gong guitarist) had plenty to do with his built-in pop star charisma, it also benefited from the magnetic pull of “Ya Rayah,” its leadoff song. This was a cover version of a 1973 single by Dahmane El-harrachi, whose entire catalog of festive acoustic chaâbi music features orchestral phrases that swoop across the horizon like frolicsome kites. “Ya Rayah” taps into another powerful emotion, though, for those who understand the lyrics: the allure and parodoxical sadness of emigration.

“She’s a Lady” (1971) – Tom Jones


“She’s a Lady” (1971) – Tom Jones * Written by Paul Anka * 45: “She’s a Lady” / “My Way” * LP: Tom Jones Sings She’s a Lady * Produced by Gordon Mills

Tom Jones’s biggest hit of the seventies—no. 2 on Billboard—distinguished itself by serving up the phrases “she always knows her place” and “she’s never in the way” during the glory years of women’s lib. Even so, its heavy airplay on easy listening stations indicated that the minor-key discotheque broiler likely had a wide female listenership and jibed with older generation values. Paul Anka, in his autobiography My Way, singles out the song as “chauvinistic” and his least favorite among everything he’s written. In a 2013 duet with Jones, he would alter the lyrics of the first verse. Jones’s version of “My Way” on side B of the original 45 turns the disc into something of an Anka tribute. (The She’s a Lady album cover presents Jones as fashion doll “Tom,” a friend of Barbie and rival of Ken.)

“Lambaya Puf De” (1973) – Barış Manço


“Lambaya Puf De!” (1973) – Barış Manço * Traditional arrangement of “kolbasti” song by Osman Pehlivan * 45: “Lambaya Puf De!” / “Kalk Gidelim Küheylan” * Produced by Barış Manço * Label: Yavuz Plak

A celebrated rock ‘n’ roll pioneer in Turkey, Barış Manço essentially took his culture’s wandering minstrel tradition, grew its hair out, put rings on its fingers, and plugged it in. His “Lambaya Puf De” is a sexy hypnosis single from 1973 that translates to something like “blow the lamp out by going ‘poof’.” Turkish radio declared it too erotic-sounding for airplay, which prompted him to release an  instrumental version with kazoo and jaw harp in 1975 called “Tavuklara Kışt De” (say kshh to the chicken). Manço adapted the song from a melody popularized by the tanburist Osman Pahlivan called “Anadolu Kaşık Havası,” which has since surfaced with some regularity in recorded Turkish folk music. The label lists the song as a “kolbastı” dance song. That’s an acoustic Turkish saz you hear sizzling from start to finish.

“Beautiful Stranger” (1999) – Madonna

“Beautiful Stranger” (1999) – Madonna * Written and produced by Madonna and William Orbit * CD single: “Beautiful Stranger”/ (Victor Calderone remixes) * LP: Austin Powers: The Spy Who  Shagged Me (single) * Label: Maverick

Anyone familiar with Love’s “She Comes in Colors” (1967) heard its twisty hook (IIIb – VIIb – IV – VIb) in Madonna’s “Beautiful Stranger” right away. Rhino Records’ Gary Stewart took note of it in Entertainment Weekly, with a sky-is-blue response from a spokesperson that Madonna had never heard of Love. It was likely co-writer William Orbit, though, who drew from the psych-rock cult record to juice the sixties genetics of this particular Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me assignment. The single’s movie tie-in odor, though, was out of Orbit’s hands.

“After the Roses” (1980) – Kenny Rankin


“After the Roses” (1980) – Kenny Rankin * Written by Kenny Rankin and Teddy Costa * LP: After the Roses * Produced by Don Costa * Label: Atlantic

The jazzy Manhattan singer-songwriter Kenny Rankin took the candlelight dinner route on his After the Roses LP, with its Don Costa string arrangements and tuxedo photo on the back. Its spare title track, though, is the one that lingers, thanks to the suspended-chord musical uncertainty that fits his insecure words like a wrinkled tailored shirt. “I’ve been talking to myself again,” he sings at the 39-second mark, immediately after an endearing guitar flub.

“Ajetaan Tandemilla” (1976) – Freeman


“Ajetaan Tandemilla” (1976) – Freeman * Written by Leo Friman (aka Freeman) * 45: “Ajetaan Tandemilla” / “Mystilliset Kyyneleet” * LP: Freeman * Produced by Hector * Label: Love

Deceptively complex Finnish hit single. The synthesizers and falsetto vocal hooks suggest spaceships on the go, but the title translates to “We Ride a Tandem Bicycle.” Accordions join in at the end of each chorus to reinforce this odd future vs. tradition juxtaposition, of old world culture slowly warming up to new world sounds. So colorful are the lyrics—about a traveling man who’s back home and ready to marry his lady—that they’re almost untranslatable, but they do offer up rewards like this: “In the summertime goddamns ring through the trees.”