"Goodbye Stranger" -- Supertramp. It still quickens my heart the way the music just seems to take off and fly after the last chorus.

"Girl from Ipanema" -- various versions, although I would direct pop fans to the Crystal Waters version on Red, Hot & Rio. For years I didn't give this song a fair listen, assuming it was just tropical elevator music. When I started getting into Brazilian music a decade or so ago, I realized just how great this song really is, especially the middle part. Another song by the same writer (Jobim) that really does it for me is "Waters of March" ... there is a little instrumental part before the last verse that it so brilliant it's been copied in almost every version of the song I've heard.

"Jason & The Argonauts" - XTC, for the musical tension which is finally released when Andy Partridge goes into the final "I have watched the manimals go by..."

And, like someone said above, there are so many more...

It's funny - in junior high, I didn't have enough room to fit all of Time Pieces on one side of a 90-minute tape, so I faded Layla out right before that coda starts.

A couple of years later, I saw Goodfellas, and when that part of the song's playing as Ray Liotta's house is being raided, I realized that's the best part of the song.

OK, I was reminded of another one that leaves me exhausted to listen to:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1H0kaasdkiU[/youtube]

"Raoul & The Kings Of Spain" by Tears For Fears.

Honestly, I think it's Roland's greatest performance, ever.

In the melody department (a few that come to mind at random, and omitting the Beatles):

There She Goes - The La's
Walk Away Renee - Left Banke
She May Call You Up Tonight - Left Banke

"What Have They Done To The Rain" by the Searchers

Great pick! Dig that monster bass playing.

The ones that immediately come to mind for me are "The Look of Love" by ABC, "Go Your Own Way" by Fleetwood Mac and "Alone" by Heart.

Are are just too many breathtaking songs for me to list, but just some that come to my mind.

Just some of the older songs...

Rikki Don't Lose That Number, Brooklyn, Turn That Heartbeat Over Again, and Bodhisattva - Steely Dan
New Amsterdam, High Fidelity, and Shipbuilding - Elvis Costello
Set Me Free Little Girl - The Kinks
Something In The Way She Moves, While My Guitar Gently Weeps - The Beatles
Ziggy Stardust, Space Oddity, Moonage Daydream and Ashes To Ashes - David Bowie
Monkey Man - Rolling Stones
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU5VQSdZoco[/youtube]

Walk Away - James Gang
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2k1Vz1-rjc[/youtube]

San Franciscan Nights- Eric Burdon & The Animals
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKhmqB_jPT8[/youtube]

Some of the newer or most recent songs for me...

Partner In Crime, Just Like That, He's On Drugs Again, and Kill The Bottle - Some Girls
Ordinary Human Love and Promises For Tomorrow - The Makers
Helen and The People I'm Not - Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffitti

Another one, kinda obscure - "Seven Waves" by Big Country.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZlgAiF-UTk[/youtube]

I'd throw nearly all of the Get Happy!! album in this category, personally.

Yeah, most definitely. Elvis Costello is one of my favorites.


Another one is Oingo Boingo - Stay


[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0TfEcSyJDE[/youtube]

I've been listening to a lot of Beach Boys this week, as I'm making myself a compilation of some of their lesser-known songs. When it comes to breathtaking, these guys have way too many songs to list here. It amazes me how even a short throwaway track like "Whistle In" can have such perfect harmonies and production. I had also forgotten how many fine instrumentals they had done, from the early surf rockers to the later mood pieces. Great stuff.

You're right, this song has been given a bad rep over the years as elevator muzak, particularly in the movies and TV. One of my favorite renditions came about a few years ago when Don Dixon played it on the "Mountain Stage" radio program, ably assisted by the venerable Bob Thompson on piano.

"Heroes" by David Bowie. The emotion in his voice rises perfectly with the music.

"The Perfect Kiss" by New Order, particularly the 12-inch extended mix. The instrumental climax, where each instrument is layered in one at a time and builds, is for me the closest that contemporary music has come to the classic symphonies.

"I Don't Mind If You Forget Me" by Morrissey. Vini Reilly's buzzing guitar, like a hummingbird on speed, constantly darts in and out of the melody, and propels the song along like the flight of the bumblebee.

"The Stars and Stripes Forever" performed on 12-string guitar by Chet Atkins. Not sure if there is an available recorded version, but I saw him do this on TV years ago, and was floored by his ability to play different parts simultaneously.

Wow, I'd love to hear that. I think Atkins has been vastly underrated by the rock audience. The album he did with Les Paul (Chester & Lester) is one of my all-time favorites.