In Praise of Moody Midtempo AOR

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANb1AA35o9I

Neanderthal OTM

HIM did cover "Wicked Game" with big compressed drums and distorted guitars, though, if you wanted to hear what that sounds like.

rare country song that touches on this feel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ho3zVZe8Ksc

forgot that song, wow

Okay made Spotify playlist of the stuff I thought qualified on this thread. I'm prejudiced against anything with a 70s feel tbh so not much of that stuff made it, felt yacht rock to me mostly except Rafferty.

Tried to adhere to the Crockett Rule...can I imagine Sonny Crockett driving around to it at midnight in Miami

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/17ioxB7tYdJvbZFaMksZFi?si=uXxdwr1eTQa3RMGmVV0P5g

Thanks for putting that together! ^^

I wish B.B. King's contribution to the genre was better:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krJrurPr3Yo

Ooh, Wicked Game ... hmm. I wonder what that would sound like with a big compressed drum beat instead of brushes?

I guess there's that xx song that sounds like Wicked Game, right?

Someone mentioned Robert Cray, and there's definitely some earlier stuff that sort of fits. Like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP2EvSNHqh0

Wow, that Rod Stewart song totally fits. And the Milsap, good find!

Yeah, I immediately thought of Milsap when I saw the "rare country track" descriptor.

That spotify list is great to have, too. There are a couple of other Zevon songs that might fit if they were a tad less agitated and the lyrics weren't so pointed and acidic, like "Play It All Night Long," or "Boom Boom Mancini."

yeah I was browsing through his 80s stuff a lot of almost there, but he's so strident a lot of times

Genesis deep cut!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMEhTI-jko8

Prob some Steely: "Do It Again," "Rikki Don't Lose That Number." "Pretzel Logic" for a start...once heard a radio station visit cover of "I'm On Fire" by Olafur Arnalds, think it became a staple of that tour, fits perfectly to me. Emmylou's version of "Tougher Than The Rest," original "Meeting Across The River," with
Bruce Springsteen – vocals
Roy Bittan – piano
Richard Davis – double bass
Randy Brecker – trumpet--- and that's all he needs, except the city night air.
Recent country example: "Cold," by Chris Staples, in the wake of original "The Thrill Is Gone," and he could do a good cover of Hydra's Southern Rock proto-power ballad, "Feel A Pain."

Chris Stapleton, of course (most of that album is frustrating, though).

But if 'tis more 80s ye be wanting: "Sister Christian" should fill the bill, it seems.

"Rikki Don't Lose That Number."

IIRC that was used in a driving scene... by the cuddly but crooked dad in "Say Anything."

Not exactly Crockett material

This kinda works. I'm surprised Crockett himself doesn't turn up in the video! Most everybody else from that era does.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaGfW2Ifuts

that...is a lot to process, wow

phil collins is a really great drum machine programmer

Sonically, "I'll Be Watching You" seems to fit, although words are not so much moody as straight-up sad stalker, esp. gratuitous burst of self-pity on bridge: "Oh can't you seeee", yeah we got it already.

i present here the world champeen of what Jarsch and all of you guys have been talking about:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNrbrhQknLQ

I think I mentioned in another thread that when I was a kid I thought a lot of these moody songs, especially "Lunatic Fringe" "Burnin' For You" and "Voices" had to be by the same band

or perhaps this one is? we are after all talking about songs by, above, the former Argent dude and AOR hit doctor, or here the keyboardist terrorized out of his Rainbow gig by Richie B.…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kT-K5hQl834

This may fit - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqsTq3WsFZ4

A loose fit, maybe. It's definitely more in phase with post-"Avalon" pop.

I just realised how much it sounds like 'Wicked Game' also.

Massive thank you for putting that Spotify playlist together xps

Haven't seen this posted yet

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZR3KGKHH2U

Funny how the "Voices" video feels like the inspiration for The Limey.

This one's a bit smooth, but:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ve3vqMg8xhk

a cheat cos it's another Miami Vice track but this from Steve Jones (!) is right in the pocket for foreboding plod & tough guy staring fixedly into the horizon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIWQhMjPblY

and apologies for despoiling this thread with more Australian filth but here is legendarily imcomprehensible ex-Australian Crawl singer James Reyne with his solo not-quite-smash Hammerhead

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMmBwCSk6sw

This song might too canonical for this thread, but I can see this soundtracking the scene where some gangland killing in a mansion gets cross-cut with Crockett smoking in slow motion.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySO-gryuO-c

I keep finding songs that seem nearly on the mark--

like Satana's (Russ Ballard penned) "Winning." Definitely mid-tempo, though the verses are a little too peppy maybe? But the moody synths undercut the chorus of repeated "I'm winning"s

yeah I was just going through that Santana album.... couple instrumental were close but yeah "Winning" is just too triumphant, really the whole concept of winning feels antithetical to the genre

Another Ballard song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=372436tJiaM

Not from the era but I think Cass McCombs - County Line suits the moody midtempo AOR tag

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOcnITphyjk

Also the song is set while driving at night so there’s that.

That Frida song also produced by Phil Collins, casting a wide shadow 'oer this thread.

Russ and Phil, the real Crockett and Tubbs.

Also, interesting that the key song for the '06 Miami Vice was this Mogwai instrumental, which does feel like a 21st-century version of this genre:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLFd6k1BHDk

Having mentioned "Only the Lonely" by the Motels, I can't believe I forgot to also mention their "Suddenly Last Summer"!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9Ox-lGm-wA

Guys, listen to the banjo wind!

Definitely too hi-BPM, but the feeling of Bob Seger's "The Fire Inside" is definitely fits this mood.

thread needs some atlanta rhythm section imo

'Fine Line' from Door to Door is another Cars song that fits, I think

'Taxi' by Rosie Vela

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjYmz8LjDOY

possibly not AOR enough, but some Yello tracks like 'Lost Again' and 'Desire' have a similar vibe to what's being described?

Now I'm in a Rosie Vela hole, I have never heard any of these songs.

I don't consider her music AOR either, but that is a great album. I hope that her subsequent recordings get released someday.

does anyone know a lot about italo disco? listening to a playlist now

nothing on this fits (way too dancefloor) but a lot of textures are the same and was thinking maybe some ID artist might have mixed it up with a slower, moody number

Valerie Dore - The Night