In Praise of Moody Midtempo AOR

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

Mike Rogers - Just A Story

^ slow moody italo

Does this fit ums?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-opGBw6qDWg
William Pitt - City Lights

Savage - Don’t Cry Tonight & Only You

also this cover of 'eyes without a face':

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xDPw2SmWko
Roberto Sandrini - Occhi Su Di Me

Amin Peck "My Frames" might fit the moody mid-tempo Italo side of things.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRgN3mqaJvI

oh man upper miss I have a ton for you

try Brian dalmini - can you tell me

magic sound - to haldrin

I think I already recommended "Tarzan Boy."

(Which bears a lot of similarity to "Self Control.")

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_r0n9Dv6XnY

I haven't watched that video in a long time, and it makes me sad that the MTV awards didn't have a makeup category

could I imagine myself listening while driving through the LA twilight on the way to a) a drug deal that will go catastrophically wrong,

Substitite NJ for LA and you've described The Gasoline Age by East River Pipe, it's not strictly within the purview of this thread of course

It's almost too literal

what’s that one italo song where he sings “where did it all go wrong?”... that one fits I think

Think the original of Self Control should also be in this thread, especially the 12" version which has that ace rap towards the end

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w1Qo1awwI4

Also this Steve Bronski version of Smalltown Boy which is maybe a bit too slow but can totally imagine it being used to soundtrack a more melancholic moment of Miami Vice

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

Tempo's a bit fast, but here's Jethro Tull doing what they're not known for doing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzJNTNR3_7U

Tom Petty has several. "You Got Lucky" is mentioned above, but also "A Woman in Love," "Runaway Trains," "Straight Into Darkness," "Dogs on the Run." I guess "Rebels" is a little too anthemic on the chorus?

This vibe was a big part of the radio and MTV landscape in my middle school/high school days, it really is a particular thing. I think glossy early '80s production is part of the key.

Moody Blues - "The Other Side of Life"

The Stones went for this a bit in the '80s;-"Emotional Rescue" the song and the Undercover lp come to mind-but were usually undercut by their Stones-ness. However, they nailed it on "Heaven" from Tattoo You.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-HuYUaSjNU

I think this was just an 80s stealth cigarette ad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TToLgW7zuc

I'd say this is up with 'Private Dancer' for some 80s sexy sax lines, which would also fit here.

^^^^ Glenn Frey expression unwittingly showing you his soul

The very title of this thread makes me think of Grateful Dead keyboardist Brent Mydland. Jerry and Bob had their had some dark songs as well, but I think Brent was darker. The moodiest of his songs, Just a Little Light, is too fast to qualify as mid-tempo.

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

Blow Away is in the right range.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOtFYt0Uhg0

Far From Me, maybe?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZ4CkT8SosU

As with most later-era Dead, these songs aren't very well-served by their studio versions. And, of course, there are much more captivating - but probably too long - versions to be found out there. What do y'all think?

“how long” by Ace = moody uptempo AOR

"It isn't even lonely / when no one's ever there" in "Just A Little Light" definitely fits and has the right studio sound. If it's on a 45, would love to hear it at 33 1/3.

i'm no zz top expert so maybe there are better answers to this thread, but i had 'rough boy' stuck in my head the other day

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_4ULKpkLNc