FILE UNDER POP

For a moment in the early 70's it seemed as if pure unadulterated pop might be pushing back against the tide of mainstream music that had gradually become more rock-oriented, and maybe was taking itself a bit too seriously. Overblown self-important opinions of some parts of the music media (Rolling Stone magazine – come on down!) had seeped into the minds of many of the record buying public, and convinced them that the only worthwhile music was found on albums, and singles were for kids, or people of lesser ability to appreciate music.

But occasionally a single came along that seemed like a deliberate throwback to (or celebration of) the early to mid-60's era, when The Beatles and The Beach Boys led the way with short sharp melodic pop songs, and hundreds of other artists willingly followed. These two singles are great examples of what was subsequently christened ‘power pop’ - take a great melody, surround it with lush harmonies, add some melodic twists, then just for the heck of it an extra dash of harmony here and there, and serve it up in a wrapper of guitar/bass/drums to keep it musically tight and stop the final result from getting too sweet and sugary.