I Forgot These Singles! Feat. A Preliminary 1960s List!

For years I've been keeping track of the great singles I either forgot to include on my decade top 100s or hadn't heard yet. So seeing as how it's been a decade since I compiled them, I figured it's time for an update. I've listed them below in rough preferential order with some brief comments. I've updated the singles lists with links to each. And, perhaps to prevent me from continuing with such an insane project, I've included a preliminary 1960s singles list also in rough preferential order although numbers 1 and 2 are pretty firm...for now.

1970s
She Trinity: "Climb That Tree" (President, 1970) - A glimpse of a woman-centered prog-psych aesthetic we should have heard more of and a top ten single for me.

Prime Time: "Good Times Theme" (Motown, 1978) - Greatest TV theme of all time.

Middle of the Road: "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" (RCA, 1971) - Thank you, Breakfast on Pluto.

The Osmonds: "Crazy Horses" (MGM, 1972) - The most criminal omission from Xgau's 1970s Consumer Guide book was Phase III because more music fans should know how these boys could jam like Sabbath. In fact, it was a trip to inform some metal-freak friends that they were not listening to unreleased Sabbath but rather this bubblerock nugget.

Wire: "A Question of Degree" (Harvest, 1979) - These boys knew their disco with de facto breaks and a sticky money shot.

Joe Walsh: "Life's Been Good" (Asylum, 1978) - I'm still waiting for Don Henley's version: "Life Hasn't Been As Good As You People Seem To Think It's Been, Ya Know."

1980s
Culture Club: "The War Song" (Epic, 1984) - My favorite Culture Club song until I read Boy's autobio Take It Like a Man and learned that "Time (Clock of the Heart)" was about gay unrequited love whereupon it tore my heart out.

The S.O.S. Band: "Just Be Good to Me" (Tabu, 1983) - The 9:00-minute version, please, the better to highlight the most obsessive psychogroove of the decade.

Tight Fit: "Fantasy Island" (Jive, 1982) - The most exact, and sparkly, ABBA clone extant.

Bucks Fizz: "My Camera Never Lies" (RCA, 1982) - Another ABBA clone with demented lyrics for people who think pop music is just so darn assembly line.

Paul McCartney: "Press" (Capitol, 1986) - Another classic money shot and the man's finest solo single ever.

Kenny Loggins with Steve Perry: "Don't Fight It" (Columbia, 1982) - Steve Perry should have gotten out of Journey more often.

Stacy Lattisaw: "Attack of the Name Game" (Cotillion, 1982) - Kack it back, I gotta Kack attack
I gotta Kee Ky Koe the Kack a jack
Turn the Tevin, gotta move the Mevin
Gotta wham-bam funkify the Fevin, my name is Kevin
Well, can you picture that?
Also, can Mariah Carey pick 'em or what?

USA For Africa: "We Are The World" (Columbia, 1985)- Steve Perry should have gotten out of Journey more often, Part 2.

Crown Heights Affair: "You Gave Me Love" (De-Lite, 1980) - The Utah Saints picked the best parts. But the intro and outro are still eeeeevil.

Too low: Debbie Deb: "When I Hear Music" (Jam Packed 1983) at #22

1990s
Overweight Pooch: "Hip House Party" (A&M, 1991) - Only a shade less gravity-defying than "It Takes Two" and a top ten single for me.

Daphne and Celeste: "Ooh Stick You!" (Universal, 1999) - Dada bubblerap so threatening that they had water bottles thrown at them during some live event. Pop - it's so punk!

Satoshi Tomiie: "Sneaky One (Original Mix)" (SMEJ Associated, 1999) - In his essential "In the Empire of the Beat: Discipline and Disco," Walter Hughes demonstrates how disco empties out language to shake off all remnants of textuality. But house took that aspect even further, e.g., this post-verbal screech party. It lifts you right up to the ceiling of the club. Also try the Nevins Club Mix of Angelica: "Quando M'en Vo" (Atlantic, 1997). The opera queens on your floor will lose it.

Donna Blakely feat. Ralphi Rosario: "Take Me Up" (Underground Construction, 1997) - Ralphi's Original Club Mix is a peak record. But also try Légo's Mix for a bumping party starter.

2000s
Azari & III: "Reckless (With Your Love)" (Permanent Vacation, 2009) - I didn't hear this until the teens but this is all I could up with for the Aughts. What did I miss?

1960s

The Trashmen: “Surfin’ Bird” (Garrett, 1963)

The Tammys: “Egyptian Shumba” (United Artists 1964)

Wilson Pickett: “Land of 1000 Dances” (Atlantic 1966)

Gino Washington: “Gino is a Coward” (SonBert 1964)

The Flirtations: “Nothing But a Heartache”  (Deram 1968)

Pebbles & Bamm-Bamm: “Snow Flake” (Hanna-Barbera 1965)

The Crystals: “He’s a Rebel” (Philles, 1962)

The Remains: "Don't Look Back" (Epic 1966)

Lou Christie: “Lightnin’ Strikes” (MGM 1965)

Lou Christie: “Rhapsody in the Rain” (MGM 1966)

The Elastik Band: "Spazz" (Atco 2967)

The Calico Wall: “Flight Reaction”/“Beep” (Turtle c. 1966)

John’s Children: “A Midsummer's Night Scene” (Track 1967)

The First Gear: “Leave My Kitten Alone” (Pye 1964)

The Bluestars: "Social End Product" (Allied International 1966)

The Music Machine: "Talk Talk" (Original Sound 1966)

The Balloon Farm: "A Question of Temperature" (Laurie 1967)

The Marvelettes: “Twistin’ Postman” (Tamla 1961)

Gene Pitney: “Every Breath I Take” (Musicor 1961)

The Exciters: “He’s Got The Power” (United Artists 1963)

The Shangri-Las: “Give Him a Great Big Kiss” (Red Bird 1964)

Ginny Arnell: “Dumb Head” (MGM 1963)

Claudine Clark: “Party Lights” (Chancellor 1962)

The Chiffons: "Nobody Knows What's Goin' On (In My Mind But Me)" (Laurie 1965)

The Equals: “Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys” (President 1969)

Love: “My Little Red Book” (Elektra, 1966)

The Idle Race: "Days of the Broken Arrows" (Liberty 1969)

Episode Six: "Love Hate Revenge" (Pye 1967)

The Calico Wall: “I’m a Living Sickness” (Turtle c. 1966)