Most underrated DS/MK songs

[privinvest]

It never rains, isn't it? Especially the second half is as good s anything he did and "nobody" knows it. He doesn't play it in concerts (?) Any idea why is that?

Special mentions: Planet of the New Orleans

[stratmad]

It never rains, isn't it? Especially the second half is as good s anything he did and "nobody" knows it. He doesn't play it in concerts (?) Any idea why is that?

Special mentions: Planet of the New Orleans

Oh yes, definitely both! I think there is actually one obscure live version of "INR", or was it "Industrial disease"?
Another one that is totally underrated imho is "Hand in hand", on of my all-time favourites. Did he ever play that live at all?

[ds1984]

It never rains was performed during the '82 leg of the LOG tour and then dropped .

[Matchstickman]

It never rains, isn't it? Especially the second half is as good s anything he did and "nobody" knows it. He doesn't play it in concerts (?) Any idea why is that?

Special mentions: Planet of the New Orleans

Oh yes, definitely both! I think there is actually one obscure live version of "INR", or was it "Industrial disease"?
Another one that is totally underrated imho is "Hand in hand", on of my all-time favourites. Did he ever play that live at all?

Hand in Hand was never performed live, if I'm not mistaken.

It Never Rains is "good", but a two-faced song if there ever was one, starting off with rainbows and sunshine, and then taking you to hell. That may have been the idea, but it is somewhat jarring, and it lacks a hook.

[stratmad]

It Never Rains is "good", but a two-faced song if there ever was one, starting off with rainbows and sunshine, and then taking you to hell. That may have been the idea, but it is somewhat jarring, and it lacks a hook.

Both songs are maybe linked to Holly Vincent, or some other relationship that didn't work out.
INR imho is a lot about being used and exploited, some sort of reckoning, and lyric-wise it's pretty negative right from the beginning, despite the "happy" keyboard melody and the fairground imagery.

[Matchstickman]

It Never Rains is "good", but a two-faced song if there ever was one, starting off with rainbows and sunshine, and then taking you to hell. That may have been the idea, but it is somewhat jarring, and it lacks a hook.

Both songs are maybe linked to Holly Vincent, or some other relationship that didn't work out.
INR imho is a lot about being used and exploited, some sort of reckoning, and lyric-wise it's pretty negative right from the beginning, despite the "happy" keyboard melody and the fairground imagery.

You may be right about the lyrics.

They are some of his best vitriolic lyrics - accusing someone of screwing people on the way up because "you" thought you were never coming down. It's passionate enough for a failed relationship, but seems to about someone making it in (the music?) business.

[stratmad]

Yes, Holly was trying to make it with her band, trying to use MK's fame. So he would have been the one that was "screwed over".
And her career didn't work out the way it was planned either.
Intersting biography, if only half of it is true: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holly_Beth_Vincent.

[Matchstickman]

Yes, Holly was trying to make it with her band, trying to use MK's fame. So he would have been the one that was "screwed over".
And her career didn't work out the way it was planned either.
Intersting biography, if only half of it is true: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holly_Beth_Vincent.

Interesting! The music/girl connection makes sense. It had always seemed odd to me that the lyrics seemed sexual. ("Hands up smothering your screams", etc.) Pretty dark, this one.

[dmg]

Les Boys.  Great melody and lyrics.  So many either misinterpret it or don't take it seriously because of the subject matter, but it's a really good song IMHO.  He just doesn't bother with melodies like this now.

[stratmad]

I'll have to give it another listen again, then.
That song has been a skipper for me, just like Solid Rock, for as long as I can think.

[Robson]

I've always had a problem with Les Boys. Maybe because the last DS/MK songs were important to me. It's a little different on this album:)

[border_reiver]

DS: It never rains, for sure

MK: Metroland and All that I have in the world (had the latter been released on an EP last month we would be raving about it )

[dustyvalentino]

Les Boys.  Great melody and lyrics.  So many either misinterpret it or don't take it seriously because of the subject matter, but it's a really good song IMHO.  He just doesn't bother with melodies like this now.

Agree 10000000%. Always baffled by the hate for it.

Whoop De Doo is an underrated classic for me. Just perfect.

[Stiglar]

I've always thought "How Long" was quite underrated from a songwriting point of view, simple , country vibe , I like the hook.. I think it's unfortunately captured in the 90's production world though with the flutes and overall feel. But always thought it was a cool tune.

[Barrow boy]

I was thinking about this yesterday! How underrated It never rains and hand in hand are. I love them both and in the case of hand in hand I've always thought that it was eclipsed by Romeo and Juliet. Also single handed sailor may be considered as underrated? One of my favorites especially the outro solo is pure gold but the song was dropped early on the communique tour.