The Three Best Bangles Songs
It's the Bangles' Vicki Peterson, who celebrates birthday #54 today. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Today marks birthday number fifty-four for Vicki Peterson, co-founder of the Bangles, freelance back up singer (for Tom Petty, among others) and wife of John Cowsill (of the famed group of the same name). What better occasion than today to consider the Three Best Bangles Songs?
3. “James” (from All Over the Place)
Before the band started scoring hit songs covering the likes of Prince and Jules Shear, they released an album full of songs that were mostly written (or co-written) by Peterson. This one, the third cut from All Over the Place, is the sound of stars in the making: the basic vibe is there, it’s just waiting to be honed into hits.
I'm keeping one foot on the train
And I must be a masochist
To ever take up with you, James
It sounds familiar
2. “In Your Room” (from Everything)
After they scored big with Different Light, they had the luxury of returning to their own songwriting on album number three, Everything. “In Your Room,” co-written by singer Susanna Hoffs and songwriters Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg is a return to the rawer, Southern California pop-punk sound that made them popular in the first place.
You're the only one who gets through to me
In the warm glow of the candlelight
Oh, I wonder what you're gonna do to me
(In your room)
3. “If She Knew What She Wants (from Different Light)
What was different about Different Light was its different songwriters, primarily. Covers of Prince, Liam Sternberg and Alex Chilton were all solid hits but none was better than the Bangs’ reading of “If She Knew What She Wants,” written by Jules Shear (easily the most underrated songwriter in all of pop music). Soft, silky, sexy, melodic, perfect harmonies, pure California sunshine. Easily the best of the lot.
(He'd be givin' it to her)
If she knew what she needs
(He could give her that too)
If she knew what she wants
How do your picks stack up against ours? Find more ‘Three Best Songs’ for other artists here.
Read Michael Verity’s music reviews and get free MP3′s at MP3.com.
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