Scritti Politti - Absolute

Absolute
Green Gartside: “Stompingly fabulous kick, snare and toms. A great Gary Langan mix. An arrangement that Arif Mardin called: ‘Gangbusters from the get-go.’ We mixed at Sarm West in London. The Gents toilet there was definitely used as an additional reverb. You had to pee really quietly when mixes were going to tape. Steve Ferrone on drums, best known for being in The Average White Band and Tom Petty's Heartbreakers. Steve was great. No matter how much, ahem, carousing had been achieved the night before, he was infuriatingly bright as a button the next morning - Did you know: As a 12 year-old child, Steve was hired as a tap dancer in the Max Bygraves summer show. For the uninitiated, Max Bygraves was a British singing comedian whose most famous song was the irrefutably informative You Need Hands. Arif Mardin inserted his own ‘Gamelan' inspired section at 1 minute and 51 seconds. PS: The 'Absolute' is, of course, Kantian.”
David Gamson: “Arif had me write out all the charts, including the drum parts, for the musicians. First and only time I've ever done that! Initially, we had all the musicians playing together. Sounded terrible. We ended up doing one instrument at a time.”
Green Gartside: The mighty Paul Jackson Jnr on guitar. He worked with The Jacksons and Michael on Destiny, Triumph, Thriller and Bad, so... you know... GODDAM! I remember his slight discomfiture at my earrings and Marxism. Will Lee played bass. He was in the David Letterman band at the time. So yes, I did feel beyond terrifyingly inadequate in that company.”
Following a reissue process overseen by Green Gartside the band's acclaimed albums Cupid & Psyche 85 and Anomie & Bonhomie are out now on vinyl.
You can buy them here: scrittipolitti...

[@gjv2234]

This album was way ahead of its time. Sublime.

[@Gianfranco_69]

Its that syrupy midi synch.... loved this production style BITD

[@MILESDEBRA]

No doubt. I know her word to the songs. Still dig it. Where are they from ?

[@dj-ak2912]

@@MILESDEBRAfrom the uk 🇬🇧

[@user-kl4bh4lq6r]

Love the Nike track top I have got one now

[@Zekaem1963]

Yes!

[@walterweber5293]

completely underrated. It's 2024 and it still sounds brilliant.

[@progchick1]

Had this on cassette in the 80's. In my car tonight in 2024. Sublime music ❤ Sublime Music ❤️

[@parralox]

It’s only pure genius. This song sounds as brilliant as day one ❤️🎹❤️

[@EugeneL1956]

One of the outstanding songs of the 80s.

[@SamUrtonDesign]

The entire album though.

[@RicardoMartinez-oh9sq]

In the Eighties quality pop was made only in Great Britain.

[@GhostofSirJoh]

Still great song after nearly 40yrs...back when we all looked good

[@antonchristian873]

I'd forgotten just how good this band was ! brilliant stuff.

[@RicardoMartinez-oh9sq]

Now I am realizing that ever since the Beatles' Rubber Soul all quality British pop music is inescapably a little psychedelic, as this track is.

[@kellym2764]

Absolutely my favorite song by Scritti Politti! 💚

[@MrCheeserBoy]

Cupid & Psyche 85: brilliant album which never ages. Green is an "absolute" genius. This track in particular makes me very nostalgic. The synth chord sequences on the chorus are amazing.

[@itsjonathangray]

SCRITTI POLITTI'S MUSIC > EVERYTHING

[@robocop5935]

Scritti poliiti are way ahead of their time. Sounds even fresh in 2023.

[@Cirathos]

No, it does not

[@progchick1]

And in 2024. Blasted this gem out in my car today 👌

[@iunnox666]

They're exactly in their time. It does not get more 80s than this.

[@hejsanhejda1921]

This song is jewel of the 80th / Cette chanson est un bijou des années 80

[@laetitialogan2017]

Happier times..bliss ❤❤❤

[@stephenshearwood]

absolutely flawless pop song

[@MichaelRose-ye7ev]

One of the best songs of the 80s

[@FreddieFreethinking]

Absolute One Of The Greatest Popsongs Ever Recorded. 1️⃣👌

[@itsjonathangray]

ABSOLUTELY! 😎

[@davidmccormack9566]

In total agreement

[@karagaian5475]

👍💛

[@davecoalwood9487]

👍👌

[@chamberslesley]

saw him saturday his still got it

[@markemsworth4235]

Born in 1972. this very first album purchase. I didn't know it then - but I was way ahead of my time.

[@desalley]

Saw Green and the current incarnation of Scritti supporting OMD at Hammersmith Apollo last night. They were brilliant despite not having the best sound setup. The voice is still there and the songs are everlasting classics 👍🏻🎵🎹🎸

[@oogieboogie848]

OMD should have been opening up for Scritti!

[@whutzat]

@@oogieboogie848 I was about to say that!

[@spiritofthestaircase]

Me too. They were fab despite being seriously let down by the sound techs

[@brendanboone7594]

Scritti Politti is one of my favorite bands and one of the best!!!! This song for sure says it all.

[@itsjonathangray]

Lyrics: Absolute on power drive I need you so to keep me alive Absolute, I long for you A girl to make a dream come true Oh baby, understand Absolute on power drive I need you so to keep me alive Absolute, I long for you A girl to make a dream come true Absolute, a principal To make your heart invincible To love (do do-do-do) (Ooh! Love you) (Ooh! Love you) (Ooh and I love you) (Ooh and I love you) Holy girl, your lips of clay Will whisper words of yesterday Holy girl, my paramour I know too much to be so sure Holy girl, you kiss away The meaning of the working day For love (do do-do-do) (Ooh! Love you) (Ooh! Love you) (Ooh and I love you) (Ooh and I love you) Where the words are worn away We live to love another day Where the words are hard and fast We talk of nothing new but the past (Ooh! Love) (Ooh! Love) (Ooh and I love) (Ooh and I love you) Where the words are vodka clear Forgetfulness has brought us near Absolute, a principal To make your heart invincible To love, near To love, oh To love (Love you) And I love you (Love) (Love you) (Love) Absolute (Love you) And I love you (Love) (Love you) (Love) Absolute (Love you) And I love you (Love) (Love you) (Love) Absolute (Love you) And I love you (Love) (Love you) (Love) Absolute (Love you) And I love you (Love) (Love you) (Love) Absolute

[@CharlesMichaelSidwell]

I love the unity displayed in this video: something you don't see much of in today's societal climate.

[@Eggnoodlesandketchup3]

Timeless brilliance

[@nicoladouglas3270]

Beautiful song.. Beautiful man...love it...❤

[@alisonsloan-c1h]

Reminds me when I was 19 loved it brilliant better than the music today .

[@pauldevenish]

As per-usual from Scritti Politti, the song strings itself to this pure melody from the first note. I have to thank my Dad for introducing me to this band, Cupid & Psyche 85 being one heck of an album.

[@kimleitch544]

What a song .LEGEND

[@dazronch5450]

Green is one my favourite 80s artists he still sounds great today .

[@miked3168]

I can only imagine the gems that Green hasn't released to us yet. I hope he does one day.

[@tommoss2005]

Sounds of the 80s. Takes me back.

[@BrendanPramjee]

Perfection man! Never ever get tired of listening to the gem! Just escaping to the wonderful memories of growing up in the 80's. Just a magical creative time .. I think we peaked in the 80's as a human race

[@christredwell5137]

What A band and did buy most of there albums back in the 80s and come across Songs To Remember & White Bread Black Beer so far and still looking for the others and will find them eventually and put them together. It was one of my favorite bands and can listen to them on you tube while Finding Them and Enjoyed Dancing And Listening To Them. Magical !!!!!!!!! Chris Tredwell Birmingham UK

[@allanrobertson2401]

Reminds me of '85 long hot summer nights. Car windows down and the coolest music playing...bliss

[@mzpinkeyez407]

When we had teen nightclub's with no cell phones ect... We all got along and made our own fun!!. The only device or anything like that would have been a VHS handheld cam recording the memories!. I still have some that my kids got a good laugh at!!.😅

[@theoriginalbluey]

This tune NEVER gets old! I hope the world will catch up and one day the charts will be this good again haha. Look Green is even wearing a Nike Windbreaker = timeless!

[@amyjeffs3269]

blimey..was just thinking exactly this!..Green so far ahead of his time, hes still in fashion 40 years on!

[@RicardoMartinez-oh9sq]

Take a look at today's pop music, it is so mediocre compared to this, empty of content and irritatingly superficial, as if designed by advertising experts and not aesthetes like all these British bands were back then, including Echo and the Bunnymen, The Smiths and so many others.

[@theoriginalbluey]

So true! I think my favourite recent album was... by OMD! Saw Echo and the Bunnymen on their recent tour - really fantastic! @@RicardoMartinez-oh9sq

[@PaulPlaysPiano954]

One of all-time favorite songs from the 80s. Danced to this a million times! And Hypnotize, Perfect Way, and Wood Beez

[@hollyw1521]

Made my way down the Scritti rabbit hole a few weeks ago and still haven't emerged. Great memories and music 🎶!

[@Gianfranco_69]

Nike windrunner..... it was an obsession when i was in secondary school,i had maybe 3 in different colors

[@mariainez7327]

Blah blahhh too much yapping! Get a job loser old lady 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@hollyw1521]

@@mariainez7327 jealous much???😪😪

[@trevorbishop2653]

Brilliant 🎉

[@trevorbishop2653]

Have a nice day

[@paulmatthews7419]

Voice like velvet; lyrics to match. Absolute genius…

[@RetroReminiscing]

Brilliant!! Great start to my weekend and morning!

[@tylerlogan8867]

the fact that this song goes hard as hell while having a gamelan-inspired section and is about Kantian moral philosophy... obsessed

[@joshuaedwards4536]

This song was, and still is🔥🔥🔥 💥💥💣💣

[@velvetclaw2316]

So ahead of the the game .. beautiful and brilliant

[@SamUrtonDesign]

This video is actually amazing in that it really does give a glimpse of what mid 80's clubbing was like in London. Except for the entire band being on stage (that was only for the video) - it would have been a DJ (even back then). But the crowd was exactly this - early London B-Boys, trendies, buffalo gals & guys, Ray Petri ificianados, casuals, and wanna' beez. This is how I remember it. The drug references predate ecstasy culture in the UK, although it was already going on in the US when they made this. Such a great record, and a great time to be young and part of this scene.

[@emo7237]

usa's 80's "club" or any social &/or dance scene was either mostly white or mostly black . In the 90s & into the early 2000s there was more mixing of colors and ethnicities , thank heavens . recently & today i can't tell you , I've been a recluse for 13 years . But im up out of my chair dancing with myself . great tune !

[@ajs41]

Are you sure it was filmed in London? I'm English and the people on this video look more like typical New Yorkers to me in terms of their attitude, style, demeanour, etc. I know Green Gartside was inspired by living in New York to make this album and song. Or it may have been filmed in London with a mixture of British and American clubbers. But it doesn't look like a 100% British crowd to me.

[@emo7237]

@@ajs41 i'm american , i went to nyc a couple times around the time of this video , and i can tell you that in London clubbing , bar hopping, dancing, any sort of youth socializing was far more integrated in London than it was nyc. and "club" music like this didn't even exist in the states yet !

[@simon5005]

Ditto for Dallas, Texas at The Village Station...........best days of my life!!!!!!

[@SamUrtonDesign]

@@ajs41 Definitely NOT Americans, and not NYC. I was clubbing in London (I'm also half British/American & grew up both places), and this comes pretty close to the mix you'd see, post New Romantics/pre rave (so like 1985-ish). I used to go to the Mud Club, Wag, Electric Ballroom, Taboo, & various other one off nights in SOHO. It was sort of a strange couple of years - everybody seemed to be waiting for The Next Big Thing. There was a brief Go-Go craze in 85-86, then some house music started to trickle in by 86-87, and we all know what happened after that...

[@FreddieFreethinking]

An Absolute Music Masterpiece. 1️⃣

[@vwgti3414]

Ahh...the 80's...🥰🥰

[@FreddieFreethinking]

The First Half Of The 1980s Were A Truly Innovative Period In Music History. So Much Happened In Music Then. This Masterpiece Is The Proof Of That.

[@AnhNgo-vh6sn]

🥰🥰🥰🥰 Another awesome song from Scritti Politti.

[@randomnesspersonified]

The way this world is going, thank God for the ability to travel back in time, just for a few minutes, via fantastic songs, to what were better days for me (and probably a lot of other people too). Thanks for the music, and the memories, Scritti Politti!

[@nancysmith8626]

Amen.

[@andrewwatitsch3327]

The production on this song is just amazing

[@bp7495]

A great song with legends Arif Mardin producing and The System's David Frank programming synths - this was a magic formula

[@ERROL007]

They where using the latest technology to the max. I remember I was around 18/19 playing bass in a little band with my mates. This and Script and a few other artists blowing everyone away in our opinions. You mentioned The System, Shannon's album was also excellent.

[@JackBobsonOfficial]

And Gary Langan, with JJ Jezcalik doing programming on the remix

[@80ssynthfan48]

David Frank?? Hell yeah. Awesome.

[@strictlynorton]

Dave Frank is a boss synth man... criminally un-sung, like his band the System. A real electro pioneer.

[@hallson2917]

One ot he best records from the 80`s sound still fresh!

[@lizzylizzy6312]

I absolutely love this song! Brings back memories when I used to sing into my hairbrush, wishing I was on stage with them. 🖤🎤🎶❤️

[@funkysexy69]

Timeless Classic! 💯 LOVED Greens's vocals!! 😍🎤🎶 Still sounding fresh! 😎🤙🏽 #Dancefloorfiller! 🕺🏾💃🏾

[@accordionSWE]

Great times and great music 👍

[@geekpie100]

I took my Cupid and Psyche cassette to Germany when I taught English in a Gymnasium in 1987. I listened to it every day - no TV, my cassette-radio was my entertainment. It was the high-point of what you could do with a synth.

[@tamwam71]

最高の歌声と音楽で何年たっで美しいです。

[@sharonstanley9001]

Just as fantastic as it ever was! ❤

[@bovythierry7551]

Excellent .....malgré les années passées c est toujours aussi bon ...

[@karnbass]

Just saw them with OMD in Bournemouth and Green's voice is 100% as good as it was in 1985. Try and see them if you can , they were brilliant. Difference is he now looks well hard & not a touch of eyeliner in sight.

[@emo7237]

Yeah he does look androgynous in this video . I actually thought he might be a female the first time I heard this song, his voice is high and delicate in a good way, of course. its a good contrast to the funky house dance music in this song

[@vannjunkin8041]

Yeah I've heard he looks like a regular bloke now

[@kevinprior3549]

Absolute on power drive I need you so to keep me alive Absolute, I long for you A girl to make a dream come true Oh baby, understand Absolute on power drive I need you so to keep me alive Absolute, I long for you A girl to make a dream come true Absolute, a principal To make your heart invincible To love (do do-do-do) (Ooh! Love you) (Ooh! Love you) (Ooh and I love you) (Ooh and I love you) Holy girl, your lips of clay Will whisper words of yesterday Holy girl, my paramour I know too much to be so sure Holy girl, you kiss away The meaning of the working day For love (do do-do-do) (Ooh! Love you) (Ooh! Love you) (Ooh and I love you) (Ooh and I love you) Where the words are worn away We live to love another day Where the words are hard and fast We talk of nothing new but the past (Ooh! Love) (Ooh! Love) (Ooh and I love) (Ooh and I love you) Where the words are vodka clear Forgetfulness has brought us near Absolute, a principal To make your heart invincible To love, near To love, oh To love (Love you) And I love you (Love) (Love you) (Love) Absolute (Love you) And I love you (Love) (Love you) (Love) Absolute (Love you) And I love you (Love) (Love you) (Love) Absolute (Love you) And I love you (Love) (Love you) (Love) Absolute (Love you) And I love you (Love) (Love you) (Love) Absolute

[@oogieboogie848]

Thank you!

[@wojciuirl]

Best of the best of our 80'

[@FreddieFreethinking]

1984 Was A Great Year In Music History. Enjoy.! 🙌

[@neilquinn1499]

I saw scritti politti on Wednesday night in gateshead sounds as fresh as it did in the 80s

[@itsjonathangray]

Wow!!! You are so lucky to have seen them play live. What I'd give for that privilege... 😭

[@abrahamjosuehernandez5854]

Miss 80's music, love afro people they always put the wave to dance.

[@Nathalie-abc]

Simply ECLECTIC... I Loved Scritti Politti & their Exquisite songs... ( I had such a crush (☺️) on Green Gartside, back in the 80 s) Their music is Timeless... Simply Phenomenal 🌻🌷♥️

[@Iljinarchive]

I love Scritti Politti.

[@jm252]

Brilliant Tune! Not aged at all! Loved back then and still love it now! :-)

[@vannjunkin8041]

here's one that came out in the 80s that I missed.. luckily though I back cataloged and found about 3 years ago love it

[@tinkler4]

Omg. How amazing is this track. Always thought this song was ahead of its time. Such a jam, just love it! Perfect Way, next? Lol

[@jaybee7876]

oooh look! This Friday!

[@tinkler4]

@@jaybee7876 Oh yes! Thanks for that! Better click that reminder lol 😁👍🏼

[@tinkler4]

@@jaybee7876 I’m also waiting for ‘Oh Patti’ in HD too. Lol

[@openyourheart5745]

An underrated great song!!

[@valterscotto]

Con questa bellissima canzone mi rivedo in discoteca a ballarla con i miei amici 😘😘👍😊

[@TheMilfordboy]

Perfection !!!

[@rebels42wynn83]

I remember this awesome group. Their music is still so timeless to listen too. FYI: Green was pretty hot to me.

[@bp6329]

i hope by now you've been and had your eyes tested.

[@THEYOGAFACE]

so hot. and the music was too .

[@bp6329]

@David Mander i'll write whatever i like, get over it.

[@peteh4666]

Did my Leaving cert exams exactly 40 years ago in 1984. Great music back then, blasted plenty of it out on my Toshiba RT-100S ghetto blaster just to keep me sane during that last year in school!

[@Eirene30]

Masterpiece!👏

[@bvg83]

Green's voice and the whole song are adorable!🥰

[@rb7007]

The video was ahead of it's time. Looked like a late 80s Rave! Lol Great Song.

[@eugeniawatson1604]

Didn't know I needed this. On repeat now 😊

[@johndaarteest]

Fantastic song. That shell suit pins it in the mid eighties.

[@ronaldmcallister3355]

This song brings back memories of the 80"s

[@michaelerickson7740]

So effing good. Still play it till this day.

[@itsjonathangray]

YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! FINALLY!!! THIS VIDEO HAS DROPPED IN HD! TIME FOR ME TO PARTY!!! 🎉🎉🎉

[@tomennis7414]

Ahhh this was a great Band,rock on Scritti politti

[@rudolfmusic4403]

Beautyfull ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@sarahstewart7929]

Loving the Shakespeare references re-purposed for the 80s party scene. Love-in-idleness eye drops…genius!

[@HarryYT22]

I absolutely love this song! Such a feel good anthem that makes you wanna dance!

[@rogergrigg]

The 'fragility' of Green's voice fits perfect with the 'bang crash wallop percussion'.An 'Absolute Gem' from 84'.

[@russellb5573]

The sound of heaven on Earth... that lifts me to the stars!✨

[@ItsTheGroovePodcast]

A flawless pop song!

[@Carmenetta]

Fabulous song , so many happy memories. ❤

[@rogerstraun818]

I played this song 🎧 for my 11 year old….she went bonkers. Loved 🥰 it

[@tomahzo]

This came out in 1984? Sounds like 1987! Very much a late-80:ies kind of sound. Ahead of the curve for sure!

[@jonblazeinc]

Yes definitely 1984, Scritti politti sound was slightly different by the time they released the next album by 87/88

[@dateddelvings1695]

A truly fantastic song. Gorgeous, or catchy? Why not do both!

[@bobthebarber777]

Only here to comment on "sweetest girl" from the "songs to remember" album: one of the most beautiful songs I ever heard. ♥️🙏

[@garyreed56]

absolute brilliant

[@kimberleygoodings1676]

I was absolutely in love with this when it came out

[@db2805]

Brilliant band love them 😍 xx

[@chrisfentum9305]

Absolutely fresh!

[@ahhhlindsanityyy]

one of my absolute favourite songs!

[@oswaldconjugation3647]

Always loved that percussive section at 1:51 - never realised it was inspired by gamelan!

[@stellaVista]

That part always reminded me of Change from Tears For Fears (the whole song is basically a gamelan groove) and Blancmange´s Feel Me has almost exactly the same interlude. Both songs predate Scritti going pop by a few years.

[@oswaldconjugation3647]

@@stellaVista Just listened to 'Change' - I'd forgotten that one - and 'Feel me' is a song that I hadn't heard before (and I'm a bit of a Blancmange fan), so thanks for that! Looking back, I wonder if there's a case to be made for eastern influences in eighties pop. Blancmange certainly had some middle-eastern-sounding tunes going on. Or maybe it was just part of a more general sort of cosmopolitanism going on (e.g. marimbas seem to crop on a number of hit songs from that time).

[@stellaVista]

@@oswaldconjugation3647 Every song is better with marimbas! I´m glad you discovered this Blancmange gem (it´s one of my favourites by them...that bassline and the call-and-response with the backing singers is amazing.) Early Blancmange was quite a bit influenced by Talking Heads. I once read that the record company suggested to invite tabla player Pandit Dinesh during the recording of Living On The Ceiling. In the end they claimed that it had turned into a completely different song thanks to the Indian influence.

[@Gianfranco_69]

Nothing screams the 80s more than rocking a Nike "Windrunner" jacket....or if your cold its fleece lined winter version...

[@lewisner]

Or a pair of Pepe jeans with the plastic keyholder on your waistband.

[@purpleprose1967]

I thought he was wearing a shellsuit! lol

[@sallyjoan]

@@purpleprose1967 get glasses then, sounds like you need them.

[@user-ru5ft9ii4w]

I thought I was great in my Patrick Kagool around the same time🫣

[@Gianfranco_69]

@@user-ru5ft9ii4w that was a Fresh item for a while as well !! ,back when Kappa was decent brand 'Robe di Kappa' rain jackets to school ,kids today dont even now how fresh it got,you had to KNOW where the shops were,today its just a smartphone and a name.....2 easy you had to put some effort in to be a 'Top Boy' in the 80s

[@adrianions2805]

Sublime GREEN WITH YOUR BAND QUALITY!MEMORABLE🎉😅❤