Perfect Way
1985 single by Scritti Politti
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Perfect Way" is a song written by Green Gartside and David Gamson[3] and performed by the British pop band Scritti Politti. It was featured on the band's second and most successful studio album, Cupid & Psyche 85, released in June 1985. The song features synthesizer in its instrumentation.
.jpg)
- 4:33 (album version)
- 4:02 (single version)
- Virgin (UK)
- Warner Bros. (US)
| "Perfect Way" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| Single by Scritti Politti | ||||
| from the album Cupid & Psyche 85 | ||||
| Released | 27 August 1985 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length |
| |||
| Label |
| |||
| Songwriters | ||||
| Producers |
| |||
| Scritti Politti singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Official video | ||||
| "Perfect Way" on YouTube | ||||
Chart performance
Four singles had already been released in the UK from the album before "Perfect Way" was issued in August 1985. It was only a minor hit in the UK (No. 48),[4] but in the US "Perfect Way" became Scritti Politti's only hit, reaching No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100.[5] On other US charts, "Perfect Way" reached No. 6 on the Hot Dance/Disco chart[6] and No. 85 on the Hot Black Singles chart.[7] In Canada, it reached No. 32 on the RPM singles chart.
Music video
The official music video, which mixes monochrome and colour footage, features musicians performing in the studio, intercut with close-up faces, video effects, and urban scenes, was directed by Paula Greif and Peter Kagan.[8]
The music video features singer and actress Fiona Flanagan and supermodel Veronica Webb.[citation needed]
Critical reception
John Leland of Spin wrote the song was, "a pretty, lightweight pop tune that skips around on a busy electronic groove as feyly as Green's ultrawimp vocals. This is extremely well crafted, but it packs all the punch of a neutered "Sussudio"."[9]
Charts
Weekly charts
| Chart (1986) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[10][11] | 75 |
Year-end charts
| Year-end chart (1986) | Rank |
|---|---|
| US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)[12] | 64 |
Cover versions
An instrumental version of the song was covered by Miles Davis on his 1986 studio album Tutu, providing a second success for the song in the US.[13] The song entered Davis' live repertoire and he was recorded playing it live many times. Davis would make a guest appearance on Scritti Politti's next album Provision (1988), playing trumpet on the hit single "Oh Patti (Don't Feel Sorry For Loverboy)".
