Perfect Way

Album: Cupid & Psyche '85 (1985)
Charted: 48 11
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Songfacts®:

  • This song was Scritti Politti's only major hit in the US, although they had several hits in the UK. Scritti Politti is the British trio of Fred Maher, Green Gartside and David Gamson. "Scritti Politti" translates to "Political Writing" in Italian. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Graham - Huddersfield, England
  • An instrumental version was later recorded by Jazz trumpeter Miles Davis (who featured on their 1988 hit "Oh Patti (Don't Feel Sorry For Loverboy)") for his 1986 album Tutu. George Cole, author of The Last Miles: The Music of Miles Davis, 1980-1991, explains: "When Miles was recording the Tutu album, producer Tommy LiPuma thought the album needed a cover version, so he gave Miles lots of pop albums to listen to – Miles selected Scritti Politti's 'Perfect Way.' In fact, Miles liked the tune so much, that he originally planned to make it the title track. Miles later became friends with singer Green Gartside and played on the Scritti Politti track 'Oh Patti.' He even appeared in the music video. I have to admit that the album version of 'Perfect Way' is not one of my most favorite of Miles's tunes and the rather mechanical rhythm track restricts what Miles can do with it. However, the live version was more fluid and included a nice call-and-response section featuring Miles and the bass player." (read our interview with George Cole)

Comments: 5

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn this day in 1985 {December 29th} Scritti Politti performed "Perfect Way" on the ABC-TV Saturday-afternoon program, 'American Bandstand'...
    Two weeks earlier "Perfect Way" peaked at #11 {for 1 week} on Billboard's Top 100 chart, and it spent almost a half-year on the Top 100 {25 weeks}...
    It reached #6 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs chart...
    And on the same 'Bandstand' show the British band also performed "Wood Beez", it peaked at #91 on the Top 100 in 1984...
    Besides the above two records, they had one other Top 100 record, "Boom, There She Was"*, it reached #53 in 1988...
    * "Boom There She Was" was a duet featuring Roger Troutman...
  • Robert from Zanesville, OhOne of the better songs of '85; also heard Green supply vocals on Wrap It Up, from Eurythmics debut
    album in 1983.
  • Kristin from Bessemer, AlTakes me back to my JUNIOR year in College - in 1985
  • Eddie from Acton, MeTakes me back to my sophomore year in '85
  • Dave from Cardiff, WalesScritti Politti had four big hits in the UK between 1984 and 1988 - this was not one of them. "Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin)" UK No. 10, "Absolute" UK No. 17, - both 1984 - "The Word Girl" UK No. 6 - in 1985 - and "Oh Patti (Don't Feel Sorry For Loverboy)", an unlikely collaboration with the legendary jazz trumpeter Miles Davis, UK No. 13 - in 1988. Released as a follow-up to "The Word Girl" in 1985, it did not chart in the UK, but was a surprise hit in the US
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