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Our friends over at power-ballad loving club sensation Ultimate Power are throwing a Halloween party and to get you in the mood for All Hallows' Even they have taken the time to put together a whopping 26 song 'Ultimate Power Guide to Halloween' mixtape...
Meatloaf – 'Bat Out Of Hell'
Quite literally, the ultimate Halloween power ballad. What more do you want?! (You Tube)
Aerosmith – 'I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing'
I’ve never seen the film Armageddon but I’ve lost my voice singing along to this anthem at many an UP night. (You Tube)
Meatloaf – 'I‘d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That)'
Has been voted the greatest and worst song ever recorded. Quite simply a master class in composition. At nearly twelve and a half minutes, this is probably the greatest love song ever written. Born out of a love for the Doors and the White album, this piece of music, conjures up worlds that neither you or I could ever escape to on our own. Todd Rundgren singing all over this bad boy is the icing on Meatloaf for me. To conclude, the perfect song, from the most perfect of performers.
Guns N Roses – 'November Rain'
This song is pretty much an entire 2 hour action film condensed into 9mins and who hasn’t at least once in their life pretended to be Slash playing a guitar on top of a cliff outside a church the size of a mini cooper?
Bon Jovi - 'Always'
"This Romeo is bleeding, but you can't see his blood"-the greatest opening couplet since Wordsworth opens this tour de force, arguably the finest of Jovi's compositions, released on the crossroads greatest hits album which literally everyone in the western world owns. One of the greatest solos ever: ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Richie Sambora. (You Tube>
John Farnham – 'You’re The Voice'
This songs often provokes looks of confused recognition at the beginning but by the time the chorus kicks everyone seems to know the lyrics to “Oh-o-o-o, whoa-o-o-o!” (You Tube)
Journey – 'Don’t Stop Believing'
How can you argue with a song that’s been featured in both the final ever episode of The Sopranos and sung by the cast of Family Guy? The emotional resonance of this song always leads to me falling off the stage when I’m singing along to it at UP. (You Tube)
Bryan Adams – '(Everything I Do) I Do It For You'
Number 1 for about 3 years & deservedly so-quite simply one of the greatest songs ever written. Musically it's got it all & the package is completed with the 'band in a forest' video, Adams resplendent in stonewashed denim. Amazing.
Avril Lavigne - 'I'm With You'
Somewhat overlooked at the time of release, this has become a modern classic-the closing 'I’m with you's at the perfect pitch for drunken shouting & air punching. Fit too, obviously. (You Tube)
Cutting Crew – '(I Just) Died In Your Arms'
We’ve all been there, eight pints of Stella in, this song comes on and you start putting your tongue down your best mate’s throat. Or is that just me?
So OK, Jefferson Airplane might have been cool with the hippies of the late 60s, but godamn, they nailed the 80s (under the new name Starship) with this slice of Diane Warren penned brilliance taken from the movie Mannequin. The flick’s like a soft porn Pinocchio with Kim Cattrall. (You Tube)
The Cars - 'Drive'
The late great Benjamin Orr takes vocal duties away from Ric Ocasek on this track. This is one of The Cars more commercial moments taken from the album Heartbeat City. This gets lighters in the air even with the smoking ban. (You Tube)
T’pau – 'China In Your Hands'
You have to love false endings in Power Balladry. The crowd always goes wild at 2.30 as this tune fades. Only to treated to a fade in to a PB staple. A massive Sax Solo!!!! Awesome. (You Tube)
Mister Mister - 'Broken Wings'
Leaving aside the question of how brilliant it would be if your surname actually was mister, this is a classic of the genre-twinkly synths, emotive lyrics & truckloads of reverb. (You Tube)
Sinead O’Connor – 'Nothing Compares To You'
The only time I've ever cried when listening to music. Her interpretation of his words are too beautiful to describe. (You Tube)
Phil Collins - 'I Wish It Would Rain Down'
Opening 2 seconds=amazing, Clapton on guitar=amazing, Collins on drums=amazing, synth bass=amazing, closing Collins vocals=amazing, 8 minute long video=amazing. In conclusion: amazing. (You Tube)
Heart - 'Alone'
The video to this one pretty speaks for itself, everyone loves a sing along and so does our mate Paul.
Starship – 'Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now'
John Waite – 'Missing You'
The song I wish I had of written when I was younger. I would have fucked a lot more hot chicks! (You Tube)
Eric Carmen – 'Hungry Eyes'
The soundtrack to an entire generation of doe eyed woman. As important to our generation as 'Can't Explain' & 'London Calling' were to others. (You Tube)
Train – 'Drops Of Jupiter'
The song sounds like it should have been recorded in the late 70s, maybe by Elton John, maybe for Madman across the Water. Overtly American Kitsch, overly romantic... A perfect slice of American FM rock. Makes me dance my ass off. (You Tube)
The Darkness – 'Love Is Only A Feeling'
The best modern effort in my mind. Tonnes of guitars, keyboard flourishes that you only notice on repeat listens and, more importantly, was recorded in a cave! (You Tube)
David Brent – 'If You Don’t Know Me'
What can I say – David Brent is a pop icon and yes we have actually played this out as well as 'One Track Lover' from Garth Merenghi’s Darkplace, also a tune. (You Tube)
Toto – 'Africa'
Everybody loves Toto whether they realise it or whether they will even ever admit it. “Hold The Line”, “Rosanna” and “Africa” are all monster songs and deserve to be saved from the grasps of Magic FM. (You Tube)
Steve Perry – 'Oh Sherrie'
Journey front man hits the chart heights nearly everywhere in the world when this was released in 1984. However, it’s a unknown gem in the UK that gets an early playing at UP but it’s one of the tunes that defines what a power ballad really is. (You Tube)
Miles Davies – 'Time After Time'
Cyndi Lauper’s 'Time After Time' is probably the greatest song ever written, we play it at every UP night. Miles Davies’ fantastically cheesy version was played at our very first UP night in 2006 and has started almost every night we’ve put on since. (you Tube)
-Def Lepard -'When Love and Hate Collide'
Massively under rated song by Sheffield's finest. Fuck the Arctic Monkeys, Pulp and Richard Hawley. This is true British steel at its finest...and I for one, have never figured out when the chorus begins and ends; also contains one of the best bridges in recorded music... (You Tube)
Take a look at the trailer for the Bat Out of Helloween Ultimate Power night on the 31st of October at Camden's Monarch. It’s immense.
