"Perfect Way"
Single by Scritti Politti
from the album Cupid & Psyche 85
Released27 August 1985 (1985-08-27)
Genre
Length4:33 (album version)
4:02 (single version)
LabelVirgin (UK) / Warner Bros. (US)
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Scritti Politti singles chronology
"The Word Girl"
(1985)		 "Perfect Way"
(1985)		 "Oh Patti (Don't Feel Sorry for Loverboy)"
(1988)
Official video
"Perfect Way" on YouTube

"Perfect Way" is a song written by Green Gartside and David Gamson[1] 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.

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),[2] but in the US "Perfect Way" became Scritti Politti's only hit, reaching No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100.[3] On other US charts, "Perfect Way" reached No. 6 on the Hot Dance/Disco chart.[4] The song was also a minor hit on the Hot Black Singles chart, where it peaked at No. 85.[5] It was also a Top 40 hit in Canada, reaching No. 32 on the RPM Singles chart.

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.[6]

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"."[7]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1986) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[8][9] 75

Year-end charts

Year-end chart (1986) Rank
US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)[10] 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.[11] The song entered Davis' live repertoire and he was recorded playing it live many times.

References

  1. ↑ "Perfect Way by Scritti Politti". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  2. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 486. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  3. ↑ Roberts, David (2001). British Hit Singles & Albums (14th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 393. ISBN 0-85156-156-X.
  4. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 229.
  5. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 515.
  6. ↑ "Scritti Politti - Perfect Way (1985)". IMVDb.com. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  7. ↑ John Leland (September 1985). "Singles". Spin. No. 5. p. 32.
  8. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 267. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  9. ↑ "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – 1985". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  10. ↑ Nielsen Business Media, Inc (27 December 1986). "1986 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 52. p. Y-21. {{cite magazine}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  11. ↑ CMJ New Music Monthly - Feb 2000 N.º 78 p 23 "... The percolating single "Perfect Way" met with US success twice (the second time thanks to Miles Davis' instrumental ..."


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