Cars & Girls: Synth-Pop & Sophisti-Pop by The Smooth Operators

Jessie Ware

Sophisti-pop is a sub-genre of pop that especially flourished in the UK between the mid-1980s and early 1990s, incorporating elements of rock, jazz, new wave, and blue-eyed soul. The genre made extensive use of electronic keyboards, synthesizers, and polished arrangements, particularly horn sections.

The Human League moved from electro pop to sophisti-pop in 1986, when they released 'Crash'. ‘Human’ was written and produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis (Janet Jackson, S.OS. Band). It reached the number one position on the Billboard Hot 100 in the late summer of 1986. The Human League influenced all kinds of electro based artists (especially their album 'Dare'), like Lady Gaga and David Bowie. The latter once referred to them as "the future of pop music". Since 1987 the group has essentially been a trio of singer Phil Oakey and long-serving female vocalists Joanne Catherall and Susan Ann Sulley (both of whom joined the band in 1980), with various sidemen.

Enjoy Cars & Girls by The Smooth Operators!

Tracklist:

The Human League – Human (1986)
Allie X – That’s So Us (2017)
Client Liason – Off White Limousine (2016)
Prince & The Revolution – Take Me With U (1984)
Josef Salvat – Open Season (2014)
The Cars – Drive (1984)
Little Cub – Too Much Love (2017)
Wham! – Blue (Armed With Love) (1983)
Rhye – Hunger (2013)
Michael Franks – Let Me Count The Ways (1985)
Germans – Wonderhow (2017)
Kane Gang – Closest Thing To Heaven (1985)
Roman a Clef – Roman Clay (27 BC) (2015)
Simply Red – Money’s Too Tight To Mention (1985)
Fox The Fox – Precious Little Diamond (1984)
Childhood – Monitor (2017)
Jessie Ware – Running (2012)
Tears For Fears – Advice For The Young At Heart (1989)
Ricky Hollywood – Salut (2017)
Thompson Twins – Love On Your Side (1983)