Mod-a-Day: Steve Rinaldi

London modster, Steve Rinaldi is a long time session player who's loaned out his ample musical skills to the likes of Squire, The Jetset and the reformed Secret Affair. So, it should come as no surprise that he has produced a couple of the best pop albums of recent years. In 2004 he dropped the deliciously soulful and sweet "What's It All About" with its leadoff track "Happy" featured here. Every track is an orchestrated bit of power pop with smooth, lush vocals and arrangements that are evocative of the late sixties heyday of such pop as The Foundations, Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66, and 5th Dimension. His second album, Bingo, appeared last year and didn't disappoint, delivering a whole slew of original material including two standout tracks: "Goodbye Steve McQueen" a jaunty pop song with blaring trumpets and a lively dancable vibe; and the title track "Bingo" that is a swingin', go-go instrumental.

Rinaldi Sings -- Happy