Cherry Red has reissued a number of notable records lately, with this looked-over gem in Terry Hall's career among the best of the commercial failures now given a second chance. First released in 1990, Ultramodern Nursery Rhymes justifies your purchase with "Missing" alone. As of 2000, this song stands as the most moving in Terry's illustrious career ("The food is burning/But we are learning to get by without you/Although we're missing you") by handling the subject of missing an ex-wife with more intelligence, honesty and humor than even Randy Newman's "Miss You".

There are other classic tracks here, including "Beautiful People", "Happy Families", "Hush Hush Baloo" and "Sweet September Sacrifice". This latter song, a seemingly happy-pilled duet between Terry with Blair Booth, is as immediately catchy and joy-inducing as "Thinking of You" (his big smash with the Colourfield), but its greatest strength is in countering the infectious melody with smart, grown up, honest sentiments that celebrate parenthood ("And when the two of us become much bigger/We can buy a babysitter") and all the other preoccupations in Terry's life.

Thus, if you're a fan of his prior work or of his two more recent solo releases, Ultramodern Nursery Rhymes is a must. It's also essential for anybody who's been interested in the recentmovement toward kitsch, as the silly covers on Ultra Modern Nursery Rhymes ("Three Cool Catz", "Love Will Keep Us Together") sound less like jolly throwaways, and more like the historic beginning of the fun and frequently ridiculous movement now led by artists like Lawrence Heyward (Denim, Go Kart Mozart).

That said, the truest, most enduring jewels from Terry, Blair and Anoushka are tracks like "Missing". Whenever a pop song is this good, it serves the mightiest proof for anyone wanting to convince their surroundings that all pop is not disposable, and that the genre can add not merely bounce, but dignity and truth, to our lives. I think Terry Hall's career has proven the importance of the pop song, but I'm very surprised that this record, so quickly forgotten in England, might also be his most definitive artistic statement. I might be alone here, but don't think any of the major artists (Tricky, Damon Albarn) who've cited his influence have ever matched it.