One of my favorite Elton John songs of all time, particularly from his ’80s output, is “I Don’t Wanna Go On With You Like That.”

I do have a soft spot for pop songs with lengthy titles, but I love that “I Don’t Wanna Go On With You Like That” plays as one long ultimatum to a straying lover (“Don’t wanna be a feather in your cap,” “One more set of boots on your welcome mat“). And of course, there’s the prominent piano punctuating Elton’s stand-taking — how about that extended electric ivories bit at the end! — and the metronomic finger-snap, making this one a keeper.

Taken from the album Reg Strikes Back, “I Don’t Wanna Go On With You Like That” peaked at #2 this week in 1988. Elton was kept out of the top spot by fellow Brit and former duet partner George Michael, who’d climbed past him with “Monkey.” (In 1991, the two pals teamed up for for a live recording of Elton’s “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me,” reaching #1 together.)

Purchase Elton John – “I Don’t Wanna Go On With You Like That” via iTunes.