not sure if it's exactly the kind of thing you mean, but I really like partial circle of fifths in popular music.
in the kinks' dead end street there's a partial circle in the key of A minor, where the verse follows a C / G / Dm / Am pattern (so the next chord is always the fifth tone (note) of the current one). is has a leading quality which becomes really naff after a while, so there's an F chord between the Dm and Am to act as a kind of suspension and stop the circle. have probably explained that dreadfully, my theory sucks.
it's a really overused recording technique but I also love when a sustained vocal note transforms into one played by another instrument.
@4:10
