Wednesday, December 25, 2013

CAFFE` LATTE` 
TOP 1200 CHOICE TRACKS

Mid-week bonus: #670- 668
#670 LADY, WHAT'S YOUR NAME? Swanee
Swanee was an Australian group revolving around lead singer John Swan. He is the half-brother of Jimmy Barnes (ex- Cold Chisel) and step-uncle to TV host and performer David Campbell. Swanee enjoyed success on the pop charts in the singer's adopted home Australia during the years 1979-84. The group first made the domestic chart with "Crazy Dreams" which only reached #68. Swanee waited 2 years for its first Top 5 hit, a remake of "If I Were A Carpenter". "Temporary Heartache" followed it into the Top 20. 
Another ballad was released as the next single. "Lady, What's Your Name?" was written by songwriter/ producers David Skinner and Jon Kennett. The former produced this 1982 #13 hit. It was to be the group's final major success on the pop charts. 
As their hits dried up, Swan was invited to join The Party Boys. In 1987 he was singing lead on their Australian #1 single, a remake of "He's Gonna Step On You Again". In 2000, Swan collaborated with Mark Moffatt to record an album in Nashville. Swanee still do shows intermittently.  

#669 I AM A ROCK Simon & Garfunkel
Simon & Garfunkel spearheaded the folk-rock trend that gathered steam in the wake of their 1965 #1 "The Sounds of Silence". The duo was a consistent visitor to the US Top 40 from that year till 1970. "I Am A Rock" reached #3 in America when it was released in 1966. The track was lifted from their 'Sounds of Silence' LP. Paul Simon penned this song about alienation. It was produced by Bob Johnston. 

#668 UNTIL YOU COME BACK TO ME (THAT'S WHAT I'M GONNA DO) Aretha Franklin
Stevie Wonder co-wrote "Until You Come Back To Me" with Clarence Paul and Morris Broadnax. The singer recorded it in 1967, but the track remained unreleased. He played Aretha Franklin the song and she recorded it in 1973 in New York City. Few artists could improve on a take from Wonder, but the Queen of Soul makes the song her own, thanks to her vocal prowess. She co-produced the remake with Jerry Wexler and Arif Mardin. 
The single reached #3 Pop and #1 R&B in the US and #8 in Canada. It was featured on Franklin's 1974 LP 'Let Me In Your Life'. Wonder's original version finally saw the light of day in 1977 and has been included on various compilations.

No comments:

Post a Comment