Wednesday, November 19, 2014

CAFFE` LATTE` TOP 2000 TRACKS

#105 WAITING FOR A GIRL LIKE YOU Foreigner
The rock group Foreigner crafted "Waiting for a Girl Like You", 1 of the best power ballads of the early 1980s. Guitarist Mick Jones drew inspiration from his wife as he started the writing process. Vocalist Lou Gramm's contribution led to it developing a chorus and helped bring it all to fruition.  The track was co-produced by Jones with Robert John "Mutt" Lange. Thomas Dolby, who would soon enjoy solo success with singles that included "She Blinded Me With Science" and "Hyperactive", is prominent on the synthesizer. The ballad was included on the band's '4' album, released in 1981 on Atlantic Records. 
"Urgent" and "Juke Box Hero" were the 1st 2 tracks lifted as singles off the LP. "Waiting..." became the biggest hit from '4'. In the USA, the song's 10 weeks parked in the runner-up position has the dubious distinction of the most weeks peaking at #2. It was kept out of the #1 spot by Olivia Newton-John's "Physical" for 9 weeks. The following week, "Waiting..." was leapfrogged by the Hall & Oates chart-topper "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)". The power ballad also peaked at #2 in Canada (where "Urgent" had climbed to the top), reached #3 in Australia and became the American/ British group's 1st Top 10 hit in the UK. 
The relationship between the song's 2 writers became strained in the late Eighties. Gramm quit the band in 1989 and focused on his solo career. Jones branched out as a record producer for other acts, including Billy Joel, Van Halen and Tina Arena.  
When both Gramm and Jones' solo albums were noticeably failing to attract significant sales, Atlantic Records convinced the 2 to resolve their differences. Foreigner recorded new songs for a 1992 compilation album which then led to a longer term re-union when Gramm returned to the fold. 
His time in the group was interrupted again 5 years later when he was diagnosed with a brain tumour. A slow recovery followed, but Gramm rejoined Foreigner on the road in 1999. Early in the 2000s, Gramm decided to leave the band once again. He continues, as does Foreigner, to tour around the world.
 
This is a list made up of the songs I enjoy the most, ranked in order of preference: the higher we go, the more I cherish them. Some were released as singles, others as album tracks. Some are obscure; others were worldwide hits or have universal appeal. They aren't always the most famous or popular, but simply a personal choice. I have excluded songs from the last few years in order to get a better idea of a song's lasting impression. I hope you find some new tracks to love, or re-discover some past favourites.
A new song from the Top 2000 is added each day, while another 2 are also included from positions 1501-2000 daily. Check back here every 12 hours for an update of the 2000.

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