Monday, April 6, 2015

CAFFE` LATTE` TOP 2000 TRACKS
THE TOP 100
#20 I FEEL LOVE
DONNA SUMMER
(1977)
Writers: Donna Summer; Giorgio Moroder & Pete Bellotte
When "I Feel Love" was unleashed in 1977, few would have foreseen the extensive and long lasting impact the recording would have on dance music. The song was included on Donna Summer's 'I Remember Yesterday' album. The new collection  of tracks featured a variety of musical styles but the standout is no doubt "I Feel Love". 
The performer co-wrote it with her producers Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte. During an interview, Summer explained to me how the track evolved during the process. Moroder had a demo that he played for Summer and Bellotte at the singer's home. "We thought... this is phenomenal!" explained the singer. "We began to write a whole other song... we started singing it through and we thought... this is too much; too many words... We threw the words out and we ad-libbed in 1 line and it just seemed to fit. We said:... let's keep it simple and it proved to be the right decision".
"I Feel Love" was recorded in Munich. Keith Forsey contributed drums and percussion. Among the backing vocalists were Casablanca labelmates Patti Brooks and the group The Brooklyn Dreams. Summer married 1 of its members, Bruce Sudano 3 years later. 
Summer reflected on the final cut of the song: "I knew that for us it felt innovative and cutting edge and that it would have the presence that it's had". Audiences around the world agreed with her at the time. "I Feel Love" reached #1 in Britain, Europe and Australia. In the USA, the single peaked at #6 Pop, 9 R&B and topped the Disco Chart.  
Of all of Summer's hits, "I Feel Love" has possibly been the most remixed. In 1982, the song returned to the charts via a remix by Patrick Cowley. Other remixes charted in 1995 and 2012. The original version has been sampled and imitated on countless songs, particularly in the dance genres. 
Its releaae was a milestone in the story of disco. The track, with its minimalistic lyrics and relentlessly pulsating beat, opened a new direction for the sound of dance music. It shaped where club music would go for subsequent decades and helped inspire techno. 
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. 
Each week, 2 new songs from the remaining Top 100 are added, while another 2 are also included from positions 1501-2000 on the other weekdays. Check back here for an update of the 2000.

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