Monday, July 31, 2017

200 Favourite Music Acts. Today: #137: SAM COOKE. Continues tomorrow.
Caffe` Latte`
mix-tapes on Spotify
A new playlist has been added to spotify, featuring a sample of recordings from each of the:
The Caffé Latté
200
FAVOURITE
MUSIC ACTS
Sam Cooke 2.jpg
#137 
SAM COOKE
Sam Cooke was one of soul's most influential vocalists, if not its most significant. He paved the way for the likes of Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder. 
Born in 1931, the youth was initially a gospel artist. He began singing in the church choir and later formed a group with some siblings. In 1950, he became a member of The Soul Stirrers. This group was one of America's leading gospel acts.  
Gospel and secular music were kept apart at this time. Cooke was a star within the former genre, but appreciated pop music. He issued a single in 1956 under the moniker Dale Cook so as not to alienate his gospel audience. This ploy failed and he was fired from The Soul Stirrers. 
Cooke was now liberated and switched his attention to popular music. His solo debut as Sam Cooke was "You Send Me". The single sold 2 million copies and topped the US Pop and R&B charts in 1957.
A string of hit singles featuring Cooke's golden vocal style expanded the audience for soul music. These included "Only Sixteen", "Wonderful World", "Chain Gang", "Cupid" and "Twistin' The Night Away". 
He was an astute businessman too, gaining control of his recordings. Inspired by the folk scene and Bob Dylan in particular, Cooke explored social commentary. "Chain Gang" had started it, but "A Change Is Gonna Come" became a civil rights anthem. Simultaneously, Cooke was developing his own fusion of dance and soul. This can be heard in the track "Shake".
Cooke was poised for even greater success until tragedy intervened. On December 11, 1964 he was shot dead at a Los Angeles motel. The precise circumstances are still unknown and the fact that there was no thorough investigation may have been due to the prejudice directed at African-Americans. In any case, one of pop's most important voices was forever silenced. 


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138 THE DOORS
139 AMY WINEHOUSE
140 PHARRELL WILLIAMS
141 GEORGE BENSON
142 MINNIE RIPERTON
143 VILLAGE PEOPLE
144 CURTIS MAYFIELD
145 FOREIGNER
146 EURYTHMICS
147 TOTO
148 BARRY WHITE
149 CARL RISELEY
150 TONI BRAXTON
151 NEIL DIAMOND
152 HALL & OATES
153 LUTHER VANDROSS
154 ERIC CLAPTON
155 THE O’JAYS
156 RUMER
157 SLY & THE FAMILY STONE
158 LITTLE RICHARD
159 HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES
160 CHRIS ISAAK
161 MICHAEL McDONALD
162 GLORIA GAYNOR
163 TWENTY ONE PILOTS
164 BEN E. KING
165 MEAT LOAF
166 JAMES REYNE
167 JOAN ARMATRADING
168 SADE
169 A-HA
170 GLEN CAMPBELL
171 DIRE STRAITS
172 COLD CHISEL
173 LINDA RONSTADT
174 ANTHONY CALLEA
175 LISA STANSFIELD
176 EN VOGUE
177 MICHAEL BUBLE`
178 TRACY CHAPMAN
179 DRAGON
180 OLETA ADAMS
181 LITTLE RIVER BAND
182 SOPHIE ELLIS – BEXTOR
183 THE RONETTES
184 CERRONE
185 MODELS
186 SCISSOR SISTERS
187 DARREN HAYES
188 PETULA CLARK
189 MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS
190 LIGHTHOUSE FAMILY
191 ART GARFUNKEL
192 THE REELS
193 JANIS IAN
194 JOHN PAUL YOUNG
195 S CLUB 7
196 CHARLIE PUTH
197 THE MARVELETTES
198 ICEHOUSE
199 LEO SAYER
200 LIZA MINNELLI
200 SONGS WITH THE BEST LYRICS. This post: #104: IT'S TOO LATE. Continues: tomorrow.
CAFFE` LATTE` PRESENTS
200 SONGS
WITH THE
BEST LYRICS
A countdown of the 200 songs possessing the best lyrics of all-time. A playlist on spotify will be added at the end of the week.
#104
IT’S TOO LATE
“…There’ll be good times again
for me & you, 
but we just can’t stay together,
don’t you feel it too?
Still I’m glad for what we had
& how I once loved you...
Relationships have been the fodder for many songs; especially their conclusion. Carole King's US #1 hit "It's Too Late" was the lead single from her best selling album 'Tapestry'. Both came out in 1971. 
The lyrics were written by Toni Stern. They deal with an amicable break-up. King composed the music for the track. She sang the words from experience, having ended her marriage with fellow songwriter Gerry Goffin. 
As new songs are covered on this blog, a definitive version will be added to a spotify playlist. Find it and the other Caffé Latté playlists at:

spotify:us3er:alanrosscaffelatte

Sunday, July 30, 2017

200 Favourite Music Acts. Today: #138: THE DOORS. Continues tomorrow.
Caffe` Latte`
mix-tapes on Spotify
A new playlist has been added to spotify, featuring a sample of recordings from each of the:
The Caffé Latté
200
FAVOURITE
MUSIC ACTS
Doors box set.jpg
#138 
THE DOORS
The Doors formed in Los Angeles, arriving on the scene in 1965. Jim Morrison is one of rock music's legendary lead singers. The remainder of the band's line-up consisted of keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore and Robby Krieger on guitar. 
In 1966, the group signed with Elektra Records. Early in the following year, "Light My Fire" was unleashed as well as an eponymous debut album. The LP reached #2 while the single topped the US chart. 
Follow-up album 'Strange Days' peaked at #3. 1968's 'Waiting For The Sun' topped the American albums chart. It included the group's 2nd US #1 hit "Hello, I Love You". 
Other significant Doors songs included "People Are Strange", "Touch Me", "Love Me Two Times", "Love Her Madly" and "Riders On The Storm". As the Sixties approached its end, Morrison's behaviour grew unstable. During a concert in 1969, he was arrested for indecent exposure. 
After recording 'L.A. Woman', Morrison flew to France. On July 3, 1971 he was found dead. Probable cause was ruled to be a drug overdose. The remaining members briefly persevered without him, but disbanded in 1973. Manzarek died of cancer in 2013.   


spotify:user:alanrosscaffelatte

139 AMY WINEHOUSE
140 PHARRELL WILLIAMS
141 GEORGE BENSON
142 MINNIE RIPERTON
143 VILLAGE PEOPLE
144 CURTIS MAYFIELD
145 FOREIGNER
146 EURYTHMICS
147 TOTO
148 BARRY WHITE
149 CARL RISELEY
150 TONI BRAXTON
151 NEIL DIAMOND
152 HALL & OATES
153 LUTHER VANDROSS
154 ERIC CLAPTON
155 THE O’JAYS
156 RUMER
157 SLY & THE FAMILY STONE
158 LITTLE RICHARD
159 HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES
160 CHRIS ISAAK
161 MICHAEL McDONALD
162 GLORIA GAYNOR
163 TWENTY ONE PILOTS
164 BEN E. KING
165 MEAT LOAF
166 JAMES REYNE
167 JOAN ARMATRADING
168 SADE
169 A-HA
170 GLEN CAMPBELL
171 DIRE STRAITS
172 COLD CHISEL
173 LINDA RONSTADT
174 ANTHONY CALLEA
175 LISA STANSFIELD
176 EN VOGUE
177 MICHAEL BUBLE`
178 TRACY CHAPMAN
179 DRAGON
180 OLETA ADAMS
181 LITTLE RIVER BAND
182 SOPHIE ELLIS – BEXTOR
183 THE RONETTES
184 CERRONE
185 MODELS
186 SCISSOR SISTERS
187 DARREN HAYES
188 PETULA CLARK
189 MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS
190 LIGHTHOUSE FAMILY
191 ART GARFUNKEL
192 THE REELS
193 JANIS IAN
194 JOHN PAUL YOUNG
195 S CLUB 7
196 CHARLIE PUTH
197 THE MARVELETTES
198 ICEHOUSE
199 LEO SAYER
200 LIZA MINNELLI
BEFORE THE HIT VERSION. This post: LXXXVI-  OH CAROLINA. Continues: next week.
BEFORE IT WAS A HIT SONG
These songs are well known but you may not know about the earlier attempts to score a hit record with prior versions of the same song.
Oh Carolina
Oh Carolina.jpg
Shaggy's breakthrough came via the single "Oh Carolina". This debut single was issued in 1993. The disc topped the British chart and went Top 5 in some European nations and in New Zealand. The Jamaican-born artist's recording was a remake. 
In 1958, the original version was released in 1958 by the Jamaican trio The Folkes Brothers (sometimes spelt Folks). Shaggy's cover proved to be significantly more successful.
 Image result for oh carolina folkes brothers
Each new song will be added to the spotify playlist named: ‘Before It Was A Hit Song’.  You can check out the previous earlier / original versions of the hit songs you know and love.
The playlist and other Caffe` Latte` selections can be found at:
spotify:user:alanrosscaffelatte
PERFECT POP TOP 200. This post: #120-111. Continues: next week.
Caffe` Latte` presents…
THE 200 MOST ESSENTIAL
PERFECT
POP
SONGS
Sometimes it’s a hook, a gimmick or an irresistible sound. Whatever that special ingredient is, it elevates a track to pop perfection.
Here are 200 unforgettable examples of songs with that wow! factor…

120
BLACK OR WHITE
Michael Jackson
(1991) #1
MJ showed he could still produce great pop in the 1990s with this song. Its positive universal message about equality resonated enough to rush it to #1 in America, the UK, Europe, Canada, Australia, Mexico, New Zealand and Israel.
Michael Jackson - Black or White.png
119
SEXUAL HEALING
Marvin Gaye
(1982) #1
This sexy track revived the legendary R&B singer's career. In the process, its title entered the lexicon. The single went to the top in Canada and New Zealand. It reached #1 on the US R&B chart and #3 Pop. In Britain and Australia it peaked at #4.
Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing 7-inch single.JPG
118
THE WAY WE WERE
Barbra Streisand
(1973) #1
The Oscar winning title song from a film starring the singer and Robert Redford reached #1 in America (where it was the year's top single) and Canada. In Australia, the ballad went Top 10. The song still evokes the past.
Barbra Streisand appears wearing a black shawl around her head with her hand against a wall.
117
HAPPY TOGETHER
The Turtles
(1967) #1
There are tunes that instantly put a bounce in your step and this is definitely one of them. The Turtles reached #1 in America and Canada with this upbeat song about being with the one you love. 
Happy Together (song).jpg
116
WE'VE ONLY JUST BEGUN
The Carpenters
(1970) #1
This single had the unenviable task of following up "Close To You". It proved a worthy choice. With the siblings' harmonies pushed to the fore, this sweet song was endearing enough to top the US Adult Contemporary Chart and peak at #2 Pop. It did make #1 in Canada and went Top 10 in Australia.
 We've Only Just Begun (Single).jpg
115
UMBRELLA
Rihanna 
featuring Jay-Z
(2007) #1
This instantly became the singer's biggest hit. The single reached #1 in America, Britain, Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Its success also raised the profile of collaborator Jay-Z.
Rihanna - Umbrella.png
114
ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL 
(PART 2)
Pink Floyd
(1979) #1
Until 1979, Pink Floyd was essentially an albums-oriented band. This track took the group to the top of the charts in America, Britain, Europe, New Zealand, Israel and South Africa.
PinkFloydAnotherBrickCover.jpg
113
UNCHAINED MELODY
Righteous Brothers
(1965) #1
The duo released its remake of the song in the 1960s and it went Top 10 in many countries. Its use in the box office hit film 'Ghost' exposed the love song to a wider audience. As a result, the track was re-issued in 1991. Second time around, it proved even more popular, reaching #1 in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and parts of Europe.
112
RING RING
Abba
(1973) #1
ABBA's first attempt to represent Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest was with this track. The national heat's judges voted it into 3rd place, defying the public's preference. Swedes rushed to record stores and turned the single into a #1 hit. Even before the group won Eurovision the following year, this upbeat disc made inroads in many countries, including far off Australia. At the time, the release was credited to Bjorn, Benny & Agnetha, Frida. Re-issued after ABBA's Eurovision triumph, the song was a global Top 10 smash.
ABBA - Ring Ring (Original Polar LP).jpg
111
FOOTLOOSE
Kenny Loggins
(1984) #1
This title song from a hit film starring Kevin Bacon topped charts in America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. In Britain, the dance track peaked at #6.
KennyLooginsFootlooseSingle.jpg
Hear the songs as they are added to the playlist available on spotify:

spotify:user:alanrosscaffelatte