Friday, November 30, 2018

FAVE ALBUMS- November 2018.
CAFFE` LATTE`
TOP 10 ALBUMS – NOV. 2018
Barbra Streisand wears a black shall, gazing upward, surrounded by a large stone wall
1  WALLS
Barbra Streisand
NEW
 
2 BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY Queen      6 2
3 IDENTIFICATION Benjamin Ingrosso      1 2
4 UNCHAINED MELODIES Roy Orbison & The RP Orchestra      NEW
5 LOVE Michael Bublé      NEW
6 RAISE VIBRATION Lenny Kravitz      2 3
7 A STAR IS BORN Bradley Cooper & Lady Gaga     4 2
8 EMOTIONS Felix Sandman      NEW
9 IT'S ABOUT TIME Nile Rodgers & Chic      5 3
10 DANCING QUEEN Cher      3 3

THE TIME CAPSULE: STEPPIN' OUT.
This retro segment is updated each weekday. More next week.


<<<THE TIME CAPSULE<<<

STEPPIN’ OUT
Joe Jackson
1982 UK #6; US #6
Trivia: Inspired by his time in New York City, Joe Jackson penned "Steppin' Out" for his 'Night And Day' album. This remains his most successful single in the US and his 2nd highest charting disc in Britain.
 Jjsteppinout.jpg

This regular segment looks back on recordings from the previous century. Check the special Caffé Latté playlist on spotify to rediscover these releases from the distant past.
                                                                                                                                   

Thursday, November 29, 2018

THE LOST SINGLES: SHOULD-A BEEN HITS.
LAIKA.
From this week: updated twice weekly.
THE LOST SINGLES
SHOULD-A BEEN HITS

LAIKA
Hungry Hearts featuring Lisa Dillan
2016
One of the finalists in the Norwegian selections for the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest was "Laika". The song is named after the first animal to orbit the Earth. Laika the spacedog made history in 1957 as the Russians were seemingly winning the Space Race against the Americans. The Melodi Grand Prix song saw the collaboration of jazz soloist Lisa Dillan with the group The Hungry Hearts.
Laika (File, AAC, Single) album cover
This regular segment looks back on recordings that deserved to become popular singles but failed to attract attention and sales. Check the special Caffé Latté playlist on spotify to finally discover these releases.
THE TIME CAPSULE: REGRET.
This retro segment is updated each weekday.


<<<THE TIME CAPSULE<<<

REGRET
New Order
1993 UK #4; US #28
Trivia: "Regret" was written and produced by the members of New Order with Stephen Hague. The latter has also produced The Pet Shop Boys, The Communards, Peter Gabriel and Blur.
 New Order Regret.jpg

This regular segment looks back on recordings from the previous century. Check the special Caffé Latté playlist on spotify to rediscover these releases from the distant past.
                                                                                                                                   

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

200 Favourite Music Acts. Today: #37: PAUL SIMON. Check back here for the next update.
The Caffé Latté
200
FAVOURITE
MUSIC ACTS
#37
PAUL SIMON
Paul Simon was born in New Jersey in 1941. Attempts to launch a solo career proved fruitless, but the singer / songwriter achieved success as half of a duo with Art Garfunkel. Together, Simon & Garfunkel released significant songs including "The Sounds Of Silence", "Mrs Robinson" and "Bridge Over Troubled Water". 
At the start of the 1970s, the duo parted ways. This time, Simon's solo career took off. Many of his recordings earned him Grammy Awards. His hit singles include "Slip Slidin' Away", "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover" (a US #1 in 1975), "Loves Me Like A Rock" and "Mother And Child Reunion". 
In the 1980s, Simon reached new heights with his classic 'Graceland' album. The LP contained tracks such as "You Can Call Me Al" and "The Boy In The Bubble". Despite attracting controversy and criticism, Simon helped expose the West to African artists and their music. 
There have been reunions with Garfunkel, while Simon continues with his simultaneous solo career. He continues recording. In 2018, he issued his most recent album, 'In The Blue Light'.

Caffe` Latte`on Spotify
This countdown is on spotify, featuring the latest update and the entire list at:

spotify:user:alanrosscaffelatte

38 MADONNA    39 INXS    40 FRANKIE VALLI / THE FOUR SEASONS   
41 RENEE GEYER   42 GEORGE MICHAEL   43 DIONNE WARWICK   44 CROWDED HOUSE   
45 JAMES BROWN    46 EARTH, WIND & FIRE    47 EAGLES    48 DAVID BOWIE   
49 OTIS REDDING    50 FOUR TOPS    51 ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA    52 BOZ SCAGGS   
53 JOHN LENNON    54 ROLLING STONES    55 MACKLEMORE    56 PET SHOP BOYS   
57 KYLIE MINOGUE    58 ADELE    59 NIRVANA    60 POINTER SISTERS
61 TRAVELLING WILBURYS    62 CHER    63 JOHN LEGEND    64 BLONDIE   
65 THE POLICE    66 TINA TURNER    67 STYLE COUNCIL    68 FREDDIE MERCURY
69 JANET JACKSON    70 THE WEEKND    71 RANDY CRAWFORD    72 BEE GEES
73 BETTE MIDLER    74 U2    75 CARPENTERS    76 SHIRLEY BASSEY    77 DAFT PUNK   
78 PAT BENATAR    79 LENNY KRAVITZ      80 ROXETTE    81 CHIC     82 MARK RONSON
83 JIMMY SOMERVILLE  84 GIORGIO MORODER    85 THE BLACK EYED PEAS   
86 ALCAZAR   87 INDIA,ARIE     88 LIONEL RICHIE      89 DUSTY SPRINGFIELD    90 STING
91 KATE CEBERANO    92 DANNY SAUCEDO      93 OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN     
94 ROD STEWART       95 MARY J. BLIGE    96 SANTANA    97 CARLY SIMON
98 EMINEM       99 TAMMI TERRELL    100 FRANK SINATRA    101 JENNIFER HUDSON    
102 BEACH BOYS    103 CHAKA KHAN    104 JOE JACKSON       105 MIKA                              
106 CHRISTINA AGUILERA      107 DAVID GUETTA      108 DESTINY’S CHILD
109 JAMIROQUAI      110 ALISON MOYET      111 LED ZEPPELIN      112 STEVE WINWOOD
113 COMMODORES      114 COLDPLAY      115 SIMPLY RED      116 ONE DIRECTION
117 CAROLE KING      118 R. KELLY      119 EMELI SANDE`      120 QUINCY JONES
121 LADY GAGA      122 ELVIS COSTELLO      123 RAY CHARLES      124 ED SHEERAN
125 NATALIE COLE     126 SMOKEY ROBINSON     127 KANYE WEST     128 ELVIS PRESLEY
129 ERIC BENET      130 SAM SMITH      131 JAMES TAYLOR      132 STEELY DAN
133 IKE & TINA TURNER      134 DES’REE      135 ACE OF BASE      136 VAN MORRISON
137 SAM COOKE      138 THE DOORS      139 AMY WINEHOUSE      140 PHARRELL
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
THE TIME CAPSULE: THIS WILL BE.
This retro segment is updated each weekday.


<<<THE TIME CAPSULE<<<

THIS WILL BE
(AN EVERLASTING LOVE)
Natalie Cole
1975 UK #32; US #6
Trivia: Natalie Cole's debut single "This Will Be" topped the Billboard Soul Chart for 2 weeks. This impressive break through earned Nat King Cole's daughter the Best New Artist Grammy and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.
This Will Be - Natalie Cole.jpg

This regular segment looks back on recordings from the previous century. Check the special Caffé Latté playlist on spotify to rediscover these releases from the distant past.
                                                                                                                                   

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

THE LOST SINGLES: SHOULD-A BEEN HITS.
GLORIA.
From this week: updated twice weekly.
THE LOST SINGLES
SHOULD-A BEEN HITS

GLORIA
Umberto Tozzi
1979
"Gloria" became a worldwide hit for Laura Branigan in 1982. The song began as an Italian recording performed by its co-writer Umberto Tozzi. His original was a massive European hit but failed to chart in major markets such as America and Britain. Tozzi recorded a version in English. New lyrics were used for Branigan's remake.
Umberto-tozzi-gloria.jpg
This regular segment looks back on recordings that deserved to become popular singles but failed to attract attention and sales. Check the special Caffé Latté playlist on spotify to finally discover these releases.
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THE TIME CAPSULE: SUNSHINE SUPERMAN.
This retro segment is updated each weekday.


<<<THE TIME CAPSULE<<<

SUNSHINE SUPERMAN
Donovan
1966 UK #2; US #1
Trivia: Soloist Donovan placed some key singles during the 1960s. "Sunshine Superman" was his Top 40 debut entry in America and remains his highest charting disc in Britain. He penned the hit himself.
 Donovan-Sunshine Superman single.jpg

This regular segment looks back on recordings from the previous century. Check the special Caffé Latté playlist on spotify to rediscover these releases from the distant past.
                                                                                                                                   

Monday, November 26, 2018

BEFORE THE HIT VERSION
SUPERSTAR. Check back here for the next update.
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.
Superstar
Image result for superstar carpenters
"Superstar" was one of the lush ballads released by The Carpenters during the 1970s. The single was issued in 1971 and peaked at #2 in America. It topped the US Adult Contemporary Chart too. In Britain, the single reached #18. It also made the Top 10 in Japan, Canada and New Zealand.
Leon Russell wrote the song with Bonnie Bramlett. The latter recorded the original version with her husband Delaney Bramlett. Together, they released discs as the duo Delaney and Bonnie. "Superstar" was originally entitled "Groupie (Superstar)". The single's label credits Delaney and Bonnie & Friends featuring Eric Clapton. It was issued in 1969 as the flip side of "Comin' Home".
Image result for groupie delaney and bonnie
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