CAFFE` LATTE` 
TOP 1200 CHOICE TRACKS

(MID-WEEK BONUS) #802-798
#802 TWILIGHT TIME The Platters
The Platters were an essential act in the breaking down of prejudice with some of the best selling crossover singles of the 1950s. The respected vocal group helped R&B reach white audiences via singles including "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes", "Only You" and :"My Prayer". All 3 reached #1 in the US and in most other countries. "Twilight Time" was no exception. Regular lyricist for the group, Buck Ram produced and co-wrote the 1958 chart-topping hit with members of pop trio The Three Suns (Alan Dunn, with his cousins- the brothers Morty and Al Nevins).

#801 JESSIE'S GIRL Rick Springfield
Born in Sydney, Australia in 1949, Rick Springfield enjoyed his peak during the 1980s following the success of "Jessie's Girl". In the 1960s, he was high on the Australian charts with his band Zoot and their cover of the Beatles' "Eleanor Rigby". Going solo in 1971, Springfield enjoyed success with "Speak to the Sky", which reached #14 in the USA the following year. Other releases followed, but failed to crack the Top 40. He turned his attention to acting and landed a role on TV soap "General Hospital", playing Dr. Noah Drake from 1981. This new found attention helped re-launch Springfield's musical career. The album 'Working Class Dog' was issued, containing the pop hit "Jessie's Girl". Penned by the singer, it deals with a man who has fallen for his friend's partner. Keith Olsen produced the cut. The single reached #1 in Australia and the US. He returned to the Top 40 in America with 15 more singles. 

#800 NUTBUSH CITY LIMITS Ike & Tina Turner
Although Tina Turner hasn't written many songs, this sure is one she can be proud of! "Nutbush City Limits" refers to her childhood in Tennessee and was released in 1973. It was to be her last hit with husband Ike Turner. To this day, it attracts crowds to dancefloors, as they do the "nutbush". Ike produced the track. By 1976, Tina had divorced her abusive spouse. He died in 2007 after time in prison and remarrying. Tina, of course, enjoyed a lucrative comeback in the 1980s.

#799 CRY NO MORE Ben E. King
Ben E. King's vocals are still underrated to this day. It possessed a breathtaking quality and range that graced singles such as "Stand By Me", "Amor" and "Here Comes The Night". In 1965, the former lead singer of The Drifters released a new solo single entitled "Cry No More". The track was produced by Bert Berns, who also co-wrote the song with Jerry Ragavoy. The single flopped, but is a great example of 60s soul.  

#798 STARMAN David Bowie
With "Starman", David Bowie proved he was here to stay as a force in popular culture. This was a track from his critically acclaimed 'The rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders From Mars' LP. Written by Bowie, the song was co-produced by him with Ken Scott. Released as a single in 1972, it peaked at #10 in the UK.

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