CAFFE` LATTE` 
TOP 1200 CHOICE TRACKS

Mid-week bonus: #562-560
#562 I AM THE BLACK GOLD OF THE SUN Rotary Connection
Before launching her solo career, Minnie Riperton was a member of the group Rotary Connection. "I Am the Black Gold of the Sun" is truly an underrated yet rhapsodic production. The group formed in Chicago in 1966. Charles Stepney took charge of arranging, producing and composing the bulk of their recorded output. Riperton's husband Richard Rudolph co-wrote the lilting track with Stepney. It was recorded for the group's 'Hey Love' album which came out in 1971. By now they were billed as The New Rotary Connection. 
Riperton started focusing on her solo records after the group disbanded in 1974. Stepney went on to work closely with Earth, Wind and Fire following the split. He passed away in 1976, aged 43. Nuyorican Soul recorded a formidable remake of "...Black Gold..." in 1997.  

#561 SPIRITS IN THE MATERIAL WORLD The Police
Sting's writing had evolved by the time The Police released their 1981 album 'Ghost in the Machine'. "Spirits in the Material World" finds the group tackling political themes as well as featuring a synthesizer more prominently. Recorded in Montserrat, The Police produced the track with Hugh Padgham. When it was released as a single, it reached the Top 10 in parts of Europe and peaked at #12 and 11 in the UK and US respectively.

#560 BICYCLE RACE Queen
Few other groups could pull off a song like "Bicycle Race". Perhaps only Freddie Mercury could have written such a song. His inspiration was the Tour de France while in that country. Along with appearing on Queen's 'Jazz' album, the track was released as a double A-sided single with "Fat Bottomed Girls" (referenced in "Bicycle Race") in 1978. The group produced the song with Roy Thomas Baker. The single peaked at #11 in Britain and 24 in America.

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.
2 new songs are added each day (every 12 hours)  with a mid-week bonus every Wednesday. Today, 3 songs will be added every 6 hours.