CAFFE` LATTE` 
TOP 1200 CHOICE TRACKS

#451 SMOOTH Santana featuring Rob Thomas
Rob Thomas is the lead singer of rock band Matchbox 20. Born in 1972 on an army base in Germany, he moved to the USA when his parents divorced. In 1996, he formed Matchbox 20 and they were soon charting with hits that included "Bent", "3 A.M.", "Push" and "If You're Gone".
Thomas' individual profile increased sharply as a result of his guest appearance on "Smooth", a major hit for legendary band Santana in 1999. Matt Serletic produced the track. Pivotal group member Carlos Santana's performance as lead guitarist helps make the song memorable. "Smooth" was featured on Santana's 'Supernatural' album. 
"Smooth" was the 1st US chart topper for Santana. Songwriter Itaal Shur submitted an early attempt at the hit, but its lyrics were regarded too sexual. Thomas was asked to collaborate with him, and his input - music and lyrics- completed the song. Initially, George Michael was a contender to perform the lead vocal with the group. The single spent 12 weeks at #1 in America. It also topped the Canadian charts. It peaked at #3 in Britain and 4 in Australia. The song collected a Record of the Year Grammy award. 
Santana has continued recording, with a variety of guest vocalists that has included Macy Gray, Seal, India.Arie, Michelle Branch and Placido Domingo. Thomas launched a successful solo career in 2005 with the hit "Lonely No More". He still records as a soloist and member of Matchbox 20. 

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.