CAFFE` LATTE` TOP 2000 TRACKS
THE TOP 100
#81 KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG
ROBERTA FLACK
(1973)
Writers: Norman Gimbel & Charles Fox
While on a flight from LA to New York, Roberta Flack heard an unknown singer named Lori Lieberman as part of the in-flight music singing "Killing Me Softly With His Song". The ballad's creation was inspired by a performance by Don McLean (of "American Pie" fame) witnessed by Lieberman. She told writers Norman Gimbel and Charles Fox about the effect of his music and they proceeded to compose the song for her. Its original title was "Killing Me Softly With His Blues".
Flack played the song over and over while on the TWA jet. By the end of her flight, she was determined to record her own interpretation. Flack persisted for 3 months before she was certain she had nailed her cover version. Joel Dorn produced the recording. Atlantic released her remake and it debuted on the US chart in late January 1973. A month later, the single commenced its 5-week reign at the top. That year, the single was the longest running #1. It also peaked at #2 on the American AC and R&B charts. Furthermore, the disc reached #1 in Canada and Australia. In Britain, "Killing Me..." made the Top 10. The song was the title track from her 1973 album release.
Just as Flack had done the previous year with "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", she collected the Record of the Year Grammy Award, as well as winning in the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance category. She was nominated a 3rd year in a row in both categories in 1975 for her 3rd US American chart topping single "Feel Like Making Love"; but lost to Olivia Newton-John's "I Honestly Love You".
Flack regularly tours and records. Her most recent release was a Beatles covers album in 2012 entitled 'Let It Be Roberta: Roberta Sings The Beatles'. The hit song "Killing Me Softly With His Song" became a global #1 all over again when The Fugees covered it in 1996.
Flack played the song over and over while on the TWA jet. By the end of her flight, she was determined to record her own interpretation. Flack persisted for 3 months before she was certain she had nailed her cover version. Joel Dorn produced the recording. Atlantic released her remake and it debuted on the US chart in late January 1973. A month later, the single commenced its 5-week reign at the top. That year, the single was the longest running #1. It also peaked at #2 on the American AC and R&B charts. Furthermore, the disc reached #1 in Canada and Australia. In Britain, "Killing Me..." made the Top 10. The song was the title track from her 1973 album release.
Just as Flack had done the previous year with "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", she collected the Record of the Year Grammy Award, as well as winning in the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance category. She was nominated a 3rd year in a row in both categories in 1975 for her 3rd US American chart topping single "Feel Like Making Love"; but lost to Olivia Newton-John's "I Honestly Love You".
Flack regularly tours and records. Her most recent release was a Beatles covers album in 2012 entitled 'Let It Be Roberta: Roberta Sings The Beatles'. The hit song "Killing Me Softly With His Song" became a global #1 all over again when The Fugees covered it in 1996.
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.
A
new song from the remaining Top 100 is added each weekday, while another 2 are also
included from positions 1501-2000 daily. Check back here every 12 hours
for
an update of the 2000.
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