THE ALL-TIME CAMPEST #1s EVER! This update: #40-36. This countdown continues next week.

THE ALL-TIME TOP 100

CAMPEST

#1 SINGLES

(1960 - 2015)

The 100 campest chart topping singles in the USA or UK.

36 YOU'RE THE ONE THAT I WANT

OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN & JOHN TRAVOLTA

UK & USA (1978)

37 I'VE NEVER BEEN TO ME

CHArLENE

UK (1982)

 

38 THE POWER OF LOVE

JENNIFER RUSH

UK (1985)

 

39 NO MORE TEARS (ENOUGH IS ENOUGH)

DONNA SUMMER & BARBRA STREISAND

USA (1979)

40 FLASHDANCE...WHAT A FEELING

IRENE CARA

USA (1983)

 

200 BEST ALBUMS. Update:  #171. This countdown continues next week.

THE CAFFE` LATTE`

200

MOST RECOMMENDED ALBUMS

Some are the best selling, while others may be obscure, but the albums listed here are all worthy of a listen. No compilation/ best of sets. Only exceptional live albums included.

#171
 

VENUS AND MARS: 
PAUL McCARTNEY & WINGS
 [1975] 

For 'Venus And Mars', Paul McCartney expanded the Wings line-up. This is a more cohesive ensemble effort. Hindered at times by the overindulgent tendency that the former Beatle falls victim to so often on record, this album is saved by some of his best Wings era tracks. When the planets do align, McCartney delivers in spades. There are irresistible pop hooks aplenty on songs such as "Listen To What The Man Said" and "Magneto And Titanium Man". Wings rock out on "Rock Show" and "Letting Go". McCartney offers some lovely ballads such as "Love In Song" and the title track. Ignore the cheesy fluff and enjoy the quality selections. Highlight tracks: Magneto And Titanium Man; Letting Go; Listen To What The Man Said.

CAMPEST #1s. Update: #45-41. More songs added tomorrow.

THE ALL-TIME TOP 100

CAMPEST

#1 SINGLES

(1960 - 2015)

The 100 campest chart topping singles in the USA or UK.

41 STAND BY YOUR MAN

TAmmY WYNETTE

UK (1975)

 

42 TOP OF THE WORLD

THE CARPENTERS

USA (1973)

43 LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE BOY

DENIECE WILLIAMS

USA (1984)

 

44 9 TO 5 (MORNING TRAIN)

SHEENA EASTON

USA (1981)

45 YOU SPIN ME ROUND (LIKE A RECORD)

DEAD OR ALIVE

UK (1985)

 

200 BEST ALBUMS. Update:  #172. This countdown continues tomorrow.

THE CAFFE` LATTE`

200

MOST RECOMMENDED ALBUMS

Some are the best selling, while others may be obscure, but the albums listed here are all worthy of a listen. No compilation/ best of sets. Only exceptional live albums included.

#172

JAZZ: QUEEN
 [1978] 

On 'Jazz', Queen serve up tracks that take a high camp approach to various musical styles. Opening with "Mustapha", Brian May is resplendent on guitar. "Fat Bottomed Girls" is stadium rock. "Jealousy" is a tender ballad. "Fun It" is disco. Queen deliver great harmonies and mighty pop on "Don't Stop Me Now" and many other songs. Highlight tracks: Don't Stop Me Now; Bicycle Race; Jealousy.

The All-Time Campest #1s. Update: #50-46. More added tomorrow.

THE ALL-TIME TOP 100

CAMPEST

#1 SINGLES

(1960 - 2015)

The 100 campest chart topping singles in the USA or UK.

46 9 TO 5

DOLLY PARTON

USA (1981)

 

47 THE HAPPENING

THE SUPREMES

USA (1967)

 

48 STAYIN' ALIVE

BEE GEES

USA (1978)

 

49 SPICE UP YOUR LIFE

SPICE GIRLS

UK (1997)

 

50 BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

QUEEN

UK (1976 & 1991)

 

200 BEST ALBUMS. Update:  #173. This countdown continues tomorrow.

THE CAFFE` LATTE`

200

MOST RECOMMENDED ALBUMS

Some are the best selling, while others may be obscure, but the albums listed here are all worthy of a listen. No compilation/ best of sets. Only exceptional live albums included.

#173
 

QUIET FIRE: ROBERTA FLACK
 [1971] 

Roberta Flack earned her place in the pantheon of R&B voices with the outstanding 'Quiet Fire' album. She weaves her pipes through 8 tracks, infusing a hint of pop, jazz, gospel and lots of soul on songs sourced from the likes of Jimmy Webb, Carole King, Gerry Goffin, The Bee Gees, Van McCoy and Paul Simon. It's no wonder Flack proved to be so influential in the 1970s. Highlight tracks: See You Then; Go Up Moses; Sunday and Sister Jones.

The all-Time CAMPEST #1s. This update: #55-51. Another 5 songs added tomorrow.

THE ALL-TIME TOP 100

CAMPEST

#1 SINGLES

(1960 - 2015)

The 100 campest chart topping singles in the USA or UK.

51 MICKEY

TONI BASIL

USA (1982)

 

52 GRACE KELLY

MIKA

UK (2007)

 

53 DARK LADY

CHER

USA (1974)

54 NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP

RICK ASTLEY

UK & USA (1987)

 

55 I WILL FOLLOW HIM

LITTLE PEGGY MARCH

USA (1963)

 

200 BEST ALBUMS. Update:  #174. This countdown continues tomorrow.

THE CAFFE` LATTE`

200

MOST RECOMMENDED ALBUMS

Some are the best selling, while others may be obscure, but the albums listed here are all worthy of a listen. No compilation/ best of sets. Only exceptional live albums included.

#174
 

VOICES: DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES
 [1980] 

Hall & Oates redefine a musical direction the duo would mine throughout the 1980s on 'Voices'. The sound is more pop than soul here and established the 2 men as the leading duo on the charts. "Diddy Doo Wop (I Hear Voices)" might just have influenced Billy Joel for 'An Innocent Man' and his hit 'River of Dreams'. Highlight tracks: You Make My Dreams; Kiss On My List; How Does It Feel to Be Back.

All-Time CAMPEST #1s. Update: #60- 56. More added tomorrow.

THE ALL-TIME TOP 100

CAMPEST

#1 SINGLES

(1960 - 2015)

The 100 campest chart topping singles in the USA or UK.

56 WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE

SPICE GIRLS

UK (1997)

 

57 TOGETHER WE ARE BEAUTIFUL

FERN KINNEY

UK (1980)

 

58 S&M

RIHANNA

USA (2011)

59 TRAGEDY

BEE GEES

UK & USA (1979)

 

60 GYPSYS, TRAMPS & THIEVES

CHER

USA (1971)

 

CAFFE` LATTE`TOP 2000 TRACKS {EXPANDED EDITION}

#1955 SO HARD Pet Shop Boys
The Pet Shop Boys moved into the 1990s with 1 of the duo's best offerings: "So Hard" . The self-penned UK & European chart hit was produced by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe with Euro-disco writer / producer Harold Faltermeyer. It was included on the 'Behaviour' album.

#1956 PAINTED DESERT Pat Benatar
In 1984, Pat Benatar pursued new musical directions on her 'Tropico' album release. The single "Painted Desert" allowed the female rocker an opportunity to showcase her vocal diversity. The ballad was written by her husband Neil Giraldo and Myron Grombacher.

The list is a ranking 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.This expanded section now includes songs from the last few years. I hope you find some new tracks to love, or re-discover some past favourites.
2 new songs ranked in positions 1501-2000 will also be added each other weekday.

60 YEARS OF THE ROCK ERA Winners (1960). Next week: 1961.

60 YEARS OF

ROCK

BEST OF 1960

-WINNERS-

TOP GROUP 1960

EVERLY BROTHERS

THE KINGSTON TRIO

THE VENTURES

IKE & TINA TURNER

THE DRIFTERS

TOP MALE 1960

ELVIS PRESLEY

BEN E. KING

SAM COOKE

ROY ORBISON

JACKIE WILSON

TOP FEMALE 1960

DINAH WASHINGTON

CONNIE FRANCIS

BRENDA LEE

ARETHA FRANKLIN

TONI FISHER

TOP RECORDING 1960

IT’S NOW OR NEVER Elvis Presley

ONLY THE LONELY Roy Orbison

MONEY Barrett Strong

CATHY’S CLOWN The Everly Brothers

WALK- DON’T RUN The Ventures

STAND BY ME Ben E. King

THE TWIST Chubby Checker

SAVE THE LAST DANCE FOR ME The Drifters

CHAIN GANG Sam Cooke

ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT? Elvis Presley

TOP RECORDING ACT 1960

THE DRIFTERS

ELVIS PRESLEY

CHUBBY CHECKER

SAM COOKE

THE PLATTERS

Celebrating 60 years of Rock music. Update: 1960.

60 YEARS OF

ROCK

(1955-2015)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

JULY 9, 1955

-“Rock Around The Clock” reaches #1 

1956

-Elvis becomes rock 'n roll's first major star.

 

1957 
-Buddy Holly & The Crickets: rock's prototype group.
 










1958
-Jerry Lee Lewis' career is damaged when he marries his teen cousin.

 

  







1959
- Ray Charles brings gospel to secular music & creates soul. 

 

1960

-Chubby Checker's cover of "The Twist" sparks a new dance craze. 
-Motown Records re-releases "Money" by Barrett Strong.
-Eddie Cochran dies in a car crash.
-Ben E. King leaves The Drifters to go solo.
-Aretha Franklin records pop songs for Columbia Records.
-The Beatles play 3 months of gigs in Hamburg, Germany.
-Cliff Richard is replaced at #1 in UK by his backing band The Shadows.
-Elvis' "It's Now Or Never" sells 780,000 copies in its 1st week (a record).
 

As a new decade began, rock 'n roll's future was far from assured. By the end of the 1950s, most of its key artists were suffering from major setbacks. Disc jockeys were being investigated for payola. Jerry Lee Lewis and Chuck Berry were rocked by scandal. Elvis Presley, absent while serving in the army, was expected to have lost his career's momentum. Eddie Cochran became another rock 'n roll casualty. 
Nevertheless, the 1960s saw a revival of R&B and this time it was being targeted to a mainstream and affluent white audience. The Drifters raised the bar in production techniques. Chubby Checker ignited the dance craze of the era: the twist. Motown Records started releasing seminal singles. Surf music attracted sales. When Elvis concluded his army stint, he returned with a series of mega-successful hit songs.