ESSENTIAL MOVIE SONGS. A new countdown begins covering songs #200-191. 

Caffe` Latte` presents…

THE 200

MOST ESSENTIAL

MOVIE SONGS

Here they are…

The definitive list of 200 songs from the movies, recorded by by rock & pop acts since the start of the Rock Era in 1955.

To be eligible, the songs need to have been first heard in association with a film from the last 60 years (although some exceptions do exist where the song gained a higher profile after its use in a motion picture)- so no songs from “West Side Story”, “Phantom of the Opera”, “Les Miserables” or “The Sound Of Music” and other films that first started out as stage musicals.

#191

SO SAD THE SONG

Gladys Knight & The Pips

(‘Pipe Dreams’- 1976)

 

 Gladys Knight co-starred with her husband at the time Barry Hankerson in a film that has largely been forgotten. The sole redeeming factor is the stunning Golden Globe nominated "So Sad The Song". Knight sings lead and pours out an emotional delivery, backed by The Pips.

#192

FLY TOO HIGH

Janis Ian

(‘Foxes’- 1980)

 

 Jodie Foster co-starred with Scott Baio in a teen drama with a soundtrack that was mostly a Giorgio Moroder album. The uber-producer co-wrote the song with singer / songwriter Janis Ian. It had a pounding beat that was very different from her previous material.

#193

MAKING LOVE

Roberta Flack

(‘Making Love’- 1982)

 

Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager produced a ballad they had co-written with Bruce Roberts that served as the title song from a controversial film about a triangle with a twist. MIchael Ontkean is married to Kate Jackson but gives in to his homosexual urges. The third party is portrayed by Harry Hamlin. Roberta Flack's tender soul song was nominated for a Golden Globe.

#194

TROUBLE MAN

Marvin Gaye

(‘Trouble Man’- 1972)

 The 1970s saw a series of blaxploitation films aimed at African-American audiences. Marvin Gaye wrote, arranged and conducted the soundtrack. The cool title song made the US Top 10. Robert Hooks starred in the leading role as "Mr. T".

#195

HOW CAN I NOT LOVE YOU

Joy Enriquez

(‘Anna And The King’- 1999)

 

Jodie Foster played Anna with Chow Yun-Fat as the King of Siam mentioned in the film's title. It was based on the story immortalized in the musical "The King And I". Joy Enriquez sang the Golden Globe nominated ballad.

#196

LEFT OF CENTER

Suzanne Vega

(‘Pretty In Pink’- 1986)

 John Hughes wrote the 'Brat Pack' screenplay for this film starring Molly Ringwald and Andrew McCarthy. The soundtrack featured fresh radio-friendly music such as Suzanne Vega's song which charted in the UK.

#197

THAT'S THE WAY OF THE WORLD

Earth, Wind & Fire

(‘That's The Way Of The World’- 1975)

The group Earth, Wind & Fire not only provided the music for this Harvey Keitel film, but also had cameo roles. The movie deals with the music business. EW&F's record label must have been pleased to see the group's soundtrack album climb to #1.

#198

I'VE SEEN IT ALL

Bjork  & Thom Yorke

(‘Dancer In The Dark’- 2000)

 Bjork starred in the Danish drama which featured this inspired duet from the quirky Icelandic vocalist and Radiohead's lead singer. Bjork's character is losing her sight. It's a clever pairing that produced a modern and unique movie song.

#199

PRISONER

(LOVE THEME FROM 'EYES OF LAURA MARS')

Barbra Streisand

(‘Eyes Of Laura Mars’- 1978)

 

 Barbra Streisand's song from this thriller starring Faye Dunaway peaked at #21 in the US. The power ballad captures the era.

#200

THE GREATEST LOVE OF ALL

George Benson

(‘The Greatest’- 1977)

 

 This was a film about the life of Mohammad Ali, with the champion playing himself. Years before Whitney Houston recorded the definitive version of this song, George Benson's original reached #24 in America.

Another 10 will be added next week.