Caffe`
Latte` presents…
THE
100 BEST
ALBUM COVERS
37
ISLAND
LIFE
GRACE
JONES (1985)
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
BEFORE IT WAS A HIT V: Wind Beneath My Wings. Continues later this week.
BEFORE IT WAS A HIT SONG…
These songs are well known but you may not know about the
earlier attempts to score a hit record with prior versions of the same song.
Before Bette Midler starred in the film 'Beaches', standout track "Wind Beneath My Wings" had been recorded by acts as diverse as Roger Whitaker (in 1982), Gary Morris, Colleen Hewett and Gladys Knight & The Pips. The latter's powerful vocal was entitled "Hero" and included on their 1983 album 'Visions'. Other interpretations followed.
Their limited success was eclipsed in 1989 by the worldwide success of Midler's remake. It earned the singer / actress Grammy Awards for Song and Record of the Year as well as topping the US and Australian charts.
Their limited success was eclipsed in 1989 by the worldwide success of Midler's remake. It earned the singer / actress Grammy Awards for Song and Record of the Year as well as topping the US and Australian charts.
Each new song will be added to the
spotify playlist named: ‘Before It Was A Hit Song’. You can check out the earlier / original
versions of the hit songs you know and love.
Red Red Wine
Tainted Love
Killing Me Softly
The Best
The playlist and other Caffe` Latte`
selections can be found at:
spotify:user:alanrosscaffelatte
Monday, August 29, 2016
200 MOST RECOMMENDED ALBUMS : #36. Continues later this 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. This is a personal listing of the albums
I enjoy the most to this day.
#36
THE TRAVELING WILBURYS, VOL. 1:
TRAVELING WILBURYS
[1988]
The supergroup that came to be The Traveling Wilburys formed spontaneously and the fun was infused into every groove of the act's debut album. Each member gets his moment to perform and shine. On paper, the combination seems unimaginable and disparate: former Beatle George Harrison, with rocker Tom Petty; folk/ visionary Bob Dylan and the operatic Roy Orbison, with ELO's lead singer Jeff Lynne.The end result is a no frills collection of songs that brings out the best in one and all. There's an absence of ego or upstaging. These veterans of rock & pop have music running through their veins and it is this common bond that helped the album work. Sadly, the follow-up album (cheekily entitled 'Vol. 3') did not contain as many gems as this release. The passing of Roy Orbison and, later, George Harrison makes this stunning debut impossible to repeat. What this album does prove however, is that legends can interact and create magic when the music is the top priority. In a perfect world, there would be many more supergroups such as this stellar team.
Highlight tracks: Not Alone Anymore; Heading For The Light; Last Night & Handle With Care.
100 UNDERRATED MOTOWN SONGS FROM THE ARCHIVES YOU SHOULD HEAR: #40-31. Another 10 songs added next week.
39
38
37
White performers were a rarity on the Motown roster. Chris Clark was 1 of the few exceptions. Berry Gordy signed her up when she was only 18. Her biggest hit, written by Holland / Dozier / Holland, "Love's Gone Bad", came out in 1966. She achieved more success behind the scenes at Motown, earning an Oscar nomination for co-writing the screenplay for 'Lady Sings The Blues' and assuming the role of vice-president of the label's film department.
THE NIGHT
31
ALL I NEED
Caffe` Latte`
presents…
100 UNDERRATED
TRACKS FROM THE
MOTOWN
ARCHIVES
ARCHIVES
YOU
GOTTA HEAR!
Each
week, ten obscure or rare Motown recordings will be highlighted. You can hear
the added songs on spotify. The playlist will be updated weekly.
spotify:user:alanrosscaffelatte
40
EXACTLY LIKE YOU
Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston
This remake by Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston was recorded in 1966 but lay in the vault for decades.
39
NOTHING BUT HEARTACHES
The Supremes
Holland / Dozier/ Holland penned the catchy single "Nothing But Heartaches". The Supremes track was issued in 1965 and peaked at #11 Pop and 6 R&B.
Holland / Dozier/ Holland penned the catchy single "Nothing But Heartaches". The Supremes track was issued in 1965 and peaked at #11 Pop and 6 R&B.
38
SKYWRITER
The Jackson 5
"Skywriter" is the title track from a 1973 album from The Jackson 5. The single fared better in the UK where it reached #25.
37
EVIL
Stevie Wonder
On 'Music of my Mind', Stevie Wonder revealed a maturity as he entered adulthood. "Evil" was one of the examples of his growth as a lyricist featured on the 1972 album release.
36
LOVE'S GONE BAD
Chris Clark
White performers were a rarity on the Motown roster. Chris Clark was 1 of the few exceptions. Berry Gordy signed her up when she was only 18. Her biggest hit, written by Holland / Dozier / Holland, "Love's Gone Bad", came out in 1966. She achieved more success behind the scenes at Motown, earning an Oscar nomination for co-writing the screenplay for 'Lady Sings The Blues' and assuming the role of vice-president of the label's film department.
35
THE NIGHT
Frankie Valli
& The Four Seasons
& The Four Seasons
The legendary group The Four Seasons were briefly on Motown. In 1972, their version - with Frankie Valli out front on lead- was released. It was re-issued 2 years later and scored The Four Seasons a #7 British hit. The track was included on the group's 'Chameleon' album.
34
HERE ARE THE PIECES OF
MY BROKEN HEART
Gladys Knight & The Pips
MY BROKEN HEART
Gladys Knight & The Pips
It is simply criminal that a song packed with as much drama as Gladys Knight & The Pips' recording "Here Are The Pieces Of My Broken Heart" remained locked away for decades. Cut in the 1960s,. this thrilling track features breathtaking vocal harmonies and a brilliant musical arrangement.
33
ARE YOU SURE LOVE IS THE NAME OF THIS GAME
Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder will have you tapping your toes with the inexplicably archived track "Are You Sure Love Is The Name Of This Game". It finally emerged out of the vault in 2002.
32
cORNER OF THE SKY
Jackson 5
"Corner Of The Sky" was from the musical "Pippin". The Jackson 5's rendition reached Top 20 Pop and 9 R&B in 1972.
31 ALL I NEED
The Temptations
In 1967, The Temptations reached #8 Pop and 2 R&B with "All I Need", written by Frank Wilson, Eddie Holland and R. Dean Taylor. The former also handled production.
In 1967, The Temptations reached #8 Pop and 2 R&B with "All I Need", written by Frank Wilson, Eddie Holland and R. Dean Taylor. The former also handled production.
Sunday, August 28, 2016
SPOTIFY PLAYLIST: Retro Mixtape 3 - If I Was
Caffe` Latte`
Retro mix-tapes on Spotify
Check out the playlists on offer
from Caffe` Latte` on spotify. A new retro mixtape has been added.
RETRO MIXTAPE 3: IF I WAS
spotify:user:alanrosscaffelatte
There’s
also playlists with R&B/ Soul, mixed
genres, Eurovision, ABBA, Motown & GLBTI anthems.
200 MOST RECOMMENDED ALBUMS : #37. 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. This is a personal listing of the albums
I enjoy the most to this day.
#37
GREEN: R.E.M.
[1988]
When R.E.M. dropped 'Green', it marked a turning point for the critically acclaimed alternative rock / college radio band. For some years, they had been the darlings of the Athens, Georgia rock scene, hinting at their potential with some stellar tracks. 'Green' was the group's 6th studio album, but the 1st for a major label. The faith shown by Warner Bros. paid off on this release. The album is packed with an array of approaches that widened R.E.M.'s audience. The mainstream made songs such as "Stand", "Orange Crush", "Get Up" and "Pop Song 89" radio staples. 'Green' was the band's most accessible album at the time. Delving deeper, past the radio hits, the LP reveals different sides to the group's evolving sound. "World Leader Pretend" is simply brilliant; a modern-day sequel to Simon & Garfunkel's "I Am A Rock". This release saw R.E.M. share production duties with Scott Litt; a combo that would repeatedly bear fruit on subsequent releases. The musicianship is tight, augmented by Michael Stipe's vocal dexterity.
Highlight tracks: World Leader Pretend; Orange Crush; Stand & Pop Song 89.
100 MOST ESSENTIAL MOTOWN SONGS. This update: #70-61. The countdown continues next week.
Hear the 10 songs added today on spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/alanrosscaffelatte
spotify:user:alanrosscaffelatte
Hear the 10 songs added today on spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/alanrosscaffelatte
spotify:user:alanrosscaffelatte
Caffe`
Latte` presents…
THE 200
MOST ESSENTIAL
MOTOWN
SONGS
70
MY CHERIE AMOUR
Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder co-wrote the gorgeously romantic song "My Cherie Amour" with Sylvia Moy and Henry Cosby. The latter handled its production. The song served as the title track from Wonder's 1969 album. On the Pop, R&B and AC charts, the disc reached the Top 5. It also peaked at #4 in Britain.
69
HOW SWEET IT IS
(TO BE LOVED BY YOU)
(TO BE LOVED BY YOU)
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye issued "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)" as a single in 1964. The song was created by the Holland/ Dozier/ Holland writing / producing team. It flew to a sweet peak position of #6 Pop and 4 R&B: at the time, Gaye's best chart performer.
68
THE TEARS OF A CLOWN
Smokey Robinson &
The Miracles
The Miracles
Smokey
Robinson scored his one and only US #1 with The Miracles with "The Tears Of A Clown". Stevie Wonder had the seed of a song which reminded Robinson of a circus. This inspired the latter to write about a clown's tears. The song reached the top in 1970 on both sides of the Atlantic. Robinson departed the group to pursue a solo career soon after.
67
CLOUD NINE
The Temptations
"Cloud Nine" saw The Temptations delve deep in the psychedelic soul sub-genre, under the guidance of producer Norman Whitfield. This provided Motown with its 1st Grammy Award. The single also reached #2 on the R&B chart and 6 Pop in America. Whitfield co-wrote the track with Barrett Strong.
66
TOUCH ME IN THE MORNING
Diana Ross
Ron Miller and Michael Masser created another US #1 hit for Diana Ross with "Touch Me In The Morning". In 1973, the single consolidated Motown's premier act as a major recording artist in her own right. The disc went Top 10 in America, Britain, Canada and Australia.
65
MASTER BLASTER (JAMMIN')
Stevie Wonder
In
1980, Bob Marley was still the leading exponent of reggae music. Wonder paid tribute to the influential artist on "Master Blaster (Jammin')", a track on his 'Hotter Than July' album. The song topped the R&B chart and reached #5 Pop in the U.S. Elsewhere, the disc peaked at #2 in Britain and went Top 10 in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Sadly, Marley succumbed to cancer less than a year later.
64
YOU'VE REALLY GOT A HOLD ON ME
The Miracles
Written and produced by The Miracles' lead singer Smokey Robinson, "You've Really Got A Hold On Me" became a hit for the group in 1962. As well as reaching #1 on the R&B chart, the single peaked at #8 Pop in the U.S.A. John Lennon liked the song so much, The Beatles covered the song months later for the 1963 album 'With The Beatles'.
63
MOTOWNPHILLY
Boyz II Men
"Motownphilly" is virtually an account of how Boyz II Men came to be. This was the vocal group's debut release and first hit in 1991. Motown embraced the new jack swing genre with this recording, written by Dallas Austin (who also produced), Michael Bivins and the boy band's Nathan Morris and Shawn Stockman. The disc reached #3 Pop and 4 R&B in America.
62
YOU'RE ALL I NEED
TO GET BY
Marvin Gaye &
Tammi Terrell
TO GET BY
Marvin Gaye &
Tammi Terrell
Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson were a married couple that created some of Motown's most enduring duets for Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. In 1968, "You're All I Need To Get By" was one of the best songs composed and produced by the couple. The single topped the R&B chart and made #7 Pop in America as well as cracking the British Top 20.
61
YOU HAVEN'T DONE NOTHIN'
Stevie Wonder
The funky 1974 soul smash "You Haven't Done Nothin'" became another US #1 Pop and R&B chart hit for Wonder. Unleashed just prior to President Nixon's resignation in disgrace, his lyrics sting. The single was lifted off Wonder's 'Fulfillingness' First Finale' album. Aimed squarely at ineffective politicians, Wonder is defiant. The Jackson 5 are featured on backup vocals. Stevie Wonder
Saturday, August 27, 2016
The Caffe` Latte` Top 10 Tracks this week
1 100 Degrees (Still Disco To Me) KYLIE & DANNII MINOGUE 1wk 3 3
2 Bohemian Rhapsody PANIC! AT THE DISCO 4 3
3 Girls Talk Boys 5 SECONDS OF SUMMER 6 3
4 Heathens TWENTY ONE PILOTS 8 3
5 (They Long To Be) Close To You RUMER 1 4
6 I Got You SHAGGY ftg. JOVI ROCKWELL 9 2
7 Under You NICK JONAS 10 2
8 Please Don't Go JOEL ADAMS NEW
9 You Don't Know Love OLLY MURS NEW
10 All In The Name BRIGHT LIGHT BRIGHT LIGHT ftg. ELTON JOHN 7 3
https://open.spotify.com/user/alanrosscaffelatte
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