SPOTIFY PLAYLIST: Retro Mixtape4: Peaceful, Easy Feeling.

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 MIXTAPE4: 
PEACEFUL EASY FEELING       

   

https://open.spotify.com/user/alanrosscaffelatte

spotify:user:alanrosscaffelatte

There’s also playlists  with R&B/ Soul, mixed genres, Motown, Eurovision & GLBTI anthems & more.

100 BEST ALBUM COVERS: #20. Continues next week.

Caffe` Latte` presents…

THE 100 BEST

ALBUM COVERS

 

20

GRATEFUL DEAD

GRATEFUL DEAD (1967)

200 MOST RECOMMENDED ALBUMS. This update: #27. 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.

#27

LES MISERABLES

THE COMPLETE SYMPHONIC RECORDING:

 WORLD CAST
  

 [1989] 

The epic musical "Les Miserables" has remained a timeless favourite on stages around the planet ever since its debuts on Broadway and the West End. In 1988, a recording brought together some of the best performers from various productions and locations. Released the following year, the beautifully packaged CD with an extensive booklet was unleashed. Gary Morris plays Jean Valjean. Australians Philip Quast, Anthony Warlow and Debbie Byrne reprise their roles as Javert, Enjolras and Fantine respectively. Michael Ball is Marius. This stunning collection contains all of the songs from the stage show. The big numbers are performed with aplomb: "I Dreamed A Dream", "One Day More", "Do You Hear The People Sing?", "Red And Black", "On My Own" and "Master Of The House". Ball excels with the moving "Empty Chairs At Empty Tables". Any musical would boast any one of these songs, but "Les Miserables" has them all, and more. Its songbook also contains "Bring Him Home", "Who Am I", "A Little Fall Of Rain", "Stars" and "Drink With Me"; each one as special as the other. Along with the vocal performances, the orchestra adds texture to the show's sweeping score. This CD serves as the definitive presentation of the best musical of all time. 

Highlight tracks: Empty Chairs At Empty Tables; Do You Hear The People Sing?; The ABC Cafe- Red And Black & On My Own.

100 BEST ALBUM COVERS: #21. Continues tomorrow.

Caffe` Latte` presents…

THE 100 BEST

ALBUM COVERS

 

21

WHAT’S GOING ON

MARVIN GAYE (1971)

BEFORE IT WAS A HIT XIX: Rhinestone Cowboy. Continues next 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.

Rhinestone Cowboy

"Rhinestone Cowboy" became a signature song for Glen Campbell. It was a major pop hit and the title track from his 1975 album. The single topped the American Pop, Country and Adult Contemporary charts. It also reached #1 in Canada and went Top 5 in Britain and Australia. 

Larry Weiss wrote the song and recorded the original version. In 1974, it was released as a single but the disc fared poorly. Fortunately, Campbell heard the song and spotted its potential and recorded it.
 

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

Wind Beneath My Wings

Hanging on the Telephone

I Love Rock ‘n Roll

Mickey

Got My Mind Set On You

Rivers of Babylon

It’s All Coming Back To Me Now

China Girl

I Can’t Stand The Rain

Last Thing On My Mind

Blame It On The Boogie

Do Wah Diddy Diddy

Don’t Leave Me This Way

The playlist and other Caffe` Latte` selections can be found at:

https://open.spotify.com/user/alanrosscaffelatte

spotify:user:alanrosscaffelatte

100 BEST ALBUM COVERS: #22. Continues tomorrow.

Caffe` Latte` presents…

THE 100 BEST

ALBUM COVERS

22

THRILLER

MICHAEL JACKSON (1982)

100 BEST ALBUM COVERS: #23. Continues tomorrow.

Caffe` Latte` presents…

THE 100 BEST

ALBUM COVERS

23

ELVIS PRESLEY

ELVIS PRESLEY (1956)

BEFORE IT WAS A HIT XVIII: Don't Leave Me This Way. 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.

Don't Leave Me This Way

 

Thelma Houston scored a major global hit with her disco remake of "Don't Leave Me This Way". The single topped the US Pop, R&B and Disco charts in 1976-7. Just 1 year earlier, the original version, by soul group Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, was issued. That disc reached #3 on the Disco Chart in 1975. Re-released 2 years later, the single made the UK Top 5. 

Houston's cover eclipsed the original and was followed by another remake in 1986 by British duo The Communards. This version reached #1 in Britain and went Top 10 in Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

 

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

Wind Beneath My Wings

Hanging on the Telephone

I Love Rock ‘n Roll

Mickey

Got My Mind Set On You

Rivers of Babylon

It’s All Coming Back To Me Now

China Girl

I Can’t Stand The Rain

Last Thing On My Mind

Blame It On The Boogie

Do Wah Diddy Diddy

The playlist and other Caffe` Latte` selections can be found at:

https://open.spotify.com/user/alanrosscaffelatte

spotify:user:alanrosscaffelatte

200 MOST RECOMMENDED ALBUMS : #28. 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.

#28

THE ALBUM: ABBA 

 

 [1977] 

ABBA's 'The Album' was unleashed to coincide with the release of the group's motion picture project, the similarly titled 'The Movie'. Filmed in Australia and Sweden, most of the songs featured in the movie were included on the LP. Its tracks again revealed progression; this time it was particularly noticeable in the production techniques. The golden harmonies from the female members were on show for songs such as "Eagle", "Take A Chance On Me", "The Name Of The Game", "Hole In Your Soul" "I'm A Marionette" and "One Man, One Woman". The sole weak point among the musical numbers is "Move On". Frida is given her own moment to impress on "I Wonder". Her vocal delivery here is on par with Agnetha's triumphs in the ABBA catalogue (such as "Slipping Through My Fingers", "My Love, My Life" and "S.O.S."). Arguably the best known track on the album is "Thank You For The Music", which swiftly became a signature song. 'The Album' works effectively as a soundtrack for the band's film, but works just as well as a stand alone recording.

Highlight tracks: Eagle; The Name Of the Game; Take A Chance On Me; Hole In Your Soul & I Wonder.

BEFORE IT WAS A HIT XVII: Do Wah Diddy Diddy. Continues tomorrow.

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.

Do Wah Diddy Diddy

In 1964, English group Manfred Mann topped the British & American Pop charts for 2 weeks with "Do Wah Diddy Diddy". At the time, UK acts were dominating the pop music scene. Manfred Mann's version overtook the groundswell surrounding the original (entitled "Do Wah Diddy") by US R&B group The Exciters. Their single flopped as radio focused all attention on the British remake.

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

Wind Beneath My Wings

Hanging on the Telephone

I Love Rock ‘n Roll

Mickey

Got My Mind Set On You

Rivers of Babylon

It’s All Coming Back To Me Now

China Girl

I Can’t Stand The Rain

Last Thing On My Mind

Blame It On The Boogie

The playlist and other Caffe` Latte` selections can be found at:

https://open.spotify.com/user/alanrosscaffelatte

spotify:user:alanrosscaffelatte

200 MOST RECOMMENDED ALBUMS : #29. 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.

#29

AN INNOCENT MAN: BILLY JOEL 

 [1983] 

On 'An Innocent Man', Billy Joel paid tribute to the early rock and R&B music that influenced him as a performer. Each track recalls the seminal sounds of the late 1950s and Sixties. There's a nod to Motown in "Tell Her About It", his US #1 hit from this LP. "Uptown Girl" is in the tradition of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons. Album opener "Easy Money" evokes the Stax/ Volt sound of acts such as Otis Redding. The title track channels Roy Orbison. The vocal / doo wop groups are represented by "The Longest Time". Most important is that there is fun oozing out of each track. "This Night" is a joyous old school track. The Joel on this album is a man in love. "Christie Lee" is a straightshooting rock 'n roll ode to his new partner. His relationship with Christie Brinkley was blossoming at the time and influenced the record's cheerful mood. There's no filler and the album flows well from start to finish. Unfortunately, this was Joel's final album of consistent quality.

Highlight tracks: Uptown Girl; This Night; An Innocent Man; The Longest Time & Tell Her About It.

200 ESSENTIAL DUETS This update: #190-181. Continues next weekend.

Caffe` Latte` presents…

THE 200 ALL-TIME MOST

ESSENTIAL DUETS

This countdown looks back on decades of duets, where 2 acts combine on a song.

To be eligible, the acts involved contribute close to equal roles as lead vocalists rather than featured or guest vocals. The collaborations must be by acts that do not usually record together as regular duos (eg. Hall & Oates, Everly Brothers, Simon & Garfunkel and Wham!).

190

IT ISN'T, IT WASN'T, IT AIN'T EVER GONNA BE

ARETHA FRANKLIN & WHITNEY HOUSTON

Aretha Franklin's duet with her Goddaughter Whitney Houston was included on the Queen of Soul's 1989 album 'Through The Storm'. Released as a single, the song made the Top 40 in America and Britain. It peaked at #5 on the R&B chart.

189

I JUST FALL IN LOVE AGAIN

ANNE MURRAY & DUSTY SPRINGFIELD

In 2008, Anne Murray released her 'Duets: Friends & Legends' album. Her re-recording of "I Just Fall In Love Again" was a posthumous duet with the legendary Dusty Springfield.

188

I SHOULD'VE FOLLOWED YOU HOME

AGNETHA FALTSKOG & GARY BARLOW

Take That's lead singer Gary Barlow co-wrote the song he recorded with former ABBA member Agnetha Faltskog. The song was featured on her 'A ' album, issued in 2013.

187

NEW YORK STATE OF MIND

BARBRA STREISAND & BILLY JOEL

When Barbra Streisand first recorded "New York State Of Mind" for her 1977 'Superman' album, it raised the profile of its writer, Billy Joel. His original version was contained on the 1976 album 'Turnstiles'. In 2014, both revisited the song for her 'Partners' album. The song was also the title of 1 of the children's books written by Joel.

186

CLOSE

NICK JONAS & TOVE LO

Heart throb Nick Jonas released "Close", a song he recorded with Swedish singer / songwriter Tove Lo, in 2016 from his 'Last Year Was Complicated' album. It charted around the world.

185

BEING WITH YOU

SMOKEY ROBINSON & MARY J. BLIGE

Mary J. Blige helped turn Smokey Robinson's 1981 solo pop hit "Being With You" into a soulful duet on his 2014 'Smokey & Friends' album.

184

SOUTH SIDE

MOBY & GWEN STEFANI

1999's 'Play' album by Moby featured his duet "South Side". Gwen Stefani contributed a guest vocal. The single reached #14 in America.

183

HE'S SURE THE BOY I LOVE

BETTE MIDLER & DARLENE .LOVE

Bette Midler's 'It's The Girls' album was a tribute to the girl groups of rock's earliest years. In 1963, The Crystals released "He's Sure The Boy I Love". Darlene Love recorded the original vocal and is included on Midler's remake.

182

INCREDIBLE

CELINE DION & NE-YO

In 2013, Celine Dion's duet with Ne-Yo was issued as a single, lifted off her 'Loved Me Back To Life' album. The song was used as the theme for the 2014 Winter Olympics held in Sochi.

181

I'VE SEEN IT ALL

BJORK & THOM YORKE 

Iceland's best known musical export Bjork recorded "I've Seen It All" with Radiohead's lead singer Thom Yorke for the film 'Dancer In The Dark'. Their duet was nominated for an Oscar.

THE CAFFE` LATTE`

TOP 10 ALBUMS – SEPT. 2016

1 ENCORE - MOVIE PARTNERS SING BROADWAY

   Barbra Streisand             1 2

2 BACKBONE Anthony Callea        NEW

3 MIRAGE [DELUXE EDITION] Fleetwood Mac     NEW

4 BLURRYFACE Twenty One Pilots            2 2

5 GREATEST HITS Queen           5 2

6 RUMOURS Fleetwood Mac  3 8

7 TROLLS Motion Picture Soundtrack   Various Artists   NEW

8 GHOSTBUSTERS 2016 Motion Picture Soundtrack  Various Artists      6 2

9 EUROVISION SONG CONTEST STOCKHOLM 2016 Various Artists    9 6
10 LEMONADE Beyonce'       10 6
 

The Caffe` Latte` Top 10 Tracks this week

1 Any Moment Now BARBRA STREISAND & HUGH JACKMAN  1wk                                  9 2

2 #Wheresthelove BLACK EYED PEAS & THE WORLD                                                      4 3

3 Start JOHN LEGEND                                                                                                 8 2

4 Anything You Can Do BARBRA STREISAND & MELISSA McCARTHY                            1 4

5 September JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, ANNA KENDRICK & EARTH WIND & FIRE     NEW

6 Starboy THE WEEKND ftg. DAFT PUNK                                                                   NEW

7 That Love SHAGGY                                                                                         NEW

8 Perfect Illusion LADY GAGA                                                                                  3 3

9 Tilted CHRISTINE & THE QUEENS                                                                              NEW

10 Jolene PENTATONIX & DOLLY PARTON                                                                     NEW

Hear this week's Top 10 songs (now with more hot tracks) as well as other special playlists on spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/user/alanrosscaffelatte