THE 200 MOST ESSENTIAL DUETS: #100-91.
This countdown is now halfway through, with the Top 100 beginning here today. The next instalment comes tomorrow.
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!).
100
BARCELONA
FREDDIE MERCURY & MONTSERRAT CABALLE
The unlikely pairing of Freddie Mercury with Spanish operatic soprano Montserrat Caballe caught the public's imagination. The world was gearing up for the 1992 Summer Olympics in the former's hometown of Barcelona. Released in 1987, the single reached the UK Top 10. In the year of Spain hosting the Games, it was re-issued and peaked at #2 there.
99
IF I COULD BUILD MY WHOLE WORLD AROUND YOU
MARVIN GAYE & TAMMI TERRELL
Another great track from Marvin Gaye with his best offsider, Tammi Terrell, was the 1967 single "If I Could Build My Whole World Around You". The disc peaked in the Top 10 on the US Pop and R&B charts. It was included on their album 'United'.
98
DELICATE
TERENCE TRENT D'ARBY & DES'REE
Des'ree joined Terence Trent D'Arby on the aptly-titled duet "Delicate" from his 1993 album 'Symphony Or Damn'. D'Arby wrote and produced the track. Their voices mesh effectively on the tender love song which reached #14 in Britain.
97
TRAMP
OTIS REDDING & CARLA THOMAS
"Tramp" is a remake recorded by Otis Redding and Carla Thomas, both on the Stax Records roster. Drenched in gritty soul, the single was lifted off their 1967 duet album 'King & Queen'. On the R&B Chart, their cover reached #2.
96
BABY GRAND
BILLY JOEL & RAY CHARLES
Every groove of this track reveals the delight produced when a fan (Billy Joel) meets his hero (Ray Charles). Their common love of music and skill at the keyboards raises "Baby Grand" to the heavens. Joel even named his daughter Alexa Ray after his idol. The duet was recorded for Joel's 1986 album 'The Bridge'.
95
TILL I LOVED YOU
BARBRA STREISAND & DON JOHNSON
"Till I Loved You" was a duet recorded while Barbra Streisand was dating Don Johnson. The consummate vocalist and the star of TV's "Miami Vice" surprisingly produced a favourable result which was the title track of her 1988 album and a Top 40 hit for the couple.
94
BREATHE
BLU CANTRELL & SEAN PAUL
A track by Dr Dre that was built around a Charles Aznavour song was the inspiration behind the hip hop duet "Breathe" by Blu Cantrell and Sean Paul. In 2003, the track reached #1 on the British and European charts.
93
(YOU'VE GOT TO WALK AWAY AND)
DON'T LOOK BACK
PETER TOSH & MICK JAGGER
The song "Don't Look Back" started life as a melodic 1965 single by The Temptations. In 1978, the Motown tune was given a reggae makeover by Peter Tosh. His remake saw him sharing lead vocals with Mick Jagger and went Top 20 in Australia.
92
IN A LIFETIME
CLANNAD & BONO
Celtic cultural icons U2 lead singer Bono and the family group Clannad teamed up for the glorious new age collaboration "in A Lifetime" in 1985. On the British chart, the single peaked at #17. Enya first tasted success as a member of this act.
91
MY MISTAKE (WAS TO LOVE YOU)
DIANA ROSS & MARVIN GAYE
Pam Sawyer had already penned "Last Time I Saw Him" for Diana Ross. That solo hit was followed by her #1 "Love Hangover". In between, Ross recorded "My Mistake (Was To Love You)" with Marvin Gaye. Sawyer co-wrote the song with R&B singer Gloria Jones (who released the original version of "Tainted Love"). The track, lifted off the 1973 album 'Diana & Marvin', reached the Top 20 on both the Pop and R&B charts.
Stevie Wonder's great soul track "As" was covered by George Michael and Mary J. Blige. In 1998, the duet was included a Michael compilation album. Released as a single the following year, the cut peaked at #4 in Britain.
Etta James and Sugar Pie DeSanto don't mince words when they deliver a collective punch to their man on the track "Do I Make Myself Clear". The 1965 gritty R&B duet is an ultimatum to their no-good man. 
The Fleetwood Mac songstress traded lyrics with Eagles drummer/ vocalist Don Henley on the country-tinged ballad "Leather And Lace". She wrote the song and it was included on her 1981 solo debut album entitled 'Bella Donna'. The single reached the US Top 10.
Cole Porter's American songbook classic "Let's Do It (Let's Fall In Love)" is given a soul interpretation as only Motown could deliver. The Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston duet was yet another gem that remained in the label's archives for decades. Finally, it was released for a Gaye box set in 1990. 
The gorgeous and underrated "Some Velvet Morning" was written by Lee Hazlewood. He recorded some quality duets with Nancy Sinatra. Most had a country feel, but this was a real departure from their usual fare. In 1967, the single made the US Top 40. 
Barbra Streisand recorded 2 duets with Barry Gibb that were featured on her 1980 album 'Guilty'. The title track and "What Kind Of Fool" were both lifted as singles. So integral was Barry Gibb's input on her album that he appears with her on its cover. "What Kind Of Fool" spent a month atop the US AC chart and peaked at #10 Pop for 3 weeks.
At the time of "Then Came You", Dionne Warwick had added an 'e' to her surname. She later reverted to her original spelling. Warwick collaborated on the single with R&B group The Spinners. Thom Bell produced the track which reached #1 on the American chart in 1974. 
83
Philip Bailey released a solo album in 1984. The LP was produced by Phil Collins. Both had built a profile as members of groups: the former in Earth, Wind & Fire and the latter as part of Genesis. They co-wrote "Easy Lover" with Nathan East. Collins and Bailey recorded the track as a duet. The single was a worldwide smash hit. It topped the UK chart and peaked at #2 in America. 
The 1987 track "U Got The Look" was featured on Prince's 'Sign O' The Times' album. Despite being uncredited on the single, Sheena Easton shares lead vocal duties with Prince. She does, however, appear in its music video in a co-lead capacity. The single reached #2 on the American chart.
"Till I Loved You" was a duet recorded while Barbra Streisand was dating Don Johnson. The consummate vocalist and the star of TV's "Miami Vice" surprisingly produced a favourable result which was the title track of her 1988 album and a Top 40 hit for the couple.