200 MOST ESSENTIAL DUETS. This instalment: #80-71. Continues 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!).

80

NO AIR

JORDIN SPARKS & CHRIS BROWN

The R&B duet "No Air" was a Top 3 hit in both Britain and America in 2008. In Australia, it reached #1. Both Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown were in the process of building a string of hit songs at the time of its release.

79

TOO MUCH, TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE

JOHNNY MATHIS & DENIECE WILLIAMS

Johnny Mathis was a music veteran by the time he scored an American chart topper with "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late". it was a duet with talented vocalist Deniece Williams. In 1978, the song was a crossover hit, topping the US Pop, R&B and Adult Contemporary charts. In the UK, the single peaked at #3.

78

YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND

ROBERTA FLACK & DONNY HATHAWAY

The Carole King classic "You've Got A Friend" demands a tender approach. Her original was a touching highlight on her 'Tapestry' album in 1971.  James Taylor gave it a male perspective without losing the impact of its powerful lyrics. A third version emerged in the same year. Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway's duet was a beautifully constructed fusion of soul and gospel. All 3 versions made the charts that year.

77

YOUR PRECIOUS LOVE

MARVIN GAYE & TAMMI TERRELL

1967's 'United' was the 1st of the duet albums recorded by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. "Your Precious Love", a sweet song written by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson, was lifted as its 2nd single that year. The single finished Top 5 on both the Pop and R&B charts and has been covered often ever since.

76

COME WHAT MAY

NICOLE KIDMAN & EWAN McGREGOR

Actors Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor took on roles in the 2001 musical film 'Moulin Rouge'. They sing competently on the soundtrack, most significantly on the song "Come What May". Along with making the British Top 40, the duet peaked at #10 in Australia.

75

BABY COME TO ME

PATTI AUSTIN & JAMES INGRAM

Rod Temperton wrote some of Michael Jackson's best 80s songs as well as the 1982 duet "Baby Come To Me". The Patti Austin and James Ingram collaboration was produced by the legendary producer Quincy Jones. Both singers sang on his critically lauded 'The Dude' album. "Baby Come To Me" reached #1 in the U.S.A.

74

CRYING

ROY ORBISON & K.D. LANG

Roy Orbison revisited his 1961 hit "Crying", which he co-wrote with Joe Melson, in 1987. This re-recording saw him singing alongside K.D. Lang. Both are in fine voice, adding beauty and strength to the ballad. The new version was used in the film 'Hiding Out'.

73

IF I TOLD YOU THAT

WHITNEY HOUSTON & GEORGE MICHAEL

In 2000, pop chart dynamos Whitney Houston and George Michael came together on the R&B-flavoured duet "If I Told You That". Co-writer Rodney Jerkins produced the track with Michael. It reached the UK Top 10 and was 1 of the new songs included on her 'Whitney: The Greatest Hits' compilation. 

72

BEAUTIFUL LIAR

BEYONCE` & SHAKIRA

"Beautiful Liar" was a duet featuring the sultry performers Beyoncé and Shakira. It was included on the former's 2006 'B'Day' album. Along with reaching #3 in America, the duet topped the charts in Europe, UK and New Zealand.

71

JACKSON

JOHNNY CASH & JUNE CARTER

2 versions of "Jackson" were issued in 1967. Both were duets. Nancy Sinatra recorded 1 with Lee Hazlewood which peaked at #14 Pop in the U.S. Johnny Cash's version was cut with his wife June Carter and reached #2 on the Country Chart.