THE 200 MOST ESSENTIAL GIRL GROUP SONGS.
This post: #60-51. Continues tomorrow.

 Caffè Lattè presents the…

100 MOST ESSENTIAL

GIRL GROUP SONGS

60

Thinking Of You

SISTER SLEDGE

This American family act did not score significant success until they were teamed with Chic’s Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers. The 2 men crafted songs that have become radio staples. This particular track was different in that it was slower and displayed another side of the sisters. It was initially included on the 1979 album ‘We Are Family’ but was issued as a single 5 years later in Britain where it reached #11.

59

Say You’ll Be There

SPICE GIRLS

In 1996, this was selected as the follow-up to the British girl group’s debut smash “Wannabe”. When it raced up the charts around the planet, it proved the debut hit was no fluke. This second single topped the British and European charts. In the U.S.A., the disc peaked at #3.

58

Too Many Fish In The Sea

THE MARVELETTES   

A 1964 single recorded by 2 of Motown’s rising stars among songwriters: Norman Whitfield and Eddie Holland. The former also produced the track, which climbed to #25 on the Billboard Hot 100.

57

Pure Shores

ALL SAINTS

The inclusion of this song in the Leonardo DiCaprio film ‘The Beach’ helped raise its profile to the public. In 2000, the single reached #1 in the UK, #2 in New Zealand, #3 in Europe and #4 in Australia. It was written by group member Shaznay Lewis and producer William Orbit.

56

Venus

BANANARAMA

This remake marked the beginning of a new phase for the trio. It was the first time the British girl group collaborated with producers Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman. Of all the hits they recorded with the SAW team, “Venus” proved to be the biggest: reaching #1 in America, Australia and New Zealand. The cover of Shocking Blue’s 1969 song also made the Top 10 in Britain, Canada and Europe.

55

Remember

(Walking In The Sand)

THE SHANGRI-LAS

This 1964 single reached #5 in America and #14 in the UK. It features a then unknown Billy Joel on keyboards. It was co-produced by Brill Building songwriter Jeff Barry.

54

Jump (For My Love)

POINTER SISTERS

The Pointer women proved they could master a wide range of musical genres. Most of the trio’s 1980s output was dance-oriented. “Jump” was one of the best examples from that period in the group’s evolution. In 1984, it was lifted off the previous year’s album ‘Break Out’. The single was a Top 10 smash in America, Britain, Canada, parts of Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

53

Uptown

THE CRYSTALS

Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil’s song was originally tried on Little Eva. Producer Phil Spector did not think her rendition nailed the song. Once The Crystals had applied their girl group magic, it was finally ready for the world. In 1962, the disc was a Top 20 hit on the US Pop and Soul charts.

52

Manic Monday

THE BANGLES

The ‘Christopher’ this song is credited  to was a nom de plume used by Prince. He wrote it for The Bangles. In 1986, it became the breakthrough disc for the girl group; reaching #2 on the American, British and Canadian charts.

51

Someday We’ll Be Together

DIANA ROSS & THE SUPREMES

Motown was waiting for the right moment for Diana Ross to sever her ties with The Supremes. This single proved to be it: a fitting swan song to mark the end of the 1960s and the last of a dozen US #1 singles for the group. The reality is that Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong were not even invited to the recording session. Ross was the only Supreme present, the backing vocals heard on the track were performed by co-writer Johnny Bristol and Motown girl group The Andantes. Bristol also produced this version.

CRITERIA:

Songs by groups or duos that only include female members and released in the Rock Era (i.e. since 1955).