100 SONGS THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING. This post: PLANET ROCK. Continues tomorrow.
Caffè Lattè pays tribute to 100 songs that innovated, changed the rules, defied convention and had a significant impact on the evolution of pop and rock music, presented in chronological order…
Check out the playlist on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1j1WNc1Txp4Loh4txnqu7S?si=01aa2a187ada4e3d
100 SONGS THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
1982
💥73 Planet Rock
Afrika Bambaataa & Soul Sonic Force
The Sugarhill Gang turned rappers
into stars. In 1982, “Planet Rock” gave the spotlight to the DJ. Afrika Bambaataa
was born Kevin Donovan in the Bronx. His track was revolutionary. As a DJ in
New York, he often incorporated the Kraftwerk 1977 song “Trans Europe Express”
into his sets. Bambaataa signed with the Tommy Boy label. Its chairman, Tom Silverman,
came up with the idea of using the German group’s track to create a new song.
Sampling was still a relatively novel practice, but it was decided to recreate
the sound of the Kraftwerk song for “Planet Rock”. John Robie was recruited to
accomplish this on a synthesizer. Nevertheless, Kraftwerk did successfully sue
Tommy Boy Records. “Planet Rock” is credited to 3 writers: Bambaataa, Robie and
producer Arthur Baker. Other songs are referenced during the track, including
another Kraftwerk song: “Numbers”. “Planet Rock” brought together hip-hop and
techno. By doing so, Bambaataa steered rap down new routes, influencing both hip-hop
and electronic music. By shifting the focus from the rapper to the DJ, the
single was the progenitor of the B-boy era where breakdancing became the dance
to accompany the new sounds of the streets and clubs.
1981- Radio Free Europe
Ghost Town
1980- Rapture
Vienna
Back In Black
Love Will Tear Us Apart
1979- London Calling
Rapper’s Delight
Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough
Good Times
1978- Wuthering Heights
1977- Stayin’ Alive
Heroes
I Feel Love
1976- Dancing Queen
Anarchy In The U.K.
Blitzkrieg Bop
1975- Gloria
Bohemian Rhapsody
Love To Love You Baby
Autobahn
No Woman, No Cry Live
1973- Personality Crisis
Living For the City
Time
Soul Makossa
1972- I Am Woman
1971- American Pie
Imagine
Theme From ‘Shaft’
What’s Going On
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
1969- Whole Lotta Love
1968- Helter Skelter
Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
Folsom Prison Blues Live
1967- Sunshine Of Your Love
A Day In The Life
Respect
Light My Fire
Venus In Furs
Strawberry Fields Forever
1966- Good Vibrations
Tomorrow Never Knows
Eight Miles High
1965- The Sounds Of Silence
My Generation
Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
I’ve Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)
1964- You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’
You Really Got Me
The House Of The Rising Sun
Where Did Our Love Go
1963- I Want To Hold Your Hand
Blowin’ In The Wind
Be My Baby
1962- Misirlou
1961- Crazy
1960- The Twist
Cathy’s Clown
1959- There Goes My Baby
What’d I Say (Parts
1 & 2)
1957- Great Balls Of Fire
Jailhouse Rock
You Send Me
That’ll Be The Day
1955- Tutti Frutti
Maybellene
1955- Rock Around The Clock
1954- That’s All Right Mama
1951- Rocket 88
In the wake of new wave, the proliferation
of post-punk bands led to a new breed of alternative rock groups. Hailing from
Athens, Georgia, R.E.M. was the fulcrum of College Rock (on the opposite side
of the Atlantic, The Smiths helped usher in the new musical direction). The
former group emerged in 1980. One year later, R.E.M. issued its debut single “Radio
Free Europe”. The original version was only released as a single. A new version was recorded for the 1983 debut album 'Murmur'. The group’s major breakthrough was years away, but critics were
already lauding its innovative music. Despite its punk rock influences, the
track also has elements that evoke memories of rock’s past. Most notable is garage
rock and the folk-rock as embodied by The Byrds in the 1960s. For years, R.E.M.
remained a secret indulgence, releasing excellent singles such as “Fall On Me”
and “The One I Love”. The mainstream discovered the group around the time of the
1991 album ‘Out Of Time” and its unforgettable track “Losing My Religion” and
the jangly “Shiny Happy People”. ‘Automatic For The People’ attracted even greater
sales. R.E.M. maintained its quality signature sound until 2011, when it 
