100 SONGS THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING. This post: GHOST TOWN. 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

1981

💥71 Ghost Town

The Specials

The reprehensible Thatcher Government was elected in 1979. As British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher was at the helm of cruel policies that sparked outrage. The Specials spoke out against her government through its songs which took British new wave into a new direction. Ska music was enjoying a revival. The Specials were at the forefront of this renaissance. Its brand of ska and punk morphed into the 2-Tone movement. Of all of the band’s singles, the best known is “Ghost Town”. The gloomy track is an unlikely #1 but it enjoyed 3 weeks at the chart summit. Its message captures the desperation felt by the victims of Thatcher’s insensitivity. Riots sprang out in various locations, most notably in Brixton. Clashes erupted between black British youths and the police. “Ghost Town” captured that moment. The track begins with an ominous wind blowing through desolate city streets. Jerry Dammers’ keyboard only heightens the pessimistic tone. The lyrics deal with unemployment, closures and violence. All the pieces come together to convey the volatility of the era.

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