100 SONGS THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING. This post: LIVING FOR THE CITY. 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

1973

💥49 Living For The City

Stevie Wonder

At the start of the 1970s, the adult Stevie Wonder negotiated an unprecedented lucrative contract with Motown Records. The new deal gave him more creative control over his catalogue. This triggered the start of a new phase in his career. ‘Music Of My Mind’ and ‘Talking Book’ revealed a more mature and competent musician. Follow-up album ‘Innervisions’ saw the then 23year-old singer/ songwriter venture even further in his growth. “Living For The City” built on recent tracks such as “Superstition”, “You Are The Sunshine Of My Life” and “Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)”. Encouraged by the critical and commercial success of Marvin Gaye’s ‘What’s Going On’ LP and the popularity of blaxploitation films, “Living For The City” plays out like a movie. The track runs for over 7 minutes and takes social commentary to a new level. It introduces us to the protagonist, growing up in a household where everyday living is a struggle. Discrimination is cited as an impediment for progress and employment. The scenario changes as the protagonist takes a bus to New York City. Actual street sounds are incorporated into the track. Racist police officers mistakenly arrest the protagonist and he is convicted. His incarceration is announced with the phrase: “in that cell nigger”. Wonder pulls no punches, warning us that “if we don’t change, the world will soon be over”. He performed all of the instruments on the track. Wonder recruited others to play the other characters, including his brother and attorney. Special credit must also go to the duo consisting of Malcolm Cecil and Robert Margouleff. They contributed immensely to Wonder’s classic albums of this period which continued with ‘Fulfillingness’ First Finale’ and ‘Songs In The Key Of Life’.

1973-    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