THE TOP 50 SONGS that were REVIVED, Today: #20-11. More > tomorrow.   

Caffè Lattè looks back on: 

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THE TOP 50 SONGS THAT WERE D

 

20 THE FIRST TIME EVER I SAW YOUR FACE

Roberta Flack

The song had gone nowhere and Roberta Flack’s career was in a holding pattern. Until the fateful day that Clint Eastwood heard it on the radio and was determined to use it in his film project ‘Play Misty For Me’. The song was included in the film, spawning Flack’s first of 3 US #1 singles and the best-selling song of 1972.

19 ARE YOU READY FOR LOVE Elton John

When first released in 1979, the song failed to crack the Top 40. In 2003, the track re-surfaced and this time reached #1 in Britain. 

18 SPACE ODDITY David Bowie

First rush-released to coincide with the 1969 Moon Landing, the disc reached #5 in the UK. Four years later, the song made the Top 20 in America, Canada and Australia. Re-issued in 1975, “Space Oddity” finally reached #1 in Britain. 

17 DREAMS Fleetwood Mac

Parent album ‘Rumours’ remains a beloved classic still charting in some territories. This Stevie Nicks—penned tune reached #1 in 1977. A TikTok viral video catapulted the track back into the charts in 2020. 

16 THE TEARS OF A CLOWN

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

In 1967, this song was recorded for the ‘Make It Happen’ album but was not slated for single release. Robinson was poised to depart the group but there was momentum in Britain and Motown fed that appetite with The Miracles’ back catalogue. This song was released and reached #1 there. A US remix was issued and also made the top. 

15 I’VE NEVER BEEN TO ME Charlene

Not all that Motown touched went gold. Well, not at first. Charlene’s 1977 ballad was ignored and she gave up on a musical career. When radio built up a following for it in 1982, Motown had to launch a search for its lost artist. Once located, the singer watched her single finally reach #1 in Britain, Canada and Australia. In the US, the disc peaked at #3. Sadly, her success was short-lived. 

14 SHE’S ALWAYS A WOMAN Billy Joel

Always regarded as a standout on Joel’s 1977 ‘The Stranger’ album, the ballad was a US Top 20 hit. In 2010, a cover by Fyfe Dangerfield was used in an English TV commercial. This led to Joel’s original being re-issued and reaching the UK Top 30.  

13 ONE DAY IN YOUR LIFE Michael Jackson

‘Off The Wall’ turned Michael Jackson into a global phenomenon. Even though he had left the label years before, Motown’s desire to cash in led to this 1975 recording being rescued from the vault. In 1981, it reached #1 in Britain and Top 10 in Australia.

 

12 REET PETITE Jackie Wilson

This influential R&B singer was fading into obscurity when a clay animation video was televised in 1986. “Reet Petite”, a UK Top 10 smash from 1957, was re-issued. Wilson had died in 1984, but he scored a posthumous hit when the single topped the UK Chart and peaked at #2 across Europe. 

 

11 THE TWIST Chubby Checker

This song did what no other physical single ever managed to do. In 1960, the song reached #1 in America. So popular was the dance craze, that the song returned to the American chart in 1962 and reached #1 there again.