Caffe`
Latte` presents…
THE
100 BEST
ALBUM COVERS
17
SATURDAY
NIGHT FEVER
MOTION
PICTURE SOUNDTRACK
[VARIOUS ARTISTS]
(1977)
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
BEFORE IT WAS A HIT XXI: Hit The Road Jack. Continues tomorrow.
BEFORE IT WAS A HIT SONG…
These songs are well known
but you may not know about the earlier attempts to score a hit record with
prior versions of the same song.
Hit The Road Jack
"Hit The Road Jack" is so synonymous with Ray Charles, it's hard to fathom that the gifted musician's version was in fact a remake. The song was penned by R&B performer Percy Mayfield. He recorded the original version in 1960. When Charles cut his remake the following year, he infused it with gospel elements and significantly improved the song. As well as earning a Grammy Award for Best R&B Recording, his cover reached #1 Pop and R&B in America.
Each new song will be added to the
spotify playlist named: ‘Before It Was A Hit Song’. You can check out the earlier / original
versions of the hit songs you know and love.
Red Red Wine
Tainted Love
Killing Me Softly
The Best
Wind Beneath My Wings
Hanging on the Telephone
I Love Rock ‘n Roll
Mickey
Got My Mind Set On You
Rivers of Babylon
It’s All Coming Back To Me Now
China Girl
I Can’t Stand The Rain
Last Thing On My Mind
Blame It On The Boogie
Do Wah Diddy Diddy
Don’t Leave Me This Way
Rhinestone Cowboy
Pass The Dutchie
The playlist and other Caffe` Latte`
selections can be found at:
spotify:user:alanrosscaffelatte
Monday, October 3, 2016
BEFORE IT WAS A HIT XX: Pass The Dutchie. Continues tomorrow.
BEFORE IT WAS A HIT SONG…
These songs are well known
but you may not know about the earlier attempts to score a hit record with
prior versions of the same song.
Pass The Dutchie
British reggae group Musical Youth enjoyed success in 1982-3 with the single "Pass The Dutchie". This was a sanitised version of the original by The Mighty Diamonds. That first take was entitled "Pass The Kouchie" and contained references to cannabis. Musical Youth's remake replaced kouchie with dutchie (Jamaican slang for a cooking pot) in order to make the song more suitable for the young singers and a mainstream audience. The switch worked and the only thing high about the single was where it landed on charts around the world. "Pass The Dutchie" reached #1 in Britain, Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. It also made the US Top 10.
Each new song will be added to the
spotify playlist named: ‘Before It Was A Hit Song’. You can check out the earlier / original
versions of the hit songs you know and love.
Red Red Wine
Tainted Love
Killing Me Softly
The Best
Wind Beneath My Wings
Hanging on the Telephone
I Love Rock ‘n Roll
Mickey
Got My Mind Set On You
Rivers of Babylon
It’s All Coming Back To Me Now
China Girl
I Can’t Stand The Rain
Last Thing On My Mind
Blame It On The Boogie
Do Wah Diddy Diddy
Don’t Leave Me This Way
Rhinestone Cowboy
The playlist and other Caffe` Latte`
selections can be found at:
spotify:user:alanrosscaffelatte
Sunday, October 2, 2016
200 MOST RECOMMENDED ALBUMS: #26. Continues later this week.
THE CAFFE`
LATTE`
200
MOST
RECOMMENDED ALBUMS
Some are the best selling, while others may be obscure, but the
albums listed here are all worthy of a listen. No compilation/ best of sets.
Only exceptional live albums included. This is a personal listing of the albums
I enjoy the most to this day.
#26
WHAT'S GOING ON: MARVIN GAYE
[1971]
To understand the significance of 'What's Going On', the album needs to be appreciated in context. Marvin Gaye had to convince label chief Berry Gordy for the creative freedom to embark on the project. Motown's premier male idol was renowned for his romantic songs. On this new LP, Gaye tackled dark and serious issues such as the environment, civil rights and the impact of drug abuse. For Motown, this was a high stakes gamble. With the disc, Gaye reflected the turmoil of the time. The Vietnam War was still raging as the toll kept rising. Back home, things were no better for African Americans. Gaye changed the R&B landscape with 'What's Going On'. Its title track has lived on as a timeless anthem. "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" is -unfortunately- still as pertinent today (if not more so) as it was in 1971. Sceptics of climate change still deny the need for greater care for our planet. Pollution remains an environmental challenge. Gaye was at the helm as producer of the album and he ensured the tracks flowed seamlessly. The LP is widely revered as one of the most fundamental R&B recordings. It preceded other key soul discs such as Isaac Hayes' "Theme From Shaft" and Stevie Wonder's "Living For The City" and has influenced countless others.
Highlight tracks: What's Going On; Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology); Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) & Right On.
200 ESSENTIAL DUETS This update: #170-161. Continues next weekend.
170
The Kenny Rogers & Dottie West country #1 hit "Every Time Two Fools Collide" was the title track from their 1978 album. In Canada, the single also topped the Country Chart.
"Let It Be Me" was adapted from a French song and was first a hit in English for The Everly Brothers in 1960. R&B soloists Betty Everett and Jerry Butler reached #5 Pop and #1 on the Soul Chart in America 4 years later.
"Separate Lives" was a 1985 worldwide hit for Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin from the film 'White Nights'. The duet reached #1 Pop & AC in America and peaked at #4 on the UK chart. It received an Oscar nomination, but lost to another song from the same movie: "Say You Say Me" by Lionel Richie.
James Taylor recorded "Her Town Too"" with J.D. Souther for his 1981 album 'Dad Loves His Work'. The single climbed to #11 on the American Hot 100.
Womack & Womack scored a hit in Britain, Europe and Australia with "Teardrops" in 1988. Elton John & K.D. Lang covered the song for his 'Duets' album 5 years later.
The 1984 single "Make No Mistake, He's Mine" was a country-tinged duet by Barbra Streisand & Kim Carnes. It was lifted off the former's 1984 album 'Emotion'. The song fared best on the US Adult Contemporary Chart, where it peaked at #8. A cover version, by Ronnie Milsap and Kenny Rogers 3 years after the original, topped the American and Canadian Country charts.
The title track from Meat Loaf's 1981 'Dead Ringer' album was an old school rock song recorded with Cher. Jim Steinman penned the song and co-produced it with Jimmy Iovine. The single went Top 5 in the UK.
Legendary songwriting couple Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil co-wrote "Somewhere Out There" with James Horner from the 1986 animated film 'An American Tail'. The duet was performed by Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram. The Academy Award nominated song reached #2 in the US and Top 10 on both the British and Canadian charts.
The gospel-soaked "Never Gonna Break My Faith" brought together 2 regents: The Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin and the Queen of Hip Hop Mary J. Blige. The powerhouse pair's duet was co-written & co-produced by Bryan Adams. It was heard over the end credits of the film 'Bobby' and earned a Golden Globe nomination. The track also features the Boys Choir Of Harlem. It was included on Franklin's 2007 compilation album 'Jewels In The Crown: All Star Duets With The Queen'.
Caffe`
Latte` presents…
THE 200 ALL-TIME MOST
ESSENTIAL DUETS
This countdown looks back on decades of duets, where 2 acts combine on a
song.
To be eligible,
the acts involved contribute close to equal roles as lead vocalists rather than
featured or guest vocals. The collaborations must be by acts that
do not usually record together as regular duos (eg. Hall & Oates, Everly
Brothers, Simon & Garfunkel and Wham!).
170
ANOTHER WAY TO DIE
ALICIA KEYS & JACK STRIPE
The only duet single from a James Bond film is "Another Way To Die", written and produced by Jack Stripe of the group The White Stripes. He shares vocal duties on the track with Alicia Keys. Their song was heard over the opening credits for 'Quantum Of Solace'. In 2008, the single reached the UK Top 10.
169
EVERY TIME TWO FOOLS COLLIDE
KENNY ROGERS & DOTTIE WEST
The Kenny Rogers & Dottie West country #1 hit "Every Time Two Fools Collide" was the title track from their 1978 album. In Canada, the single also topped the Country Chart.
168
LET IT BE ME
BETTY EVERETT & JERRY BUTLER
"Let It Be Me" was adapted from a French song and was first a hit in English for The Everly Brothers in 1960. R&B soloists Betty Everett and Jerry Butler reached #5 Pop and #1 on the Soul Chart in America 4 years later.
167
SEPARATE LIVES
PHIL COLLINS & MARILYN MARTIN
"Separate Lives" was a 1985 worldwide hit for Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin from the film 'White Nights'. The duet reached #1 Pop & AC in America and peaked at #4 on the UK chart. It received an Oscar nomination, but lost to another song from the same movie: "Say You Say Me" by Lionel Richie.
166
HER TOWN TOO
JAMES TAYLOR & J.D. SOUTHER
James Taylor recorded "Her Town Too"" with J.D. Souther for his 1981 album 'Dad Loves His Work'. The single climbed to #11 on the American Hot 100.
165
TEARDROPS
ELTON JOHN & K.D. LANG
Womack & Womack scored a hit in Britain, Europe and Australia with "Teardrops" in 1988. Elton John & K.D. Lang covered the song for his 'Duets' album 5 years later.
164
MAKE NO MISTAKE, HE'S MINE
BARBRA STREISAND & KIM CARNES
The 1984 single "Make No Mistake, He's Mine" was a country-tinged duet by Barbra Streisand & Kim Carnes. It was lifted off the former's 1984 album 'Emotion'. The song fared best on the US Adult Contemporary Chart, where it peaked at #8. A cover version, by Ronnie Milsap and Kenny Rogers 3 years after the original, topped the American and Canadian Country charts.
163
DEAD RINGER FOR LOVE
MEAT LOAF & CHER
The title track from Meat Loaf's 1981 'Dead Ringer' album was an old school rock song recorded with Cher. Jim Steinman penned the song and co-produced it with Jimmy Iovine. The single went Top 5 in the UK.
162
SOMEWHERE OUT THERE
LINDA RONSTADT & JAMES INGRAM
Legendary songwriting couple Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil co-wrote "Somewhere Out There" with James Horner from the 1986 animated film 'An American Tail'. The duet was performed by Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram. The Academy Award nominated song reached #2 in the US and Top 10 on both the British and Canadian charts.
161
NEVER GONNA BREAK MY FAITH
ARETHA FRANKLIN & MARY J. BLIGE
The gospel-soaked "Never Gonna Break My Faith" brought together 2 regents: The Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin and the Queen of Hip Hop Mary J. Blige. The powerhouse pair's duet was co-written & co-produced by Bryan Adams. It was heard over the end credits of the film 'Bobby' and earned a Golden Globe nomination. The track also features the Boys Choir Of Harlem. It was included on Franklin's 2007 compilation album 'Jewels In The Crown: All Star Duets With The Queen'. Saturday, October 1, 2016
The Caffe` Latte` Top 10 Tracks this week
1 September JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, ANNA KENDRICK & EARTH WIND & FIRE 1wk 5 2
2 That Love SHAGGY 7 2
3 Starboy THE WEEKND ftg. DAFT PUNK 6 2
4 Tilted CHRISTINE & THE QUEENS 9 2
5 Jolene PENTATONIX & DOLLY PARTON 10 2
6 Any Moment Now BARBRA STREISAND & HUGH JACKMAN 1 3
7 Hurts EMELI SANDE` NEW
8 Party Like A Russian ROBBIE WILLIAMS NEW
9 Symmetry Of Two Hearts BRIGHT LIGHT BRIGHT LIGHT & ELTON JOHN NEW
10 Start JOHN LEGEND 3 3
https://open.spotify.com/user/alanrosscaffelatte
THE 200 MOST ESSENTIAL DUETS. This instalment: #180-171. Continues tomorrow.
The duet version of "Girl From The North Country" brought together 2 musical legends: Dylan and The Man In Black. Folk and country music's greatest exponents' collaboration was included on Dylan's 1969 album 'Nashville Skyline'.
Elton John's solo version of "Live Like Horses" was featured on his 'The Big Picture' album. The interpretation issued as a single was a duet with acclaimed tenor Luciano Pavarotti in 1996 and reached #9 on the British chart.
178
In 1980, Kenny Rogers reached #1 on the American Pop, Country and AC charts with "Lady", written and produced by Lionel Richie. The 2 vocalists revisited the hit in 2012 for the latter's 'Tuskegee' album.
Tom Jones and Swedish group The Cardigans cut a remake of the Talking Heads song "Burning Down The House" for the Welsh singer's 1999 album 'Reload'. The single shot to the Top 10 in Britain and Scandinavia.
The Godfather Of Punk teamed up with Blondie's iconic lead singer for a new treatment of the Cole Porter standard "Well Did You Evah!". The duet was included on the 1990 HIV/ AIDS benefit album project 'Red Hot + Blue' and later issued as a single for Iggy Pop and Deborah Harry.
174
Marvin Gaye penned "If This World Were Mine", a song he recorded as a duet with labelmate Tammi Terrell. The track finished up on their 1967 joint project 'United'. It was the B-side for the single "If I Could Build My Whole World Around You".
"Any Moment Now" presents a relationship that has lost its fire. The song was written for the Broadway show "Smile". It is presented here in its original form (which differs from the eventual theatrical version). Barbra Streisand recorded it as a duet with fellow actor Hugh Jackman for her 2016 release 'Encore- Movie Partners Sing Broadway'. Both performers bring their craft as singers and thespians, adding gravitas to the duet.
The Annie Lennox and Al Green duet "Put A Little Love In Your Heart" was a remake heard during the end credits of the 1988 comedy film 'Scrooged'. Jackie DeShannon, who co-wrote the song, released the original version in 1969. The cover made the US and Australian Top 10 almost 2 decades later.
Caffe`
Latte` presents…
THE 200 ALL-TIME MOST
ESSENTIAL DUETS
This countdown looks back on decades of duets, where 2 acts combine on a
song.
To be eligible,
the acts involved contribute close to equal roles as lead vocalists rather than
featured or guest vocals. The collaborations must be by acts that
do not usually record together as regular duos (eg. Hall & Oates, Everly
Brothers, Simon & Garfunkel and Wham!).
180
GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY
BOB DYLAN & JOHNNY CASH
The duet version of "Girl From The North Country" brought together 2 musical legends: Dylan and The Man In Black. Folk and country music's greatest exponents' collaboration was included on Dylan's 1969 album 'Nashville Skyline'.
179
LIVE LIKE HORSES
ELTON JOHN & LUCIANO PAVAROTTI
Elton John's solo version of "Live Like Horses" was featured on his 'The Big Picture' album. The interpretation issued as a single was a duet with acclaimed tenor Luciano Pavarotti in 1996 and reached #9 on the British chart.178
HERE WE'LL STAY
FRIDA & PHIL COLLINS
As the sun was setting on the group ABBA, Frida Lyngstad was working on her debut English solo album 'Something's Going On'. The 1982 LP was produced by Phil Collins and he joined Frida on the track "Here We'll Stay".
177
LADY
LIONEL RICHIE & KENNY ROGERS
In 1980, Kenny Rogers reached #1 on the American Pop, Country and AC charts with "Lady", written and produced by Lionel Richie. The 2 vocalists revisited the hit in 2012 for the latter's 'Tuskegee' album.
176
BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE
TOM JONES & THE CARDIGANS
Tom Jones and Swedish group The Cardigans cut a remake of the Talking Heads song "Burning Down The House" for the Welsh singer's 1999 album 'Reload'. The single shot to the Top 10 in Britain and Scandinavia.
175
WELL DID YOU EVAH!
DEBORAH HARRY & IGGY POP
The Godfather Of Punk teamed up with Blondie's iconic lead singer for a new treatment of the Cole Porter standard "Well Did You Evah!". The duet was included on the 1990 HIV/ AIDS benefit album project 'Red Hot + Blue' and later issued as a single for Iggy Pop and Deborah Harry. 174
GLORY
COMMON & JOHN LEGEND
Rapper Common and R&B artist John Legend co-wrote "Glory" for the 2014 film 'Selma'. The rousing song was rewarded with an Oscar and a Golden Globe.
173
IF THIS WORLD WERE MINE
MARVIN GAYE & TAMMI TERRELL
Marvin Gaye penned "If This World Were Mine", a song he recorded as a duet with labelmate Tammi Terrell. The track finished up on their 1967 joint project 'United'. It was the B-side for the single "If I Could Build My Whole World Around You".
172
ANY MOMENT NOW
BARBRA STREISAND & HUGH JACKMAN
"Any Moment Now" presents a relationship that has lost its fire. The song was written for the Broadway show "Smile". It is presented here in its original form (which differs from the eventual theatrical version). Barbra Streisand recorded it as a duet with fellow actor Hugh Jackman for her 2016 release 'Encore- Movie Partners Sing Broadway'. Both performers bring their craft as singers and thespians, adding gravitas to the duet.
171
PUT A LITTLE LOVE IN YOUR HEART
ANNIE LENNOX & AL GREEN
The Annie Lennox and Al Green duet "Put A Little Love In Your Heart" was a remake heard during the end credits of the 1988 comedy film 'Scrooged'. Jackie DeShannon, who co-wrote the song, released the original version in 1969. The cover made the US and Australian Top 10 almost 2 decades later.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)