NEW COUNTDOWN... The 200 Most Essential DUETS. This instalment: #200-191. Continues tomorrow.

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!).

200

HELLO HELLO

ELTON JOHN & LADY GAGA

Elton John recorded a solo version of this song for the 2011  ‘Gnomeo And Juliet’ soundtrack. An alternative recording features Lady Gaga sharing lead vocals with him.

199

UNTIL THE END OF TIME

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE & BEYONCE`

This duet brought together 2 of the biggest names in contemprary pop music: Justin Timberlake and Beyoncé. It was released as a single in 2007.

198

THIS OLD HEART OF MINE

ROD STEWART & RONALD ISLEY

In 1989 both Ronald Isley and Rod Stewart re-recorded a version of the 1960s hit. It was originally recorded by the former's group The Isley Brothers on Motown. Stewart had cut a solo version in 1975. The makeover duet reached #10 Pop in the US where it also enjoyed a 5 week reign on the AC chart.

197

HOW MANY TIMES CAN WE SAY GOODBYE

DIONNE WARWICK & LUTHER VANDROSS

Luther Vandross produced Dionne Warwick's 1983 album 'How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye'. The 2 shared lead vocal duties on its title track which made the Top 10 on the R&B and Adult Contemporary charts.

196

THE NEXT TIME I FALL

PETER CETERA & AMY GRANT

Peter Cetera's 1986 album 'Solitude / Solitaire' featured this US Pop and AC #1 ballad for the ex- member of the group Chicago (now a solo artist) and former contemporary Christian singer Amy Grant.

195

KING AND QUEEN

JOHN LEGEND & MARY J. BLIGE

John Legend and Mary J Blige combined forces for this soulful song included on the latter's 2006 compilation album 'Reflections (A Retrospective)'. It was added as a bonus track on Legend's 'Once Again' in the same year.

194

AIN’T THAT PECULIAR

SMOKEY ROBINSON & JAMES TAYLOR

Marvin Gaye sang the million-selling Motown 1965 hit "Ain't That Peculiar". Smokey Robinson produced and co-wrote the song. He recorded a new version as a duet with James Taylor for his 'Smokey And Friends' album in 2014.

193

SENZA UNA DONNA (WITHOUT A WOMAN)

ZUCCHERO & PAUL YOUNG

Italian pop star Zucchero raised his profile when he cut this duet with British vocalist Paul Young. Their song was a Top 10 hit in America, Britain and Europe.

192

SLOW RIVERS

ELTON JOHN & CLIFF RICHARD

British pop's 2 pop music legends recorded this duet for Elton John's 'Leather Jackets' album. In 1986, the track was issued as a single.

191

DON’T FALL IN LOVE WITH A DREAMER

KENNY ROGERS & KIM CARNES

Before Kim Carnes became a pop star, she had carved out a reputation in the country genre. She co-wrote "Don't Fall In Love With A Dreamer" which Kenny Rogers recorded with her. In 1980, the duet became a crossover smash, reaching the Top 3 on the US Pop, AC and Country charts.

100 BEST ALBUM COVERS: #24. Continues next week.

Caffe` Latte` presents…

THE 100 BEST

ALBUM COVERS

 

24

LONDON CALLING

THE CLASH (1979)

BEFORE IT WAS A HIT XVI Blame It On The Boogie. Continues next week.

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.

Blame It On The Boogie

It may surprise many to discover that "Blame It On The Boogie" was a remake for The Jacksons. The siblings unleashed their version of the song in 1978. It swiftly became a Top10 smash in Britain, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. 

The song was co-written by a Mick Jackson, but this an altogether different performer than the lead singer from The Jackson 5. Mick Jackson was an English performer whose original take was issued shortly before The Jacksons' cover. That 1st version only climbed to #61 on the US chart in 1978 and was included on his album 'Weekend'.
 

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

Midnight Train To Georgia

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

The playlist and other Caffe` Latte` selections can be found at:

https://open.spotify.com/user/alanrosscaffelatte

spotify:user:alanrosscaffelatte

100 BEST ALBUM COVERS: #25. Continues tomorrow.

Caffe` Latte` presents…

THE 100 BEST

ALBUM COVERS

 

25

BOSTON

BOSTON (1976)

BEFORE IT WAS A HIT XV Last Thing On My Mind. 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.

Last Thing On My Mind

 

When Bananarama released the original version of "Last Thing On My Mind" in 1992, the single flopped. The song was written by the duo with Mike Stock and Pete Waterman. Production was handled by the latter 2.

Waterman was again at the helm when Steps issued its cover 6 years later. Second time around, the song caught on. The group's 2nd single release became a Top 10 hit in the UK, parts of Europe and Australia.

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

Midnight Train To Georgia

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

The playlist and other Caffe` Latte` selections can be found at:

https://open.spotify.com/user/alanrosscaffelatte

spotify:user:alanrosscaffelatte

100 BEST ALBUM COVERS: #26. Continues tomorrow.

Caffe` Latte` presents…

THE 100 BEST

ALBUM COVERS

 

26

FEAR OF A BLACK PLANET

PUBLIC ENEMY (1990)

BEFORE IT WAS A HIT XIV I Can't Stand The Rain
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.

I Can’t Stand The Rain

 

In 1978, Precious Wilson & disco group Eruption enjoyed worldwide success with the song "I Can't Stand The Rain". 

The original version was an R&B track recorded by Ann Peebles. She co-wrote the song. It was released in 1973. The single cracked the American Pop Top 40 and peaked at #6 R&B. 

Tina Turner released a new remake of the song for the 1984 album 'Private Dancer'. Her version proved popular in Europe.

 

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

Midnight Train To Georgia

Got My Mind Set On You

Rivers of Babylon

It’s All Coming Back To Me Now

China Girl

The playlist and other Caffe` Latte` selections can be found at:

https://open.spotify.com/user/alanrosscaffelatte

spotify:user:alanrosscaffelatte

100 BEST ALBUM COVERS: #27. Continues tomorrow.

Caffe` Latte` presents…

THE 100 BEST

ALBUM COVERS

27

GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD

ELTON JOHN (1973)

BEFORE IT WAS A HIT XIII: China Girl. 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.

China Girl

David Bowie included the track "China Girl" on his 1983 mega-selling album 'Let's Dance'. Nile Rodgers produced the track which was lifted as a single that year. It reached the British & American Top 10. 

The song had been written by Bowie and Iggy Pop for the latter's 1977 album 'The Idiot'. Bowie produced the original version.

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

Midnight Train To Georgia

Got My Mind Set On You

Rivers of Babylon

It’s All Coming Back To Me Now

The playlist and other Caffe` Latte` selections can be found at:

https://open.spotify.com/user/alanrosscaffelatte

spotify:user:alanrosscaffelatte

200 MOST RECOMMENDED ALBUMS : #30. Continues next weekend.

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.

#30

SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER

 MOVIE SOUNDTRACK:

VARIOUS ARTISTS 

 [1977] 

'Saturday Night Fever' was such a phenomena that it's often forgotten disco's appeal was losing momentum before the film's release. In fact, a movie dealing with the disco boom was considered by some as outdated. The film and its soundtrack reinvigorated the genre, propelling its popularity to even greater heights. With The Bee Gees contributing the bulk of the material, the project catapulted the trio to stardom. The Gibbs suddenly dominated the charts all over the planet. Their presence on the album cover reflected the importance of The Bee Gees' music to the film and album. New songs "Stayin' Alive", "Night Fever" (both #1 singles) and "More Than A Woman" were performed by the brothers. They also penned "If I Can't Have You" for Yvonne Elliman. Disco ballad "How Deep Is Your Love", like the latter, also topped the chart. No less than 5 of its tracks reached #1. These included the disco instrumental "A Fifth Of Beethoven". The soundtrack included 3 previous #1s: "Disco Inferno", "Jive Talkin'" and "You Should Be Dancing". KC & The Sunshine Band and Kool & The Gang also contribute a track each. There are some filler tracks, but there's no denying the historical impact of the soundtrack. The double LP spent almost half the year atop the American Albums Chart. It became the best selling soundtrack of all time and collected a Grammy Award for Album of the Year.

Highlight tracks: If I Can't Have You; Boogie Shoes; Stayin' Alive; How Deep Is Your Love & Disco Inferno