In October 2006 venerable UK music magazine Q compiled a list of the 100 greatest sings of al time which was controversially topped by Oasis coming in at both number 1 and 2 on the survey and beating out such legends as The Beatles and Led Zeppelin.
For your listening pleasure here is a playkist of the Top 10 from number 10 to 1.
Here in the UK the Guardian newspaper has over the last six weeks been counting down their list of the 100 greatest UK number #1 aingles.
The countdown concluded today with the Pet Shop Boys landing the number one slot with their re-recorded version of West End Girls in 1985. The song topped the Official UK Singles Charts on 16 November 1985 spending two weeks at the chart summit and 17 weeks total on the survey. It is one of four UK number ones acheived by PSB. The song arguably remains the signature PSB tune.
The complete list can be viewed by clicking on the image:
Here is the top 10 for your listening pleasure:
Straight out of the city of brotherly love, Kindred the Family Soul — aka Fatin Dantzler and Aja Graydon — are a married duo that fronts a ten-piece band.
Surrender to Love is their debut album released in 2003. The album was a minor success at best peaking at #159 on the Billboard 200 and #29 on the Billboard R&B chart.
The album’s only official single was “Far Away”, which peaked at #53 on the Billboard R&B singles chart.
The modest chart success of the album is in no way indicative of the quality of the music contained on the album. Steeped in the DNA of 60’s and 70’s soul music the album is a thrilling mix of R&B, hip-hop, funk and pop.
The vocal interplay between Dantzler and Graydon is intimate and soothing and reflects the primary theme of the album; black love.
Running to 25 tracks the album might be slightly overlong but there are so many highlights on the album that it is never boring and doesn’t drag. It’s a fun, funky, sophisticated and mature album that explores all the facets of love and family and arguably one of the best R&B albums on 2003. This is one that is well worth checking out.
Glow of Love is a 1980 single and the title track from the debut album of Italian-American group R&B/dance group Change. The band’s sound was heavily influenced by Chic. Glow of Love features vocals from then newcomer Luther Vandross. Together with Lover’s Holiday and Searching, which also featured lead vocals by Vandross, the song spent nine weeks atop the Billboard US Dance Club Songs charts and a total of 13 weeks on the charts. Vandross’ sizzling vocal star turn on the single remains exciting and essential listening.
If you are unfamiliar with the song you might recognise it as the song sampled by Janet Jackson for her 2001 Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs number one “All For You” which introduced the song to a new generation of music lover.
A true post disco classic with a scintillating vocal performance by Luther Vandross. What’s not to like?
Check out the 12″ Long Version of Glow of Love from the recently released Everything and More: The Complete Collection (1980-2019).
When I started this blog my main aim was to share my love of music. Not just Pop Music, Rock Music, R&B, Grind-core, New Wave, Country or whatever other genre. I have always been drawn to music without much consideration as to its genre. After all good music is good music regardless of any genre label that might attach to it. In keeping with that ethos the SOTD is one of the most famous pieces of Classical music. One that is both exhilarating and invigorating.
Ludwig van Beethoven’s Ode to Joy is the fourth movement of his 9th Symphony. Its the choral finale of the Symphony and the longest movement of the Symphony clocking in at approximately 25 minutes. It also is the the final complete symphony by Beethoven. One could argue that the perfection he achieved here could not have been bettered. As someone once described it Ode To Joy is like a burst of sunlight. One that stirs up a sense of hope that makes it one of the most enduring pieces of music no matter the genre.
The melodies in this movement are sublime and the cellos at the beginning of the theme are a thing of aural beauty.
This performance of the Ode To Joy is by the Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by André Cluytens as part of the first Stereo recordings of the complete Beethoven Symphonies between 1957-1960.
In these challenging times and as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth I can think of no better piece of music to be my Song of the Day.
The New Jack Swing sound was all conquering between the mid 80s to the early 1990s.
New jack swing or swingbeat is a fusion genre spearheaded by Teddy Riley and Bernard Belle.
The style originated from Janet Jackson’s third studio album, Control from 1986.
Here is another curated playlist celebrating thisonce inescapable sound which dominated the charts and the radio and what better way to start the playlist than with the group created by the aforemetioned Teddy Riley; the massively influential Guy and “Teddy’s Jam”.